Rinth Island is a unique puzzle game combination of 2D and 3D perspectives. Essentially, it's a 2D playing field with the classic sokoban block-pushing, switch-throwing fun we all love, but the playing field wraps around on itself into a cylinder. Where it really becomes interesting is when you unlock the cannons, which fire inward and thus hit targets on the other side of the cylinder. It requires a slightly different spatial orientation than the typical 2D sokoban.

Playing either Gimble or Libby, you have been swept away from your home by a natural disaster, and as part of your journey back, people keep asking you to collect various MacGuffins: tools, golden letters, books, what have you. Somehow these missing objects have been sprinkled into massive, floating ruins laden with traps. While you can climb ladders like a champ and fall any distance with no injury, unfortunately you can't jump, so you'll generally need to push blocks and rollers, explode stuff, launch cannons, and manipulate switches on your way from point A to point B. Once you've completed a level normally, you can replay it in three other modes: collecting crystals, step counting (i.e. do the level as efficiently as possible), and timed.

Although it's available at a very reasonable price, a minimal in-app purchase to unlock the "rewind" ability (essentially, "undo") makes the game truly enjoyable. Some levels can last a long time, and making a mistake towards the end of a level could have you throwing your very expensive device through a window if you don't have rewind. Yet, having it as an in-app purchase somehow feels a bit bait-and-switch. Buying new outfits or adding a pet who doesn't affect gameplay are one thing, but it seems more honest to just charge a higher price from the start and include undo, since it's so necessary. Rinth Island also includes an excellent level editor. Choose from all the different blocks and five different themes. When you're done, share your creation with the world.You can also play the creations of others. See if you can find the level called "Jayisgames.com"; it's a simple creation (with a few surprises) in the shape of our beloved JIGman!

With the 60 levels in regular adventure mode, plus playing all levels three times more for the special modes, plus the potentially limitless number of user-made levels, Rinth Island packs in a lot of content for a small asking price!

Rinth Island

(iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch)

NOTE: This game was played and reviewed on a New iPad and iPhone 3GS. Game was available in the North American market at the time of publication, but may not be available in other territories. Please see individual app market pages for purchasing info.