Picross Fairytale: Legend of the Mermaid is a picross puzzle game with a nautical theme. Although steam version of this game is the version this review is based upon. Originally this game is a free to play appstore game. The only variation between the 2 versions with regards to gameplay is minimal. Firstly there is the inclusion of steam achievements on the steam version. Lastly there is the inclusion of the left/right click mouse controls. Outside of this there aren’t any differences between the steam and app store versions of the game as far as I can find out.
As expected this game does what it says and that being a nautical themed nonogram puzzle game. Whilst the game has a basic story that is essentially story of The Little Mermaid. I believe the story was an afterthought, as the story isn’t discussed too often in game. The story also does not significantly affect or contribute to the gameplay. Although I can admire that there is some attempt to a story in the game.
With regards to the design of this game I think that it is quite a dull game. The design choices make gameplay particularly unappealing. Since the ambience in the levels is lifeless and unappealing. The levels have a static background. Comparing this to the level selection menu in game the difference is huge. The level selection menu is full of life. In which there is animations of various fish swimming, bubbles in the water. There is even a treasure chest you can open. In comparison the level selection menu is at least providing some entertainment values whilst the in game ambience is dull. I also feel that the music played in the background is basic. Although the soundtrack is decent it is only a few tracks that are on a loop. In the end most people will turn off the music as it gets repetitive after so long.
I also don’t like that this game is poor at providing any visual hints. In particular the game doesn’t provide any help in when you are completing puzzles. This game will not cross out numbers that you have completed. The only clue the game will provide is a pearl at the other side of the board. The game will only provide you that hint when all the numbers for that row have been done. For example if a row says 5, 2 and you place 5 tiles together onto the board. The game won’t acknowledge your actions. Even if you place an X after it won’t mark the 5 as being completed at all. This also makes the game more difficult. On the larger levels this will make the game more challenging. Since you will be constantly checking the number count to know what you’re doing.
Technically I also feel that the game is quite poor as it has various issues that are in the game. There is certain flaws in the game, such the fact that clicking and dragging will delete any things that have already been placed on the tile,even if it is correct.
But one thing I don’t know if it is technical issues or poor design. But I found that this game is ultra forgiving on mistakes as it will not count any mistakes in game. Unless you have asked for the game to check your work which it will tell you all the correct/wrong rows. Outside of this the game doesn’t recognise any mistakes you have made. I also have noticed that outside of the game telling you have made a mistake you can earn 3 starfishes. Effectively if you don’t use the checker you can make all the mistakes you want and fix them later. I found this out as I finished all but one tile in the game. After doing so I left the game running for 40+ minutes. Later when I put the last tile in I got 3 starfishes for doing so which I think is strange.
I also don’t like that this game is poor at providing any visual hints. In particular the game doesn’t provide any help in when you are completing puzzles. This game will not cross out numbers that you have completed. The only clue the game will provide is an orb at the other side of the board. The game will only provide you that hint when all the numbers for that row have been done. For example if a row says 5, 2 and you place 5 tiles together onto the board. The game won’t acknowledge your actions. Even if you place an X after it won’t mark the 5 as being completed at all.
This for many will make the game more difficult. On the larger levels this will make the game more challenging. Since you will be constantly checking the number count to know what you’re doing. It also possible for the game to accept the wrong answer as on one level it asked me to put 2,7 in a 10 space area. I put 7, 2 (as seen above) and it said it was correct. Whether this is an intentional design issue or lack of quality assurance testing, I don’t know but I think that this flaw shouldn’t be in the game.
Even though I think that this game has some good parts to it. In particular the various puzzles in this game that are related to the theme of the game. There is also many flaws that are present in the game. Such as the fact that even though this is a game that you have to pay money for, there is an (unneeded) in game shop that you can buy hints for. In my point of view this game has little to provide. Consequently as a result of this, I feel that this game isn’t worth playing on. However if you insist on playing on this game. Please download it from the app store as it is free on the app store.
