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Floe
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Graphics & Sound:
Next to Floe in the gaming dictionary that has yet to be created, you'd find the words "incredibly cute." This is a game that kids will go crazy for, especially after seeing the recently (December) released holiday theme that spreads around some mistletoe and Santa garb. Apart from the window dressing, there are some nice touches that make playing a pleasure. Floe is a game that responds to movement, by shifting blocks on the screen, and we found this worked well... and fast. Animations of your character running and leaving little footprints in the snow, the squeal he makes when he gets squashed by sliding blocks of ice... all very cute. Okay, that last bit doesn't sound incredibly family-friendly, but believe us when we say it is all delivered in a very happy package. The entire Floe experience takes place in a very compressed space, so variety isn't exactly a spice you'll taste much of here. That said, Floe uses colors and shapes creatively to avoid becoming predictable or boring. Especially if the developer Otterly can keep rolling out themed updates, Floe will continue to engage players. |
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Gameplay:
Floe is a puzzle game that feels a bit like these shape-sorting challenges where you have to move a piece of trash or a car out of a tight spot. In this case, it's a cuddly polar bear cub that is looking for its mother. You'll need to move blocks of snow to help the little fellow navigate each level without getting squashed, basically. There are some extras included, such as earning stars for how well you perform, and posting high scores to an online leaderboard. Floe added Game Center integration recently, and also allows posting to Crystal (if you have an account), Twitter, or Facebook. With 64 levels packed in, you'll be busy for quite a while. Moving large blocks transitions to moving smaller blocks, and combinations as you progress. Levels are very small, fitting everything into one screen on the iPad. This may sound like a limitation, but we thought it was a constraint that paid off in terms of forcing the developer to be more creative in a smaller space. Not having to scroll around the screen keeps the focus on using motion to move blocks, which is where the payoff comes in terms of simplicity. Young kids may not always get the strategy, but they'll have no problem controlling the action.
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Difficulty:
The difficulty level in Floe is no joke. That little bear may look cute and cuddly, but there are some very challenging puzzles contained here. There are some smart features that accommodate younger players, such as balloons scattered throughout Floe that let you opt out of any level you find too tough. There are also some very forgiving continues that return the board to the state it was in just before you made a mistake. This helps alleviate the frustration that would naturally set in if you had to recreate your moves from the beginning of a level each time you made a misstep. Even for seasoned puzzle-solvers, there are challenges around solving levels with the least amount of "slides," or movements of the ice blocks. Novice gamers won't care about this; they'll just be glad to complete some of the harder levels, but Floe can clearly expand to fit the needs of more advanced players. Completing a level with a lower number of slides earns you stars, and in some cases, there are multiple stars you can earn in a single level. Filling out the "stars" chart completely means you are a certified (or certifiable?) Floe ninja.
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Game Mechanics:
As mentioned earlier, the controls could not be simpler. Tilting up, down, and to either side will cause the Floe your little bear is currently riding to shift in that direction. If you're careful, you can tilt to keep things in perfect equilibrium, while you tap to move the bear to a safe place on the screen, or to escape completely. It's easy to forget about the bear when you're focused on tilting to shift the blocks, but you learn to place him in a spot that's safe and out of harm's way. To assist you in this, it's possible to touch a block and freeze it in place. This can shield your bear and may also totally change the motion of other blocks on the field of play. Learning how to use this freeze feature is handy, but you'll need to master the slides and understand the geometry before you can really rack up those stars. Floe may be its own worst enemy, in the sense that its cuteness may turn people off who otherwise would appreciate a good puzzle game. Trust us when we say that if you enjoy a challenge, Floe will scratch your itch. Buy it for your kids, then play it secretly because you dig it.
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-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications AKA Matt Paddock |
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