Picross S3 (Nintendo Switch) Review

Like its predecessor, Picross S2, Picross S3 offers a variety of different modes such as traditional picross, mega picross and clip picross. Additionally, this new installment offers a new mode called colour picross. The traditional mode offers nothing new. It is simply a number of grids to solve. Every puzzle is available from the start. This is somewhat disappointing, as it would have been nice to have to unlock later puzzles. There is no indication of difficulty level for any puzzle. Ideally, it would have been interesting to slowly increase difficulty levels during the playtime, starting with simple and moving toward more complex puzzles. This is not the case. How easy or difficult a puzzle is seems to be coincidence.

Mega picross allows for new rules. In this mode, corresponding numbers can belong to one or two columns/cells at a time. This makes for a bit more difficult gameplay, and is a nice nut to crack for players that feel adventurous. The mode clip picross contains several puzzles that are part of a bigger picture. To unlock this part, the player is required to play through the traditional mode. While it is quite enjoyable to have to unlock new parts, it is unclear which of the traditional puzzles unlock a clip puzzle. Additionally, clip puzzles are only parts of the bigger picture. They don't act like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, which would have been more interesting. Instead, they are simply parts cut out of the picture itself. In that sense, it seems like the traditional mode all over again.

The new addition is the colour picross mode. This is an exciting new addition, as it allows the player to solve grids with different colours. Numbers are written in different colours, and the player has to figure out which squares need to be which colour (or can be crossed out entirely). This new mode spices the game up quite a bit, though unfortunately there are not a lot of colour picross grids available.

Interestingly, this also offers to play with a partner. By handing a partner one of the Joy-Con controllers, players can solve puzzles together. Each is assigned their own colour to track where in the field their cursor is. The game also tracks how many fields each player has filled in. While this seems to be a fun idea, picross games are most likely to be played by single players. By solving a puzzle together, players could get into each others' way, and it seems a bit unnecessary to include this feature at all.

The controls themselves are simple and effective. The d-pad is used to move the cursor around the grid. 'A' is used to fill in a square, 'B' is used to cross out a square, and either can be pressed to delete the filling or crossing out. In colour picross, since several colours are available, and need to be changed accordingly, the 'Y' button allows to click through a number of colours to choose one. Control settings can be changed for players who wish to do so, however using touch is not possible. In any case, the default control system makes for a smooth and fast gameplay.

The help features are unfortunately disappointing. It is possible to use a feature called hint roulette, which allows for a random row and column to be filled in at the start of the game. This can provide a starting point. However, the feature that allows to check mistakes made is very disappointing. This can only be activated once in a playthrough of a grid. It shows exactly where the mistakes have been made, but unless one has only filled in two or three squares wrongly or has a phenomenal memory, it can be described as useless. The feature does not allow to correct the mistakes while they are being shown. Instead, you will be shown where the mistakes are, and then you'll have to go back to the grid and better remember what he or she just saw. This can be difficult, especially in large grids - and because the option can only be used once, it is also not possible to memorize a couple of wrong squares, correct them and then go back to check the rest. This makes the feature almost unnecessary.

All in all, while Picross S3 is a nice, relaxing distraction, it is in itself rather limited. This is fair, because, in the end, there is not a lot one can do with picross, and considering that, the developer attempted to make it interesting nonetheless. However, its low price seems to be a little over the top for what is being offered.