Sparkle 3: Genesis > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

47 of 52 found this review helpful

Is It Too Complicated For Me? Hope Not!

PostedJuly 26, 2022

HeavenBound7729

fromOcala, Florida

Key Contributor
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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

But it's so interesting I couldn't give up without a gallant try. I was unfamilar with Sparkle so I looked it up, finding it to be a Marble Popper series that originated in 2011. The ratings were high, featuring beautiful graphics and good challenge. Marble popping games were so popular back then and I own plenty.

Well, Sparkle 3 isn't at all what I expected but I was happy to see something out ...Show more

But it's so interesting I couldn't give up without a gallant try. I was unfamilar with Sparkle so I looked it up, finding it to be a Marble Popper series that originated in 2011. The ratings were high, featuring beautiful graphics and good challenge. Marble popping games were so popular back then and I own plenty.

Well, Sparkle 3 isn't at all what I expected but I was happy to see something out of the ordinary. It reminds me of "Leaves" with a quiet, surreal feeling and beautiful ''landscape''. The music was so soothing and I loved swimming around as a little Sparkle, navigating through the watery environment.

After breaking out of the glowing circle I collected the 5 colored Elements which you locate via the radar feature but then I hit a "brick wall" and got nowhere fast. You really have to take your time with the instructions, figure out all the mechanics and swallow the frustration. I ended up swimming around endlessly in the new task of finding the Elements which I never did accomplish. I wasn't even sure what they would look like so I was off to a bad start. I know I'm not stupid so I must have missed a vital clue or instruction.

It's an everchanging environment packed with challenge and requires good strategy skills. Definitely a thinking person's game! I loved the challenge in the demo, but I failed miserably at it. All the more reason to dive back in and figure it out. I've no clue what's ahead but I'm ready to tackle it, with a coupon, because I think a great game awaits!

I see no reason to rate this game unfavorably just because I didn't succeed. I believe many great games are overlooked too hastily by not giving them a fair chance to prove themselves. It may not be as complicated as it seems in the beginning. It looks like the dev's put a lot of work into it and I'm coming back to see what I'm missing and expect not to be disappointed.

I wish I could submit a more informative review but hopefully this will inspire you to give it a go. The in-depth reviews for Sparkle 3 are best left to the gamers who know what the heck their doing, unlike myself, with this unique game. Demos and reviews, I can't shop without them! Show less

I recommend this game!

+42points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

9 of 10 found this review helpful

A challenge for sure

PostedAugust 2, 2022

zarama

fromNorway

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Marble Popper, Strategy, Time Management

Current Favorite:

Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt

(37)

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

I agree that Sparkle 3 is nothing like det other Sparkle-games (marble-popping), but this is a beautiful game - with difficulties that I hope I am patient enough to endure! Sparkle 3 isn't at all what I expected but I enjoy det uniqness. The music is kind of soothing and I love swimming around navigating through the watery environment. It remains me a little bit off the game "Glow Fish" (came in ...Show more

I agree that Sparkle 3 is nothing like det other Sparkle-games (marble-popping), but this is a beautiful game - with difficulties that I hope I am patient enough to endure! Sparkle 3 isn't at all what I expected but I enjoy det uniqness. The music is kind of soothing and I love swimming around navigating through the watery environment. It remains me a little bit off the game "Glow Fish" (came in 2014 I think), but this is harder. It will be a handful for sure, and will rob me of many hours : )

I hope somebody comments here and say there is a way to save this game in the middle of a task, because that is the one thing that is bugging me! Also the reason why I don't give five stars to the "fun factor"

Other than that: Thank you for the challenge! Show less

I recommend this game!

+8points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

25 of 27 found this review helpful

INTERESTING, WORTH A TRY

PostedJuly 26, 2022

Volauvent

fromHigh Desert, CA

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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Match 3, Puzzle

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

I downloaded the demo in the wee hours this morning and dove in.

OBJECTIVE
The object of the game is to grow from a tiny sci-fi bit of life swimming in a vast sea to a full, powerful critter. Though I refer to the tiny bit as "tiny bit" below, in the creator's mind, that us. First person tiny bit of life.

ORIENTATION
On the left of the dashboard you will find a variety of symbols. The ...Show more

I downloaded the demo in the wee hours this morning and dove in.

OBJECTIVE
The object of the game is to grow from a tiny sci-fi bit of life swimming in a vast sea to a full, powerful critter. Though I refer to the tiny bit as "tiny bit" below, in the creator's mind, that us. First person tiny bit of life.

ORIENTATION
On the left of the dashboard you will find a variety of symbols. The honeycomb is where you click on your current level. The DNA is where you add power ups that you gain by various means, one of which is absorbing elements. The Gear is where you can add a mini map. So far, I haven't seen it appear.

MOVEMENT
Movement is easy - left mouse to move the tiny thing a little here and a little there to inch around the huge pieces of landscape, and right mouse for grand, sweeping moves where you don't have to hold down the button.

MISSION
The first mission is to exit a circle of light to find a special something the creator left for you. You are to do this using your sixth sense, or radar. The radar is the arc of light that guides you to the prize, and a sound alerts you to proximity.

ELEMENTS
Elements, in different colors, sizes, and shapes, are what make the bitty thing grow. Found 'em, gobbled 'em up, completed round one. Opened the DNA on the dashboard and added my power ups.

ROUND TWO
For some reason, I am still in the initial hub with the same instructions, but the thing is bigger. Absorbing elements is a bit more difficult unless you approach them just right. Am leaving the game at this point to buy it.

Am buying this game with a coupon as I am intrigued to find out where it all leads. This the 3rd edition, so it must have a following. Interesting. Give it a try and see what you think. Show less

I recommend this game!

+23points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

11 of 13 found this review helpful

Wot, No save!

PostedJuly 28, 2022

Aitch38

fromLincolnshire, UK

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy

Current Favorite:

Art By Numbers 8

(18)

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

I liked the demo enough to buy this game (at reduced cost), and it`s been fun and interesting so far. My one big gripe though is that there doesn`t seem to be a save game option. I am on sunny shores and finding it hard to complete the tunnels quest in one go. If I quit and come back later, I have to start from the beginning of the chapter again! this is very frustrating and will possibly stop me ...Show more

I liked the demo enough to buy this game (at reduced cost), and it`s been fun and interesting so far. My one big gripe though is that there doesn`t seem to be a save game option. I am on sunny shores and finding it hard to complete the tunnels quest in one go. If I quit and come back later, I have to start from the beginning of the chapter again! this is very frustrating and will possibly stop me from playing this. That said, if you like a challenge and have way more patience than me, you`ll probably enjoy it. Show less

I recommend this game!

+9points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

22 of 25 found this review helpful

Needs better instructions

PostedJuly 26, 2022

Cyril48

fromNew Zealand

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Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

The first thing you need to realise is that this is a totally
different game to the marble popping games called Sparkle on here. Sparkle 1 and 2 are marble popping games.

This series is "The Sparkle" and if you look at the top left picture it does say, "The" wheras BF have done themselves no favors by calling it Sparkle 3 as opposed to The Sparkle.
Hopefully they will change it.

As to the ...Show more

The first thing you need to realise is that this is a totally
different game to the marble popping games called Sparkle on here. Sparkle 1 and 2 are marble popping games.

This series is "The Sparkle" and if you look at the top left picture it does say, "The" wheras BF have done themselves no favors by calling it Sparkle 3 as opposed to The Sparkle.
Hopefully they will change it.

As to the game it could be quite interesting but the lack of clear instructions does not help at all.

A game like this needs clear instructions. I will try the demo on the earlier game and see if that is any clearer?

Please give the demo a try as it could be a good game and make your own mind up.
A difficult one this, I want to like it but my brain is confused Show less

+19points

22of 25voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

2 / 5

19 of 20 found this review helpful

Absolutely no guidance nor instructions

PostedJuly 26, 2022

goldendog08

fromFlorida, USA

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy

Current Favorite:

Twistingo Collector's Edition

(29)

Fun Factor

1 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

1 / 5

Storyline

1 / 5

Gorgeous graphics and very nice, low key meditative background music. The problem is there is a complete lack of instructions. I took control of my tadpole, swam out of the circle, and then was told to follow radar to the secret spot. Except there is no radar. I hit keyboard keys, fiddled with mouse combos, and swam around aimlessly for 15 minutes not finding a single thing of interest nor any way ...Show more

Gorgeous graphics and very nice, low key meditative background music. The problem is there is a complete lack of instructions. I took control of my tadpole, swam out of the circle, and then was told to follow radar to the secret spot. Except there is no radar. I hit keyboard keys, fiddled with mouse combos, and swam around aimlessly for 15 minutes not finding a single thing of interest nor any way to turn on radar. Perused all the icons (no labels) and found stats page with a dozen different traits I assume my tadpole might eventually use but no idea how to obtain them.

Based on visuals alone this looks like it might be a very rare and very good arcade style game for BFG--If I could just it to work. Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+18points

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Overall rating

2 / 5

11 of 13 found this review helpful

They should have named it Protozoa

PostedJuly 26, 2022

kerith90angel

fromProtozoa are single-cell animals (microbes) In the ocean environment they have the role of primary consumers in the food chain. They are zooplankton.

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Skill Level:Expert

Current Favorite:

Tasty Blue

(31)

Fun Factor

2 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

I was so thrilled when I opened today's game and saw Sparkle 3 because I am such a huge fan of the marble shooter game with the similar title. This is not that. :(

It would be easier with a programmable PC gamepad. It's listed under Arcade but a bit slow to be that and more like a game you'd see in a science museum demo. YouTube has a video review for it and it’s called an Evolution SIM Indie ...Show more

I was so thrilled when I opened today's game and saw Sparkle 3 because I am such a huge fan of the marble shooter game with the similar title. This is not that. :(

It would be easier with a programmable PC gamepad. It's listed under Arcade but a bit slow to be that and more like a game you'd see in a science museum demo. YouTube has a video review for it and it’s called an Evolution SIM Indie game. I only made it 30 minutes into the demo before I got too frustrated just trying to locate anything other than water because I couldn't get the mini-map to stick on the screen.

This is another game that was initially dev to be used with a gamepad. To operate the little bugger on pc, you need to hold down the L mouse and scroll the mouse towards the edges of the screen to move the target icon. You will see a shadow bullseye and use that as your target to aim at because your bugger will swim wherever the target is placed.

The world you go through is enormous. I felt like I was searching the vast Atlantic Ocean with my finger held on the mouse the whole time and it hurts after a while. You can also use the keyboard arrows to move instead, but the target disappears. If you hit the pause button in-game you can click the gear icon and "apply the mini-map". I personally couldn't get it to actually apply and I'm sure it was highlighted/checked then "applied".

The little creatures reminded me of those microbes we learned about in high school. Remember these single celled little water buggers… Amoeba, Paramecium, Ciliates, & Sporozoans? There are some cool YouTube music videos that really reminded me of this game, with various microscopic water creatures put to calming music. It is a relaxing & beautiful world to watch. The beauty of these water creatures was a nice aspect of this game. It just needs a bit of work imo.
My protozoa thing was swimming in empty blue water for what felt like forever and was thrilled just to find a bush in all that water, never mind the colored targeted elements I was in search for. I did end up finding and collecting 2 of them and some other pale blue items it let me collect. I did figure out how to get the thing to move around but I can't say it's an agile process. :/
I ended up hitting exit because I realized I just wasn't having fun. The graphics and the music were both nice.
Dev by Forever Entertainment Show less

+9points

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Overall rating

1 / 5

23 of 28 found this review helpful

Confusing and Awful

PostedJuly 26, 2022

tim_t

Fun Factor

1 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

1 / 5

Level of Challenge

1 / 5

Storyline

1 / 5

Not like the other games in this series. This is dreadful. A confusing tutorial you cant get out of. Or save. Just awful. Didn't need more than five minutes to know this series is dead to me.

I don't recommend this game.

+18points

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Overall rating

1 / 5

15 of 18 found this review helpful

What Is This?

PostedJuly 26, 2022

callmecrystal

fromUSA

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle

17 minutes played and I have no idea what to do and there doesn't seem to be a guide or any help at all. How is this fun? I feel stupid now...thanks a bunch Big Fish!

I don't recommend this game.

+12points

15of 18voted this as helpful.

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Overall rating

1 / 5

12 of 14 found this review helpful

Frustrating lack of player guidance

PostedJuly 26, 2022

Maven

fromThe World

Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

1 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

2 / 5

Level of Challenge

1 / 5

I spent so much time trying to figure out the radar (faintly colored arcs at the head of my 'character') my patience was gone by the time I had collected the five elements. The next task was to use those elements to create an amino (I think that's what it was). My random choices between the three options did nothing. It felt like I didn't have enough raw material to make anything. I threw in the ...Show more

I spent so much time trying to figure out the radar (faintly colored arcs at the head of my 'character') my patience was gone by the time I had collected the five elements. The next task was to use those elements to create an amino (I think that's what it was). My random choices between the three options did nothing. It felt like I didn't have enough raw material to make anything. I threw in the towel at this point.

Have I been dumbed down from too many easy Big Fish games? If only there was a little more guidance on performing the tasks, this may have been an amusingly different game. Instead, I was frustrated. Show less

I don't recommend this game.

+10points

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	, share your thoughts about this game! Sparkle 3: Genesis An evolutionary visual experience! Heres what your review will look like once it’s posted. Click Submit if you’re happy. Your review should appear soon. To make changes, use the Edit or Cancel buttons. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this game! You’ve already shared your thoughts about this game. Thanks for submitting the review below.