Portabliss: Monsters Ate My Condo! (iOS)
Did you know that you can download handheld games now? That's amazingly convenient! The only inconvenient part of it is finding the right games to buy -- and that's where we come in, with our Portabliss column. In each installment, we'll tell you about a downloadable game on the iPhone, iPad, Android device, DSi, 3DS, PSP, etc. Today: Monsters Ate My Condo!.
I've always had a bad feeling about condos. I always thought of them as either the home of some lecherous old dude trying to do gross things or the set of some sitcom starring a bunch of lecherous old dudes. Now I know why I shied away from that style of dwelling: because monsters love to eat condos.
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PikPok's iOS game is, ostensibly, something you've played a million times: take this colored thing and match it up with another colored thing. But upon booting it up and hearing the quirky, upbeat theme song transition into chunky prog-rock chords, you know this game is unique.
The real ingenuity comes from these lovable, ever-hungry monsters -- four in total, named Boat Head, Reginald Starfire, Mr. Shigoto and Lord Ferocious -- who demand your attention because they're both gigantic and completely awesome. Seriously, who wouldn't love a gigantic unicorn named Reginald Starfire who's addicted to cosmetic surgery, used to front an '80s boy band, and now works for a self-esteem helpline?
The stack of condos is beset on each side by one of these giant monsters, each looking to nom down on condos that share their color property. So by swiping to the left or the right, you can feed a condo to a monster -- feed them their color and they're happy; feed them the wrong color and they get mad. Stack three condos of the same color and it upgrades to a bronze piece. If the condos share the same color as a monster on-screen, that monster is then tagged out for another. Feed a monster a bronze, silver or other upgraded condo piece and it'll activate its unique ability, which range from slowing down time to granting players extra points.
It's a game that's very simple, easy to pick up and play a round and put down, and extremely addictive. It's biggest downfall is its limited modes of play: Endless and Time Attack. But that's hardly enough to keep me from coming back for more every day.
Monsters Ate My Condo is available on iTunes for $.99 for both the iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad. We're always looking for new distractions. Want to submit your game for Portabliss consideration? You can reach us at portabliss aat joystiq dawt com.
