Last year, the Game Bakers cooked up “Squids,†a strategy/RPG that rocked the very foundation of tablet gaming.
Cute little squids swimming on a screen- what’s the big deal?
Without a gimmick, the game proved that you could have a console experience on a tablet. Providing hours of rich gameplay, it was as if the Bakers combined “Final Fantasy Tactics†with the ‘80s cartoon “Snorks.â€
The sequel, “Squids: Wild West,†continues the story and even though it’s much of the same experience, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Powered by colorful graphics, a fun story and intuitive controls, “Squids: Wild West†is an adventure unlike anything else on the iPad.
Well, except its big brother.
Aside from the addition of sea horses, bonus levels at the end of every chapter and some interesting new costumes (Sammo has a Skyrim hat that is uber cool), there’s nothing really new added to the formula behind “Squids: Wild West.†The same pick up and play game mechanics that the first entry in the series thrived upon is back, as well as the beautiful visuals. What has changed is the story. A bit darker than the original, the tale continues to progress and build. If things stay this intriguing, it’s easy to see a comic book and cartoon series fall into place.
The development as Steev as the group’s leader in the wake of Winnick’s “disappearance†is well-crafted. You’ll see a bit of Disney or Pixar in the delivery- this is definitely a coming of age story. Little kids will love this game because of it, but adults and hardcore gamers will adore the old-school charm the gameplay provides. The story will also allude to several moments in pop culture history and if you’re a fan of Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin Westerns, you’ll definitely get the asides. The Game Bakers did their homework on this one and everything, from the added costumes to the names of levels, will induce a smile at some point.
That is the exact reason why even with a minimum amount of “fresh†content, “Squids: Wild West†is easily in the running for best iPad game of 2012.
Every character has a signature style- so much so in a way that the emotional connection that comes about is unparalleled for a tablet title. You’ll root for them, you’ll smile; you’ll want to see what happens next. Even the hand-drawn loading screens make you feel comfortable and connected too the characters.
That’s not to say the game is a complete cakewalk. The combat is addicting and sometimes rather difficult. Some levels will take a dozen attempts to simply understand what you need to do to get through. Combining strategy with fun doesn’t come naturally and some levels make sure you use your brain. Simply put, the level design is expertly designed. It’s almost as if the Game Bakers understood their title was cute and had to give real gamers a reason to fall in love.
So yeah, the game is adorable, but there will be moments where you want to throw your iPad against a wall before realizing how expensive it is.
The fact that the game is only two dollars and can cause such frenzy is a tribute to the company that made it as well.
Speaking of money, you won’t need to spend anything extra to access parts of the game like other iPad titles. There are no ads. That’s because “Squids: Wild West†is a real game.
It just happens to be on a tablet.
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