We always try to come up with cool little one sentence slogans for each game we review. We had a hard time coming up with one for this next game. A few revisions after and we settled with one word: Genius.

Eliss ($3.99)

This game is a by-product of a combination between a classic artist like Picasso or Michaelangelo and the iPhone’s touch controls. It combines great graphics and artwork down to it’s littlest details. The game is not pure art as it requires focus and at most, the use of 5 fingers in this fast paced multi touch controlled masterpiece.

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Pastel Revolution, Outstanding Art Execution

Our site really does use pastel colors in full effect and so we automatically enjoy games that utilize the theme as well (see Airport Mania, Sneezies, Easter Sneezies). However, Eliss, does more than just use pastel colors.

It’s amusing to watch the little planets bloom out of the dark and pop out back into the dark. When planets collide, little red vibrating rays shoot off the contact spot.

The level picker is simplistic but the way the game deploys you from it to the level itself is something to be seen. Combine it with the high pitch sound the game emits everytime a button is touched, and you’ll get Eliss’ distinct world.

Enough art orgasm, watch the game in action provided by Steph himself:

Gameplay

The object of the game is to be able to match the planets with their little planet black holes (Steph calls them squeezars). You are tasked to complete a certain number of them to progress to the next level.

Planets can be combined to form bigger planets depending on the size of the black holes. On further levels, Eliss actually would require you to split up the planets to satisfy smaller squeezars.

Soon enough, little black holes that suck your planets in, red thinggy mabobs that collide with your planets, green potions and slow motions complicate the game. To even further prove the uniqueness of Eliss, slow motion actually deploys a little blue border that will circle around your screen signifying how long the slow mo lasts:

Conclusion

We’ll be brave enough to rank Eliss all the way up there with Zen Bound in terms of gameplay and design. Words and pictures cannot describe enough the beauty of the game so we encourage you watch the video or better yet, go ahead and download the game.

Just a simple word of caution. Eliss requires a bit of a learning curve and the levels are some of the most difficult levels to be ever introduced for any iPhone game (we’re stuck at level 10). It does get a little frustrating as you play but the whole “Eliss” sound and graphics atmosphere is something you want to experience over and over again.

By the way, did we even mention Eliss was selected as a finalist for Innovation in Mobile Game Design at the recently concluded IGF Mobile Awards? Oh wait… we just did.