It shouldn't come as a surprise that I adore bit-sized experiences, as clearly some of the reviews have shown. The pick-up-and-play element is such an important factor to me and it is how I judge certain pieces of software. For the newest example of this, look no further than Hugo Smits' latest puzzler Tappingo. Smits' games on DSiWare always proved fun, though they’re on the shorter side of the spectrum in terms of length. Now he has made the jump to the Nintendo 3DS eShop and that is the best decision he could have made. Tappingo not only shows the how far the developer has come, but also that a simple concept works for on-the-go.

With Tappingo, we have a puzzle game that marries the best of ideas. The core concept plays somewhat like Picross, though the way to the solution is different. You still have to fill up lines horizontally and vertically to create a picture, but the answer is not as simple as looking at the sides of the playing field. The lines are scattered across the puzzle and by dragging the numbered tiles down, you will start to create paths. These parts are needed as lines require walls to stop and this is the only way to come to the right conclusion. This creates a tension as you try and ponder where certain pieces fall into place. Completing the over 100 puzzles at hand proves satisfying every single time and it becomes a really tricky affair later down the road.

The player can choose between two separate control schemes, the regular buttons or the touch screen. Both are perfectly acceptable, though I do prefer the touch screen, as I like the tactile feel it represents. There is something lovely about tapping the blocks and seeing the entire thing unfold before your eyes. If I had to make one complaint about this though, I do feel that sound effects are missing while you tap on said blocks. It just gives a slight empty feeling, though after a while, you do forget that they are not there. Another thing is that if you tap by accident on a wrong block, it will screw up your work in the process. In these instances, you have to regroup and rethink what you are doing. It is extremely minor, but it will be an issue in a few places. There are a few errors in there as well, including a translation mistake and one puzzle that doesn’t seem to check your progress completely fairly.

The game looks quite good on the screens of the Nintendo 3DS. The style is crisp and clear and the UI has simple yet effective look to it. The pixel-art puzzles are colorful, and while the 3D might not be a big factor here, there is a nice display of the puzzle on the top screen. The soundtrack contains a few tunes that will play on a random basis and they are delightfully cheery while playing.

Tappingo is a nifty puzzle game, which looks at various concepts and mixes them to a perfect shape. There are a few minor issues but even with these, you shouldn't hold back on your purchase. The puzzles are delightful, the music is lovely and the controls have a nice feel to them. With over 100 puzzles to complete and personal records to compete for, this puzzler will leave you wanting more.