New Software To Be Reviewed Review

Big Kahuna Reef, as expected, is set in the tropics. It's set in a very peaceful atmosphere among the eccentric patterns of a coral reef as the fish swim along in the background. The music while playing is very lulling and peaceful, and there is no doubt in my mind this is supposed to be a very relaxing, enjoyable game.

Furthermore, one of the great bonuses of this game is a screensaver feature. You can choose any reef background you like, put any number or variety of fish you like in it (the more levels you complete, the more types of fish you can use), and set it as a screensaver. It's very enjoyable to watch the little fish swim across your screen - almost like being under the sea yourself, or at an aquarium.

And you may say, "Well, it's good that the game is peaceful and all that, but what kind of game is it?"

Have you ever played Age of Japan? If so, it is like that game.

No? Well, it's very simple. You have a board filled with all kinds of pieces shaped like things you'd find in the ocean (shells, starfish, etc). If you match three or more of these pieces together, they vanish from the board. Some of these pieces are on wooden boards. If you get rid of the pieces on boards, the boards will vanish, too. Your goal is to get rid of all of the wooden boards to move on to the next level.

It's a pretty simple game, and they give you a tutorial to help you learn how to play it right away. There's no learning curve. There are two modes you can play in, though: a timed mode, or a "relaxed", untimed mode. Aside from time limits, they are practically the same.

There is also a "mouse party" mode that you can play if you computer has two or more mice. (It's a sort of local multiplayer, I think.)

The reef setting, as I said before, is very calm and relaxing. It's almost as good as vacationing in the tropics or owning a fish tank. The music helps the mood and makes it more enjoyable.

The game is freely available off of Amazon.com. All you need is any credit card or other card number (even an expired one will do).