Box of Hats and Wigs

Just a quick game of Peggle, we said. Just a quick game.

…

There is no such thing as a quick game of Peggle.

This is something I’ve failed to grasp over a few years now and for however many times I think I’ve learnt… Popcap’s ability to create games more addictive than thought humanly possible will draw me back in.

Looking at the game factually, it’s unbelievably simple. You’ve got a 2D board of coloured pegs, and you have to fire a ball at them from the top to try and hit as many of them as you can: with the eventual goal to hit all of the orange pegs, clearing them off the board. Such a thing should become boring, but for some reason it’s utterly engrossing and I’m still as addicted to it years since I started.

It’s partially due to the wonderful way the game is presented. It’s brightly coloured with ridiculous characters from a unicorn to a skateboarding hamster, and success is displayed through the ceremonious playing of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. You won’t feel silly for throwing your arms up in celebration each time. It just feels right.

Many nights a session of Left 4 Dead will end with “how about a quick round of Peggle”, which will go on for three hours. My attempts to play Farmville recently have really only been successful due to playing Peggle in the gaps between them. I’m currently drinking from a Peggle mug, for christs sake.

I should be scared about the hold this game has over me. But as it teases me with pretty colours and happy sounds, it will never get old. Now if you’ll excuse me, I was going to write some more, but I think I can get through a few more levels of Peggle before bed…