Peggle

Peggle is really hard to explain. No, "Peggle" is not a synonym for "Unicorn Turds", It's a Puzzle game from PopCap first released in February '07 for the PC, and most recently out for Xbox360 on XboxLIVE in March. Mechanically it's very simple, not much more than the Japanese game 'Pachinko' where a ball is dropped vertically on a 2-D plane. Each ball is aimed and shot, falling and bouncing off a the field of mostly blue 'pegs', with the ultimate goal to of clearing the orange ones before you run out of shots.

Peggle ('Deluxe' and 'Nights') Review from a famousblueraincoat
Played 20+ hours on PC
Available for PC, Mac, Nintendo DS (as "Peggle Dual Shot) and Xbox360
"I Just Peggle'd My Pants"


This game is built for casual play. Have you got ten minutes before the bus comes? Need to kill some time while the eggs boil? Is the first intermission of the big hockey playoff game taking too long? Peggle makes it insanely easy to jump in and out of your game. Mid-shot you can hit the quit button, and at a later date pickup exactly where you left off.

The points system, and the qualifications to acquire extra balls are taught to you subtly and before you know it, you'll be multiplying combos and scoring long-shot-special-move-bonus-bucket-bounces in no time. The simplicity and the ease of use in Peggle is what makes it so enjoyable and downright addictive.

You might be thinking that this version of glorified pinball is far too simple a game for you. After all, you're a modern man (or woman) with modern interests and taste. You're at least somewhat of an intellectual, and expect some mature content and challenge in your game. Surely you'd think you wouldn't be interested in what is essentially a digital toy. Indeed, you'd not be up at 4am trying to clear that one level you just can't conquer. Well you, sir (or madam), I can safely say that you're grossly mistaken.

At first you will be startled and confused at the onslaught of primary colours and the variety of mystical animals (Unicorn? Tiger? Science-Hamster?) that engage in dialogue with you between levels. However, slowly but surely whatever raw masculinity and 'coolness' you think is a part of your identity will succumb to the absolute joy that is Peggle.

Every aspect of Peggle reinforces you on a child-like level, the equivalent of a pat on the head and a tummy rub. It's as if each shot plugs directly in to your synapse firings; the better you do, the more endorphins are released. As the ball drops to each successive peg, the tone increases up and up the chord scale building tension and excitement. You find yourself slobbering, with your tongue hanging out, or biting your nails while having your eyes glued to the screen waiting for the next bounce. I found Peggle to be extremely addictive and reinforcing in this way.

It is essentially one mechanic used over and over again, with the randomization of orange peg-locations. To add additional variety, in the single-player there are sets of 5 levels, each having a different 'power-up' character. These characters effect play in some way if you are to hit at least one of the two green pegs in the field. The power-up might alter play in a simple way like adding a second ball to play, or adding pinball flippers to the stage. This seemed to add some further strategy in the game overall. In this specific level will you use the Dragon's fireball to blast away an alley of pegs or would it be better to use the Rabbit's 'magic hat-ball' that give you short slow bounces?

This is a game that is honestly accessible and intended for all ages and all types of player. The only thing I can complain about in Peggle is the repetitive music, but that's only because I played it too much for too long! Additionally, the only way to really understand the ridiculousness that is Peggle is to try it, as it's far too difficult (and embarrassing) to fully explain properly.

Peggle is the ultimate casual game as its short and easy to jump in and out of. It's simple endorphin-releasing fun.