Addicus for iPhone is a Complete Package
By: @Hilzfuld
With the 140,000 apps in the App Store, there are endless games available to users. There are also countless apps available in the various other categories of the App Store. However, what makes Addicus unique and so awesome, is that it is really more than just a game. It is first and foremost an educational tool that can help people of all ages brush up on their basic math. While you do that, you actually manage to enjoy a fast paced and highly addictive gaming experience. Yes, the developers of Addicus somehow managed to create a math lesson that can actually be a lot of fun. Now, that takes talent.
So, this is a little bit about Addicus. When you first launch the app, you are greeted with a colorful welcome screen with four options. The big button is Play, but I would not recommend playing without pressing the Training button, since as I mentioned, the game is fast, and without the tutorial, no way you are going to figure out what to do.
Besides the Play and Training buttons, there is also Options. However, the options available are close to none with just the ability to turn on or off the sounds and the music. Lastly, like many other games, there is the ability to connect the app with Openfeint.
OK, so how do you play? The way it works is that you have a big number in the top left corner of the screen, and a lot of bouncing mushrooms spread out. You have to press on the mushrooms and add up a few to equal the number in the corner. If the number in the corner is red, you have to add up only red mushrooms. If it is blue, only blue mushrooms will work. White is a neutral color and if the number is in white, you can use any color you want to add up to it.
Sounds pretty easy I know, but trust me, it is NOT easy when the pace of the game starts to pick up and you have to add up four mushrooms on opposite sides of the screen to equal a number like 14, all in 6 seconds. It gets tricky. Of course the game is accompanied by fun and fast pace music and cool sound effects.
When you manage to complete a level or even sometimes throughout a level, the game will encourage you with words like “Speedy” and “Super Speedy”, which is a nice touch by the developer.
When you accidentally press a mushroom and you want to clear it, press it again or shake the device and the game will reset the screen. A nice use of the built in accelerometer.
I know I have used the word “addictive” to describe a few games, but I showed this game to my wife just yesterday, and literally had to grab the iPod out of her hand after four games of Addicus. It really gets you into it, and as the game progresses, the levels start to get really difficult with higher numbers and less time.
I am not exaggerating when I say that Addicus is among my top ten favorite games on the iPhone platform. After all, it really includes anything and everything a game should include. It is fast paced, visually appealing, easy to understand, and extremely challenging. The fact that it helps you work on your math skills, well that is just an added bonus and will allow kids to get away with hours upon hours of Addicus with the excuse that it will help them in school.
If I were you, I wouldn’t take my word for it. I would go download it now, you will not regret it!
Our Rating: 5/5
Developer: Get Set Games
