Superman Returns: Fortress of Solitude - Game Boy Advance - DE

Superman Returns: Fortress of Solitude is a companion game to the 2006 film Superman Returns. Unlike most Superman games, which focus heavily on action, Fortress of Solitude is primarily a puzzle game with only a few action elements. The game consists of twenty chapters, each made up of a series of crystals in the Fortress of Solitude. Behind each crystal lies a puzzle task. There are two types of puzzles: Kryptonex is a Sudoku variant with crystals instead of numbers. The board with the cells must be filled with crystals, with only one type of crystal allowed per row, column and group. The board is already filled with some crystals so players can see where to start. The second type of puzzle is called Crystallisation. In this puzzle, rows and columns must be filled with crystals. When a row or column is completed, it is powered and the crystals are removed. The goal is to energise the entire playing field. Crystals (from a group of three, with random additions after removal) can only be placed next to other crystals that have either the same shape or colour. Only joker crystals can be placed anywhere. Superman's powers can be used to solve the puzzle. Each use of a power consumes a power meter, which slowly recharges.

In Kryptonex, Superman can briefly show the correct placement of crystals across the entire playing board or place the correct crystal in the current cell. In Crystallisation, he can power cells without having to fill a row or column. In both games, he can also pause the clock for a short time. The puzzles come in three different difficulty levels, with higher difficulty levels played on larger playing boards. Some of the crystal challenges require playing multiple boards in succession. All puzzles within a chapter must be solved within a time limit. It is possible to retry puzzles to improve your time and have more time for the remaining tasks. Completing a chapter unlocks a digitised image from the film. In addition to the puzzle game, there is also a small action game. During each chapter, one of Superman's arch-enemies (including Metallo, Brainiac or Mr. Mxyzptlk) attacks and sends his minions. In a side-scrolling shooter level, it is then Superman's job to shoot down the minions, which come in red and blue versions. The red ones must be defeated with Super Breath, the blue ones with Heat Vision. When you shoot down a group, you get a red or blue crystal. To defeat the villain, you must collect enough crystals before the level ends.