Game Details

• Title: Peggle Deluxe
• Developer: PopCap Games
• Released (UK): 11/03/2009
• Current Price: 800 MS Points
• Age Rating: E
• Game Type: Puzzle
• Multi-player: Up to 4 players online, 2 player local

Background

After a break of a few weeks due to expensive XBLA games, I am back with a review of Peggle. For people unfamiliar with Peggle it is a simple game reminscent of breakout and arkanoid where the aim is to clear each level of Orange Pegs and Bricks before you run out of Balls. An example of a level is shown below.

There are several single player modes most of which need to be unlocked as you progress through the main adventure mode. These modes are quick play where you can play any level you have completed in single player with any unlocked character, Master Duel which you compete with an AI character in a single level taking it in turns to try to clear the same level with the person with the highest score winning and finally Challenge Mode which I have yet to unlock but understand to be a series of extra challenging levels.

In addition to the single player modes there are two multiplayer modes which are duel and PEG Party. Duel is the multiplayer equivalent to Master Duel, while in PEG Party everyone is given their own individual copy of a level to clear with the person with the highest score after all balls are used being the winner.

Positives

It has simple yet addictive gameplay and the graphics and sound are both of a reasonable quality for this type of game, and I found the choice of Ode for Joy for when you get Extreme fever inspired. The single player adventure mode while starting easy quickly gets challenging and the characters special abilities add to the fun. The achievements are also well thought out with varying difficulty levels unlike some of PopGames previous efforts like the nearly impossible ones for Bejeweled 2.

Negatives

While special pegs, environmental structures and character abilities add variation to the game, the core mechanic does not change much. In addition it has been out for the PC for a while and unless you need the achievements it is probably not worth getting this version if you already have it for PC.

My Recommendation

Consider – 7/10

While in many ways a limited game, Peggle is fun to play, if it was not already available for the PC I would recommend buying it. Price wise it is equivalent to what you get on steam (800 MS points (~£6.80) vs £6.99) however the Pop Games website is currently offering it for £2.55 until the end of March (31/03/2009) and that may be a better option if you want to buy the game but don’t need to get it for the Xbox 360.

Video Review

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXRDyghgTmk[/youtube]