Back in January at Macworld, we checked out the upcoming puzzle game Look Again! [$1.99] from Smappsoft. Earlier this month the game was released in the App Store, and I’ve finally had a chance to spend some time with the final version. I was intrigued by the core gameplay in Look Again! when I previewed it, which has you matching designs surrounding the screen with an image in the center.

Since then the gameplay has been fine tuned for the better, decreasing the fairly brutal difficulty and also adding a ton more design types to the game. Look Again! isn’t the flashiest game you can buy, but the core mechanic is unique and it’s a fast-paced arcade game that will take a sharp mind to succeed in.

Look Again! contains more than 200 increasingly difficult levels, with each level containing 3 puzzles which must be completed in a set amount of time. Early puzzles have a central image comprised of 2 surrounding images, and the goal is to simply choose which 2 make up that central image.

As you progress, things start to spice up with the surrounding images rotating, flashing on and off, and various other distractions designed to make recognizing them more difficult. Once you get to the point where you’re unable to finish the 3 puzzles in a level before the timer runs out, the game is over. Subsequent new games can then be started from any fifth level that has been previously unlocked.

Look Again! is a simple game, but it’s an interesting concept and a fun challenge. Plus, there is loads of content with all of the included levels, dozens of different patterns, and Game Center integration for achievements and leaderboards. Visually it looks sharp and colorful, especially on Retina Display devices. If you’re looking for a game that you can jump into at any time to test your mettle in recognition and reaction, Look Again! will fit that bill.