Our #10 3DS game has some pull to it.
In the overall narrative of download exclusives on Nintendo systems, there is perhaps no game more important or relevant than Pushmo (known as Pullblox in Europe, and Hiku Osu in Japan.) After a generation of limited support and awkward restrictions on WiiWare and DSiWare, it would have been fair to question whether Nintendo was capable of successfully embracing the digital format the way its competitors had. And with the lack of original first-party efforts around the launch of the 3DS eShop, who else would have the confidence to place their talents behind the service? That all changed at the tail-end of 2011, when this adorable platforming puzzle title from Intelligent Systems entered the fray.
The premise could not be much simpler: each of the game’s 250+ levels presents a mural comprised of different-shaped blocks, all of which can be extended out to varying degrees in order to create platforms. Controlling a plump sumo cat named Mallo, the player must push and pull these blocks into a structure that they can use to climb to the top. Wrapped up in such a cute, childlike presentation, one could be forgiven for initially thinking that Pushmo is geared towards a younger audience, especially given how simple it is in the early goings.
But as the old saying goes, “from little acorns, mighty oaks shall grow.” The early abundance of tutorials is actually the small beginnings of an expertly honed difficulty curve, and you will be thankful that the game settled you in gently to prepare you for what lies ahead. Pushmo becomes very mentally taxing, but importantly, every puzzle has a logical method for progression, even the truly monumental levels towards the end.
Ultimately, success in each stage, no matter how complex they may appear, can be boiled down to the fundamental principles learned in the opening level set – the challenge therefore rests in the intelligent layering of new wrinkles in the system, which force you to take a different approach towards achieving the same solution. Meanwhile, a rewinding function encourages experimentation, as you can test out your theories and easily amend mistakes by erasing the last few actions. The end result is a puzzler that almost never ceases to offer a satisfying challenge.
Now, apart from the fairly potent 3D visual effect, nothing about the game proclaims that it is something only the 3DS could do. However, Pushmo is structured in such a way that it is perfectly suited to the handheld. Taken one level at a time, the game can be enjoyed in bite-sized chunks and still feel totally rewarding.
It is also just as likely, though, that you are compelled to spend hours devouring dozens of levels in a single play session. As with the best games in the puzzle genre, Pushmo develops for itself a ‘zone,’ so to speak, meaning that as you play more, you start to work several steps ahead and identify patterns before they have even clearly emerged in the shape of the mural. It is a constant cycle of applying a simple concept to a complicated base. In other words, you begin to think in Pushmo language, and this is what makes the game so incredibly addictive.
We still have yet to mention the ingenious Pushmo Studio, the user-generated content module of the game. To this day, it remains by far the most effective use of QR code technology in any game on the system, enabling the player to quickly and easily scan other players’ creations and adding to the already expansive number of available levels.
Looking back on the life of the 3DS so far, it is clear to observe the influence that Pushmo has had on the eShop as a viable platform for digital distribution, and the game itself was popular enough to spawn a distinct sequel, Crashmo, only a year later. This, in addition to all the other reasons, outlined above, is why Pushmo deserves recognition among the 3DS elite.