Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (don’t bother trying to pronounce it) developed the notion of Flow, or the state we enter when we get “sucked into” an experience. While Flow applies to any good video game, it almost completely describes the gameplay behind Trioncube.

Much like another Namco game, Katamari Damacy, Trioncube takes a very simple approach to its visuals. Characters are composed of a few simple shapes and blocks feature basic colors and sometimes flash. Level backgrounds are just as simple and stick to one theme throughout. One neat feature is the ability to unlock and pruchase new backdrops. The first few aren’t all that great looking, though later ones begin to get really artistic. Unfortunately, it takes a while before you get to see the later backdrops, so unless you’re really addicted, you’ll likely never see them.

Sound is either the most annoying thing you’ve ever heard or the most original and ecclectic. Like backgrounds, you can unlock new “shatter” sounds by playing. Unlike backgrounds, however, these are much easier to come by and you’ll likely hear at least one you like before completing the Story mode. The extra shatter sounds range from crashes and beeps to cuckoo clock chimes and cow noises. Again, it will annoy the hell out of you or you will think it is completely original.

As the captain of the penguin-shaped starship, the Penko, it is your job to race across the galaxy to rescue a princess from King Pluto. Once again drawing comparisons to Katamari, Trioncube is very easy to get into and it doesn’t take itself all that seriously. The story isn’t all that complex and is mainly comprised of the princess switching hands between King Pluto, a giant purple blob, a pink ship and yourself. This goes on for about 40+ levels until the princess has been passed around more than Heather Locklear and Pamela Anderson combined – but, story isn’t your main reason for playing.

The concept behind Trioncube is easy, perhaps too easy. The goal is to create a 3x3 square using blocks that fall from the top of the screen. Once a square is completed it begins to blink, at which point you need to add more blocks to keep creating a chain of 3x3 blocks. This process keeps going until you can’t make another link in the chain, then the blocks disappear and you’re awarded for each block in the grid.

Building chains causes the Penko to go faster, which shows at the side of the bin. The object in each level is to get to the end. Sometimes you’ll have to beat a timer, but most of the time you’re racing against another ship.

The building of chains is where the notion of “flow” comes into play. Once you learn the trick behind getting a chain going, it is very easy to keep it going, sometimes until it fills up the entire screen. Once a chain starts, it is very easy to forget everything around you and lock yourself into the task. It almost begins to feel like the blocks are automatically falling into place – at least until you make a careless move and blow the whole thing (an unfortunate side-effect of letting instinct take over).

When blocks clear, they leave behind coins which can be used to purchase new backgrounds and shatter sounds. Depending on how many 3x3 squares you form you’ll earn either bronze, silver or gold coins, each worth more than the last. Diamond coins can also be unlocked if you manage to fill the entire bin with one chain.

The unlockable extras are cool and will probably keep you playing a little longer. One of the more coveted unlockables is a sound from the arcade shooter Xevious. This is also one of the last ones you’ll unlock and it isn’t all that cheap. It takes a while to get to the really good stuff and even that costs way too much money – so while the rewards are nice, they’re not nice enough to keep you performing the same repetative motions just to earn enough that you’ll buy them. Unless, of course, you’re the type that needs to collect and complete everything the game has to offer. A few more “game” themed unlockables probably would have added a little more incentive, at least for old school gamers.

In addition to Story, Arcade and Endless modes, Trioncube also offers multiplayer variants. Although you can’t take the game online, the two players can play off one card while four can play with multiple cards.

As “in the zone” as you can get while playing Trioncube, it doesn’t offer a whole lot, nor does it last that long. Arcade mode can be completed in under 10 minutes (provided you can get quick, long chains) and Story mode takes about 2 – 3 hours, again depending on how good you get at linking chains.

Trioncube’s best mode is Endless, which is where the game becomes a little more complicated and engaging. Here you build chains through 99 dimensions, each with special chracteristics. Some feature short time limits while others speed up the falling rate of blocks or how long the chain will hold. The added characteristics really make Endless mode tough, especially the ones with short timers where one mistake can ruin everything.

As a DS game, Trioncube doesn’t make much use of the DS’s touch functions or its two screens. During the game, everything you need can be found on the bottom screen while the top just shows a picture of the Penko as it goes faster and faster. It is tempting to knock off points for the game not using both screens well, but at the same time I couldn’t imagine having to look up for information, especially when I’m in the middle of a chain.

Touch functions are limited to selecting game modes and starting the game. Even then, the D-pad and face buttons work just as well. The in-game controls are just as simple, and only use one button and the D-pad.

Trioncube is a fun game, though it won’t appeal to everyone. Fans of puzzle games will, of course, like the game. Hardcore puzzle fans may find it too easy and not all that deep or long-lasting. Casual fans, on the other hand, may dig the game for those exact reasons. But, even if you do find yourself in the former catergory, Trioncube’s $20 price point could make it a worthwhile purchase.