Rinth Island is an innovative 3-D puzzle platformer that consists of a series of mind-twisting cylindrical levels that will put your puzzle solving skills to the test.

The heroes of Rinth Island have been marooned after a terrible storm, and they must set out on an epic adventure to escape, making their way through 60 harrowing levels with several different gameplay modes.

The game takes place in a tropical-like setting, with a series of round structures that you must traverse, flipping switches, sliding blocks, and climbing ladders to get to the end point of each level.

Rinth Island’s controls are decent, but imperfect. You can use touch screen controls (tapping on the screen to move) or a d-pad, and I found that the d-pad was both more responsive and easier to handle.

Rinth Island uses 2-D and 3-D graphics in unison to create some unique, circular puzzles that can be quite challenging due to the level makeup – you can’t see the entire level at once because of its tubelike shape, and often you will need to interact with objects that you are unable to see. Because of this, if you make a mistake you’ll need to reset the level (or purchase undos in-app for $0.99), but luckily levels are short so it’s not a major setback.

Because puzzles are so short, 60 levels doesn’t feel like a lot. However, Rinth Island has a gameplay mechanic, badges, that require you to beat each level in four different ways, collecting crystals, beating the clock, and more.

In addition to the existing 60 levels, players can create their own stages with the built-in level editor, which is ultra simple to use. Created levels can be shared with friends, for a nearly unlimited amount of gameplay, making Rinth Island a game that you can play for quite some time.

What I liked: I enjoyed beating each level in four different ways, which made the short stages feel much longer. It was fun switching things up and playing with a different goal in mind each time. The graphics are crisp and colorful, and the characters are well-designed and fun to play.

What I didn’t like: This game charges for extra gameplay mechanics, like undos, hints, and level skipping. I don’t mind the charges for additional costumes, but basic gameplay mechanics should not cost an extra $0.99.

To buy or not to buy: Rinth Island is free for a limited time, so downloading it is a no-brainer. Even at $0.99, this fun, innovative game is worth the purchase price. It’s an absolute must have for puzzle lovers.

App Name: Rinth Island Version Reviewed: 1.1 Category: Games Developer: Chillingo Price: Free for a limited time, regularly $0.99. Score:

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