Chuzzle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chuzzle is a computer game created by Raptisoft Games, published by PopCap Games. It is named after the multi-colored fuzzballs around which the game revolves. The gameplay can be described as a variant of Bejeweled.
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[edit] Gameplay
The player is presented with a 6x6 board of Chuzzles. The goal is to move the Chuzzles so that in each turn a cluster of three or more Chuzzles are made. Moves are made by dragging rows and columns; and because the grid "wraps" around, when dragged off the grid, Chuzzles on the left will reappear on the right, top will appear on the bottom, and vice versa. This "wrapping" of the grid could be a source of difficulty because some moves may require the player to drag edge Chuzzles to the middle.
The overall gravity of the grid is downward; new Chuzzles will appear from the top.
Various trophies are awarded to the player as events occur in the game, such as "Chuzzbomber" for exploding 1,000 Super Chuzzles. Another example is "Speed Master" for clearing 2 levels in Speed Chuzzle without getting a lock.
[edit] Fat Chuzzles
Occasionally, the player may encounter Fat Chuzzles after they have removed at least a 2x2 square of regular Chuzzles. These Chuzzles take up four times as much space as a regular Chuzzle, and thus present many problems.
- Fat Chuzzles cannot be dragged off the grid.
- Moving the Fat Chuzzle itself or the rows or columns that contain it will move BOTH rows or columns it spans. Thus, if a lock exists on one of the rows a Fat Chuzzle controls, neither row can move.
- If there is only one column of Chuzzles below a Fat Chuzzle, the Fat Chuzzle will push the column down until the columns that it spans below are level. While this process removes Chuzzles from the board, it has the potential to remove some possible moves from the board.
[edit] Super Chuzzles
A Super Chuzzle is formed when a group of five Chuzzles is exploded at once. It looks like a regular Chuzzle with a halo around it. When the Super Chuzzle is used in a cluster, it will cause ALL the Chuzzles immediately around it to explode.
[edit] Locks
In Classic and Speed modes, the player will sometimes encounter locked Chuzzles. Locked Chuzzles cannot be moved and thus prevents the column or row from being moved. To remove a lock, the player must use the Chuzzle in a cluster.
[edit] Scrambles
When the player is unable to make any moves because of locks, a Scramble can be used to change out the game board. Initially, the player starts with two, but can earn more as they proceed. When the player cannot make moves and has no Scrambles, the game ends. Players earn a Scramble after scoring 150,000 points, 300,000, 600,000, 900,000 points...
[edit] Difficulty Levels
There are two difficulty settings in the game that affect game play in the "Classic Chuzzles" and the "Speed Chuzzles". The difficulty settings adjust the amount of locks you get in a "Classic Chuzzles" game, and how fast the "Lock Bar" fills up in "Speed Chuzzles". The two modes are titled the following:
- "Casual Mode": Locks do not appear until level 2 at the earliest (usually level 3 or higher), and the Chuzzles give 'soft hints' (See "Hints" below for more details). In "Speed Chuzzles" the "Lock Bar" fills up more slowly, but does speed up as a player progresses through higher and higher levels of play.
- "Expert Mode": Locks come much earlier in "Classic Chuzzles Mode", and more than one can often appear at a time. The Chuzzles also do not give 'soft hints'. In "Speed Chuzzles" the "Lock Bar" fills up much more quickly, and the rate in which it fills up rises rapidly as a player progresses through the levels of play.
[edit] Game modes
- Classic mode: allows players to take the time to make the best move possible; locks are added more frequently as the player proceeds.
- Speed mode: adds locks when a lock meter is completely filled; as moves are made, the meter is depleted. As the player removes Chuzzles, they fill a beaker; when the beaker is full, the player moves on to the next level.
- Zen mode: allows players to make moves at will; there are no locks or levels, but the player can earn charms.
- Mind Bender mode: is a puzzle mode where the player has to put the Chuzzles in a certain position.
[edit] Hints
Stuck in the game, and you can't find the next legal move? Well "Chuzzles" offers two ways out of any players sticky situation. They are as follows:
- "Hint" Button: There is a button over the beaker in all modes of Chuzzle (Except "Mind Bender Mode") that when clicked gives players a hint to a move and exactly where to make it, however it will cost the player a portion of the beaker fluid making it take longer to get to the next level.
- "Chuzzle" Actions: In addition to the "hint" button, the Chuzzles when in "Casual" level of any mode except the "Mind Bender Mode" will give players a 'soft' hint by either rolling their eyes, or vibrating. This does not tell you exactly where the move is, but it will give you a general idea based on where the Chuzzle is located that did either or both of the above actions. It is still up to the player to find the move, but its found that it makes it easier to find. Take note that even though this is considered a "non-play" Chuzzle action, it is placed in hints because it can help with game play.
- In "Expert Mode" the Chuzzles do not roll their eyes or vibrate preluding that these actions were meant for the sole purpose of helping players find moves. In addition to the Chuzzles not rolling their eyes or vibrating, it also cost more beaker fluid amount when you click the "Hint" button above the beaker on the left hand side of the game screen.
[edit] Other trivia
The Chuzzles also have additional non-play related behaviors, initiated both on their own and in response to player actions. These include:
- Right-clicking a given Chuzzle will poke it. The pitch of the chuzzle's squeaking is lower at the top left, and increases in pitch as you move right and down.
- Grabbing a row of Chuzzles and shaking it wildly causes the chuzzles to become dizzy.
- Repeatedly clicking the same Chuzzle can tickle the Chuzzle, to which it responds by complaining, coughing, and eventually sneezing its fur off (although it grows back). Doing the same with a Fat Chuzzle causes it to belch.
- Leaving the mouse cursor hovering over a Chuzzle for an extended period of time causes it to become irritated, shaking the cursor away.
- Leaving the game untouched for several minutes causes the Chuzzles to fall asleep.
