Rocket Mania by Astraware Review

August 31, 2007

Of the various genres of games available for Windows Mobile devices, my two favorite are card games and puzzle games.  When it comes to card games, one of the best out there is Solitaire from Astraware which I recently reviewed here at Clinton Fitch (Dot) Com!  It so happens that Astraware also makes one of my favorite puzzle games, Rocket Mania.  Set within an Asian theme, the object of Rocket Mania is to build a fuse from one side of the play board to the rockets on the opposite side.  Sounds simple but until you have a large number of fuses to build an only a short amount of time - measured in lanterns hanging at the top of the game board - to complete each level.  The higher the level the more fuses you have to complete in lesser time.  As you complete levels you raise in rank with the ultimate goal being that of Master of Pyrotechnics.  The game is challenging, fun and highly addictive!

Rocket Mania is installed on your Windows Mobile device via ActiveSync and requires approximately 4.7MB of storage space.  You can installed the game in your devices main memory or on a storage card and your device must be running PocketPC 2002, 2003, 2003SE, Windows Mobile 5 or 6.  Once the game is installed and started the main title page is displayed.  From this main page you can choose the different game types - Classic or Strategy - as well as access the Tools and Game Menus.  You can also enable or disable game sounds and music as well.  If you leave the game on the main display long enough, it will begin scrolling the high scores that have been achieved.

Figure 1:  Rocket Mania's Main Display

Figure 2:  High Scores Displayed

The Classic game mode is by far the most addictive mode of Rocket Mania and the fastest paced.  The object of this mode is with each level to launch the required number of rockets in the shortest amount of time.  On the left hand side of the game screen are lit matches with the rockets being aligned on the right hand side.  In between you have to build a fuse from the match to the rocket in order to launch it.  To do this you manipulate the pieces of fuse much like puzzle pieces to complete a "line" from the match to the rocket.  Each piece of fuse can be tapped to rotate it to match up and create the "line".  Additionally, because of the shapes of the pieces, it is possible - and encouraged! - to launch multiple rockets with one match (my personal record is 7 rockets in one shot!).  When a piece of the fuse it touching a rocket it is identified in red while pieces that are touching matches are in orange.  This color coding allows you to easily identify which pieces can be used or manipulated to create the entire length of fuse needed.

Figure 3:  Game Board of Rocket Mania

Figure 4:  Now THAT's a Fuse!  Yes, that's a Quadruple Launch!

Figure 5:  Rocket Launch!

Time is measured by a series of lanterns at the top of the game board.  If time runs out before you launch the number of required rockets, the game is over.  If you get the rockets launched in time however, a splash screen with your score and ranking are displayed.  Once you score a certain level of points, your rank within the game increases.  Ultimately the goal is become a Master of Pyrotechnics but you have to start out simple - as in a child!

Figure 6:  Completed Level with Score and Ranking

The further you progress the more difficult Rocket Mania because as the more rockets are required to launch and the lanterns speed up in their burn out rate.  By the time you are at level 10 you will be all but required to launch multiple rockets at once to clear a level!  Throughout each level you will also see jewels, bombs and clocks on various pieces of the fuse that you are attempting to build.  The jewels are collected for extra points while the bombs detonate after you have completed a fuse to further jumble the playing field.  Finally, the clocks slow the lantern timer down, giving you more time to work the puzzle.

Keep in mind that the more fuse you use the better.  Even if you add a piece of fuse that isn't connected to a rocket it is fine and allowed within the game.  This is beneficial to do if you have a stray piece that has a jewel, bomb or clock attached to it.  You get the benefit of that collected item despite it not launching a rocket.

They other game type, Strategy, is far less frantic than the Classic game.  The game is only one level and you attempt to collect as many points as possible in that one level.  Obviously this is where multiple launches, jewels and other bonus points come in handy.  I tend to use the Strategy mode as a learning or testing area to better see how the game field works and how to better tie fuse pieces together.

Regardless of if you play Classic or Strategy you can choose the difficulty level - Easy, Medium or Hard - to create more of a challenge for yourself.

From a visual perspective Rocket Mania is great.  The fireworks displays within the game are quite realistic and the three dimensional aspect of the menus are great as well.  Having played the game on a VGA and QVGA device, it looks beautiful on both.  Moving to the game play itself, it is easy and fun!  There isn't much of a learning curve with the game so anyone should be able to pick it up and begin playing it immediately.  Strategy is key though:  Learn how to put the pieces of fuse together in order to clear levels faster.

Rocket Mania is available for PocketPC 2002, 2003, 2003SE, Windows Mobile 5 and 6 devices.  It is $14.95 and is available from a variety of online retailers including the Clinton Fitch (Dot) Com! software store.  At the store you can also download a trial of the game for free. 

Now through September 15th Rocket Mania and all software is on sale at the store.  Simply use the coupone code CFDCBACK2SCHOOL to receive the discount.

For Windows Mobile 5 and 6 users click here

For PocketPC 2002, 2003 and 2003SE users click here

Clinton Fitch, MVP-Mobile Devices
Clinton Fitch (Dot) Com!