Android App Video Review: SpaceChem Mobile

SpaceChem Mobile is a fantastic puzzle game from Zachtronics Industries, full of complexity and solid design along with a very unique premise. The entire game is about chemistry in space. But don't judge this book by its cover or description, as it's actually one of the most original puzzle games to come out in ages, and it's worth a try from any level of puzzle fanatic.

You take on the role as a Reaction Engineer on an alien planet. It's up to you to combine various elements using reactors, bonding and separating different elements to synthesize various chemical products before shipping them off. You do this with odd, train track like devices called waldos. You'll always have two of them: one red and one blue. You simply draw out the path of the waldos, leaving various nodes wherever they are appropriate. These nodes can bring up or send out elements in their proper zones, grab and drop elements, bind, and unbind them, and even sync the two waldos up with each other. Naturally, any solution that functions will work for a win, but if you want big points you'll have to build as efficient a reaction as possible.

Before long, you have to start using multiple reactors as you synthesize massive and complex products together, and that is where the game starts to really get crazy. This game may not be a completely accurate portrayal of chemistry, but it still feels very smart, whether you're looking at the periodic table provided to you or enjoying the smooth and streamlined art style. The soundtrack is hilariously epic too. It's an odd premise with a fairly steep learning curve, but if you can just push through it, you'll get to play one of the more complex and rewarding puzzle games of this generation. It may be a bit pricey, but it's more than worth it. If you're unconvinced, there is a demo version as well. Definitely give this one a chance.