Funky Physics Review - Screenshot 1 of 3

There's a lot of physics in Funky Physics. There are also some minor annoyances, like hitting blocks and timing them just right to bounce off platforms for them to function properly. It takes the funky out of the title. Or maybe it adds to it depending on which perspective you're looking at the game from and your definition of "funky". If there's one thing for certain, it's that you can't spell "funky" without "fun" - something this game mostly lacks.

The difference between a great puzzle game and a game that's puzzling becomes quite evident when you play enough of them. This one doesn't do much to separate itself from other games of its kind. Funky Physics is as basic a puzzle game as they come. The object of the 32 levels is to remove green block(s) from the board utilizing other coloured blocks. These blocks aren't stacked in the way they are in Tetris - they're just objects scattered in a level designed with platforms and perches upon which blocks are placed.

Funky Physics Review - Screenshot 2 of 3

Removing them requires you to hit these blocks away using the force of other blocks, sometimes by shooting blocks towards them. Other times by letting them fall on top of the others. You can also destroy platforms when the option is available. Then there are times when you can hit weights that'll swing and knock blocks in different directions. Its other main feature, which you will have to implement sometimes in solving a puzzle, is that larger blocks can be broken into four smaller blocks, all through use of the Wii U's GamePad and stylus.

This typically means that breaking blocks may be necessary for them to be moved easier, or at other times be thrown around to hit others down. The levels require a bit of thinking and Funky Physics doesn't lie, it is a puzzle game at its core that uses some measure of moving block physics to solve. But the question to ask is what puts this game in a league of good puzzle game offerings out there. The answer is simple: there's nothing that Funky Physics does which sets it apart as revolutionary. Not even as a decent, quick fix time-waster.

When the menu screen opens up there's banjo music playing and a very country feel, which leaves you wondering what to expect. There's not much deviation in the sights and the sound. Level designs are simplistic, though sometimes the puzzles can actually be a little bit difficult to complete. Others require a bit more patience to execute and time solutions appropriately. Otherwise, everything about this game is just made to be incredibly bare-bones. The music does nothing to really enhance the experience. The visuals don't do much either. They are just blocks on platforms in large sparse areas. In other words, this game is as matter-of-fact as the science which inspired it and makes up half of its title.

Due to this, there's nothing inherently wrong about Funky Physics. Aside from an occasional brain tease, or raised eyebrow as to just how lucky you may have gotten pulling off a solution, Funky Physics is dull. The entire game can completed in just over an hour with no smiles for having done so, or any real sense of achievement. The game allows for a three star reward system for completing a level, which is dependent on whether or not you clear the board in one move or through the best solution. This is easily attainable as most of the puzzles, even the ones that require a little more thought, only really have one viable solution to complete.

As stated before, the game does present some harder puzzles, which unsurprisingly come at the end. These were welcome changes, often requiring precise timing in shooting blocks or figuring out which blocks to break up and use as projectiles. There were also moments which require thinking on how to use moving platforms on which to bounce blocks off of them. But once more, a little patience led to minor frustrations, and there was nothing incredibly exciting about finishing these levels.

It's unfortunate that the most fun happened at the end of the 31 levels. In a sort of celebration, the 32nd and final level finally brought the funky to Funky Physics. The game was most creative at the end, even if not very puzzle-like. It involved a simple set-up that was just fun to execute; allowing your powers of shooting blocks to knock away the green ones set upon platforms for a fun game of timing and aiming. Sometimes the most fun is not trying to over-think a level design which is odd considering just how bland and unenthusiastic a game the rest of Funky Physics presents itself. It's all about watching things cleverly fall into place sometimes, and it's something that the game needed more of: fun set-ups without making the game feel like a terrible and unnecessary test, which is sadly what Funky Physics did for most of its run.

Conclusion

Funky Physics doesn't really bring anything fun to this world of removing blocks from its levels. Its presentation is light. Gimmicks for timing and aiming do little to enhance the gameplay. Steps to make the game fun unfortunately do not happen until the very last level. If the aim was to simply be a good puzzling mind tease of a game, then Funky Physics fails there as well. The puzzles are boring, and straight-laced. The game lacks a distinct personality in visuals, music and even the levels themselves to be anything interesting or worth the occasional brain power. The game is short and feels like a micro-puzzle game that most can do without. Although it's bundled as the funky wonders of science, there's nothing quite wondrous about it and will leave you in a funk.