I have been playing Two Dots for a number of years now; it’s a really well designed puzzle game, ideally suited for mobile and portable use, short levels and touch screen control. The game starts easily, requiring you to clear a certain number of dots of defined colours, then introducing the square move (make a closed area of a certain colour, and all of that colour disappear). Slowly other mechanics are introduced – bugs that change colour each time they are connected until they fly away; fire which consumes a dot each time unless it’s cleared; water and slime which spread around the level; other blocks which cover or obstruct play.
I am now at level 5434 of the game. That is a huge amount of content, however you measure it, but it still feels like new levels have something different to try. It’s a while since new mechanics were introduced, admittedly, though the interplay between existing ones isn’t yet explored fully.
I’m not sure it will be. Unfortunately Two Dots, as an ongoing game, has been sold to Take 2, and they seem to see it as a cash cow. Increasingly levels are becoming difficult to pass without using boosters or other power ups, and these are in short supply unless you buy them with real money. In the past I’ve willingly paid for access to different modes, since that felt like additional content. This now just feels like cynical money grabbing, and according to others I’m not even up to the really impossible levels yet.
Apparently the concerns over increased difficulty have been heard via the game’s social media channels, and adjustments were made. It doesn’t seem to have changed much.
Tim's Gaming Diary 