Luxor: Amun Rising Review

Don’t Mess With Success or Luxor

Submitted by marymag on Thu, 2006-05-04 07:24.
Author's Product Rating:
Addiction Factor: 
Ease of Use: 
Effectiveness: 
Help/Support: 
The lowest price: 17.99$
You can buy it at RegNow for that price.
Pros:
Nice music and sound effects.
Cons:
Everything else.
Review:

A couple of years ago I became addicted to the game Zuma. Back then I only had a green screen, but I chugged through it nonetheless until I actually beat it. Why do I bring this up in a review for the competition? Because Luxor IS Zuma.

Both games work off the same theory: shoot groups of 3 balls/spheres or more before they get to the skull/pyramid. Also, both have the telltale heartbeat sound when you are getting close to the end, right clicking to exchange current ball with next one, magic balls/symbols for special shooting, gap closing by popping the same color ball/sphere next to another in a gap, and pause by hitting spacebar (although they don’t tell you this in Luxor). The list goes on ad nauseum.

Whereas I became addicted to Zuma, in Luxor I lost interest by level 2.4, and was ready to commit seppuku sometime during 3.2. I was hoping for at least a variation, but when I clicked on the menu that said “More Games”, it took me to Mumbojumbo’s site where I could buy/download more of their games, including (hold on to your seats, buds) The original Luxor! I think not. The so-called scarab looks more likes a skateboard and isn’t conveniently placed like Zuma’s endearing stone froggy.

In all fairness, in Luxor Amun you can acquire gems for extra points, but I don’t play for points. I like the way the game cries “Foul” instead of your just dying, there are a couple of special symbols that have been ripped off from other shoot-em’ up games but only last a second or two, and if you save up 30 ankhs you get a free life, but who has time to catch them? Hmmm, on second thought, that doesn’t seem very fair, but then I am not crazy about games that only mimic other games.

Conclusion:

If someone actually mentions a rival’s game 4 or more times in a review, take the hint.