Boredworkers.com

Next week’s game of the week comes a little early since I’ll probably be too busy to publish this later. Jeng jeng jeng, I present to you, Game House’s Luxor Deluxe. A unique ‘match three’ style puzzle game that requires quick thinking and quicker reflexes as you try to clear the field before time, or more accurately, space runs out.

A few years back, WL and I were out at the arcades (before they were banned) and saw an interesting game where you were required to clear a field of marbles moving along a fixed track before the marble train reaches a fixed destination. We enjoyed it so much that I suggested buying the machine :D But since we were (and still are) short on cash, we settled for playing several rounds of the game before saying good bye (since the ban took effect the very next day). I didn’t see that game or anything similar until I came across Luxor (developed by Mumbo Jumbo and published by Game House).

Gameplay is simple and the action is fast paced. You control a shooter located at the bottom of the game screen that you can move left and right across the width of the playing field. Using this platform, you shoot coloured balls upwards at a train of marbles that are constantly moving along a fixed track. The aim of the game is to clear each marble train by forming ‘three-in-a-row’ combinations when you blast it with your own marble. After a fixed amount of time, a new train of marbles will enter the playing field. You have to clear these before they reach their destination, a pyramid at the end of the track. Failing to do so will cost you a life.

A level ends when you’ve gained enough points. A red meter at the bottom of the screen indicates how much more you have to go. When it is full and turns gold, it means that you’ve attained your goal and only need to clear the remaining marbles that are on the field to pass to the next level. Each level consists of a different track layout with varying lengths, twists, and turns, which gives the game a dynamic game play and requires users to use different strategies. As you progress, you will notice though that tracks get replayed, albeit with different speeds and increasingly difficult marble. The music is well suited to the game and induces a sense of urgency as the marble trains near their destination.

As you clear different combinations, gems, coins and powerups will be dropped. Collect gems to get a big bonus in points. Collecting 30 gold coins will grant you an extra life. Powerups are essential to your game play and will help you to pass each level. Collect them whenever possible.

There are 88 fast paced action to clear in the game. Levels are divided into thirteen stages. Stages are like checkpoints in the game. If you lose all your lives, you will continue the game starting from the last checkpoint that you made. I found this to be rather irritating when I was playing the game. There was this particular stage that I was having problems with (I kept dying at the last level of the stage) and I wound up replaying the levels over and over again.

You can choose to play in either full screen or window mode. I suggest playing in full screen. When playing in window mode, you’ll have a tendency to move the mouse outside of the window which causes the game to pause or your shooter not to respond to your mouse movements. This is the worse possible thing that can happen when you’re in a critical position and need accuracy or when you’re trying to catch that all important powerup.

Overall, this is an excellent game that will keep you at the edge of your seat. Some levels are frustrating but not so much that you won’t come back to play. Work at it and you’ll eventually meet the phaeroah at Philae. Are you skilled enough?

For links to the recommended download files, visit Game House Luxor at Boredworkers.com’s GotW. To get a little more milleage out of the game:

1. Download both the recommended game and crack.
2. Install the game.
3. Unzip the crack files into the game installation folder.
4. Run the .exe file that comes with the crack archive.
5. Wait pass the crack splash screen and click the ‘crack’ button when it appears to apply the necessary patch.
6. Run the game and enjoy.

Disclaimer:
The author does not condone piracy. If you find that you enjoy the game after playing it for a bit, do purchase the license. Good work should be given its due.