Avalanche: Reviewing the Yahoo Puzzle Game

The puzzle game on Yahoo Games called Avalanche is one of my newest favorite games. This game is fun for anyone. We team up to help each other.

Objective

The object of the game is to blast away avalanche balls that fall from the sky. They come in different colors. You can only eliminate those of the same color in at least a group of three. When you click on one ball included in a group of three or more, it explodes and disappears. The remaining balls fall down to form a more compact stack. You have to make sure the balls don't fill up the screen or you lose. There are black boulders that have to reach the circle at the bottom center. Once the black boulder touches the center, it opens up a hole at the bottom for all the boulders to fall in. For each level, there can be anywhere from one to three black boulders that have to touch.

How to get to it

Yahoo Games has many games. This one is included with the puzzle games. The list of games is in alphabetical order. You can download a free trial, which is good for a limited time, purchase the full version for $19.99, or play the web game, which is free but has limited features. I usually chose the web game. You can go directly there by clicking here to make your selection. I play often so we have this book marked.

Features

There is an "Avalanche Meter" to the right. Each time you blow up the balls, it increases the thermometer. Filling this up creates an avalanche, which is good. It eliminates a lot of boulders for you. This buys more time so you can get the black boulders to the center. Each Avalanche is worth 1,000 points.

Just before the avalanche some of the boulders begin to freeze. You need at least two other boulders of the same color to bust them. The difference is they don't move with the others like the unfrozen ones do.

Snowflakes start to fall and make it a little harder to see the color groups. It is also a distraction you can do without but that makes it more intense.

On the web version I have only reached level 14 and lost. I have never made it to level 15.

You can burst the boulders when they are still falling or while they are on their way down the hole. The level isn't over until all the balls are gone.

You create points for all the boulders you burst. The more boulders that are linked give you a higher score than just groups of three.

Occasionally there is a boulder that comes down with a solid color in the middle. If you click on that color it bursts all boulders of that same color that appear on your screen. This helps when you're in a crunch and need more space or need to get that one color out of the way. You don't gain points by using these so if you can burst them with the mouse click, it's better for your point value.

There will be a boulder that appears with a yellow lighting bolt. If you chose not to use this, you will have an additional 500 points added to your score. If you click on it, it will bounce all the boulders and shuffle them. This is good sometimes if you're having a hard time getting the black boulders to the bottom center.

Sound Effects

Turn up the sound because this is what makes it more fun. As the boulders fall, there is an air horn sound that blasts. The sound of boulders falling is real.

When you click on your groups of three or more there is an explosion sound and they appear to burst.

Rating

I give this game 5 stars. It's fun and enjoyable for the whole family. Make it your challenge today to beat me! Try to make it to level 15!