Sparkle Unleashed

 Xbox One
Metascore
62

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Pure Xbox
    Jul 7, 2015
    70
    If you liked Zuma – which unfortunately for Sparkle Unleashed now runs on Xbox One via backward compatibility – you'll probably enjoy the challenge this provides, even if there isn't anything majorly groundbreaking going on.
  2. We Got This Covered
    Jun 11, 2015
    70
    Sparkle Unleashed is a solid yet un-flashy puzzle game, and that's all I'll ever need or want from it.
  3. Xbox Achievements
    Jun 9, 2015
    70
    Addictive and entertaining, Sparkle Unleashed is a more than competent Zuma-style puzzler for Xbox One that's definitely worth a look.
  5. GameOver.gr
    Jul 31, 2015
    60
    A decent clone of Zuma. Plain and simple.
  6. DarkStation
    Jul 28, 2015
    60
    With such a crowded market for 3-match shooters such as this, Sparkle Unleashed doesn’t do much to stand out, but instead gives us a fun, familiar game, albeit a forgettable one.
  7. Vandal
    Jun 3, 2015
    60
    It's clearly conceived as a mobile title, but it still works. It could have offered more options or content, but if you want this kind of game on your Xbox One, it's the right choice.
  8. Critical Hit
    Jun 3, 2015
    55
    There's no competition in the genre on the Xbox One right now, so if you absolutely must shoot marbles then you probably can't go wrong with Sparkle Unleashed. However it feels, looks and plays like a mobile port - which is okay, because that's exactly what it is.
  9. Digitally Downloaded
    Jun 3, 2015
    50
    There are animated cut scenes and visually appealing visuals, but the raw lack of innovation in a kind of game that is rapidly showing its age really does let it down.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. mongoman
    Jul 25, 2015
    6
    This is a typical Marble shooter game, its addictive and fun and reasonably priced but after thirty minutes you'll be tired of theThis is a typical Marble shooter game, its addictive and fun and reasonably priced but after thirty minutes you'll be tired of the repetitiveness. The premise is simple enough: shoot marbles into a moving chain and match three of the same color, try to combo for higher scores. Each level takes roughly 3 to 4 minutes to beat early on but around level 15 the difficulty ramps up with faster chains and more marbles in each chain.
    The game really is fun for a short while but after a few levels, its just repetitive. Great for casual gamers.    … Full Review »
  2. Joshatron1205
    Jun 6, 2015
    4
    Sparkle Unleashed is your typical arcade puzzle game that you absolutely do not need in your life. If you've played Zuma you know the basicSparkle Unleashed is your typical arcade puzzle game that you absolutely do not need in your life. If you've played Zuma you know the basic concept of this game, match coloured orbs to make them explode as the crawl towards a hole which you have to defend for some reason.

    Obviously an arcade puzzle game like this really has no need for a story but Sparkle Unleashed tries to add a narrative where one is not needed or wanted by anyone. I would have preferred a new mode maybe instead of an attempt at a story, there are upgrades which can make the game more fun but it does get old pretty quick.

    All in all the game works fine and the controls are good which is important in a game that requires some precision and timing, an important mechanic that the game didn't tell me about was the use of a shot guide when you press Y. It can really help. There are a ton of levels in the game, over 100, they do increase greatly in difficulty the further into the "campaign" mode you get and there is also a survival mode which is very slow and boring, it takes a long while to achieve 5 stars in those levels.

    Overall Id say this is a perfect game to take to the bathroom with you, a mobile game and nothing more, absolutely not worth more than 99p and a game more suited to touch screen controls even though the game pad does the job well enough here. Id wait for it to become a games with gold game which it most probably will.    … Full Review »
  3. Peptide
    Jun 9, 2015
    9
    Very very addictive. When i first saw it i thought it would be a Zuma clone. Its more like a Luxor clone....but still very addictive. ThereVery very addictive. When i first saw it i thought it would be a Zuma clone. Its more like a Luxor clone....but still very addictive. There is always the sense of have to play just one more level before finishing for the day.

    Controls are SPOT ON PERFECT. Graphics are pleasing. The music is incredible. Its like something out of Harry Potter.

    There are not many addictive puzzle games for the X1. At this price....grab it and be entertained for many hours.    … Full Review »
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