A 'Koi' Diversion- Carpl Reviewed
Carpl for the iPhone/iPod Touch. Developer: Little Loud, Publisher: Little Loud
Most games have a simple concept at the core of their gameplay. This concept is often then expanded-on and/or combined with other concepts until, ideally, the game becomes a unique experience. If the basic concept of a game is flawed or just not fun, expanding on it is pretty pointless. However, if a game has clever concept at its core, the game as a whole can often remain quite simple and still be a total success. Tetris is a perfect example of a simple but great game that relies solely on simple but clever gameplay. Carpl is an iPhone/Touch game that tries to capture that phenomenon of simple yet fun.
Carpl is an action game for the iPhone/Touch that is quite easy to explain. As the player, you drag a small caligraphy circle called an enso, around what appears to be a canvas. Flowers and creatures will drift and move through the playfield. You must drag the enso to collect the flowers and avoid the creatures. If you remove your finger from the enso, touch the borders of the canvas, or touch an enemy, you lose a life. The goal is to collect as many flowers as possible before losing all of your lifes. Blue flowers give more points than the normal pink flowers, and green flowers temporarily clear the canvas of all flowers and creatures. That's it.
Carpl seems to be attempting to create a zen-like experience similiar to that of Zen Bound. They even share the relaxing asian-inspired visuals. Unfortunately, the game has a serious flaw similiar to that of Yuck Fu. Carpl isn't clever and is much too simple. It's challenging but nothing more than a simple dodge-em-up, collect-em-up. Being unable to remove your finger from the screen means no switching fingers. That means your finger can get sore pretty fast.
The aesthetics, while done in a somewhat attractive caligraphy style, can't really save the game either. I was expecting more from the visuals (perhaps rippling water effects?), but they're a bit more boring than relaxing. The fish animate and flex nicely until they try to turn too sharply and their bodies glitch out momentarily, showing obvious segmentation. The sounds are minimal consisting of wooden clicks and metallic chimes, over the sound of rushing water. There's no music except for a simple tune on the title screen.
If you need a virtual pond on your iPhone, Koi Pond might be the way to go. Sure, it's not a game, but it's cheaper ($0.99 USD), prettier and more featured. The dull gameplay Carpl offers just isn't worth the $1.99 USD.
Most games have a simple concept at the core of their gameplay. This concept is often then expanded-on and/or combined with other concepts until, ideally, the game becomes a unique experience. If the basic concept of a game is flawed or just not fun, expanding on it is pretty pointless. However, if a game has clever concept at its core, the game as a whole can often remain quite simple and still be a total success. Tetris is a perfect example of a simple but great game that relies solely on simple but clever gameplay. Carpl is an iPhone/Touch game that tries to capture that phenomenon of simple yet fun.
Carpl is an action game for the iPhone/Touch that is quite easy to explain. As the player, you drag a small caligraphy circle called an enso, around what appears to be a canvas. Flowers and creatures will drift and move through the playfield. You must drag the enso to collect the flowers and avoid the creatures. If you remove your finger from the enso, touch the borders of the canvas, or touch an enemy, you lose a life. The goal is to collect as many flowers as possible before losing all of your lifes. Blue flowers give more points than the normal pink flowers, and green flowers temporarily clear the canvas of all flowers and creatures. That's it.
Carpl seems to be attempting to create a zen-like experience similiar to that of Zen Bound. They even share the relaxing asian-inspired visuals. Unfortunately, the game has a serious flaw similiar to that of Yuck Fu. Carpl isn't clever and is much too simple. It's challenging but nothing more than a simple dodge-em-up, collect-em-up. Being unable to remove your finger from the screen means no switching fingers. That means your finger can get sore pretty fast.
The aesthetics, while done in a somewhat attractive caligraphy style, can't really save the game either. I was expecting more from the visuals (perhaps rippling water effects?), but they're a bit more boring than relaxing. The fish animate and flex nicely until they try to turn too sharply and their bodies glitch out momentarily, showing obvious segmentation. The sounds are minimal consisting of wooden clicks and metallic chimes, over the sound of rushing water. There's no music except for a simple tune on the title screen.
If you need a virtual pond on your iPhone, Koi Pond might be the way to go. Sure, it's not a game, but it's cheaper ($0.99 USD), prettier and more featured. The dull gameplay Carpl offers just isn't worth the $1.99 USD.
Will you get Carpl-tunnel syndrome from playing it?
Reply to this
So many mediocre apps these days.
Reply to this
Good title pun, for an app with little fun.
Reply to this
Sounds pretty bad. How much do they want for it?
Reply to this
Well, at least the art is interesting.
Reply to this
Bah, that background texture is powerpoint stock. Nothing interesting here.
Reply to this
Someone need to make the Apple seal of quality like the old Nintendo days. There's way too many average apps that makes finding the good ones that much more difficult.
Reply to this
Yep, I agree. Its hard finding the good apps in there, and some of the apps vary widely in quality.
Reply to this
Have you noticed that the big companies (Digital Chocolate, EA, NGmoco are making the best games)
Reply to this
Thanks for the info Tide. This is where I get most of my iphone game info.
Reply to this
Lol, I expected to find a "carpl tunnel" joke when I clicked this page, sure enough it was the first comment.
Reply to this
You have to wonder what the authors were thinking naming it that!
Reply to this
I still want to try this despite all the hate.
Reply to this
I might try it for .99 cents, but anything more would be crazy.
Reply to this
You guys are really tough on the apps.
Reply to this
I hope they improve the game, it sounds like it could be fun.
Reply to this
Sounds like a good concept, if only the game had more stuff to do. Developers- simple isn't always better.
Reply to this
Guess I gotta wait til my contract with Verison is up to get an I phone. Yeah I think you guys are pretty tuff on the apps.
Reply to this
Im glad they are, personally. All the iphone review sites are fluff.
Reply to this
a few too many iphone reviews if you ask me. Please stick with the consoles.
Reply to this
That really looks boring.
Reply to this