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12 April 2011
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While browsing through the "What's hot" section of the App Store for inspiration for my next review, I stumbled across an app called Drop the Chicken. It touted some pretty impressive opening words - "A highly innovative, exciting and addictive puzzle game. Combining outstanding physics, intriguingly tricky levels, and awesome HD graphics, Drop the Chicken is one of the most fun-filled and challenging games on the app store". I'll be dissecting this comment to see if it really is what it says it is, or just a clone following in the footsteps of something greater.
Ok, so first off, "Highly innovative". Google's definition is this - (of a product, idea, etc.) Featuring new methods; advanced and original. A quick look at the screenshots will probably get you thinking that this is neither the most advanced nor the most original game on the app store. A quick look will tell you that this is exactly the same as the legendary "Cut the Rope". But quick looks aren't always right, are they?
Sure, it follows the same kind of principal; Get thing A to position B, and collect things C D and E on the way. But that's basically where the similarity ends. In this, you can move gadgets all over the place, and there's a heck of a lot of gadgets to move. From fans, to balloons, to bouncy things. Everything you can use to help you get somewhere can be moved. The same can't be said for obstacles. They're stationary, so you have to use your intellect and patience to work a way around them using said gadgets. The result is a much harder, and yet much more rewarding experience than Cut the Rope. To give you an example of it's toughness, it took me around 15 minutes to complete the first "Box" in CTR, but in DTC, it took me about an hour to get through the "Chicken Coop". That may not be everyones cup of tea, but for me, a challenge is both refreshing and enjoyable. The other result of being able to move gadgets is that there isn't just one way to complete a level. For me, that's another bonus. Still though, that's just me.
Think this looks hard? Pah. Wait till you reach the bombs. And the conveyors. And the...
Ok, next part. "Exciting and addicting". Yep, it's both of those. After you've position all the gadgets just where you think they need to go, you hit that lever and... Boom, slam straight into a bomb. Back to the drawing board, but somehow this doesn't get super frustrating. It kind of ignites a sense of adventure in you, makes you try and see how many times you can bounce, how many close calls you can have before getting in that stupid little nest. So yeah, it lives up to that comment.
"Outstanding physics, intriguingly tricky levels, and awesome HD graphics". Yep to all, but I can't just say that. I can't cut the review too short, now can I? So, physics, yeah, well, that basically speaks for itself. They seem pretty accurate to me, and that's really all I can say. As far as trickiness goes, that deserves a bit more explanation. While completing the level itself may not be such an issue, completing it by only dropping the chicken once, and collecting all the bugs, now that can be a bit of a problem. So, heck yeah for difficulty. But that's a plus, I love the challenge. I'm pretty sure I've already said that though... And graphics. They're great, the chickens cute, the animations are nice, it's colourful, the sounds are great. Really well done all round.
But is it really one of the most fun-filled and challenging games on the app store? Well sure, it's fun. But I wouldn't go so far as to say it's the greatest thing I've ever played. Now for challenging, that's a different story. It is one of the hardest games to master that I've played, and probably my favourite puzzle game. Really not much more to say here.
So, in conclusion, what exactly do I think of it? Well, that's a tough one. It's fun, cute, challenging, addicting, and even a touch insane (If you don't believe me, wait till you get to the bombs. And the saws.). But it's also got some extreme similarites to other games in the genre. But, personally, I think it's got enough differences to be worth the $1.29, and you'll have fun with it. It's a great pick-up-and-play kind of game, and it's earned it's spot on my homescreen. So, if you'll excuse me, I've got a chicken to drop...
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