Push Your Memory, Eyesight And Reflexes To Their Limits In Swatcha

Swatcha ($0.99) by Eugene D'Hage-Craig is a matching game that is designed to test your memory’s abilities. While each game begins with extremely simple levels, you’ll eventually take back what you said about it being too easy.

The objective of Swatcha is to choose the correct color from a grid after the color has been displayed quickly beforehand. If the right color is chosen, you will be awarded points, which are totaled at the bottom of the screen. If you can identify the color more quickly, more points will be awarded. During the first few levels, this concept seems all too easy. These levels only consist of six to 16 colors to choose from, so it’s not too difficult to match each one by memory.

However, as more of the white space fills with color swatches, the quick and easy gameplay doesn’t last for long. After playing the game for about 30 seconds, some friends and I found ourselves staring blankly at a grid of 56 colors wondering, “Was it this purple, or that purple?” At that point, if you guess the wrong color, you will receive one of four strikes. Of course, the game is over once all four strikes have been used up.

With that said, Swatcha is probably not the best title for those who get frustrated easily. If you decide to give this game a try, be prepared to not let the initial series of levels deceive you. I find that it helps to associate the color shown to a familiar color from outside the game. For example, notice how that red looks like a “Pocket red,” or how that green looks like a “Vine green.” Your connections don’t have to be nerdy or related to app icons like mine usually are, but you get the idea. By making these connections, it should be a little easier to find that color among all the others.

Since the actual concept of the game is extremely simple, and possibly too simple for some, Swatcha seems to be lacking a lasting appeal for most casual gamers. Or so I thought. Initially, I couldn’t imagine playing the game beyond testing it, but then I stayed up last night until 1:30 a.m. Swatcha-ing, so something about that first impression could be wrong. Also, Game Center integration is an obvious omission. There is only one high score across the whole game, so hopefully the developer will add support for this soon since it shouldn’t be too difficult.

If you’re looking for something new to pick up and play that puts your brainpower, senses, and reflexes to the test, be sure to check out Swatcha on your iPhone. It’s available now for $0.99 in the App Store.