As summer approaches and the school year draws to a close, families are starting to plan their summer vacations. Whether it is a day trip or a getaway that requires a long flight, people tend to get restless when they are forced to sit in one area for several hours at a time. IQ Steps, a single-player logic puzzle from Smart Toys and Games, is the perfect way for almost anyone to pass the time.
IQ Steps challenges players ages 8 and up to fit eight distinctively colored pieces onto a board, which has small pegs and is designed for two-layered pieces. It is accompanied by a booklet with 120 increasingly difficult color-coded arrangements that will test players’ wits and challenge them to figure out how the pieces fit, where they fit, and in what order to place them.
Although this puzzle may seem easy at first glance, it is definitely more challenging than it appears. The “starter” set of arrangements gives players the majority of the layout, with the exception of one piece, and the placement of that piece is left up to the player. However, as players move on to the “master” and “wizard” levels, the arrangements become more complicated and the number of hints diminishes to two or three pieces on the board.
The packaging is colorful, vibrant, and will stand out on the shelves. The fun gameplay will appeal to children while its affordability will appeal to their parents. With dimensions similar to that of a Nintendo DS, IQ Steps is a portable product that can fit just about anywhere. This game requires patience, but if you get frustrated, do not despair, the solutions to each arrangement can be found at the end of the booklet.
