Visually stunning and addictively puzzling. [Updated]
Written: Jun 23 '00 (Updated Jul 03 '00)
Product Rating:
Pros: Beautiful visually, addictive puzzles, very good value for money, even fairly young children up to adults will enjoy it.
Cons: Highly addictive, primarily aimed at younger children, not as readily available as, say, Quake, and the demo leaves you feeling a bit "is that it" because it only has 8 puzzles.
rillaith's Full Review: Microsoft Pandora's Box for Windows
Hi, my name is Sally, and I'm a puzzle-addict.
I'm always on the lookout for new puzzles or games to download to play in my Copious Free Time (TM), and many are pretty OK. Lots are appalling, but a rare few are not just good, but superb. Pandora's Box looks to be one of these.
I'll point out now that I don't own the full version, much to my dismay. General forgetfulness when near computer shops combined with a maxed out credit card when I remember to look for a copy online have conspired together to put me in this situation.
I first heard of Pandora's Box on one of my scouting missions. There was a review of the top 10 puzzle games on a website somewhere, and this was one of them. It sounded intriguing from the initial description, so I went looking into the complete review - long and thorough, game by game. I won't even attempt to do the same here. There were a couple of screenshots I could get at. My connection wasn't good enough to get any further, but I made a mental note (subsequently forgotten) to look for the game when next out shopping.
A while later, while again hunter-gathering (downloading puzzle games, that is), I found the shareware/demo version of Pandora's Box. Delighted, I downloaded it and installed to have a look-see.
It didn't take long to download, and installed really easily. Not so good, was when it ran, it ran full screen. Not a problem - this just isn't one for surreptitiously playing while meant to be at work - and a very good thing too.
The first impression of the game is very impressive. The graphics are smooth and positively luxurious, and continue to be throughout the game. The storyline is nicely explained, and while aimed for those of a more youthful age, it doesn't exclude those who are merely of a youthful disposition. The tie-in between story and game is very neat, and the navigation is perfect. Throughout the game, the aim is to find tokens related the the current section of story behind the puzzles in each location; the more puzzles you complete in each location, however, the more extras you have access to in order to help you complete the overall game.
The game play in this version is very limited - it is purely a tantalising taster of what is to come when you succumb to the lure of the full version. There are 8 puzzles in total to play, of 4 different types. There are 12 different types in the full game. The first time you start a new type of puzzle, you are offered interactive help, which has been very well designed indeed; you are taken through how the puzzle works step by step, in the process completing a small version of the puzzle.
One thing everyone seems to agree on is that the games are all visually stunning. They are also educational to a degree, as many of the basic images used in the puzzles are beautiful, fairly famous pieces of art. The puzzles themselves have been created by the creator of Tetris, and the appeal of them is immediate. They vary from relaxing and therapeutic to quite frustrating, but completion of all of them is within reach of everyone.
I completed the 8 puzzles in the demo version fairly swiftly, and despite being older than the age it seems to be aimed at, they left me wanting more, now, thank you very much. The demo does leave you feeling a little "well, is that it", but there are so many more puzzles and types of puzzles in the full version, that this is purely because of the version I was playing. The full version also allows you to play types of puzzles, rather than the full puzzle game following the storyline.
This game is most suitable for younger people, people who love quality puzzles, and intelligent, inquisitive kids. I find it hard to believe this is a Microsoft product!
When I get my next pay check, I'm really going to get a copy this time!
[Update 02 July 2000] - Yet again I've discovered how hard it is to actually acquire a full copy of this game in the UK real world - my local Game branch don't stock it. (I did get The Sims, though!) I'll have to get it online instead....
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.