Klax

Klax hit arcades when everybody was hooked on falling-block puzzlers, and it still managed to feel different. The colored tiles don't drop from the sky here: they tumble toward you down a conveyor belt in 3D perspective, and you have to catch them on a paddle before they get away.

It was one of those cabinets people stared at with their head tilted, trying to figure out what was going on, until they finally gave in and fed it a quarter.

History

Atari Games released Klax in 1989. Right in the middle of the puzzle game boom, it bet on an original idea that mixed reflexes and planning, with slick presentation and a pace that never let you catch your breath.

It got ported to just about every computer and console over the next few years and became one of the most recognizable puzzle games of the late 80s and early 90s.

How to play

Colored tiles roll down a five-lane belt. Use the joystick to slide your paddle left and right and catch them; the paddle can hold a small stack. Press the button to drop them into the bin below, in whichever column you want.

The goal is to line up three tiles of the same color, called a Klax: horizontal, vertical or diagonal. Diagonals and combos are worth more. Let too many tiles fall past your paddle or overflow the bin and you're done. Each wave has its own goal, like a number of Klaxes, diagonals or points, and you can flip tiles back up the belt to buy yourself time.

Fun facts

• The game's name is also what each matching line is called.
• Diagonal lines are worth the most points.
• The perspective conveyor belt set it apart from falling-block puzzlers.

In the arcade

Klax isn't on the UsuArcade floor yet, but it's on our wish list. If you want it in the arcade, hit Want to Play on this page. The most-voted games get added first.

Meanwhile, the arcade has other puzzlers to challenge your friends: Tetris, the falling-block classic; Puzzle Bobble with its colored bubbles; and Pang for some balloon-popping reflex action.

FAQ