Pipe Mania Review

Pipe Mania, published by Empire Interactive, is a deceptively clever puzzle game centered around a very simple premise: You have to use different pipe pieces to connect two faucets without spilling any liquid (referred to as Flooze). As with any good puzzle game, the initial simplicity of the premise is expounded upon as the tiled grid where you are laying your pipe pieces becomes littered with obstacles and hidden treasures.

Originally released in 1989 and followed in 1991 with a sequel (Pipe Dreams), Pipe Mania is resurrected on various consoles and handhelds with new modes and updated visuals. The DS version features colorful yet simple cartoon characters that set up the story, though thankfully that aspect is kept to a minimum and you are quickly putting puzzle pieces together. The basic story has you cleaning up your father’s paradise island, which has been run over by “cowboy plumbers”. I’m not sure what that means, but in any case, you have to make sure that start pieces and end pieces are connected before Flooze spills all over your gaming grid.

The gameplay in Pipe Mania consists of getting Flooze from point A to point B, but to really score big, you want to extend the pipes around the grid as much as possible before sealing the connection. The challenge at first is that the pipe pieces are given to you randomly and you need to seal the connection before the Flooze spills. Also, you have to use a minimum amount of pipe pieces before you can seal the connection, but that’s rarely ever a problem early on in the game. Once you get comfortable with that mechanic, however, the game adds additional elements, such as obstacles that you have to build around and enemy attacks that damage pipes you’ve already laid down.

The game runs smoothly and quickly on DS, and moving the pipe pieces around with the stylus is as simple as it should be. There is quite a bit of strategy involved, though at times the game throws some seemingly overwhelming obstacles at you, compounded by the fact that sometimes you just can’t seem to get the pipe piece you need. You definitely need to think ahead and make sure you have a strategy for each level before it begins, and make use of pieces far in advance of where you are in the grid. The lack of multiplayer on the DS version makes this the weakest of all the platform versions, unfortunately.

The visuals in Pipe Mania are pretty basic, with an internet flash-game feel to them. The grids are arranged according to the game’s eight themed locations, which gives the visuals some variety. The sounds are fairly typical for a puzzle game, and even though they are lively, the tunes aren’t exactly memorable. Overall, Pipe Mania may be a slightly sub-standard puzzle game package for a DS game, but at its budget price, it’s hard to complain.

Pipe Mania is your quintessential puzzle game. Easy to pick up and play, with a difficulty that ramps up and nuances that you have to master in order to score big points. Fans of the classic series will definitely find plenty to like here, and fans of puzzle games in general should definitely give this game a try. With a $19.99 MSRP and over 250 levels, it’s certainly a good option for DS owners.