Garbage has been getting a lot of respect in gaming as of late. Hell, Katamari Damacy found a way to make collecting junk into an art form. Trash Panic seems to be the next step along these same lines, taking some of the more charmingly random aspects of Damacy and throwing them into a puzzle game. The result could very well be called Trashtris, though that doesn’t quite cover some of the nuances implemented in this bizarre ride.

Trash Panic begins like many other puzzlers do: with items descending from the top of the screen. The difference here is that these items are typical (and not so typical) real life objects, as you will see everything from apples, pencils, bowling balls, potato sacks, toilets, and pink telephones to motorcycles, baseball fields, a blimp, buildings, and asteroids descend from the heavens. The challenge that you face is to fit each of these items into the always-too-small bin that you are provided, with the best tool at your disposal being the ability to smash things into itty bitty pieces. With the touch of the button, you can shoot your current selection downward. If this item lands on a weaker one, it should blast through it and turn the bottom one into dust. The game brilliantly enforces realistic thinking on the player, so you would have to realize that a dumbbell can break a teapot but not the other way around. You must continue to do this until you successfully reach the end of the level or you allow three objects to fall out of the bin, which brands you as a complete and utter failure.

Things start to get a bit more explosive in the second level, where you start to get handed flammable material to set up the occasional fiery surprise. You will want to stack objects like toilet paper and teddy bears together so that when a match falls your way, you can heat things up a bit. Fire allows you to reduce anything remotely flammable to a pile of rubble, and you can even slam the cover on the trash container to swelter the heat and keep it burning for as long as possible. The game’s six levels also throw a few other special items your way — including oil, which creates a sea of fire when ignited, and water, which can make specific objects easier to break — so you must constantly stay alert of what is coming next. After disposing of a certain amount of trash, you will get to face a “boss” object. The bosses are bigger pieces of junk that you have to destroy under certain conditions, which is easier said than done. Yes, Trash Panic is strange, but that’s what makes it so dang enjoyable.

While slamming stuff stays entertaining for quite awhile, the fun doesn’t last forever. The game gets difficult very quickly, as I found myself losing on the first and second levels even after I understood how to play. Making it all the way through is a substantial challenge, so those looking for a casual puzzle experience need not apply. The difficulty is augmented by the fact that the game does nothing to ease the player into its mechanics. There is no in-game tutorial to speak of, and the only help provided is a 20-page instruction manual that you absolutely must read. Another problem lies in the fact that Trash Panic doesn’t evolve much. While the stuff that you destroy gets significantly larger, it ends up feeling like a harder version of what you had done previously. At least there are a few ways to break up the action, with the game offering a mission mode, online leaderboards, and a two player local versus mode in addition to the core single player campaign.

Presentation-wise, Trash Panic looks about as good as a game full of garbage should. Each object is modeled nicely, acts as it would in real life, and looks great when it has been demolished. The overwhelming variety of items is nice, as you will constantly have to deal with things that you have not yet seen. The music in the game fits the action perfectly, made up of bubbly techno beats and over exuberant J-pop that keeps the action moving while providing a uniquely quirky backdrop. I really can’t imagine a better soundtrack for this game.

Overall, Trash Panic doesn't reinvent the puzzle genre, but the gameplay is fun and interesting enough to warrant the $5 purchase price. While it may take awhile to get used to and the difficulty ramps up immensely, Trash Panic will provide hours of good times and is well worth checking out to see how much fun chucking stuff in a basket can be.

Gameplay: 7.0
Calling it Trashtris seems to fit, as you have to find space to store the mountains of junk that soar in your direction. Smashing things never gets old, but constantly retrying overly difficult levels does.

Graphics: 7.0
Trash Panic contains hundreds of random objects for you to dispose of, and they are all modeled well and react as you would expect them to. The game is very bright and colorful, making it a nice alternative to the dreariness found in many other titles.

Sound: 8.0
The music of Trash Panic is made up of happy techno and bouncy dance tunes that are strangely compelling and fit the action perfectly.

Difficulty: Hard
You will die quickly and often, as Trash Panic ramps up the HARD real quick. Thankfully, you can toy around with the other modes if you get stuck in the campaign.

Concept: 7.0
“Smash things. Giggle. Repeat.” If the prospect of slamming and burning dozens of random doohickeys sounds like a good time, you will get a kick out of what Trash Panic offers.

Multiplayer:  5.0
The game allows you to duke it out side by side with a buddy, but the lack of online play hurts the appeal.

Overall:  7.0
For only $5, Trash Panic offers enough oddness and appeal to give you a few good hours of explosive fun, but don’t expect them to be easy.