Fling: A Highly Addictive and Enjoyable Game for iPhone
By: Hillel Fuld
One of the angles Apple took when marketing the iPod Touch and the iPhone was its gaming capabilities. Truth be told, I have tried many portable gaming consoles, and between the accelerometer and its high resolution display, the iPod and iPhone really revolutionized portable gaming. However, I do not spend much time downloading or playing games on the iPod, mainly because I find most of the games I encounter to be annoying.
Developers feel that they must incorporate every possible feature in a game for it to be a success, and they are very wrong. I know there are many people out there who enjoy the complex war or racing games, but I personally enjoy games that are intuitive, fun, and easy to use.
I came across Fling because it was in the top apps of the App Store. As soon as I downloaded it and opened the app, within seconds, I had a smile on my face. The game is cute, straight forward, and enjoyable. The app gives you a short introduction about the game and its rules, you read the instructions at your own pace and click the screen to see the next rule. The interface is nicely designed, the music is funny, and the game is addictive.
In terms of the actual challenge, it is pretty basic. You are presented with multiple fur balls on the screen, and they are all sitting within a grid of lines. You have to use one ball to knock off another, with the goal being to remain with one fur ball only. You cannot use a ball to knock off a neighboring ball, so there must be at least one space between them, and you can only “flick” a ball in a straight line.
You also cannot fling a fur ball directly off the screen, you need to use another ball to do that. Anytime you get stuck, you can press the Undo button or Hint to have the game help you along the right path. Pretty simple, right? Try it, and you will get addicted fast, not as easy as it seems.
The app itself has a lot of screens including your stats and history, high scores, settings, instructions, and the option to buy the non free version of Fling. The developer did a great job with the sound effects, the music, and the visuals, making it one of the few games I have on my iPod.
Our Rating: 5/5
Developer: Candy Cane
