Transbal GL Demo

Even the most basic ideas can keep people busy, which is why simple and casual video games have had such tremendous success ever since they first came to be. Hence, whether we’re talking about Tetris or Candy Crush Saga, it is quite clear that all you need is an addictive set of gameplay mechanics to attract a few million players, but it’s obviously not as simple as that.

Transbal GL is an arcade game in which your goal is quite simple, at least in theory. Hence, all you have to do is to transport a ball from the bottom of a maze and use your thrusters to get it out without touching anything on your way in and out. Naturally, the gameplay mechanics were designed to be as challenging as possible, in order to make the experience memorable and addictive.

There’s a list of levels you can choose from in the beginning, although you need to beat them in the established order before you can access the next ones. Not only that, but you also have the option to choose from a series of spaceships, although this is a purely esthetic gimmick, because nothing but the color and the shape of the ship changes.

Although the first levels are quite simple and straightforward, they are just meant to help you familiarize yourself with the controls and general feeling of the game. After a short accommodation period, the stages quickly become a lot more challenging, by introducing a variety of obstacles and traps to make your descent as difficult as possible.

From a technical point of view, the game is certainly not a technological wonder, especially since the engine in two-dimensional. However, the basic visual quality is part of the charm as well, and it really has the ability to throw you back in time during the 16-bit console era. The art is quite pretty as well, even if the colors lack depth and the lack of DirectX 12 capabilities might upset the modern gamer.

When it’s all said and done, Transbal GL certainly has the power to keep your eyes locked on the screen for a while, although it can also get too frustrating at times. Hence, if you want something to lose a few hours with and practice some self-control at the same time, this can be a good solution.