Scorching Earth

By: Terry

On: April 30th, 2008

Scorching Earth is all about planning ahead – you start with one burning patch of land, and you have to spread the fire outwards to consume the whole level. I could spend a while explaining how it all works, but honestly, it’s best discovered yourself by diving right in. This is the sorta puzzle game I love – the kind where you have to sit back and think things through, as opposed to making twitch reactions to random blocks.

I’m only six levels in, but first impressions are very positive! There’s no tedious tutorial levels or handholding – it’s hard enough to cut your teeth on right from level one (in fact, it actually gets easier for a while after the first level). All puzzle games should be like this!

(Source: JayIsGames)

Posted in Browser Games, Puzzle | Tags: RowlandRose

JohnEvans

It took a long time for me to figure out how to get past the first level. It was more frustrating than fun. There’s a reason games use tutorial levels.
David

Well, I have to agree sometimes tutorials are useful, but I don’t think they should be mandatory.
Zmann

Great game. The first level is a little off-putting, but after that it’s smooth sailing. I’m up to level 23 now, and I’m having a ball.
David

I have no idea how to play. Oh well.
Bob

You consider games about “making twitch reactions to random blocks” puzzle games? For shame.
Alan Gordon

Yeah, uh, I have no idea how to beat the first level. I’m just trying things at random now.
http://www.oxeyegames.com jeb

Got stuck on level 18.

My cents:
* First level is too hard
* No undo option is annoying
* The user interface responds too slowly, it feels sluggish to play
* The “score to win” thing is a bit annoying too, since it forces you to sit and count tiles in order to create a strategy. I guess it’s inherit with the gameplay, though, and hard to “fix”.

Otherwise, a neat puzzle game indeed :)
Ben

An interesting concept, one which I would probably play more if I could get that last tile of level one…
Prio

I just caved in and spoiled myself past level 27. God I hated that level. Had the principle down, but the practice was falling apart at the end.