Flipop is a colorful memory game with gratifying bonuses
Flipop is a game that puts your memory to the test. The tiles unleash a world of color that's flipped over and hidden until you tap two matching colors and rack up points. They drop out of the grid when matched, leaving room for coins and other goodies to enter for some sweet bonuses. After matching as many as possible, see if you beat your high score and compare with friends. The app is free for iPhone and iPad.
This game takes on a similar theme to the classic memory match games when you'd look at a set of cards, then pick pairs to see if you remembered which ones were the same. Flipop takes that concept, twists it a bit and also manages to throw in some of its very own flair. The colorful game is clearly meant to appeal to kids, adults and any age in between. The design specifically reminds me a bit of Threes in that it's very whimsical, though Threes is hardly for kids.
While the main objective of Flipop is to remember the colors on the tiles and match them, the game as a whole isn't as simple as just pairing up tiles. You're given 60 seconds each round, but after a certain number of matches you might quality to enter Fever mode. This is when all the tiles are revealed and you have a few seconds to match as many colors together as possible - no memory necessary, just speed.
After you finish a game of Flipop, some extras add to your score. For instance, the game chooses a color at random and adds all of those in the grid. Plus, any remaining coins, boosts or hinted colors get tossed into the mix as well. It's a fun way to gain a small edge when you think you've run out of time and all hope is lost.
It doesn't really end there either because the game has achievements in the form of a Booster list. You know those coins you've been collecting? They don't just add to your score. Collect enough and you're able to unlock some in-game aids. I'm currently at 45 coins, but when I get to 50 I'm able to trade them in for the ability to have a coin at the beginning of the game. Other goals in the Booster list are locked until achieving a certain number of points first, then those become available for a coin exchange as well.
If the desire to constantly improve your high score didn't drive you to replay Flipop over and over, those "boosts" probably will. They add a new dimension to an otherwise minimal game and that's not to be taken in a negative way.
It's fun, it's colorful, it's attractive, it's functional and it's free. What Flipop isn't is difficult to recommend. Its mass appeal makes it so just about anybody carries some sort of ability to get enjoyment out of playing the game, so go for it. You won't be disappointed.
