eBoy is a new puzzle game, that takes a novel approach to this universally addictive genre of games. You follow the title – you fix pix.

eBoy FixPix ($1.99)

That is a great way to play, and one that works very well – once you grasp what you are doing. Read on for the full details about this new – and potentially great – game.

Presentation

eBoy is a new game, and one that just feels right. The game is deceptively simple – tilt your device to align the picture correctly. This seems silly, even a waste of time. But, in reality you couldn’t ask for a better method of play for the iPhone. You start off the game without an inkling of what you are doing, but some trial and error, and you discover your goal – take parts of a photo, and tilt your device to align the two layers, do so successfully, and you advance to the next.

Find it too difficult? Skip it, and return whenever you feel the need to. This is as good of a basis as you could possibly ask for, and it works well. The graphics are simple – verging on retro. They are best described as more colourful 16-bit graphics. The controls work well, even though you are thrown into the game without an inkling of what they are.

Controls

The controls are a tad awkward at first, but over time become very intuitive and easy enough to not take anything away from the game. It is very simple – tilt your device. Tilt your device to move the top layer in all four directions, and align it with the bottom layer. That is very simple, but without a beginning tutorial, you do not have an idea about how to play the game. That is my lone suggestion for that.

Gameplay

eBoy is a great, simple game – precisely where the iPhone excels as a gaming platform. The objective is blatantly obvious, once you get the hang of what you are doing, since you are given no tutorial or any other warmer. This is the worst flaw, the rest is spot on where it should be. You simply tilt your device in all directions to move the top picture layer, to align it with the bottom layer.

You do this until you match it properly, and you then advance to the next photo. Can’t make it work? Just skip it, and move on to the next one. You cannot ask for a more user-centric way to play than that. This is just a unique, and great implementation of this concept onto the iPhone.

Suggestions

* iPad version
* iPhone 4 graphics
* A tutorial! I looked and looked, but I never found one. Without one, it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and ruins your first experience with playing it. Please?
* More puzzles.
* A hint system.

Conclusion

eBoy FixPix is a great new puzzle game on the iPhone, and one that does a marvelous job at doing what it is supposed to do – even though you begin without a clue of your objective. I loved this game, and I think all of you will as well – and for that, it gains my highest recommendations.