Timeball (Blodia)

~ BLODIA ~

Hudson Soft / Manuel Constantinidis / Broderbund Japan

HuCard

1990

Unless this sort of thing is really, really up your alley, you'll probably find that the underlying concept grows tiresome really, really quickly. And by "this sort of thing," I certainly don't mean puzzle games in general. I like a number of PCE puzzlers, from well-fillers like Puyo Puyo to block-shovers like Tricky Kick. But this one is part of a separate breed, the Pipe Dream type that most players are able to sit with for only a short period and don't ever feel like returning to once that period has passed.

Each of Blodia's puzzles consists of tiles depicting a maze of pipes. Traveling through these pipes is a tiny crystal ball that takes all the time in the world as it dilly-dallies along from point A to point B. Meddle with the tiles--switch them around, slide them over, do whatever it takes to ensure that our slow-moving sphere never runs out of corridor to traverse. Once every inch of a stage's tubing has been graced by the sacred orb, the level concludes and a new trial commences.

Some boards contain vast stretches of open space, indicating that only the slightest bit of pipe tinkering is in order. Other setups present tortuous tube segments that wind their way about the playfield and converge in intricate bunches. While some problematic areas can be fixed up long before the ball even heads their way, many require that you repair them as the sphere is in their very midsts. These on-the-fly jobs demand quick thought and finger work and constitute Blodia's most “intense” moments.

The game is fairly inoffensive at first. Both of its selectable tunes are listenable; and eliminating the final bit of pipe in a given stage always evokes a little surge of pride, as this is one of those puzzlers that make the player feel extraordinarily clever whenever a board is cleared.

But there came a point when I just couldn't stand it anymore, even though I tend to tolerate intolerable concepts for a lot longer than most other players do. Some superior puzzlers like Tetris and Adventures of Lolo are immeasurably clever in concept and design, and the challenges they present are exciting and intense. Blodia doesn’t come off as the masterwork of a genius, nor does it ever really get my blood pumping, even during its “close calls.” Countless twisty pipe segments, monochrome game boards, and an indifferent little ball are not going to hold the attention of most folks who have Gate of Thunder resting on their shelves.

Maybe if the designers had found some way to incorporate the bottom-of-the-board artwork themes into the action, the overall product would've held more appeal.

Probably not.

Sweet.

Timeball (Blodia)

Manuel Constantinidis/Hudson Soft - 1990 - U.S.A.
HuCard

Ahh, the infamous Timeball. Even in the US, it's probably better known as Blodia (its name in regions outside the US). Timeball endures the brunt of many-a-thrashing at the hands of Turbo players, often times being abused as an object of comparison by which to gauge a game's suckitude.

"Well, at least it's better than Blodia."
"That game sucks worse than Blodia! A rare achievement indeed!"
Etc.

And for what? Is Timeball really the epitome of all that was awful and putrid during the 16-bit era? In a word: no.

Those out there who know me know that I'm a sucker for a good puzzle game. And while I'd be going out on a limb by saying that Timeball classes with the best of 'em, it's many times removed from the worst of 'em.

So just what is it about Timeball that evokes such raw hatred from everyone? I've observed a definite correlation in the video game universe that ties a given title's difficulty with how much the average schmuck dislikes it. The harder the game, the "worse" the game. Case in point: Altered Beast. Deep Blue. Shape Shifter. Ghost Manor. I could go on and on. I've come to the conclusion that people in general like games that stick to a preconceived "norm" and any deviation beyond that realm just plain befuddles these clowns.

If this is truly the gauge of a game's greatness, then Timeball is guilty as charged. The goal of the game is to allow a glass ball to succesfully navigate a pipeline from beginning to end. Sounds simple enough, and it is. Except.... every pipeline has been "shuffled" so that you have to put it back together in the correct sequence or your ball will fall and shatter on the ground. The puzzles start out very simple but it won't be long before you're scratching your head.

Your score is awarded based on how quickly you complete each puzzle and how many moves it took you to reach that resolution. Gameplay is simple-- shuffle pipeline tiles around the board while the ball slowly traverses the course and when you're satisfied, hit the TURBO and let the ball zip through to the end. If Pipe Dream and that Puzzle game you used to be able to find under the Apple menu on those old Macs had a child, it would play exactly like Timeball.

Aesthetically the game is extremely utilitarian, but it's pleasant enough. The top and bottom of the screen display various environmental visuals that change every handful of levels or so. The majority of the screen is taken up by the game board where the real "action" happens. From the main menu you have a choice of two different music tracks or "None." As a matter of fact, the "Labyrinth" tune is one of my favorite video game tracks, ever. It's the kind of tune that fits this kind of game perfectly, and as many times as you hear it, it never gets old.

Timeball's biggest (only?) pitfall is the monotony that will inevitably ensue after you've been playing it for extended periods. Timeball is best played occasionally, in relatively short spurts. This should be no problem since the game will save your progress and high score table as you advance. There are 100 different boards total, and believe me, it will take many hours to see them all.

If you're like me and puzzle games appeal to you, or you're the kind of person who likes to sit down with a crossword or mind puzzle book every now and then, you'd probably do OK to nab a cheap copy (and it is cheap) of Timeball and give it a spin. You sure could do a lot worse.