Da Vinci’s Secret Machines is a cool logic puzzle game in the same vein as games like Magnificent Gizmos & Gadgets (iPhone) and Lucidity (XBLA). Each level requires you to complete some objective using springs, balls, dominoes and more.

I personally really dig these types of games. The whole applying myself to the problem at hand is engrossing and I can burn through a hundred levels in a night. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what I did with this game. I sat down and burned through the whole thing in about an hour or 90 minutes. Not because I’m a super genius but because the levels are short, few and easy.

One of my major problems with the game is that every damned thing you have to grab with your fingertip and drag around is the size of an ant. In a time-based game there’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to move the item necessary on the first time and I found myself having to drag, drag, drag again until the game picked up on the fact that I wanted to move something. Apparently Above Ground Games wasn’t able to master a zoom in/out function or if there is one it’s not readily apparent.

The game does give a good amount of objects to use including balls of varying sizes and materials, springs, fans, planks and the like. It also incorporates Openfeint for online leaderboards. How the game gives you a score is beyond me. I imagine it’s based on the number of seconds you have left after each level. My first run through of the game put me in 78th place (of 2426 entries) on the leaderboard. I imagine if I were so inclined, I could go back and run through the game again and place in the top ten.

But I’m not. Mostly because the challenge level of the game is low and the controls are ofttimes frustrating. Now this isn’t to say the game is horrible. Not at all. I did sit down and play through the whole thing. It’s just short and has some control issues. The graphics are great and really hold to the Leonardo Da Vinci theme of the game. In between each level you’re not only given instructions but tidbits of trivia about the old master. The game will have you thinking but rarely scratching your head and should never stump you. The levels are simple, the items straightforward in their operation and the principle a solid one.

It’s not a bad little bit of enjoyment for a couple bucks and the more competitive of you will go back for more and try to place higher on the leaderboards. I’m happy to be in the top 100 on the first run through.