Mario Docker is a fun game that is easy to learn and a decent way to pass the time.
WHAT’S HOT
The Mario Docker download is about 1.6
SETUP
MB and installs on your Pocket PC using a standard setup. Mario Docker
will take a bit more than 2 MB of space on your Pocket PC, and can be
installed and played on a storage card.
The
PROGRAM FEATURES
first thing I noticed upon opening Mario Docker was the bright colors.
This is a welcome addition to my Dell Axim X50v and looks great on the
VGA screen. Unfortunately, as with many programs, Mario Docker doesn’t
work in "true" VGA mode. If you use SE_VGA to operate in true
VGA as I do, you’ll have to switch to Standard SE VGA to play.
Mario
Docker Opening Screen
Once you click on the screen the main menu will open, giving you the
option to start a new game, resume an old game, review the game records,
get help, turn the sound and music off or on, and exit the program.
When you play, the game is automatically saved, so the resume button
works to resume the last game that you played. Unfortunately, only one
game can be saved. If there is a saved game and you would like to start
a new game, you will lose the saved game. The big drawback here is that
if you die while playing a saved game you will no longer have a saved
game to play. If the resume button has a blue ribbon over it, there
is no saved game available to resume.
Mario
Docker Menu Screen
Mario is a portly little port docker whose job is to sort bricks unloaded
from the barges as they come into port. Mario can move left and right,
by hitting the left and right buttons, in an attempt to catch each brick
as they are unloaded from the barges. He must then drop each brick into
one of seven containers by pressing the down button, trying to align
the bricks by color. The aligned bricks can be vertical, horizontal,
or diagonal. Once there are three of any color in a row, they will disappear.
Mario
Docker Level One Start
To the right of Mario is a green task board. For each level there are
certain tasks that must be completed before all of the barges leave
the port. On level one, Mario must create 4 columns of bricks by vertically
aligning three of the same color bricks – four separate times. Once
this task is complete level two will begin with a new set of tasks to
complete before all of the barges leave the port. Each level gets increasingly
difficult by speeding up the unloading, starting with more bricks in
the columns, dropping additional bricks by crane, adding to the tasks,
and throwing in the occasional surprise brick.
At the top of the screen you’ll find the game progression and information.
The first number in the upper left hand corner is the current level.
The number next to the heart is the number of lives remaining. The five
digit number to the right is the overall game score. On the left side
of the barge, you’ll find the number barge you are on in the current
level over the total number of barges available for that level.
Mario
Docker Level Two Start
Mario must live by a few rules as a port docker. He cannot hold more
than 6 bricks at a time; he must throw bricks into the containers below
him to unload the bricks he is holding. Each column can hold no more
than 7 bricks. He cannot miss more than 3 unloaded bricks. He cannot
catch the "mortal" brick. If any of these rules are broken,
the game will end. Mario will be fired for missing too many bricks,
not completing the tasks, and putting too many bricks in a column. Mario
will die if he holds too many bricks or catches the "mortal"
brick.
Game
Over!
The difference between Mario dying and getting fired is lacking some
sense. The number to the right of the heart is the number of "lives"
remaining. If Mario misses one brick, it removes one of the lives. If
Mario loses all three "lives" he gets fired and the game is
over. If Mario holds too many bricks, he dies instantly. If Mario puts
too many bricks in a column he will be fired, but he will only lose
one life and the game will continue at the beginning of the current
level. There should probably be some more consistency on the way the
game can end versus the way the game just starts the current level over.
There should also be ways of increasing available lives.
You
are fired!
The game gets difficult quickly by forcing you to miss the "mortal"
brick (striped) while still catching the other bricks and placing them
in appropriate containers. The game gets addicting because of the strong
desire to get to the next level. I was able to get to the third level
after playing for a while. I’m not sure how many levels there are, but
there are probably enough to keep you busy. Fortunately, the bricks
are easy to catch, as you only have to be able to touch the bricks (not
necessarily directly under them) to catch them. It’s just too bad once
the game is over, you must start from the beginning – NOT from your
last saved game.
The help and support for this program is
HELP
SUPPORT
minimal. The help button on the main menu opens help screen where you
can click the forward and backward buttons to scroll through the help.
There is no index or search capabilities, but this is not likely necessary
on such a small game. However, some information is missing from the
help system, like the difference between getting fired and dying.
Help
Screen
Mario Docker needs more game saving options
BUGS
AND WISHES
and a better help system, as the program can only have one gamed saved
at any one time and that saved game can be lost if you die while playing.
If you want to start a new game the old saved game will be automatically
overwritten. This forces you to continue to resume your old game and
hope you don’t die. To me, this is a significant drawback to the overall
game play, as it will likely get redundant trying to pass the same levels
over and over to get to where you last were. Also, the help system should
include descriptions of the entire game process including the difference
between dying and getting fired. Also, the game doesn’t work in true
VGA mode on my Dell Axim X50v. I would like to see more options for
creating complex patterns with the bricks (like triangles) and ways
to increase the available lives.
You can buy this software directly from
PURCHASING
Ballshooter
Games. The price is $9.95 and a trial version is available.
PROS
Bright,
vibrant colors
Easy
game play
Addicting
CONS
No
multiple game saving options
Doesn’t
work in true VGA mode
Weak
help system
Mario Docker is a good game that could
OVERALL
IMPRESSION
be a fun addition to any Pocket PC. The simple game play and bright
colors make the game addicting and fun to play, and the price is reasonable
for a game of this type. Mario Docker is a welcome addition to the puzzle
genre that Tetris created. However, the lack of saving options is a
significant drawback to the overall game play and will likely keep people
from staying interested.
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