Interesting: iPhone App: Spore Origins

November 24th, 2008

= 1 star

Spore Origins is based on the cellular level of the computer game Spore. You design a tiny creature and swim it around a primordial soup, eating smaller creatures and avoiding larger ones. Your creature evolves as you progress through the levels.

The game makes great use of the iPhone’s tilt detection as a controller.

The Good

• The graphics and controls are on the level expected from a EA. There’s a sense of depth to the water world as if you’re peering through a few layers of water to see your creature. The controls are also pretty cool, making use of the tilt detection in the iPhone that takes very little time to figure out how to play. It’s a great demo of the gaming capabilities of the iPhone.

The Bad

• The game is made up of multiple levels that get progressively harder over time, which has led to a problem I often run into with these types of games: I got stuck on one level that I can’t get past. At this point I’m not sure if it’s my gaming suckitude or poor creature design, but I’m loathe to start over from scratch.
• The leveling and creature design is fun at first, but soon becomes a tad tedious.
• One graphic element that doesn’t work — when your creature eats a smaller one there is a flash and the creature gets bigger and stuff goes crazy for a second or two. Very distracting.

Conclusion

The most telling thing about Spore: although at first I played it incessantly for a few days, I haven’t touched it again in several weeks. Maybe it’s just me, but as far as I’m concerned, Spore wasn’t worth the ten bucks. If you’re at all curious, try out the free, Spore Origins Light to see if it’s your cup of tea.

iTunes App Store Link: