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	Traffic Jam

Last update: 07-07-2004	Submitted by Joel



eSoft Interactive in partnership with Scalene Software presents its first game for PalmOS 5: Traffic Jam . Traffic Jam's challenge seems simple. You just have to guide a yellow Volkswagen Beetle from its parking slot to the parking lot's exit. The problem is there are cars and trucks blocking the way. The good thing is, the vehicles are all set in neutral. So it's quite easy to push them forward or backward. You can never get lost within the game as each screen and menus are well designed. Audible clicks can be heard when you tap the screen -- further adding to the friendliness of the interface. Graphics are well designed so much so that you can identify each car's make and model. The plant boxes, lot texture, parking guides, lines, and numbers add up to the realism. The background is filled with traffic signs, while buttons have a nice embossed look. Each screen also has a label that's designed to look like street signs. Traffic Jam runs in 320 x 320 resolution or 480 x 320 resolution. It was a welcome surprise to see the game running in landscape mode! There is a record number of moves for each of the 200 levels. If you beat each level with moves equal to or less than the record, your record score will be saved for that level. There are six buttons to help you within the game: exit, save, load, reset puzzle, sound on/off, and quick help. There are 10 save slots but what I do is designate each save slot for a friend who likes to try out the game. The save slots are designated by 10 different cars, a bonus if you want to choose and quickly identify your save slot. There are just two areas of improvement that I want to be looked into. First, on a TH55/E, there's an empty black space in the graffiti area when you play the game in 320 x 320 -- the graffiti area could just be made to show up in there. Second, the stats may be helpful for your present game but I hope the number of moves you do is saved too. That way, you can go back to the level, check your stats against the record, and try to do better next time. However let me point out that these two areas of improvement have never interfered with the game's performance. Traffic Jam is an excellent puzzle game to have in your Palm. eSoft Interactive has done a great job with a well polished game. Graphics, sound, and gameplay blend seamlessly. At only $5.95, the price can't be beat for such a high quality game. As always, please look into Traffic Jam's readme file to know which files to install in your Palm device. As a sidenote, there's a freeware game called Traffic! by Philip Cheng. The game uses colored rectangular shapes and features 40 levels. You can practice understanding the concept of the game with Traffic! Once you're ready for more challenges steer towards eSoft Interactive's garage ... it's going to be the first time you'll enjoy being stuck in a traffic jam. Thanks to Aiza for the support.