The playing field or game board looks like a computer motherboard. There are unusual characters and environments, a variety of sound effects and an interesting soundtrack of music that makes the game fun, if a bit odd and different. I even found the music a bit annoying at times, especially at the times when I was had to go back through the same stage in the game for the umpteenth time. No, really, it wasn’t that bad, but the game does present a challenge for both your reaction speed and reflexes and your executive thinking skills. Although it is no comparison to chess, you do have to think ahead and plan for the reactions to avoid losing the ground you have already gained.

GreenFace reminds me of some earlier games that required you to take certain actions for which there were unseen consequences. For example, it makes you plan your tunnels to avoid getting bashed by the games bombs or boulders and to leave yourself an adequate “escape route’ from that particular level. The storyline for the game is this: there is a Virtual Reality computer that has trapped everyone it has encountered. You are a virtual reality opponent interred in this virtual reality computer world. Murphy is the game character who can help you win, by collecting the necessary amount of “Infotrons” which make up the computer’s detonation code and will allow you to set it off. It sounds simple enough, but figuring out how to get all the Infotrons you need without getting blown up yourself or getting mashed or trapped is challenging. In some ways, it initially reminded me of Pac-Man (I guess that really dates me) but as I continued to play, there were more ways to outsmart or avoid the characters that might chase or do harm to you, unlike in the Pac-Man game. After you master one level, you are taken to the next level to continue on your quest for the proverbial Holy Grail, victory. Murphy digs his way through circuits and avoids falling Bombs and security patrols in his quest for the detonation code.

You have several options that can affect how you play Greenface, the music soundtrack can be left on or turned off as can the sound effects built into the game. Every new stage demands new skills and provides you with tools which you have to use correctly in order to successfully solve the puzzles imbedded in the game. As you advance, there are even more Bombs, Detonators, Traps and Switches that can help you achieve victory, or lead you to utter defeat. Each successive level becomes more and more complex. The presence of these complicated puzzle elements make Greenface a thinking person’s action game. However, if you don’t want to be challenged THAT much, you can leave the “tips” on and this will give you little hints about how to play more effectively. Greenface is a good combination of mental and physical game challenges. There are numerous puzzle elements built in that make it an enjoyable game, and it certainly is a great game for players who anticipate a more cerebral aspect to their action games. It is easy to begin with, but hard to master, due to all of the intricacy the programmers added to the successive levels. Greenface provides the player with over 90 levels of non-violent action/puzzle fun and is safe to play at any age. Even young children can enjoy it, but they may be limited in figuring out some of the more advanced puzzles.

You can download this game and others from the Mad Data software company on the Internet . The cost for the full version of the game is $19.95. If that does not meet your wallet’s fancy, you can download the free version. Check out the website, if Greenface is not to your liking, perhaps you can find something else there that you would like better.