Mole Control - Review

Mole Control [PC]

Introduction

Mole Control is a puzzle game which brings the old timey strategy game minesweeper bang up to date. It does this by repackaging it in a shiny new box and instead of it being a hunt for mines, you now search for moles. Simple right? Well yes it’s that simple, now I hear you say, so it’s just a glorified minesweeper remake? Well to a degree yes, but it also adds a level of humour and a nice little story line to the mix. Nothing says ‘new game’ like a new box and a rename.

Placing these points aside Mole Control manages to revamp the ‘popular’ minesweeper game and make it fun and if I must say so it can be quite addictive. Although not all original it is a good and welcome look at the classic.

When you start the game on the campaign mode you are introduced into the world of Molar Creek, yes the name is very apt (yet still I think of the dentist). The village according to the introduction to the game has lived peacefully with the moles for many years, and as luck would have it just the night before the village’s annual Mole Control competition a mysterious villain has set them loose upon the village.

I guess it’s up to you then, the trusty local inventor and also the only one with a machine which can get this population in check.

How it looks

Looks wise it is almost certainly better than the original for one, it combines a cartoony look with something not dissimilar to that of say Team-Fortress 2 (although not related). The colours are very bright and vibrant and certainly stand out above that of its predecessor.

The grid or ‘gardens’ in the game where you will hunt for those illusive moles are the gardens of the local residents and such.

 

How it works

You start your journey making your way through the sleepy village of Molar Creek, as an inventor and the owner of a machine which just so happens to be able to get rid of Moles, you are in a perfect position to help out the invasion of these furry critters (how convenient). You make your way through each level by avoiding the squares which contain a mole, like with minesweeper once you have found a number you must figure out where the moles in this case are. Once you have eliminated where they are you then suck the mole out of the ground. As you progress through the game you will have to get more and more moles in less time generally. Also the size of the level in which you play generally gets more complicated with more obstacles and bigger. This does give the game a bit more of a challenge, rather than being the same every time you play the game, but in my opinion doesn’t vary it enough.

 

Mole control also throws in special moles into the mix which do many things such as give you special items that give you special bonuses. If you happen to drive over a mole by accident you lose a life and you only get to accidentally do that 2 times, after the third you will break down and you will have to start again. Sometimes you will come across special items like health which will allow you to play a bit longer.

The numbers in game indicate where a mole might be, for example, here is a grid labelled A to I each with a number on it. You the player are in square E.

A: 2        B: 2         C: 1

D: 0        E: 0         F: 0

G: 1        H: 1        I: 0

This would indicate there are 3 moles in 3 possible locations;

-              X             X             -              -

-              A:  2       B: 2         C: 1         -

-              D: 0        E: 0         F: 0         -

-              G: 1        H: 1        I: 0          -

-              X             -              -              -

Trust me it’s simple.

Controls and ease of use

The game is played from a bird’s eye perspective and is controlled via mouse or keyboard. The wasd keys are used to move around the maps however it can be quicker using the mouse. You can move diagonally and on the 4 axis. Be careful not to move to quickly as this will cause you to hit an unexpected mole.

The Good

The take on the classic is not only better but certainly more entertaining. I could almost certainly say this is more fun than minesweeper and also has better graphics.

The Bad

The game can be a bit repetitious sometimes and also tedious especially if you didn’t like the original.

This is a remake of a classic, it it’s necessarily a bad point just that for what the concept of the game gives it doesn’t add much more to the mix than a nicer interface for searching out what is essentially mines.

The Ugly

Nothing I found in this game is ugly.

 

Summary

The game is fun and can be addictive if you like a good puzzle; nothing says fun than trying to find moles eh? Mole Control offers you a story based ‘minesweeper’ type game play which is also fun and sometimes hilarious. With the added special moles and items to collect during play this is a game you can’t knock for free! Well worth a look in and I bet you will be playing for a long time to come!