When I first opened the game, I was stunned by the vertical screen layout. Back then, the GBA had a horizontal screen layout. However, after getting used to it, I found that the vertical screen is quite suitable for fishing on the subway, and it is very comfortable to hold with one hand. The core gameplay is still the classic "connect identical patterns to eliminate", but the modern version adds too many things that were unthinkable back then - stone bricks cannot be moved, ice blocks must be eliminated adjacent to each other, and vines block the line of sight. I remember that when I played "Mr. Earth", I only had bombs and diamonds, but now there are so many props, bees, prompts, refreshes... it's like having a plug-in.
What impresses me most is the difficulty design. In the past, the levels of GBA's "Animal Keeper" became more and more perverted as the game progressed. However, although the later stages of "Lian Lian Kan Master" are also difficult, the prop system gives a lot of room for error. Once I was stuck on a certain ice level, and I used a "refresh" prop to instantly open up the situation. This design was more user-friendly than the hardcore gameplay of pure hand speed and pure brain power.
As for the shortcomings, this game does not have the feel of physical buttons like a handheld game. The GBA's AB keys clicked when pressed, but now they all rely on touch screen clicks, which are smooth but lack some feedback. However, the charging life is much better than that of GBA. Back then, two batteries could not last a day of playing, but now mobile phones can be played for several hours on a single charge.
Overall evaluation: This is a successful modernization of the classic elimination gameplay. It not only retains the magic of "playing one more level before going to bed" when I was a child, but also adds more reasonable strategic elements. If you, like me, are an old player from the GBA/PSP era, you might as well give it a try, maybe you can get back to the mood of hiding in bed and playing handheld games secretly. 👴