Monkey Mind Review

Puzzle games are a dime a dozen on mobile devices so if you want to make your app stand out you have to offer a unique hook. In the case of Monkey Mind, that hook is the fact that you may not be as smart as you think you are. In fact, you could be dumber than a tick-eating, poop-flinging primate.

Monkey Mind presents a series of simple memory games designed to test your short-term recall skills. One game sees you matching sets of cards, while another briefly lets you see cards ordered one through nine and then requires you to flip them back over in the correct order. There are four main puzzles and then two other, more challenging spin-offs which can be unlocked with a high score. Each game lasts about a minute and at the end you're given a score and compared to how a monkey did on a similar test. We won't spoil the fun, but we will say that those simians seem to be more clever than they're letting on at the zoo. Those looking for the ultimate test (and humiliation) can take on all four main puzzles one after another and post a cumulative high score. Again, don't get your hopes up that you'll blow away your sub-human competition.

The downside of the games is that they grow old quickly and it won't be long before you find yourself pining for new challenges. Though some may be driven to beat the damn, dirty ape at every turn, most folks will play the game for a day or two and then walk away out of boredom. It's fun while it lasts though and at $0.99 it's not exactly a major monetary investment, so the game manages to be pretty likable overall.

Monkey Mind's interface is clean and colorful and the cartoon graphics set just the right mood. Touch controls are mostly fine, but sensitivity issues can pop up if you try and tap the cards too fast or don't hit them dead square. Usually it's not a big deal, but from time to time an errant tap will cost you your concentration and the game, so it can be a bit irritating.

Monkey Mind is a cute, simple game that offers a fair amount of entertainment at a bargain price. Those who want a lot of depth in their apps won't be all that pleased, but folks who want to play a few fun memory games with a neat twist will have a blast; at least for a while.

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