Apple Bin is a game that is developed by EscapeDevelopment, Daniel Spruce. This game is available on the Windows Marketplace and was officially released in May 2011.
The objective of the game is simple. There is a bin and you are to shoot an apple into it, taking into account the obstacles that stand in the way. The game is developed using the Farseer physics engine and has 60 stages in total as of the current updated version 1.7.0.0.
Review
The game play for Apple Bin is simple enough and the controls took just a few tries to figure out. Starting out was really easy and in no time at all, I was bouncing, shooting and smashing those apples.
- Graphics
The graphics were simple and rudimentary with a rough feel. They were nothing fantastic and definitely not the main draw of the game. Could be polished to give it more appeal.
- Game mechanics
Using the laws of physics, nothing new is apparent in this game. As there seem to be pretty much a designated way to clear each level, not much creativity is required to solve them, making the game rather dull.
- Game play
If you asked me whether the game play is addictive, I would just shrug my shoulders. Truthfully, Apple Bin does not have the appeal of Angry Birds (varying different personalities of the birds) nor Cut The Rope* (cute personality and unexpected awards). Apple Bin comes across as rather bland and lacking in the X Factor that draws people in. Another thing to note is that there is no clear indication of improvement in achievements because while the game challenges you to complete each level with the least number of apples fired, there are some levels that are impossible to clear with just one shot. I am left wondering most of the time whether I have managed to hit the “perfect” score. This is definitely a point to note if Apple Bin is interested to keep gamers playing long after they have managed to clear all levels.
I did experience some lag when playing Apple Bin but it wasn’t very disruptive. Most of the time, there was minimal lag and the graphics were clear and smooth. Response was also quick and rapid.
My overall response to the game is pretty much lukewarm. Past a certain point, the game gets annoying instead of being fun, especially for those stages that requires you to replicate the path of motion multiple time. As a side-note, I appreciate that the ads present in this game were non-intrusive and design of the ad space was kept minimal.
Recommendations
- Integrate the upgrades as surprise rewards that are unlocked within game play instead of being listed under options.
- Show the trajectory path as a guide in the first few stages to offer more seamless transitions.
- Instead of varying the acceleration of the apple shooting out with the distance from the shooter, consider using the length of tap so that the playing area would be less restrictive.
- Have explanations for all new additions to the game- currently the trampoline is not explained.
- Consider adding another challenge to the game by listing the least number of shots needed for each level, like in golf.
Verdict
Great news! The game is free. While it does offer some hours of fun, considering that I completed the whole game in a little less than 2 days, I cannot say that it is a game with much appeal. Try it out if you are interested but do not expect it to blow your socks off.
*Note: Cut The Rope is not yet available on the WP7.
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