July 27, 2009 12:01 AM • by Audra Furuichi • Posted to
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So, the Caretaker 3000 has sprung a leak. It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta fix it!
Taito's latest release,
WaterWays 
, is an innovative puzzle game, and apparently a winner at the Japan GameJam 2008 competition!
It's your job to play a cute boxy cow named "Patch" whose job it is to keep the world from flooding. Daunting as it may seem, the concept is pretty simple. Navigate Patch around the WaterWays world by pressing the screen in the direction you'd like him to move. There will inevitably be obstacles of all sorts that will make Patch's journey a little more difficult - be it height differences in the land, geese, rams, pistons, or just plain water.
Let me explain the basic controls as they can be a little confusing when you start. (It took me a while to figure this all out, sad but true.) First calibrate your screen at the options menu. I personally prefer playing the game flat on the table so there is no room for error when shifting and tilting the world around.
Patch is moved by pressing the screen space in the direction you want him to move. He can only move up and down one level, so gently tilt the screen to the side to see how many levels the next step is.
The first obstacles are colored "bridges". Sharply tilt the screen in the direction of the colored arrows that correspond to the bridge color panel. You will only have so many opportunities to "flush" the world and this can be seen as water droplets on the lower left hand corner. Some stages will allow you to refill with a level, but most will not. If you are stuck, simply press the "recycle" button on the bottom of the screen (in orange - a.k.a. the Caretaker 3000) to restart the level.
The second major challenge is floating Patch from one water canal to the next. This works similarly to other accelerometer games like BrainFreeze or
FL!P. You cannot control Patch in the water -- he must be "flushed" from one corner to the next.
With all this in mind, pistons and raging rams attempt to push you off your course or swimming ducks will steal your shorts if you cross their path. If Patch is in the water and you flush all the water away, he'll be stuck in the mud and the level will automatically restart. (Although the images for these scenes are quite cute!)
After getting to know the controls, the game is a little more manageable. I managed to get to level 11 without too much difficulty in one sitting. The gameplay isn't something that hasn't been done before, but the concept has a tad bit more depth, utilizing both the accelerometer and touch screen to effectively solve a puzzle.
The character designs are quite charming and the world is colorful and cute. It's a game simple enough for children, but challenging enough for adults! Uncertain if this is a game for you - give the risk-free
Lite Version a go! If you're ready for the
full version, it's available at iTunes for $2.99!
