Ancient Egypt has always been fascinating, what with its many gods and unique customs. Though most games don’t utilize the Egyptian theme other than to paint their games up, it’s still always nice when Egypt is used as a backdrop. Treasures of Ra is the latest casual game to use Egypt as a setting, a game that has you traversing underground tombs and using the tombs’ environmental features to work your way through the twisted levels.

In order to complete each level you need to make a shaft of light stretch from the beginning all the way to a lock of sorts that won’t unlock unless light settles upon it for a short amount of time. The puzzle aspect of the game comes from the fact that it’s never a straight shot from the light source to the level’s lock, as you’ll need to position objects in such a way as to reflect light, collect objects, and destroy objects that may be in your way.

The most common way to get the light from the beginning of the level to the end is by utilizing a set of mirrors to reflect the light to the proper destination. A few levels can be completed with only one proper placed mirror, but as you move through the levels you’ll have more complicated puzzles, which could take two or more mirrors to complete. I know, you’re probably wondering what’s so hard about placing mirrors in order to reflect light. Well, if you were able to easily place mirrors then there wouldn’t be much of a game, but the truly puzzling aspect of the game comes from the fact that you have to slide objects into position, which will keep sliding until they’ve hit an object to stop their progress, so if you only want a mirror, for example, to only slide one spot, you’re out of luck unless there is something there to stop it.

Treasures of Ra is a unique beast, as it manages to be fun and yet oh so frustrating at the same time. The real struggle of the game is figuring out in what way all the objects are to be used in order to complete the level, as it seems as if there is really only one solution to each puzzle, and that you need to figure out exactly what the game wants you to do in order for you to complete it. In some levels the solution is pretty obvious, as you’ll be able to complete the level in only one or two moves. In other levels, however, you’ll slide objects over and over, trying to figure out exactly what you need to do, and then when you’re completely stumped, you’ll reset the level incase you completely messed up and need to view everything in its original state. Whenever you solve one of these really hard thinking levels, there is a genuine sense of accomplishment, but at the same time when you can’t figure things out easily, you can get really mad and tired of the game because of the steep difficulty at times.

Besides having to slide mirrors into place, there are other environmental obstacles you have to contend with. Some levels need a specific colored light in order to complete the level, and so you’ll need to somehow place the colored globe in front of the light in order to change it. Other obstacles include sarcophagus that will block the light until you move them, pitfalls that need to be filled in so you can move things on top of them, crates you need to push around in order to collect anchs and destroy things like scarabs, which you can’t move and will absorb the light until they are dealt with. Besides objects you can move and interact with, there’s other obstacles like bones that you have to work around, as they can’t be moved at all.

Beyond having to merely figure out how things slide and work to unlock the end of the level, you’ve also got a time limit to worry about, which is represented by a sun that rises and then sets. It’s a pretty unique timer, but one that is a bit difficult at times to figure out regarding how much time you have left to complete a group of levels. The timer certainly makes things harder, as it makes you rush through the levels quicker, which will have you making moves on instinct instead of intelligence, and it are those moves that will ultimately have you getting messed up and restarting levels over and over.

Graphically the game looks pretty good, though it seems as if there could’ve been more polish to make things stand out more and overall pop instead of be fairly flat and dull. The game is also pretty light in terms of audio, which though decent sounding in terms of sliding objects and completing levels, the game is lacking a bit when it comes to background music setting the mood. There is some background music, but it’s a little too mute, and the sounds of Egypt could’ve been utilized more in order to really round out the experience.

Treasures of Ra is a solid game, mixing an Egyptian setting with some truly difficult object sliding puzzles, which will at times frustrate you beyond belief, and at other times will be a blast. If you’re looking to be challenged you’ll find one here, but for everyone else looking for a bit of an easier challenge, you’ll be turned off by Treasures of Ra. Treasures of Ra is a good game, but one that won’t be universally loved by all.

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