The Alexandreview of "Blackbar" a Game on How to Stop Censorship

     Today I finished a mobile game called Blackbar, created by Nevin Mrgan.

     This puzzle-based word game is unlike so many of the other mobile games out there right now which in my opinion is definitely a good thing. 

     What I first liked about it is that it has a very straightforward aspect. There is no obnoxious pestering for in-game purchasing.  There are no ads to wait through while the next level loads.  It is simply a game, waiting to be played, level by level.  Ahhhh, be still my heart.

    Beyond those initial factors, the game itself is such an enjoyable play.  It's presented in a series of letters all written to you, "Vi Channi", from either your friend Kentery Jo Loaz (a.k.a. Kenty), her employers "The Department", or the mysterious rebel group simply called "friend".  "Kenty" has just gotten a job with the mysterious department of communication.  The letters you exchange are consistently reviewed and then censored by Kenty's bosses in the "Department".  As a player, it's your job to try to decipher what was redacted.

      In this game there is no home screen.  There is no tutorial.  There is no help option.  There is nothing beyond the game.  Instead, the creator made it so that you learned as you play.  The first level is easy enough to guess as long as you have a basic grasp on language skills.  From there though, it does get increasingly difficult, as most games tend to.
 
     I've got to admit, as fun as this game was, there were a few times that I just had absolutely no clue what the answer to the riddle at hand was.  In these instances, I....well.....I cheated.  I have a low threshold for frustration and sometimes I just want the answer to be given to me.

     It's the same as when I look at the big spoilers for shows that I'm behind in.  I just want to know what happens all right!  Patience is a virtue that I'm apparently lacking.

     Anyhow, I found a really handy site that had a walk-through to the game just by googling the title "Blackbar".  Anytime I was stuck for a bit I'd take a peek on that site to push me forward to the next puzzle.  Out of the 46 pages, I think I maybe had to do this 5 times.  The rest of it I was able to figure out through A LOT of trial and error.  The puzzles weren't impossible, but it definitely made you think outside of the box a lot of the time.

      Really though, I simply enjoyed this game's story.  For me, a game is worth playing once I get invested in the plot.  That happened here and it was evident to me because with each puzzle I completed my thought was always "But what happens next?".  The creator really did a good job of making the story one that you wanted to keep figuring out.

     The best part about this game though, was the fact that at the end I wanted more.  Many people wouldn't feel this way, and I've got to admit that it's super frustrating to want more of something like this when there's nothing more to take in.  But that's what makes it a good story.  It wrapped up in a way that felt complete, but still left you with that sense of "but what happens next?".

     All in all I really enjoyed this game.  The levels were varied, the plot was one worth getting invested in, and the game-play was easy to figure out while also being complex to work your way through.  I'll probably give this game another play in a month or two once I've forgotten most of the answers.  Let's just see if I can cheat less next time.