Take It Easy

Take It Easy runs at about the same level of fun as Sudoku. That is, it's enjoyable to get the hang of and fuss around with for a few minutes at a time, but once you've played it for a while, it's a little uninspired and lonely.

There are three different game modes, but the fundamental concept of the game revolves around either placing or swapping tiles to connect same-color bars in order to score points or complete goals. So the gameplay is incredibly simple. But this isn't a bad thing: with moderate levels of strategy, the game more than warrants play after play. But this is true only for the "classic" game mode.

The fault of the game is in its "puzzle" mode, which, unlike "classic," provides a sense of level-based progress. This is a shame, however, since at least the first 50 puzzles are uncomfortably easy. And even beyond those first 50, the strategy of the game breaks down too easily and too quickly with the possibility of accidental wins. It's a flaw that's rather demoralizing for anyone attempting to actually strategize and feel accomplished. I don't mean to sound uppity. It's just that the job of puzzle games is to be balanced. They function on the basis that they're mathematically sound. That they're fair.

This flaw is what separates Take It Easy from becoming a bathroom classic like Sudoku. That, and a horribly over-saturated market.