Super Fruitfall is based on previous versions of the same name and offers simple gameplay using the iPhone/iPod Touch’s accelerometer, just like many other puzzle games. So what exactly sets this one apart from those other puzzle matching games that already flood the App Store?
I would have to answer the previous question with a resounding, nothing. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with that, it’s just that you can’t port a game and expect people to purchase it based on it’s name. Gamers don’t just follow franchises blindly, they usually enjoy whatever it is that made that title special and over time this title has become outdated. This logic doesn’t necessarily apply to every game that is ported to the iPhone/iPod Touch, it’s that the puzzle market is just loaded with games like this so developers need to think of new ways to keep puzzle games fresh.
In Super Fruitfall, the goal is to spin the board in as few turns as possible while matching like fruit. You can spin the board from 90 to 180 degrees. Pieces won’t stop in their tracks, so you must use the walls to get pieces to match up. I must note that the pieces don’t have to match in a straight line, as long as three like pieces are touching each other, it will count as a match.
Super Fruitfall has two main modes to choose from, classic and juice mode. Classic mode offers a progressive style gameplay that includes a vast assortment of locations and puzzles. In total, classic mode contains five locations including ten puzzles each. Not all of the levels are available to you from the beginning. You must first defeat five puzzles from the previous location to unlock new locations. The objective in classic mode is to finish the puzzle in as few turns as possible. The only way you can fail is by not having enough pieces to match three. You can also come back to a level that you have already beaten to try an improve on the amount of spins you used to complete the puzzle. There is a counter located at the top of the screen so you aren’t left guessing how many spins you have already used.
Juice mode is equal to an arcade mode. Here you will take on a timer at the top of the screen and you must fill your juice bar by matching three like fruits before time runs out. More juice can be added by matching superfruit or by creating combos. If you match four like pieces, you will gain more time and create a wildfruit. Wildfruit can be used in place of any fruit to make a match. If you are somehow able to match five like pieces, the entire level is flushed and you awarded the juice from all of the fruit. There are five difficulty settings, only three of which are unlocked from the beginning.
You must obtain credits to unlock levels in the classic mode. Credits are obtained by reaching certain point levels. Head on over to the statistics section to keep track of your total score from both modes and to see how many more points are required to receive the next credit. There are twenty-five total credits that can be acquired.
The controls can be switched between touch, tilt, or both. I found the touch control scheme to be the easiest. Simply touch and hold a side of the puzzle and spin in whichever direction you so please. The motion controls are a bit more difficult due to the fact that you can spin the device 180 degrees, for the gamers with weak stomachs out there this could eventually create motion sickness. You can also leave the motion controls on while using the touch method, but I wouldn’t recommend it due to accidental spins.
The visuals, though full of vibrant colors, are also full of jagged edges. The game looks like it should be bundled with a cell phone, not an iPhone/iPod Touch. The lack of graphical polish is somewhat disappointing. The game can also drop in framerate and stutter. This is kind of odd, considering it is unlikely the games is pushing the graphical limits of the iPhone/iPod Touch. The sound, however, is extremely appealing. The fruit splashing and squishing all over the place sounds fantastic.
No multiplayer or online aspects exist in the game. There is no way to even share your scores with friends. I know I haven’t been the biggest advocate of email score sharing, but that would have been better than nothing at all.
Super Fruitfall can be a great little time waster if you absolutely love puzzle games. Some of the puzzles are extremely challenging and others end up turning into mindless spinning. Yes, there is a strategy to most of the puzzles, but the game lacks that something that makes you want to achieve perfection. There are better puzzle games available right now at the App Store for less than $2.99.
Overall: 6.5 out of 10
Tweak
Magnus Canis
David
stuart