(R)evolve Review

(R)evolve is a simple game, which kind of makes sense given its origins as a 48 hour Game Jam creation. Limited time means limited depth. It doesn't, however, mean limited enjoyment. While (R)evolve isn't a game to spend hours upon hours playing, it is quite fun to play in five minute bursts.

An alien planet is attempting to withstand a bombardment of meteorites and it's down to the player to protect it. After all, that planet has lifeforms on it and is trying to evolve into something more significant. The only way to protect is to rotate the planet at the right moment. Oh, yes, that's why this game is called what it is!

Spinning the planet is simple enough through intuitive manipulation with one's fingers. It's imperative that players keep the growing lifeforms safe by keeping them away from the rocks that are falling. As time goes by, more lifeforms land on the planet - and there comes the strategy side of the game. It's wise to keep the life forms close to each other so that one can protect that side of the planet from the meteorites, but sometimes there's also a certain level of strategy within placing them slightly more spread out. It's wise to think about it, albeit quickly given the speed at which everything unfolds.

That's the thing about (R)evolve: it's fairly purist twitch-based gaming. Speed is of the essence, with fast reactions being better than careful thought. That's fun though, and (R)evolve easily lends itself to multiple sessions as one attempts to outperform their previous high scores.

There are a few interface-based issues such as the game sometimes forgetting that one is actually connected to the internet, as well as a slightly irritating urge to want to share every high score with Facebook, but other than that (R)evolve is a pretty solid mindless piece of entertainment.