'Fancy Pants' Review

Ported from its famous flash game, enter Fancy Pants! Fancy Pants tells a quirky story of Fancy Pants Man and his little sister who gets kidnapped by pirates, and it’s your job to parkour across several levels to get her back, where along the way, you’ll be collecting little squiggles, bottles, stars, and more.

Gameplay

Fancy Pants is a platforming title that also encourages exploration, as each level is riddled with secrets and content. The biggest draw for Fancy Pants is the content in each level: as you go around exploring the each huge level, you’ll find short time trials, “arcade” games, etc. In each level, there are three stars, a bottle and a number of “squiggles” to collect to try and get a 100% rating, as well as NPCs and reward rooms. Fancy Pants gets most of its appeal from the sheer amount of things you can do in a level.

Conceptually, Fancy Pants is great. However, when I began playing, I felt very little incentive to actually play. One issue I had was that it was a platforming title that failed to execute the platforming part well. Fancy Pants is too floaty, too slow, and too difficult to fine-tune control; he needs to first accelerate to begin moving, and there is a significant “slide-time” where he slides after you stop moving. Frankly, for platforming titles, you need to feel in control of your character, and more than once, I felt as if the game had more control than me. Second, the buttons to control Fancy Pants are either too small or unresponsive at times. In addition, when swimming, your left-right arrows turn into a four-directional d-pad, which is crammed into the bottom left corner. For someone whose thumb is slightly larger-than-average, I found this extremely annoying, as I’d go directions were I intended not. Finally, I have a large problem as to how killing enemies are handled. A standard “jump-on-the-head” does not kill unless you are holding up. I have no idea why they decided to force this upon the player. When you unlock the pencil weapon, standard combat also includes using the pencil to strike enemies. However, one strike never kills – you need to charge up your attack. It’s not a bad idea, but when executed, I can say that waiting for your attack to charge up is just a little more interesting than listening to my physics teacher drone on about who-knows-what.

Basically, Fancy Pants fails as a platformer, but manages to deliver with its exploring. The game did have its shining moments, but those are overlooked by the lack of excitement during the majority of its platforming.

Presentation

Fancy Pants does a great job with it’s presentation, with it’s fun and quirky themes to it’s way of handling the “menu”, which is actually a home where you open doors to access where you want to go. In addition, you’ve got over 120 different customizable outfits for Fancy Pants, so be sure to enjoy that!

Graphics

No slow downs, short loading screens for the amount of content in a level, and crystal clear graphics. The graphics don’t push the system at all, but sometimes, less is more.

Sound

The music is extremely pleasant, and I found myself enjoying the tunes a whole lot. Also, the sound effects are done really well; it’s a very simple, clean game.

Replay

Like I mentioned earlier, the game is jam-packed with content for each level. With a myriad of levels to 100%, which will be no easy task to find everything, there’s nothing that will keep you more occupied for a longer period of time, should you play it.

Conclusion

Fancy Pants presents itself nice and clean, with its simple yet charming style. However, the game hits quite a few snags when it attempts to deliver gameplay, as the fact that it has poor platforming as a platformer is extremely dishearten. But, if you can overlook those flaws and enjoy the sheer content of the game, Fancy Pants is something that you can have fun with.

Gameplay: 3/5

Presentation: 4/5

Graphics: 4.5/5

Sound: 4/5

Replay: 5/5

Overall: 3.5/5

Fancy Pants on iTunes

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'Beat Sneak Bandit' Review

It’s rhythm! No, it’s puzzle! Actually, it’s both: Rhythm AND puzzle! Simogo’s Beat Sneak Bandit is a rhythm puzzle game where you attempt to sneak your away around police officers, spotlights, and vacuums and you attempt to save the city from a terrible misfortune brought by Sir Duke.

Gameplay

The core of Beak Sneak Bandit’s gameplay lies in its simple one-tap control. You tap to move, turn around if you’re facing a wall, and climb stairs. With that, every level is presented as a puzzle, with obstacles such as police officers who cause you to fail if they see you, moving platforms, and buttons that open or close walls (which works both ways, because the wall allows you to turn around). As you move around, you attempt to collect 4 clocks as well as reach a final 5^th clock. Basically, it’s your classic 3-star level, but with 4 now. At the very heart, Beat Sneak Bandit is a basic puzzle game, however, when you add the rhythm element into the genre, it becomes a totally new game; it’s now a music puzzler. What’s fascinating is that the focus is not on a person’s ability to perform rhythms; the time signature is in 4/4, and you simply tap on one of the four quarter note beats to move. Instead, the game is about your ability to observe patterns in the level. As every obstacle makes a noise when they perform an action, you put your auditory skills and combine them with your visual skills to plan out your action, and these two elements blend perfectly. I cannot say how much joy I’ve gotten out of this game; it’s not just how fun it is, but how utterly creative it’s core element is; I’ve never seen it done before and it just works splendidly.

As a music aficionado, you can say that I may favor music games, but I can always easily find any flaws within the game. I can say with confidence that there are none to be found. However, those that do have trouble with rhythm may find the difficulty to be high, but I personally found the overall game to have a nice difficulty curve.

Presentation

Beat Sneak Bandit presents itself in a charming, funky sort of way, loaded with personality. I do have some minor complaints about the level select system, as you need to scroll through levels instead of simply picking one. Overall though, the game executes itself extremely well and is a refined piece of art. I can honestly say, it’s games like these that make me appreciate videogames as art.

Graphics

Flows well, no lag or crashing, and the artwork is nice and bright. It’s everything you could ask for. I don’t need to say anymore.

Sound

Oddly enough, as a music game, the music soundtrack isn’t as amazing as I thought it would be. With that said, there is nothing wrong with the funk and jazz tracks that it brings, as well as the noticeable music cues to aid your timing in the game; it’s still a strong element.

Replay

Beak Sneak Bandit offers 40 core levels, 16 shadow levels, 12 remix levels, and 1 boss level, for a grand total of 69 levels. Considering how each level might take a few tries to learn the pattern, you’ll be spending a decent amount of time trying to figure out how to 4-clock every level. It’s a game that will last you a decent amount of time, and if you’re still not done, then go for the achievements from Game Center.

Conclusion

Unless you’re continuously had dreadful experiences with any type of music or rhythm game, you’ll find Beat Sneak Bandit an immersive and unique experience. You’re not simply playing the game, but when you play, you’ll have immense appreciation for the game. And that’s why I can say with full confidence, Beat Sneak Bandit will be a top contender for Game of the Year.

Gameplay: 5/5

Presentation: 5/5

Graphics: 5/5

Sound: 4/5

Replay: 4/5

Overall: 5/5

Beat Sneak Bandit on iTunes

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'Async Corp.' Review

Sometimes, even the greatest of games don’t gather much attention. They can win awards, but since they aren’t Angry Birds, it goes by unnoticed. Well, here’s a game that’s a powerhouse. With a nomination from IGF as the Best Mobile Game, you know that Async Corp. by Powerhead Games is a game to be checked out.

Gameplay

Async Corp. is a puzzle game, and it is probably one of the easiest-to-learn puzzle games I’ve picked up. You’ve got two separate sets of 4x6 or blocks, each set containing a range of three different colors. Your goal is to create any square or rectangle, called “packets”, by picking one block from each side, which causes them to swap. However, if the swap doesn’t create a packet, then the swap doesn’t happen. You’re also able to add onto previously made packets. In order to score points, you simply tap a packet, causing it to disappear and new blocks to fall in. You’ll earn bonus points if you create two packets at the same time, called a “sync”, and a grand amount of points should you fill an entire 4x6 array with one packet, called an “async.”

The simplicity of the game, yet the utter genius idea to create two separate sets of blocks is what makes Async Corp. so great. Any ordinary game would have one large array, but not this game. You’re looking at two sides of the screen and working a multitasking skill, since you’ve got to keep track of both sets of blocks. It’s a game that works splendidly, and depending on the mode you choose, you can relax and think your way through, or you can opt for a high-speed matching adrenaline rush.

Presentation

I’ve always been a sucker for creative themes, and Async Corp is just that. You’re presented as an employee working on a computer: you enter the game with a log-in, you’ve got an inbox for your messages, etc. Not only that, but the packets each have a face, and therefore they’ve got a personality. They might whistle, or they may sneeze; these little additions add charm to what is already a great game.

Also, the interface is extremely easy to maneuver; you may take a second to understand the system, but once you get it, you’ve got it. Async Corp. has a easy-to-follow tutorial and a menu system that works.

Graphics

Async Corp. opts for a basic 3-color design (pink, yellow, and blue), with more color schemes unlockable as you play. The graphics are crisp and they work well, but there’s nothing that pops out from its simple, but clean design.

Sound

I’ve never fallen in love with a game’s puzzle theme as much as I did with Async Corp.’s; it’s better than Tetris’s theme. It’s upbeat and makes you smile, and you can’t help but move along with it. With that, the sound design itself is great also.

Replay

Async Corp. boasts four different modes: Quota, Async, Zoning, and Freeplay. Quota is the classic game, where you score points while attempting to keep a quota number of packets in a certain time, which becomes a healthy challenge as you enter the later levels. Async is exactly what it means: you create asyncs, or filled an entire array with one large packet. Zoning is more unique: your job is to fill a bar by clearing packets; however the bar continuously goes down. There is no game over, but trying to fill up that bar is a difficult task in itself. Finally, freeplay is a do-whatever-you-want mode.

With all these modes with probably one of the best puzzle experiences I’ve had, this game should last. By last, I mean, it’s never coming off your iOS device.

Conclusion

Do I need to say more? Fantastic puzzler, fantastic art and design, and fantastic replay value. Async Corp. is a masterpiece.

Gameplay: 5/5

Presentation: 5/5

Graphics: 3.5/5

Sound: 4.5/5

Replay: 5/5

Overall: 5/5

Async Corp. on iTunes

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'Puzzlejuice' Review

What do you take when you take Tetris and Boggle, and then you mash them together into one game?

You get Puzzlejuice. Makes me wonder where the “juice” part came from, doesn’t it?

Anyways, Puzzlejuice is a mixture of Tetris, match-3, and Boggle into one entirely new type of game, and you’ll be surprised at exactly how well that delivers.

Gameplay

When you first begin a game, you’ve got an empty screen. As Tetris pieces fall, it’s your job to rotate and position the pieces to obtain a full line of blocks horizontally. You’re able to tap to rotate, drag to position left and right, and flick to hard drop. However, instead of being able to clear line, that line turns into a line of letters, which then can be cleared by creating words by connecting letters in all 8 directions. If the word is long enough, you’ll also destroy any adjacent blocks. In addition to this, each individual block has a color. By tapping a group of 3 blocks with matching colors, you’re able to turn those blocks into letters also. Most of these mechanics work extremely well. There are a few times where you’ll drag and misspell a word, or accidentally rotate a piece you didn’t want to, but for the most part, the game’s controls work without too much flaw. I do wish there was an option to rotate your piece both ways; hopefully this gets implemented in the future.

Also, there are unlockable powerups for you to us once you complete certain achievements. These powerups are extremely helpful in getting you out of a jam or aiding you to score more points. But the icing on the cake is the combo system; there’s a clear timer that indicates when your combo will revert back to x0, and whenever you spell a word, tap a match-3, or create a new line, your combo’s timer resets. This combo system is what keeps the game more than just any leisure game, because it makes Puzzlejuice a thrilling game that keep you on your toes.

Presentation

I’ve never been more impressed with how Puzzlejuice presents itself. From odd names for modes to calling the “exit” button “rage quit”, Puzzlejuice separates itself from other games by giving itself a punchy personality. In addition, everything is in the menu extremely easy to navigate as well as being two different difficulties, Hard Mode (which is actually easy) and Euro Extreme Mode (which is the standard mode) making this game simple for anybody to access.

Graphics

Clean. Fresh. Those are the words that come to my mind when I think of Puzzlejuice’s art style. Everything is crystal clear and is animated to near perfection. There have been a few instances of slow-down during the game, this has only occurred at the beginning for me, and thus has not posed any major issue.

Sound

Puzzlejuice’s soundtrack is creative and relaxing; it fits perfectly with its personality and art style and the sound design lets your satisfaction known when those words are clear or that bomb explodes. Straight up: It’s good.

Replay

Puzzlejuice offers two main modes: Core Mode (standard gameplay) the Zen Mode, which really isn’t Zen at all. It’s the quickplay mode, as you’ve got 90 seconds to score as many points as possible. If you consider the addictive gameplay, then tack on the flexibility to play Puzzlejuice for any extended period of time, or a quick 90 second session, I see no reason why this game will not last.

Conclusion

Puzzlejuice is a delicious melting pot of classic puzzle games. With its strong gameplay and personality, I see no reason why anybody would pass upon this game. There are a few nitpicks that keep it from receiving a perfect score, but I’ll let you know that it was extremely close to receiving one. Nonetheless, there’s no reason not to purchase this fantastic puzzler.

Gameplay: 4.5/5

Presentation: 5/5

Graphics: 4/5

Sound: 4/5

Replay: 4.5/5

Overall: 4.5/5

Puzzlejuice on iTunes

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'Darkness Rush: Saving Princess' Review

LuckySheep has brought us a 2-D endless runner powered by Unreal that takes upon a fantasy setting. I honestly thought it was going to be an RPG based upon my first impressions, until I began the tutorial. Nonetheless, Darkness Rush is a decent game that delivers a unique approach by adding more to the endless running genre.

Gameplay

In DR:SP, you play as one of three characters (one unlockable by IAP) in running across a 2-D map. There are three buttons: jump, attack, and transform. What makes the game interesting is a result of these three buttons. With the jump button, not only can you jump once, but you also have the ability to double jump as well as float in mid-air to cross gaps and spikes. The attack button allows you to break purple runes that may block your path, which will harm you should you touch them. Both floating and attacking deplete your mana, which can be regenerated over time or by breaking the purple runes. However, the mana regenerates at such an abysmal rate, if you deplete all of it and leave none to attack with, it’s pretty much gone. Finally, by collecting 3 red crystals, you are given the ability to transform. What you transform into and his or her abilities following the transformation will depend on your character; the advantage of transforming allows your character to take a hit without losing a heart or dieing. The runner is also filled with powerups, including speedups, extra heart, extra mana, etc. These add to the flavor of the game.

The diversity of the controls in the game creates a fairly enjoyable experience. In addition, with the added speed when one transforms makes the game quick and puts the player on focus to react to incoming obstacles. However, the game does have a couple of nuisances, such as the instance following de-transformation in the air and floating into the edge or getting caught under a platform. They are small, but notable flaws.

Presentation

The game presents itself nicely, opening with an easy to follow tutorial. Unfortunately, the game suffers from an absurd amount of loading screens for every section of the game, even to restart a run. In addition, there are coins in the game that allow spending options, such as powerups at the beginning of a run and equipment to increase stats. However, as the game has IAPs, the equipment is expensive while runs do not yield many coins, even with a double coin powerup. The slow progress is a slight turn off. The game also contains achievements to obtain, which is a nice bonus.

Graphics

As it’s powered by Unreal, DR:SP has clean graphics. However, as a result, the game lags in several places. The introduction scene, the start of the run, and de-transformation all suffer from lag as a result, and it sadly takes away from the game.

Sound

With a dramatic song playing in the background on the menu and fitting song during the gameplay run, the music played is well composed and fitting. In contrast, the voice acting (such as grunts from jumping) is a little on the weaker side; it’s decent, but unable to compare with other games.

Replay

As an endless runner, the game must be able to hook you to keep you playing (and to buy the IAPs). DR:SP is strong enough to keep somebody playing several times. With the addition of the extremely fun and engaging multiplayer matches, DR:SP will be able to keep you coming for a while. If you’re able to enjoy the gameplay mechanics, then this game will last.

Conclusion

DR:SP contains a strong gameplay mechanics that provide good replay value with both the fun of the game and the addition of multiplayer matches. Some gameplay and technical flaws hold the game back however, hampering the full possible enjoyment of the game. But, if you can overlook those flaws, DR:SP is worth your time.

Gamplay: 4/5

Presentation: 2.5/5

Graphics: 3.5/5

Sound: 4/5

Replay: 4/5

Overall: 3.5/5

Darkness Rush: Saving Princess on iTunes

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'Run Roo Run' Review

            Run Roo Run is a charming little game by 5^th Cell (developers of Scribblenauts) that sets the short story of a loving kangaroo mother attempting to get her joey back (even though it looks like a loving couple). Roo’s poor joey has been kidnapped and shipped off to Sydney, and it’s your job to trek across Australia to save the poor joey. The game uses a basic one-touch control to make Roo jump on, off, and over obstacles to reach his goal.

Gameplay

            Run Roo Run’s core gameplay is all about timing. By using its simple, but magnificently executed one-tap-does-all controls, you maneuver Roo to leap across obstacles, jump onto springy tires, and latch onto swings and umbrellas to reach the goal. Make a mistake, and you’re back at the start. It’s a simple tap to make Roo jump, and he’ll automatically latch onto objects you’re supposed to hang onto. It’s just another tap to make him jump off. If you mess up your timing, guide arrows are in places where you jumped, so you’re able to time accordingly to where poor Roo took a hit. What’s fascinating about the game is that each level covers the length of only one screen, which makes each level take around 4 seconds to complete on a successful run. While it seems easy enough, the extreme levels require specifically timed taps in order to complete the level. This is the heart of the game. It’s the basic, yet challenging one-tap timing that brings out the best. The normal levels are easy enough for the casuals, and the extremely levels satisfy the hardcore. And no matter what level you beat, it’s always a satisfying feeling.

Art, Sound & Design

            The graphics are crisp and clean, with each of the obstacles outlined for the player’s clarity. Add this onto the cute kangaroo you’ve got jumping around, and you’ve got yourself a future plush toy.

            In contrast, the sound design is decent. There are times when Roo’s squeals will grate your ears a little bit, but it’s nothing that detracts from the game itself. The music is done well, though I’d like to see a stronger musical score for the levels.

Length

            The overall game is fairly short, with 20 worlds at 15 normal levels and 6 extreme levels, for a total of 420 levels that last an average of 4 seconds a piece. The extreme levels will take several tries to get down, but it shouldn’t take more than few hours to gold star all 420 levels. 5^th Cell has decided to release 10 new levels for (what appears to be) 18 weeks, so this should add some time to the life of the game. For a normal 99 cent game, it’s still a little short, but it does well enough.

Conclusion

            There’s really no reason not to buy Run Roo Run. Even though it’s on the short side, the addictive nature of the simple one-touch gameplay is enough to separate it from the simple distractions to a game that will be a strong contender for the end of the year awards. Run Roo Run is truly a gem.

Gameplay: 5/5

ASD: 4/5

Length: 3.5/5

Overall: 4.5/5

Run Roo Run on iTunes

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