Review: Pocket God: Journey To Uranus - Space The Final Frontier Where No Pygmy Has Gone Before
by Staff Writer
December 16, 2010
Overview
The Pocket God universe has expanded in two ways first moving from your iPhone in your pocket to the big screen of the iPad. Second it's leaving earth, and is off into space, and more particularly a Journey To Uranus. Luckily your God powers still work over the pygmies even when they're in space in this app built from the ground up for the iPad.
Features
The app isn't just a larger version of Pocket God, and instead comes with three full games. The first is Volcano Blast which is set on earth and plays similar to Paper Toss. Next is Dragons on Uranus in a game style similar to the classic arcade game Joust. Finally is A-Hole in Time which is played in a void in space created by an alien, and you fire down pygmies to fight off oncoming robots.
The Good
If you've ever played the iPhone version of Pocket God you know the unique humor the app provides, and can think of the possibilities on the iPad. Bolt Creative has decided to go a different way, and has provided three games rather than all of the God powers in the iPhone version. There are games in the iPhone version that have come as updates, but the heart of the app is interacting with the pygmies which isn't included in the iPad version.
It's a surprising change of pace, and offers a whole new world, make that galaxy, to explore. As soon as you start the app you're presented with the well known Pygmy island, but with so much more ornate design, and such a wider perspective. Instantly you'll be salivating to doing the same old things you did in the iPhone version, but none are included beyond picking up and flicking the pygmies.
You can flick the pygmies into the Volcano, and this presents you with a brand new game called Volcano Blast. The game plays similarly to Paper Toss as you flick the pygmies like paper, and try to land them in the Volcano like the basket. The difference is that there are time constraints as you need to make a pygmy into the volcano in a certain time interval or it's game over.
You need to satisfy the volcano constantly, but to really score points you need to hit the other items with a ship and octopus for bonus points. It's a tough balance that is high in action and fun, and a really well made game. After flicking is done you can pick up a pygmy and take it into the sky higher and higher until you're in space.
You drag it over to Uranus, and enter a new world with no interactions except starting a new game. Dragons on Uranus is very similar to the classic arcade game Joust as you fly around the few platforms, and try to land on your enemy while avoiding them doing the same to you. Each level introduces more enemies, and there is green gas at the bottom of the screen with a snake that pulls you in if you get too close.
The Pocket God version is more engaging and enjoyable than the arcade version which is a pleasant surprise. Then when going back out to space you meet an alien who takes the pygmies and uses them as ammo to shoot waves and waves of robots. You sit at the top of a column with the robots climbing up, and spin around the top firing constantly.
It offers fast paced action, but is on the simple side as you can get away by just tapping the screen as fast as you can, and spinning around the top. It's just becomes dull, and it is the weak link of the three games, but still is pretty good which says that much more about the other two. All three games are quite deluxe, and it's great to have all three together.
Every single aspect of the app is beautifully designed, and takes full advantage of the iPad. The same great sound style of Pocket God is included with some new soundtracks and variability for each location. OpenFeint and Game Center are included for online high scores and achievements which are perfect for the game styles to add a little incentive for replay.
The Bad
It's great that it's a completely unique idea for the iPad that doesn't even really compare to the iPhone version. With that said there are only three games included, and one of the interactions is what the iPhone version is known for. It would be nice to at least see a few of the abilities that have been included after 36 updates to the original.
Sadly none are included not even the most basic additions to the original island not to mention all the other places on earth. The three games are well made, but don't keep you coming back to the app like the iPhone version with so many different things to explore. Updates will probably come, but as it stands there just isn't much to do.
Especially in comparison to the insane standards Bolt Creative has set for themselves with so much provided for only $0.99. Now the iPad version costs five times as much with so little content, and with none of the features included in the iPhone version. The problem is that Bolt Creative has outdone themselves on the iPhone version to distort price and content in the Pocket God and App Store universe.
The Verdict
Pocket God: Journey To Uranus has a great pedigree, and goes a whole new way on the iPad from the iPhone version. It offers three enjoyable games, but sadly none of the interactions the iPhone game is known for. The game is wonderfully designed in most regards, and the only real downfall is the lack of content in comparison to the amazingly value packed iPhone version while costing five times as much.
Pocket God: Journey To Uranus offers a huge journey for pygmies, but not for players, and is not worth $5. At the end of the day you’re just left wanting more.
