To err is human. To solve is divine.
We were provided a copy of this game by Daisy Games for review purposes. While this is cool, this has not influenced the honesty and impartiality of this article
Suavest DAVE, EDITOR IN CHIEF and CLASSICs enjoyer
Sokobos is an interesting title by Daisy Games that sees you going through a series of increasingly difficult Sokoban puzzles in an Ancient Greek setting. The premise is simple, the price is low, the challenge is high, and the story (much like the graphics) is minimal, but interesting.
Sokoban is a grid-based game in which you transport items to designated goals. Items are moved one at a time and can only be pushed, not pulled. Haphazard pushing will likely result in locking yourself out of the solution. You’ve probably come across similar puzzles in games like Pokémon (e.g. pushing stones using the strength HM).
Sokobos has additional elements that reflect the game’s specific context. The goal is to create works of art and architectural engineering that would impress even the gods themselves. This means that the objects you move tend to be pieces of a larger whole; they might need to be turned around or painted to fit in. Eventually, you’ll have to consider constructing bridges or opening gates to get all the components in the correct place.
You can sweeten or spice things up with several settings and quality of life features. There’s a move optimisation mode that adds a move counter so you can constantly monitor your efficiency. There’s an online leaderboard, so as you build beautiful works of art, you can diminish everyone else’s efforts, too. You can undo moves, restart, or skip levels.
A Puzzling Narrative
The playable character Aeschylus took an oath to build a temple by himself to honour Zeus. He is provided with inhuman strength for this task. Should he succeed, his hometown will become more prosperous than Athens, the Greek capital. Berenice is Aeschylus’s love interest. The story is pretty forthcoming about being a tragedy, but I’ll let you piece this temple of pain together.
The tragedy is conveyed through minimalist graphics and an understated, sombre score. When the solution is within sight, and you’ve entered a fugue state, the grinding ceramic noises add a stimulating percussive element. There’s also a nice triumphant jingle when you solve a puzzle. The display is customisable, providing accessibility for colour blind players.
There are 60 levels in the base game. Aphrodite’s Trial adds another 30 levels and a story involving new characters/playthings of the fates. Although Nikephoros and Corinna’s pursuit of marriage is hindered by their disapproving parents, the goddess of love will provide her blessing should they sate her appetite for solved Sokoban.
While basic in concept, it’s a tricky game with a lot of replayability. The next time you cause environmental damage in God of War or Hades, perhaps you should spare a thought for the architect who painstakingly constructed those things in as few moves as possible, eh? I like to think distant descendants are responsible for all the elaborate puzzles you’ll find in a Resident Evil game: everyone must suffer as their bloodline has suffered.
If you liked: Sokoban, Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, Money
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He/Him
A flamboyant ultra nerd, Dave participates in the Underlevelled Tournament both for the thrill of the fight, and to avenge the orphans lost in the climax of the previous tournament.
Born: London
Height: ???
Weight: ???
Nen Type: Manipulator
Classes: Editor, Dancer,
Hobbies: street dance, collecting manga volumes, reading, editing
Likes: short-to-medium walks on the beach, pointing out how things can and will be misconstrued as racism, fighting games, RPGs, anime, Hades, alternative hip hop, conscious hip hop, Mara Wilson, overly long bios, ice-cream
Dislikes: insincere media, his own uncanny resemblance to Richard Ayoade, mayonnaise
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