Chuzzle: Why I Don't Get Out More

I was recently thinking to myself, “When am I going to update that damn blog?”. I struggled with the answer, which could’ve resulted in being either “Never” or (In a British accent) “Not bloody likely”. As my internal argument reached its climax, I decided to think about it later. I then devoured a box of biscuits and started playing Chuzzle yet again. I just can’t explain it. Chuzzle, for those of you who don’t know, is yet another “casual” game from the remarkably successful PopCap Games. PopCap is well known for their casual games, which absorb time and all inexplicably seem to feature cute, colorful animals.

 

In PopCap style, all these images will be family-friendly. And boring.

So, let’s talk about Chuzzle, then. Writing this, I’ve realised a large amount of PopCap games are the same thing. That is, matching colours. Chuzzle‘s unique spin on it is rotation of rows and columns. Basically, you drag one of the rows or columns at a time, and by doing so attempt to create a group of three or more of the same colour Chuzzles (which then, bizarrely, explode). Obviously, the more Chuzzles you ‘splode in a turn, the more points you’ll rack up. Join five or more together, and you’ll make a boomer Chuzzle. Make a group of three that includes a boomer, and you’ll also blow up some other Chuzzles, making them handy for getting rid of obstacles like Fatties. Oh yeah; occaisonally, a massively obese Chuzzle will drop in to the game, forcing you to move two rows or columns at once. They’re not the worst bastards, though. Let me introduce you to the lock: 

 

I hate you.

Locks prohibit you from using the row or column they’re in. Oh, and if you ever make a lame move (like only scoring one group in a turn) one of these guys will appear. So it’s not unusual to have 3 or 4 rows AND columns cut off. The only solution is either making a group with these guys, or using a boomer. These locks remain one of my most frustrating villains that I can recall in gaming, and many times I simply resorted to yelling “Fuck you” at my monitor. I know, I know; not exactly civilized, but if you saw that they did to me, you’d've done it too. So, yeah, it does get frustrating, but in a good way. Because every time you destroy a lock or blow up a fatboy with an exhillarating “sproosh”, you’ll crack a smile. Oh, and Chuzzles, despite having a complete lack of anything indentifiable except eyes, are some of the cutest little peons in gaming. Simply put, I’m a fan of Chuzzle and casual gaming. Despite what all the hardcore gamers may say, Casual gaming is no doubt a revolution in gaming. It’s bringing people who you’d never associate with games (eg my Mother) to gaming. Plus, it’s relaxing to take a few minutes off to explode some fluffballs. Oh, and if you like Chuzzle (as I do), give other PopCap successes such as Insaniquarium, Peggle, Bejeweled 2 or Pizza Frenzy a go. You’ll thank me for it, unless you end up smashing your monitor because of those bloody locks.

 

 

Couldn't find a way to fit this into the Velociraptor Survival Guide.

Tags: Fat Chuzzles should explode into hotdogs, I want a pet Chuzzle. A Rainbow one., Please no "Your Mother" jokes