Review: Critter Crunch
by Zain Shauk
August 1, 2008
Overview
A fun, challenging and cute puzzle game involving chubby critters that are rearranged and combined through a variety of challenges and game modes. It’s an impressive new take on old gaming ideas and will keep you surprised and entertained.
Gameplay
In Critter Crunch, users control a small gluttonous round creature who fires his tongue skyward to grab critters, then spits them back out in an attempt to feed and pop other critters before more can accumulate.
The “Bigg,” who takes care of all of the grabbing and spitting, is moved by swiping a finger to drag him to the right column of critters. With a tap, he shoots his tongue into the air and grabs a critter. Another tap fires the newly acquired creature back into the air.
While the game sounds simple enough, new challenges are quickly presented as Critter Crunch progresses, making it increasingly complex and difficult.
Poison, time trials, multiple critter sizes and colors, power modes, bonus rounds and constantly changing challenges give this app dimension.
Review
As soon as you think Critter Crunch might be too simple for you, a new challenge is presented and the game quickly gets more interesting.
It also feels and sounds great, with changing backgrounds and good sound effects. Plus, the whole idea of the hungry critters makes jewels and Tetris blocks look like… well, jewels and Tetris blocks.
But I did encounter a problem with interruptions. If you get a phone call or need to get out of the app, you cannot return to the exact spot where you left off. In fact, the entire app will need to relaunch and then will return you back to the start of the same level that you were on.
That may be acceptable to some, but if I had chomped up enough critters to make an NFL linebacker look like a lightweight, I don’t want to have to start that level all over again just because my mom called to tell me that she forgot how to use the DVD player.
Also odd: when you press your iPhone’s sleep button to turn off the screen and lock the keypad, the Critter Crunch music continues. So, good luck hiding your phone when your boss walks into your cube.
Summary
This is an awesome puzzle game that keeps you on your toes. If not for a couple of integration issues, it would get a top score.
