1 Player
Release Date: July 2005
Price: Free
Publisher: Bloc Games

Overall Rating 7 out of 10

Stackopolis is nothing new, but reasonably fun and well-executed.

First Impressions

Billing itself as the most addictive game since Tetris, Stackopolis is an online or downloadable Flash game.

The object here is to stack isometric blocks according to a down blueprints before time runs out. Meanwhile the music is rushing by, the timer counts down, and you scramble to match the specifications for the building at hand. As the countdown timer approaches zero, a blimp flies out to warn you (no doubt in an attempt to make you nervous). You have to complete twenty buildings to complete the game.

This is definitely a frenetic, high-energy game with good reply value, but “the most addictive game since Tetris” is a bit of a stretch.

On Second Thought

We’ll take another look after some more time with the game.

Dissecting Stackopolis

ESRB Rating — N/A

There’s nothing too offensive here (there are a couple small items external to the game itself that could be debated).

Play Modes — 5 out of 10

Offline — You can download this game to play standalone. This might be handy for those situations where you have to get your fix and can’t get to the internet. You lose the high score feature, though.

Online — Playing it online has the added feature of posting high scores on the Stackopolis website.

Sound/Music — 7 out of 10

The sound and music are reasonably good, and appropriately reminiscent of SimCity — with maybe a little more urgency strewn about.

Controls — 8 out of 10

What can you say? You use the mouse. Seems a trifle simple, but it’s fitting for the game.

Graphics – 7 out of 10

Isometric block graphics are nothing new. Stackopolis uses this look to good comic-book effect.

Fun Factor — 7 out of 10

The fun here comes from two places: (1) the high-energy of the game itself; and (2) the Stackopolis website — which is arguably not part of the actual game.

Innovation — 6 out of 10

There is not much innovation in Stackopolis. It seems fresh.

Overall — 7 out of 10

Stackopolis offers nothing new, but is well-executed and reasonably fun with decent replay value.

Tags: Flash · Online games · Platforms · Reviews