As a fan of classic puzzle games, most notably Tetris, I perked up when I heard it served as inspiration for new title Day and Night. Developed by Ridiculous Games, composed of veterans from such companies as Konami, Midway and THQ, Day and Night has a special twist. You can change the rules of the game, change the blocks and change the rules, altering the the gameplay experience in the process. It all sounds interesting, especially since Day and Night is going to be a Nintendo Switch exclusive. If that sounds like your sort of game, you’ll be happy to check it out starting on October 22nd. To read all the details, check out the press release below.
Ridiculous Games to Release Day and Night on Nintendo Switch on October 22nd
Day and Night is an Ode to Classic 2D Falling-Block Puzzle Games, but with an Ingenious Twist!
Collect Blocks, Change Time, and Change the Rules.
Pre-Purchase Begins Today!
LOS ANGELES, CA – October 8th, 2019 — Self-published by indie studio Ridiculous Games, and developed exclusively for Nintendo Switch, comes Day and Night, a visually and intellectually challenging ode to classic 2D falling-block puzzle games, governed by an innovative day and night mechanic. Available for pre-purchase today at 25% off, the game launches on October 22nd, 2019 for $19.99 USD.
“We know we are standing on the shoulders of a classic genre,” said Jeremy Airey, CEO, Ridiculous Gaming, “and we have made sure to stay true to its core mechanics of barely-controlled chaos and split-second decision making, all the while expanding upon it in an exciting new way. We’re also thrilled to be using the Nintendo Switch as a platform, as for many people Nintendo was their first introduction to the genre thirty years ago.”
As with all the best classic puzzlers, the game is easy to pick up and play but difficult to master, with multiple tactics and choices for players to learn.
“Players share a split screen and must stack and combine matching blocks in groups of four or more to remove them,” Airey explains. “So far, so normal, but in Day and Night the two sides of the screen are presented as either time state, with day and night blocks spawning for both players. As players can only collect blocks that match their time state, the core game becomes a dual challenge, with players focusing on collecting their active time-matching blocks while managing an ever-growing number of inactive blocks.”
To defeat their opponent, players must think ahead and stack their inactive blocks in groups in preparation for a time change that turns the rules upside down.
“Collecting blocks clears your screen and also builds your time meter,” said Airey. “Fill the meter and switch the time of day for both players. Suddenly, blocks that were active a moment ago turn off and inactive blocks turn on and if you plan ahead this lets you collect large amounts of blocks in a flash, building up combo points while dropping blocks on your opponent!”
With the introduction of this gameplay mechanic, players need to strategize for both the short and long game, collecting active blocks to clear space and fill their meter, while placing inactive blocks to prepare for the next time change.
Just like the best games in the genre, Day and Night tests both the concentration skills and reaction times of players, all the while challenging them to think tactically in this fun and frantic dose of old-school puzzle action.
Day and Night offers several game modes and features made possible by being developed exclusively for Nintendo Switch.
Day and Night Game Modes
Rehearsal
- Battle against an AI CPU opponent in a practice game to learn the basics
Versus Mode
- In this core Day and Night mode, two sides battle for victory in a single player or two-player experience
Survival Mode
- A single player game mode which tests the player’s endurance as they struggle to survive their way through the calendar years
Story Mode
- Progress through a charming set of stories battling a varied cast of characters along the way
Dares
- Play through several sets of challenges, each with their own unique rules and twisted scenarios
Day and Night takes advantage of the Nintendo Switch’s unique aspects such as its focus on multiplayer, portability, and the number of ways it can be used to play games. Day and Night allows two players to share the same screen as they battle head-to-head in Versus mode. Survival and Challenge game modes allow for on-the-go playing. Players can dock their Nintendo Switch and experience the game using TV mode and for that old-school feel, players can transform their Nintendo Switch to competitive tabletop mode, sharing the Joy-Con controllers.
