piopio Review
+ Universal App
$1.99 Buy now!

piopio Review

Our Review by Jennifer Allen on January 28th, 2014
Rating: starstarhalfstarblankstarblankstar :: LACKLUSTRE SPEEDY PLAY
Share This:

Drag colored balls to the beaks of birds in this fast but uninspiring casual arcade game.

Developer: Alberto Morales Ajubel
Price: $0.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPhone 5

Graphics / Sound Rating: starstarstarhalfstarblankstar
Game Controls Rating: starstarstarhalfstarblankstar
Gameplay Rating: starstarblankstarblankstarblankstar
Replay Value Rating: starstarblankstarblankstarblankstar

Overall Rating: starstarhalfstarblankstarblankstar

piopio is a simple and fast-paced game. It's the kind of title that will briefly distract but probably won't stick in anyone's memory for any length of time.

The idea is very simple. Four different colored birds are located at the bottom of the screen. Above them is a cascade of colored balls, gradually coming down the screen. It's up to the player to drag those balls to the relevant bird in order to gain points. Simple, right? piopio does throw a few challenges the player's way. Namely that there are poisonous balls which reduce the points gained by the player and must be popped instead, plus the 60 second time limit that keeps one on their toes.

That's mostly it, though. While some balls can be strung together and dragged down, others are just one-offs, and there's little real strategy to how to proceed. Each game is random in terms of where the balls come down and it certainly speeds up quickly, but it's not overly gripping. Lack of power-ups or other bonuses are to its detriment as something like that could have really re-invigorated the formula.

Music is limited to the incessant chirping of the birds and it grates quickly, even if it is quite appropriate. On the plus side, the graphics are simple yet quite well designed for this kind of game. It ensures there's no clutter getting in the way of the action.

There's the promise of new modes to come soon for piopio, and I really hope they're added. It could do with them. Even the prospect of Game Center leaderboards and achievements isn't enough with the latter feeling a little bare and unadventurous. For now, it's all too shallow and forgettable.

iPhone Screenshots

(click to enlarge)

piopio game: Feed the hungry funny birds! screenshot 1 piopio game: Feed the hungry funny birds! screenshot 2 piopio game: Feed the hungry funny birds! screenshot 3 piopio game: Feed the hungry funny birds! screenshot 4 piopio game: Feed the hungry funny birds! screenshot 5

iPad Screenshots

(click to enlarge)

piopio game: Feed the hungry funny birds! screenshot 6 piopio game: Feed the hungry funny birds! screenshot 7 piopio game: Feed the hungry funny birds! screenshot 8 piopio game: Feed the hungry funny birds! screenshot 9 piopio game: Feed the hungry funny birds! screenshot 10
Share This: