Game review: bitFLIP - iPhone / iPod Touch

The game from Hands-On Mobile initially follows the tried and tested (some might say stale) format of match-three puzzlers.

You are presented with a grid which is made up of different coloured symbols. You can choose from a 5x5, 6x6 or 7x7 board.

The aim is to make rows of three or more same-coloured symbols, or bits.

To do this you swap adjoining bits. By changing them around you’ll make the necessary trios or better.

Tapping around the grid places a ring-pull type tool which holds two bits. To swap the two bits in the ring-pull you just drag your finger vertically or horizontally to make the match.

Each row of three you make disappears from the board and is replaced by new symbols.

It’s a standard concept which has been used in countless puzzle game.

What sets bitFLIP apart from the others is that as well as moving tiles around on the board you can also flip each one over and form match-threes with different symbols underneath instead.

Tapping on a symbol shows you what’s on its flipside and double tapping then turns it over.

It’s a clever little twist on the usual formula. While it might not sound wildly innovative, it manages to provide extra variety from the normal match-three style and also adds additional strategy.

Another addition to the standard match-three puzzle comes from tapping on ‘special’ bits which appear on the board. Doing this fills up your power meter – once it’s full you can activate two power-ups, either tilting the board or tapping on certain bits to burst them.

There are three distinct modes of play in bitFLIP. In endless play you are racing against time to clear bits before they stack too high. In quick jam you have three minutes to score as many points as possible. There is also a ‘forever jam’ single player game which opens up later on and head-to-head multiplayer.

Three difficulty levels and a large number of achievements should keep the most expert of puzzlers going for a good while. It’s a simple game to play but also challenging.

The trippy electronic soundtrack and glossy graphics in bitFLIP give the game an almost hypnotic feel. The game can get quite frantic but it also feels soothing at the same time.

The designers seem to have taken inspiration from the Bejeweled blueprint, but to their credit they have clearly put effort into refreshing the format.

Overall, bitFLIP is an enjoyable puzzle game which is ideal for relaxing with in the evening with your feet up or zoning out to on the bus or train.

Verdict: 7.5 out of 10 – Match-three puzzle games are ten a penny on the iPhone and iPod Touch but this one has more appeal and higher quality presentation than most.