G.G Series VECTOR Review - Screenshot 1 of 2

The last title in the G.G Series has come to pass at last, and it concludes the series in a rather anticlimactic and slightly disappointing manner. G.G Series VECTOR attempts to yet again take a crack at the falling block puzzler and it does so with mixed results. While there's an interesting original idea that's executed in a satisfying manner, it suffers somewhat from an overcomplicated gameplay structure that bogs down the experience long term.

Gameplay is quite similar to other falling block puzzlers such as Dr. Mario and Tetris, but VECTOR employs its own gimmick that somehow manages to be simultaneously unexceptional and intriguing. Each falling block has an arrow on it and progress is made by stacking like-coloured blocks on each other in a vector that follows one direction. After at least four blocks are linked, they vanish and a gauge in the corner of the screen fills up a bit more. When the gauge fills up, players level up and blocks begin falling at increasingly faster rates.

All this is well and good, yet somehow the gameplay fails to feel as compelling as the competitors that it tries so desperately to ape. It's a given that falling block puzzlers are repetitive by nature, yet it feels like VECTOR feels repetitive too quickly. This is mostly due to how it's just a bit too complex for its own good; not only do you have to keep track of matching up colours, but you must also make sure that all the arrows point in the right direction.

G.G Series VECTOR Review - Screenshot 2 of 2

It seems trivial, even ridiculous, that these seemingly petty things combined could make such a difference, but they somehow do when it's put into practice. The genre is as dependent on quick reflexes as it is on quick judgement, and the basic gameplay of VECTOR requires just a bit too much decision making on where and how to place each individual block. This slight over-complication compounds over the thousands of times that you must decide to place a block and creates an experience that begins to feel like a chore.

Otherwise, the presentation is decent, if not a bit forgettable. Once again we have a recycled and repetitive music track that's been present in several previous games in the series. It's just as irritating in this game as it was in the previous games, though it does at least give something of an exciting vibe to proceedings. The visuals are colourful, though everything seems to have a faded appearance. There are four selectable difficulty modes that add more block colours and overall speed the higher you go, though your replayability will ultimately depend on how much the core gameplay grabs you.

Conclusion

G.G Series VECTOR is unfortunately just another "me too" block puzzler that you'll likely grow bored with after a few extended plays. The basic gameplay is sabotaged by being a little bit too complex and the presentation is nothing more than passable. We'd still recommend this one to you, but be aware that there are plenty of better alternatives on the eShop to scratch that puzzler itch.