Self Aware Review

Self Aware is an impressively smart idea for a game that's quite well implemented, despite some bland graphics. The player's iPhone has been taken over by a self aware virus called STU. It's a concept that's been used in a similar manner during many films but its a fantastic way of invoking a selection of logic puzzles.

Mimicking an iPhone home screen, players are offered the sole choice of the calculator app at first. Further apps are unlocked through completion of puzzles and challenges. They're a varied bunch from simple riddles such as how to spell 'hello' with a calculator to conundrums that require some lateral thinking. Others are more physically challenging such as the need to press the stopwatch button incredibly quickly or navigating a plane through a simple thrust based game.

Self Aware constantly keeps players on their toes with this variety of challenges. The storyline also builds up through a text messaging system. It's involving stuff with much of this down to the game's use of the player's contacts and Facebook in order to add to the realism of the experience. Thinking outside the box is frequently crucial to success. Further information can be gleaned from checking out the game's file system, with such discovery ensuring that the player feels as if they're being treated intelligently, throughout.

At times, Self Aware is obtuse in its strict puzzle arrangement but never to the point of making you want to give up. There's always that urge to see just what STU challenges you to do next and results are often quite humorous.

It's great to see original ideas such as this emerge on the App Store. While, once completed, replayability is quite limited, the experience will be strong enough that it's more than worth the $0.99 asking price.