Mobile Game Review: Sushi Shuffle

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Sushi Shuffle by Superscape is a variation on the "match 3" genre, albeit with a good "flair" to it. Instead of picking a tile to shift, you pick a row (or a column) to shift, and you can shift as far as you want, up to entire length of the board (though you could go the other way, as it's "wrap-around". Clearly, the MORE piece you remove (more than 3), the more combos you remove at a time (you could make a move that got two or more aligned together), or even cause chains (remove one sets, others "drop" into place, and remove even more sets). Later levels introduce knives (fixes piece into place, so you can't shift that column/row), bugs (takes up room on the board), bomb (takes up room, but the only way to kill bugs, triggered by adjacent completed set), fugu (special fish, but spoils VERY quickly), bonuses like wasabi and ginger, and more.

There are three modes to the main game: chill, frantic, and kendo. Chill game is basically play as you wish, no time pressure at all. Frantic has penguins start lining up. If too many penguins line up... the restaurant goes POOF. Finally, Kendo mode has you play as one side of a state vs. state fight. Can you beat the average of the other state(s) to defend your state's honor?



There are even six more minigames in case you got bored with the main game. Those are single-button timing games and are pretty charming/cute. The sushi slicing is quite difficult, esp. in the latter parts. And the game requires you to start ALL over if you "lose", which adds to the frustration.

However, there's also a funky mode where you can add your own sound effects and pictures to the game. Haven't tried it yet, but it could be cute.

All in all, Sushi Shuffle aded enough "wrinkles" to the basic "match 3" gameplay to guarantee a lot of originality. And it has penguins, plenty of penguins! Who doesn't love penguins and sushi? :)

Oh, if you stop at beginning of a level, you can "resume" the game for later. That's something completely undocumented, at least for the "chill" game. Haven't tried it for the frantic game yet.

Presentation: 7.5 3D look is good
Graphics: 7 3D sushi a bit too small, otherwise good
Sound: 6 appropriate, with volume adjustments and vibe!
Gameplay: 8 got that "one more level" feel
Overall: 8 one of the better rendered mobile games