is a

puzzle video game Puzzle video games make up a broad genre of video games that emphasize puzzle solving. The types of puzzles can test problem-solving skills, including logic, pattern recognition, Sequence, sequence solving, Spatial ability, spatial recognition, ...

developed and published by Japanese studio

G-Mode is a Japanese company that specializes in games for Java-compatible mobile phones. The company also licenses content for mobile telecommunications operators, as well as being involved in the original equipment manufacturing of mobile phone games ...

for mobile phones in 2002. Over the years, the game was released on many different mobile platforms in many countries. A version for

Nintendo Switch The is a video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. Released in the middle of the Eighth generation of video game consoles, eighth generation of home consoles, the Switch succeeded the ...

was released in 2020 as a part of the

G-Mode Archives G-Mode Archives is a series of re-releases of older mobile games for the Nintendo Switch console as well as Windows PCs on Steam. The term "G-Mode Archives" on its own refers to titles that are developed or published by G-Mode, whereas G-Mode Ar ...

series. The objective of the game is to clear the playing field from multiplying particles by moving the cursor and clicking on them before the energy runs out. ''Topolon'' was well received by critics with praise focused on its innovative and unique gameplay. The game won "Best Puzzle Game" and "Mobile Game of the Year" at

GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein. In addition ...

and Wireless Gaming Review's the Wireless Gaming Awards 2005.

Gameplay

According to the game's tutorial, the player must protect the nano circuit Topolon from electronic viruses called Nuruons that emerge in the circuit's nodes. The game presents the player with a grid that consists of nodes connected to each other by electric wires. The player controls a probe that can be moved between the nodes and used to tap the nodes. When a node with a Nuruon is tapped, the virus multiplies and the new viruses escape to adjacent nodes. Tapping nodes adjacent to the nodes infected with Nuruons draws the viruses to those nodes. Nuruons disappear from the field if crash each other. Every node tapping and every Nuruon multiplication draws the energy from the circuit. The objective of the game is to clear the grid from viruses before the energy runs out. Nuruons can evolve into Megaons, more advanced forms that can't be affected by tapping. They disappear only when hit by Nuruons several times.

Release

Topolon was developed and released by

for Japanese mobile phones on May 15, 2002, for

SoftBank is a Japanese multinational Investment company, investment holding company headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, that focuses on investment management. The group primarily invests in companies operating in technology that offer goods and services ...

's S!Appli network service. Later, it was released for other Japanese services such as

EZweb au, or au by KDDI, is a Japanese mobile phone operator. au is a brand marketed by KDDI in the main islands of Japan and by Okinawa Cellular in Okinawa for their mobile cellular services. au is the second-largest wireless carrier in Japan, w ...

and

i-Mode i-mode (, ) is a Japanese mobile internet (distinct from wireless internet) service operated by NTT DoCoMo. Unlike Wireless Application Protocols, i-mode encompasses a wider variety of internet standards, including web access, e-mail, and ...

. A

Flash Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional aliases * The Flash, several DC Comics superheroes with super speed: ** Flash (Jay Garrick) ** Barry Allen ** Wally West, the first Kid Flash and third adult Flash ...

version of the game was made available at

GungHo Online Entertainment is a Japanese video game developer and publisher. They are primarily known for hosting the Japanese server of '' Ragnarok Online'' (developed by its listed Korean subsidiary Gravity), as well as their development of '' Ragnarok DS'' for the N ...

's web gaming portal GungHo Games on August 3, 2006, as one of its launch titles. An updated version of ''Topolon'' with enhanced graphics was released in Europe and North America by an Irish company Upstart Games the same year. The original version of the game was digitally released on

on December 10, 2020, in Japan as part of the

series. This version was released in Europe on January 7, 2021; and in North America on January 14, 2021.

Reception

Topolon earned critical acclaim.

Jeff Gerstmann Jeff Gerstmann (born August 1, 1975) is an American video game journalist. Former editorial director of the gaming website ''GameSpot'' and the co-founder of the gaming website '' Giant Bomb'', Gerstmann began working at ''GameSpot'' in the fal ...

of ''

'' praised the game and said that it successfully imitates the aesthetic of early arcade games like ''

Qix ( ) is a 1981 puzzle video game developed by husband and wife team Randy and Sandy Pfeiffer and published in arcades by Taito, Taito America. ''Qix'' is one of a handful of games made by Taito's American division (another is ''Zoo Keeper (1983 v ...

''. He concluded that the game "has roughly everything you'd want from a mobile puzzler". This is one of the best puzzlers you'll play all year. Levi Buchanan reviewed Topolon for ''

IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...

'' and stated that "this is one of the best puzzlers you'll play all year". Dean Mortlock of ''

Pocket Gamer ''Pocket Gamer'' is a video game website and former print magazine that focuses on mobile, portable and handheld games. It was launched in 2005 by Steel Media Limited. The publication covers portable and mobile gaming formats, including iPhone, ...

'' called Topolon's gameplay unique and addictive.

Notes

References

{{reflist, refs= {{cite web , url = http://g-mode.jp/news/presstop/mainc57.html , title = ～J-フォン「Game Style」5月新着情報！～ , language = ja , website = G-Mode.jp , date = May 15, 2002 , access-date = December 7, 2021 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127130809/http://g-mode.jp/news/presstop/mainc57.html , archive-date=November 27, 2011 , url-status=dead {{cite web , url = https://www.4gamer.net/games/541/G054184/20201210061/ , title = アクションパズルゲーム「TOPOLON（トポロン）」がG-MODEアーカイブスよりリリース , language = ja , website = 4gamer , date = December 10, 2020 , access-date = December 7, 2021 , archive-date = December 8, 2021 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211208000007/https://www.4gamer.net/games/541/G054184/20201210061/ , url-status = live {{cite web , url = https://gmodecorp.com/gmodearchives/topolon/ , title = TOPOLON - G-MODEアーカイブス , language = ja , website = gmodecorp.com , access-date = December 7, 2021 , archive-date = November 26, 2021 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211126180725/https://gmodecorp.com/gmodearchives/topolon/ , url-status = live {{cite web , author = Jeff Gerstmann , url = https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/topolon-review/1900-6118392/ , title = Topolon Review , language = en , website =

, date = February 10, 2005 , access-date = December 7, 2021 , archive-date = December 7, 2021 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211207225458/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/topolon-review/1900-6118392/ , url-status = live {{cite web , author = Levi Buchanan , url = https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/09/topolon-review , title = Topolon Review , language = en , website =

, date = September 9, 2006 , access-date = December 7, 2021 , archive-date = December 8, 2021 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211208233655/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/09/topolon-review , url-status = live {{cite web , author = Dean Mortlock , url = https://www.pocketgamer.com/topolon/topolon/ , title = Topolon , language = en , website =

, date = February 1, 2006 , access-date = December 7, 2021 , archive-date = December 8, 2021 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211208233734/https://www.pocketgamer.com/topolon/topolon/ , url-status = live {{cite web , url = https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wireless-award-winners-announced-at-ctia/1100-6120507/ , title = Wireless award winners announced at CTIA , language = en , website =

, date = March 16, 2005 , access-date = December 6, 2021 , archive-date = February 25, 2021 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210225084310/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wireless-award-winners-announced-at-ctia/1100-6120507/ , url-status = live {{cite web , url = https://www.gamersgame.com/topolon-wins-mobies-game-of-324051 , title = Topolon Wins Mobies Game of the Year , language = en , website = Gamers Game , date = March 24, 2005 , access-date = December 6, 2021 , archive-date = May 19, 2021 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210519010719/https://www.gamersgame.com/topolon-wins-mobies-game-of-324051 , url-status = live {{cite video game , title = Topolon , developer =

, publisher =

, platform =

, date = 2021 , level = Help , lang = en {{cite video game , title = Topolon , developer =

, publisher =

, platform =

J2ME Java Platform, Micro Edition or Java ME is a computing platform for development and deployment of porting, portable code for embedded system, embedded and mobile devices (micro-controllers, sensors, gateways, mobile phones, personal digita ...

, date = 2005 , level = Help , lang = en {{cite web , url = http://g-mode.jp/news/presstop/mainc85.html , title = ～au「テトリス＆100円ゲーム」に、「ころマスター」＆「TOPOLON」登場！～ , language = ja , website = G-Mode.jp , access-date = December 7, 2021 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127135120/http://g-mode.jp/news/presstop/mainc85.html , archive-date=November 27, 2011 , url-status=dead {{cite web , url = http://g-mode.jp/news/presstop/maind99.html , title = ～「Get!!プチアプリ」に、無限に遊べる近未来的アクションパズル「TOPOLON」が登場！～ , language = ja , website = G-Mode.jp , access-date = December 7, 2021 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127125939/http://g-mode.jp/news/presstop/maind99.html , archive-date=November 27, 2011 , url-status=dead {{cite web , author = 暇つぶし管理人 , url = http://freegames.seesaa.net/article/21967778.html , title = GungHo Games：正式サービス開始！ , language = ja , website = Free Games , publisher = Seesaa , access-date = December 8, 2021 , archive-date = July 16, 2010 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100716122834/http://freegames.seesaa.net/article/21967778.html , url-status = live {{cite web , url = http://www.gungho.co.jp/english/about/history.php , title = Company History , language = en , website = GungHo.co.jp , publisher = GungHo Online Entertainment , access-date = December 8, 2021 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929101615/http://www.gungho.co.jp/english/about/history.php , archive-date=September 29, 2013 , url-status=dead {{cite web , url = http://cgame.gungho.jp/?p=-game&id=TOPOLON , title = Topolon , language = ja , website = GungHo Games , publisher = GungHo Online Entertainment , access-date = December 8, 2021 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060816070906/http://cgame.gungho.jp/?p=-game&id=TOPOLON , archive-date=August 16, 2006 , url-status=dead {{cite web , url = https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/upstart-games-g-mode-form-global-publishing-partnership , title = Upstart Games & G-mode form global publishing partnership , language = en , website = Games Industry , date = January 24, 2006 , access-date = December 8, 2021 , archive-date = December 4, 2020 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201204075640/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/upstart-games-g-mode-form-global-publishing-partnership , url-status = live {{cite web , url = https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/G-MODE-Archives25-Topolon-1898639.html , title = G-MODE Archives25 Topolon , language = en , website = Nintendo.co.uk , access-date = December 7, 2021 , archive-date = December 8, 2021 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211208233655/https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/G-MODE-Archives25-Topolon-1898639.html , url-status = live {{cite web , url = https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/g-mode-archives25-topolon-switch/ , title = G-MODE Archives25 Topolon , language = en , website = Nintendo.com , access-date = December 7, 2021 , archive-date = August 5, 2021 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210805143149/https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/g-mode-archives25-topolon-switch/ , url-status = live 2002 video games Flash games J2ME games Java platform games Nintendo Switch games Puzzle video games Single-player video games Video games developed in Japan