Colossatron: Massive World Threat – An Android App Review.

Colossatron: Massive World Threat – An Android App Review.

First off; full disclosure time folks. For the record and in case you aren’t familiar with my situation I am a disabled husband and father of four. So, what that means without putting to fine a point on it is that I don’t have a lot of flexibility with my finances. In short, when it comes to things like apps in general I never ever have the luxury of purchasing them. Instead I make do on the vast array of free apps, Amazon’s infamous Free App of the Day, and on occasion a promotional credit. The later is what I have to thank for the subject of this review.

Now, with that bit out of the way, allow me to continue. Like I said; I recently found myself with a promotional credit on the Amazon App Store and since I never purchase apps I was in a bit of a peculiar position. What do you do with an available credit towards apps when you yourself never can consider buying them? So I began actively looking through the various offerings and tried to weigh my options. Even if it was just a promotional credit and not my own cash I wasn’t about to simply throw it around wastefully.

It took me quite some time (I primarily scouted around sporadically here and there) before I stumbled into a game that both showed some promise and continually kept popping up. Still hesitant, I cross referenced its reviews and preview info on multiple app stores to better get a feel for it. Sadly I am just not one of those people who can comfortably snag something like an app without some careful thought. Maybe it’s the knowledge that dollar signs are attached but in any event I had to rule out some potential pitfalls first.

What I found when I finally took the plunge and clicked purchase was an absolute delight to be blunt. Colossatron proves a positively enjoyable experience that can be described as simple complexity or if you prefer, complex simplicity. What I mean by that is the basic core mechanic of the game is one that is arguably so simple, yet in its simplicity there is a satisfyingly complex blending.

You are the title character of the game, Colossatron, a robotic dragon like creature that crash lands from space to declare itself a literal “Massive World Threat.” As it rampages through cities and towns colored body segments appear that you can drag to join with Colossatron. Each color has a different type of function or capability. For example red segments sport missile launching turrets while blue blasts electricity. But the interesting angle doesn’t lie in the basic primary colored ‘powercores,’ but instead in mixing and matching them.

Just as we all learned in elementary art class; if you mix two primary colors you can get a secondary one. Want to put a red piece next to a blue? Surprise! You then get a purple piece that replaces the previous two (and I might add provides a potent rail gun to blast foes). Put three sections of the same color in a row and they will morph into a superior version of themselves with all three joining into a single piece.

By combining these different sections in a variety of ways you can drastically affect how Colossatron causes catastrophe. If you focus on fewer more refined powercores you can enjoy some satisfying superior firepower, but at the cost of your survivability. Instead, if you are determined to stick with a longer string of smaller segments you can handle much more punishment but struggle with dishing out that devastation.

And if all this wasn’t enough for you, you gain access to unlocking an array or upgrades via an in-game armory purchasable by ‘prisms’ you obtain during each city. Or, after defeating a zone’s capital you open up new gadgets that provide you with flexible new powers or abilities to enhance your play style. Your gadgets are even changeable, albeit at the cost of prisms.

Between each city in a zone you also gain access to a handful of other options available to you for purchase via the in game cash you constantly accumulate by destroying everything in your path. You can purchase additional powercores (which you can click on to rotate through the different colors before connecting), repair all your powercores at once, or buy special power ups like shields, mega bomb and rapid-fire. And, unless you have already unlocked a gadget to do so at will, you can pay to reconfigure your various sections into an alternative order.

All in all, these seemingly simple elements manage to masterfully mix into a complex creation of fun. Each zone is a similar series of scenarios that once you get the hang of is familiar but still challenging. And, should your Colossatron be defeated you have the option of reforming him back to the state he started the level with at the cost of some prisms. If you can’t afford to do so, or simply find it more prudent not to, you can allow the set back to start back at the first city. You do keep any cash or prisms however, and I find that at times it can be wiser to do so.

The prevalent themes in the plot are pun-filled cheese that never takes itself seriously and even pays homage to 80’s/90’s animation. There is an antagonistic military figure known as “General Mustache,” for example. A desk bound news caster chronicles your exploits while his intrepid field compatriot is ever on the scene to relay breaking updates. The entire story is simple and satisfyingly enjoyable.

My only caveats I can highlight are the fact that at times the chaos of your never-ending campaign of carnage can be a little overwhelming on the screen and cause you to lose track of things slightly. Coupled with the fact that your prisms are used to unlock various mechanics or revive yourself – a feature that you can purchase more in game with real money is potentially a problem for less patient players. I’ve never had any trouble with beating zones and moving forward on my own, all that has been required is some patience and playing my way back through the zones cities.

I haven’t beaten the game yet but I do get the impression that it isn’t exactly going to be much longer so if you have issues with short games that might bother you. But for me the game is so much fun as it is that I can easily see myself simply starting it over as soon as it ends. The game does allow for players to replay previous areas in a ‘survival mode,’ to try and best their friend’s high scores online. I haven’t tried this aspect yet and in truth see no real appeal in doing so. However if that is something for you it is an option.

Colossatron: Massive World Threat is a game that is easily worth its $0.99 price tag in my opinion. I’d give it 4 ½ out of 5 stars no question. My only reservation that might keep it from a five star rating would be the fact that others might see the in app purchasing element a requirement for being successful in the game and I would be thrilled to see it perhaps a tad longer in length ( with more areas or slightly different tactical challenges for some). Everything aside; Colossatron is a blast that excels at playing for short sessions to kill time or relax. I may not ever have experienced it otherwise but I am glad I was able to – it’s a load of world wrecking fun.

 Colossatron is available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and many more. 

Swallowed by Shadows; A Shadowrun Returns Review.

Swallowed by Shadows; A Shadowrun Returns Review

Been awhile, ‘eh chummer? Well, hopefully that Johnson didn’t hold it against you personally how that job went sideways. I told you it’s never wise to take their word for it that it’ll be a milk run. Say, if your credstick is a little light I can float you some for a soycaf and some nutrisoy…

You good now? Slot yourself some attention chiphead and stay sharp; we got biz. Seems shadows all over the sprawl are swallowing up runners left and right. Gotta stay on your toes these days, omae, or become another deniable claim on a corp. report sheet. So if you’re up to make some quick nuyen, now’s the time to choose; in or out?

For your sake, and mine; I hope you’re in.

…

Shadowrun Returns hit the matrix… er, I mean it was released almost a month ago now. And to be honest in that short amount of time already has been turning heads and providing plenty of smiles. Now, if you haven’t ever played the original tabletop rpg, or the old sega/snes video games then don’t feel bad. Even if they are pretty awesome ways to kill some spare time. However, it is Returns though that proves (in my opinion) to be nothing less than a sinkhole that will swallow your spare time.

As soon as you jack yourself in… er, sorry; I am doing it again. Upon loading the game for the first time I have to admit that even as nostalgic as I was the experience didn’t disappoint at all. Even coming to the game without any past knowledge I think it is well presented enough to step you through making your first character and getting into things.

Your options are both varied and straightforward enough to enable you to craft a runner who is either as simple or as complex as you like. And to further strengthen things while you explore your way through the game it is so incredibly easy to advance your character in almost any way you would find appealing. Want to play a hulking troll who likes nothing more than to hack through security? No problem! Want to play a feisty little elf who loves to slice and dice anything in sight while calling themselves spanky? You can, although your friends may question your choice in names…

But the real powerhouse of pleasure to be found in Shadowrun Returns has got to be its storyline. The delicious content therein is nothing short of brilliant – honest. I could watch a movie play out or read such a tale over and over again. Actually, I have completed the main content ‘Dead Man’s Switch’ three times already and am on my fourth. In fact I think I am most of the way through it and once done will probably fire it up for a fifth play through. Yeah, it is that much fun.

The initial plot hook is more than compelling enough to snare your curiosity and when combined with a short flashback easily proves to be a great introduction sequence to start the game. During which you are given the option to show the help screen; a handy source of game play info (which is also just a click away at anytime in the game). I refuse to spoil the storyline by even mentioning part of it but if you are curious it is easily found via Google.

Another great source of personal reward, for me at least; is the replay value. Even if you have the whole story and think you’re satisfied I think you’ll be surprised how you may find yourself pondering other types of characters to try out. I have been having a blast replaying in different ways every time; from giving different answers to taking alternative tactics and even totally opposite play styles. There is no one ‘you must play this way to win.’ Don’t like the idea of a decker? Fine; in the matrix run mission scenes you can find an npc to handle it, you can piggy back with a retired pro, or simply choose another approach. In truth, it is fun to even find ways while playing to get around some fights and the like with a smile and a wink or even a flashed wad of funds.

There is more than enough variety to be a funfest for just about anyone. And if that isn’t enough for you it comes with an editor to create your own content – which others already have. Don’t let the graphics or its turn-based system fool you; this is a load of fun to be sure. I should know, I keep finding myself easily distracted by the temptation to simply finish one more scene before stopping.

So if you opt to take a run through the shadows; consider yourself warned. It’s all too easy to find yourself swallowed up by them chummer.

Shoot straight. Conserve ammo. And never, ever, cut a deal with a dragon.