Many years ago a relatively little known Mac programmer by the name of John Stiles designed a relatively little known puzzle game dubbed Puyo Puyo, a blend between Columns and Tetris, two of the most popular puzzle games of all time. Puyo Puyo was later given a major facelift along with small changes to the gameplay and a new name, Skittles, in reference to the to the name of the pieces you control. Now in its third incarnation, Skittles 2 retains the simplistic and addictive beauty of Puyo Puyo with more depth and a number of refinements.
The goal in Skittles 2 is to place colored Skittles so that they are touching each other either horizontally or vertically. Pairs of skittles drop from the top and when four or more of the same color have attached to each other, they vaporize and points are awarded. As with all great puzzle games, Skittles 2 is easy to learn (a tutorial makes it even easier) but very difficult to master.
Just like with Tetris, where clearing out one line at a time did little for your score or your multiplayer game, Skittles 2 requires you to think ahead and plan combination moves based on where one piece will fall when others below it disappear. Apart from rewarding you with more points, your combinations will also punish your opponent as colorless skittles fall on their screen. The colorless skittles won't attach to anything and can only be eliminated when another skittle touching them is vaporized.
A couple of bonus pieces are also randomly thrown into the game to make things more interesting. A bomb piece will eliminate all the skittles of the color it falls on top, allowing for some devastating combinations, while a magic skittle will assume the color of one next to it, usually picking the best color to benefit your game.
Skittles 2 offers three modes of game play: a one player game against the computer, a two player versus game complete with handicaps to make the game even, and a single player solitaire mode. The computer opponents are very well designed and offer an increasingly challenging game play while adapting slightly to your playing style to remain one step ahead of you. While the artificial intelligence seems to get a significant boost at Level 7, the computer nonetheless plays "fair;" it's simply better at eying combinations than you are. Often times the key to defeating a computer opponent lies in patient, strategic planning for one huge combination rather than many smaller combinations.
The two player game is incredibly fast paced and enjoyable and is where you'll most likely be spending your time after you become familiar with the game. Unfortunately, since the game lacks any networking support you'll have to have a friend at your side furiously attacking the keyboard with you. TCP/IP support, or even just AppleTalk support, would make Skittles 2 an even more phenomenal puzzle game.
Gameplay is what essentially defines a great puzzle game, but visually pleasing graphics and great sounds and music will only keep your more attracted to the game. Skittles 2 excels in both departments, offering excellent graphics and animation and truly top-notch soundtrack.
Seldom does a shareware game come close to quality of Skittles 2, let alone being as addictive. Skittles 2 borders on puzzle game perfection, being as enjoyable to play, if not more so, than the great classics. The lack of network support is the game's only downfall, but despite this Skittles 2 is still arguably the best shareware game of the year.
