The Thousands

The Peggle phenomenon has been a slow burn. Starting out as yet another title from casual game makers PopCap, its ease of translation and addictive game play has seen it reach across almost every platform imaginable. Peggle is a puzzle action game with the main objective being to fire a ball from the top of the screen to clear orange pegs from the board below. Like most great games, the premise is simple and it’s in the execution that it truly shines. This execution includes equal measures of help and hindrance: help in the form of special powers, bonus balls and multipliers, and hindrance through barriers and peg placement.**In terms of aesthetics, Peggle pushes kitsch to the extreme. A bizarre collection of critters aid you on your quest and the backdrops see them doing everything from skateboarding to meditating. Audio also plays a big part, from the satisfying ‘ping’ of the pegs to the rousing rendition of ‘Ode to Joy’ that plays when you complete a level. It might sound strange on paper, but Peggle is one of those games that eases you in and then proceeds to suck hours of your time. Digital crack.