83/100
Critics5 reviews

Where to get it

Nintendo eShop

2012 · Intelligent Systems · Platformer · Puzzle

Crashmo

Nintendo exclusive

Crashmo, also known as Fallblox, is the sequel to Pushmo and is available for the 3DS eShop.

Released: 31 October 2012
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
Genres: Platformer Puzzle
Developers: Intelligent Systems
Publishers: Nintendo
Series: Pushmo
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Third person Side view
Themes: Action Kids
Country: Japan
Age ratings: CERO A PEGI 3 ESRB E
Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish (Spain)
Entry: #2 in Pushmo

About

Crashmo, known as Fallblox in PAL regions, is a 2012 puzzle video game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS as a Nintendo eShop exclusive. The game is a sequel to Pushmo and was released in Japan on October 31, 2012, in the PAL regions on November 15, 2012, and in North America on November 22, 2012.

In Crashmo, players controls Mallo, and are tasked with solving bite-sized platforming puzzles.

Keywords

bird
blocks
abstract
sequel
level selection
falling blocks
user generated content
block puzzle
digital distribution
time rewind
pictographic level design
qr codes

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Crashmo is a puzzle platforming game played from a third-person perspective. Gameplay and presentation are similar to its predecessor, where players control Mallo through puzzles known as "Crashmos" by moving blocks and jumping to rescue frightened birds or collect flags. Returning from Pushmo, the player is able to rewind time in order to reverse mistakes.

While Pushmo used a 3D environment, its mechanics were restricted to back-and-forth movement; with the player unable to see behind the Pushmo structures. By comparison, Crashmo's puzzles are set in an area where the player can move the Crashmo puzzle elements around freely, as well as Mallo himself. The player can also rotate the camera around the puzzle at any angle.

Story

Crashmo is set in the titular Crashmo Park — a parallel park to Pushmo Park — which houses the Crashmos. One day Mallo is invited to the park by Papa Blox and meets Poppy, Papa Blox's niece. As he greets them, Mallo scares the 100 birds which carried Poppy. Scattered through the park, Mallo rescues them one by one.

By the end of the day, the rescued birds carry Poppy and Mallo back to their homes. The next day, Papa Blox presents Mallo new challenges.

Reception

Crashmo received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Critics generally praised the graphics, music and gameplay, though its high difficulty for new players was criticized.

Eurogamer's Christian Donlan said: "Fallblox is yet another Intelligent Systems game that seems to truly know its place in the world: it's happy to be a smart little download treat that comes alive for a few minutes every night before bed." Edge's Nathan Brown said of the game, "For tenacious players and those inclined towards the genre, Fallblox could prove an irresistible draw, with clearing its parade of cryptic conundrums a delicious prospect. For others, the game's difficulty, and its visual and thematic linearity, will prove tiresome, their enthusiasm for its self-evident ingenuity petering out before each of its challenges has fallen."