Memneon review

Memneon = Memorizing Neon? Memneon is a pattern memorizing iPhone and iPad game as a universal app which sells for 99¢ in the App Store. You are shown a screen of light-up circles. Memorize this screen and then when the they clear the field and let you tap to light up the circles again, you must recreate the pattern perfectly or be punished. Do you have a photographic memory or are you like me with my “goldfish playing videogames” memory?

This is a pure memorization game app. Memneon is not easy. Not even on practice mode. You have 3 different game styles for memorization. The first is the easiest where the screen pattern that you have to memorize is a still image. The second makes the circles pulsate, which can mess with your eyes a bit. The third is impossible. Well, ok, to be fair, it’s impossible for ME, but I’m sure there are players that can memorize this… the circles lights up in sequence that you have to memorize, then fade away in sequence as well. You have to memorize both the position and the sequence that they fade in.

What makes Memneon so difficult is because of how large the field is that you have to memorize positions in. You have a 7×7 field where any of the circles could appear. There is no way to reduce this field to be more manageable for different players. I would have loved to play the game where it raises difficulty by adding more rows and columns instead of just straight up starting at 49 spaces. Then again, I’d probably still struggle with a 4×4 grid, so who am I to complain?

About the art, I’d like to say first that the neon appearance is really, really easy to create. Draw a shape, give it an outer glow of the same color, and place it on a dark background= Neon. It’s nothing new at this point but it does give any game a much needed visual oomph. Memneon has a very clean, almost vintage appearance. The App icon and title screen neon brain is actually very interesting and clever to me. User interface like the score board, lives, and menu system are well done, clear, and easy to read. The background could us a bit of dark design to give it more to look at. Maybe a dark grey pattern in the border of the field or something?

Memneon is compellingly difficult, visually sharp, and exceptionally clean. I recommend this for fast memorizers and those of you who like this style of gameplay. Color your mind and work out your brain. I’ll be practicing so I can improve my score… current personal best? A little bit over 7000. Yes, I suck.

Here is a video demo of the Memneon app on the iPhone

AppSafari Rating: 5/5

AppSafari review of Memneon was written by Joseph Ho on June 10th, 2011 and categorized under App Store, Featured, Games, iPad apps, Puzzler, Strategy, Time Management, Universal. Page viewed 5770 times, 3 so far today. Need help on using these apps? Please read the Help Page.