I am a sucker for puzzle games. I used to be horribly addicted to the falling object types – Tetris, Columns, etc. Then I discovered the Match 3 genre and sadly, falling object style puzzlers fell to the wayside. I still enjoy them though, just there has to be something unique about them to pique my interest. Kubanoid certainly has a unique twist to it, even if it is ultimately just a superficial one, it still has it.
Get Your Block On
Kubanoid is closer to Columns than it is Tetris. Those two leaders in this genre are different from each other after you get past the falling object trope. Columns does not require line clearing, instead, it requires matching three of the same object (up/down, left/right, or diagonally).
That simple change makes Columns clones play so differently from Tetris clones. It is a welcome change.
Kubanoid does away with shiny gems, separating itself from Sega’s Columns game. Everything else is pretty much the same though.
You are playing with dice, all six sides of six-sided dice to be exact. I believe this gives you more options than Sega’s entry did, I could be wrong, it has been a long time since I played the original Columns (I have logged TONS of hours in Vic Tokai’s Columns III on Sega Genesis though).
Match three of the same side of the die. To help make things easier, Kubanoid has each side taking on its own color. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwmKUulLdvI
The Same Yet Different
Kubanoid holds close to the formula Sega created with the ability to create combos. As the dice falls, new combos are created. This cascading effect can lead to amazing score totals, and it is awesome to see a massive chain take off.
One thing that Kubanoid does differently is how you advance in levels. Every 100 matches you will advance to the next level. I cannot remember off the top of my head how Columns did it but I don’t believe you were required to hit 100 combinations.
That ZX Spectrum style of using black to create shading is in full effect here. Spectrum games look amazing with this simple technique that gives the illusion of more than what is really there.
The audio is what you would expect from the ZX Spectrum, a computer released in the 1980’s. You are not likely to put it on a mix tape, likely to mute after a few minutes of gaming, but it is serviceable.
Kubanoid was an entry in the YRGB 2025 competition. Check it out, there are many great entries there, you might find your next gaming addiction in the submissions.