The Crystal Maze Review

Costas Stephanides ’s Review

Even Mumsie would approve

The Crystal Maze was Channel 4's answer to the ITV's Krypton Factor and succeeded by Fort Boyard. They don't make TV shows like that anymore. For the young, non-UK among you, The Crystal Maze was a crazy team game of physical and mental challenges created by Richard O'Brien (of Rocky Horror fame). The maze was split into four zones; Futuristic, Aztec, Industrial and Medieval. The aim was to play a number of games in each zone to win a crystal. Each crystal was worth 5 seconds in the final game where you could win a not so big prize. Yes folks, this was the original mini games format.

Many have said that Richard O'Brien is a genius and lives way before his time. The guy has written a cult film and created one of the first mini games before the casual gaming concept even existed. Needless to say we're big fans and keen to cast a critical eye of the mobile game.

We are very impressed with the end result. The humour and bizarre style of the series has been beautifully captured with all the major elements successfully recreated. The snippets from Richard and Mumsie are spot on and, just like the show, you even have team members shouting useless words of encouragement.

At the start of the game, you get to choose your captain and the rest of the team. It doesn't really matter who you pick as you have full control during the game anyway. When you enter each zone, you have to choose which game to play; mental, physical, mystery or skill - (anyone else having flashbacks). While an exact replica of the individual games would not have worked, the interpretation is spot on and they have created mini games that most gamers should be accustomed to. The physical tasks in most of the zones are fairly similar to one another and take the run and jump format. All games are timed and you must return to the exit before the time runs (with or without the crystal) or else you will be locked in. Some of levels even have automatic lock-ins.

As with the TV show there are 20 games to choose from and even Mumsie makes an appearance in her trademark question and answer challenge (mystery in Medieval). The mobile game allows you play through the whole maze as if in the TV show or you can select individual challenges where your best time is saved for each challenge.

The whole package is very neatly arranged and remains true to the original. Loading times are fast and help is available if required from the shoulder keys rather than displaying them each and every time.