Another day, another online puzzler. This time it’s GEON, from Derby based outfit, Strawdog Studios. There’s a question which is undoubtedly going to be asked and it is this: Can this cerebral strainer stand out from the others who inhabit an already well populated genre? The answer, as well as the levels to play will take a little bit of working out, so let’s get on with it.

Now, there may well be a few of you who are familiar with the Xbox Live Arcade original version of this, titled GEON Emotions. There have been a few additions since its first outing and they include a new league mode, which has you competing against 7 other people to try and get yourself promoted to higher divisions, but also leaves you at risk to be relegated if you can’t cut it. The AI has also been tweaked and some new power balls added for a bit more variety.

The idea of the main game is to score goals by collecting pellets, pac-man style, to fill up a meter in the corner of the screen. Once this has been done you then need to flip over to the other side of the gaming arena to reach the middle and bag one for the team. Be careful though, as there is always a competitor on the other side trying to do the same, be they computer or human controlled. You do have some help in the form of a double jump attack to make your opponent spill pellets and a shield to counter it, but these can only be used when their appropriate bars are full.