Tech: Peggle

In the world of casual games, PopCap is king, mostly due to the success of "Bejeweled." Matching gems might be nice for awhile, but I think the visceral action of "Peggle" tops it:



It's a perfect game to play on a new netbook, mostly because of the modest system requirements and simple, lighthearted gameplay. Think of "Peggle" as a cross between pachinko and "Breakout." You shoot balls from a launcher at the top of the screen, and the ball lights up whatever pegs it touches. Clear all the target orange pegs to clear the level - but you only have ten balls to do it with. Thankfully, new balls can be earned in various ways.

One of my friends remarked that the art style looks like it was designed for 7 year-old girls, and I'd have to agree - everything is cute, with a rainbow of colors and flashing lights to please the senses. "Peggle" actually looks its best in 800x600, so it's really a perfect time-waster for an ultraportable computer. When Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" starts blaring when you complete a level, you can't help but smile.

Rating: 79/100