Floop Review

There are as many reviews that lament the fact that there are a lot of physics based puzzlers on the App Store as there are physics based puzzlers on the App Store. This is another one. If you took out all the physics based puzzlers and match three titles, the App Store would be a heck of a lot smaller.

There's a reason why these genres are so prevalent, however. They're fun - lots of fun - if they're done well, obviously. Floop is an excellent example of a highly competent physics based puzzler. It has everything required of one - simplicity and a compelling reason to keep playing.

The aim in this game is, as ever, simple. You have to get an object into the goal. In this case, it's either an acorn and squirrel, a chunk of cheese and mouse or a banana and a monkey. To do this, you have to propel the acorn across an obstacle course of spikes, boxes, ice boxes and all sorts of other problems. The actual mechanics feel distinctly like Angry Birds. Draw your finger back and release in order to propel the acorn in the right direction.

Skill is required to work out the exact trajectory and force to use. As well as this, you can throw the acorn into cannons and catapults to shoot it further, and you can knock wooden boxes and sticks out of the way.

There are 50 levels in all, each harder than the last but they never feel unfair. Trial and error does work here; you don't get punished for trying for ages. The only hint of punishment is that you're rated out of 3 stars at the end of each stage. It's in the interest of your gamer pride to get at least 2 stars every time.

For the competitive sort, there are also Game Center leaderboards and achievements to succeed at. The achievements reward you for acquiring more stars so there's certainly a strong reason to try harder and perfect each level.

Floop is clearly simple fun but that's just what makes it addictive. It'd be nice to see more levels added at a later date but other than that, it's cheap and cheerful.