img_0003-1 Ivory Tiles, and its sequel Shift, are well done puzzle games.  Using the tilt controls of the iPhone, you “slide” the game pieces to the designated areas in a very intuitive way.  Because you are moving all of the pieces at one time, “making par” is not always a simple endeavor.

The look and feel of this game is very relaxing.   At $1.99, the puzzle consists of 80 levels of increased difficulty.  The graphics are excellent.  You truly feel as if you are playing with real wood and ivory to the accompaniment of soothing music.  And if you ever successfully complete all 80 levels at “par”, you are not left without options.

Shift, currently priced at $1.99, adds to the puzzle collection with 16 tutorial levels and 70 additional ones.  It has more of a high-tech feel to it though with what it describes as a “new cyber-psychedelic landscape”.  I personally prefer the more relazing Zen feel of Ivory Tiles, but the game play is basically the same between the two programs.

If I had one wish, it would be that instead of creating a new look and feel to the same types of puzzles, that the developer offered the 70 additional puzzels available in Shift to Ivory Tiles.  For those that prefer the Shift look, it would be nice to play the Ivory Tiles levels there.  I think that puzzle lovers are used to additional levels offered as a free upgrade and may be turned off by needing to purcahse the same concept with a different interface theme just to get more levels.  I’m not sure if  it is the developers intent or not, but perhaps the iPhone 3.0 upgrade will allow us to see purchase options for additional levels in the interface of our choice if future free upgrades are out of the question.