Balloon Dart – Review
App Type: Uncategorized
Our rating: 
By: That's So Panda
Version #: 1.0
Date Released: 2011-06-08
Developer:
Price: 0.99
User Rating:
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Any game that tries to copy the Angry Birds formula is going to have its work cut out to get noticed. What made that game so successful was not only its designed-for-iphone gameplay, but also its appealing presentation which turned the simple game into a feverishly popular franchise.
Balloon Dart has essentially the same gameplay as Angry Birds, which is not a bad start. You use your finger to set up the trajectory and velocity of your dart, then let go and watch it glide across the screen to (hopefully) pop some balloons. Simple enough.
The big problem with Balloon Dart is that it’s utterly devoid of humour and visual niceness. As I repeatedly chucked darts at balloons against an unchanging, dreary background, there were times when I wish I could turn the darts on myself; just to feel something. You can’t listen to music while Balloon Dart-ing, so you have to tolerate the irritating ‘weeeee’ noise your dart makes every time you throw it.
Balloon Dart manages to be a difficult game without being challenging. The difficulty stems from awkward things such as it being impossible to zoom out to get a better picture of wherever you want to aim. It lacks challenge because all 20 levels are unlocked from the start; there is no local or online high-score system, nor some kind of ratings system which could’ve rewarded you for, say, popping several balloons with one dart, or… well, that’s about it really.
To take a formula of a wildly popular game and dumb it down in the way Balloon Dart has, is utterly futile. Rather than trying to work within the Angry Birds framework to do something interesting, Balloon Dart is a dull attempt to make some easy money off people who get sucked in by the concept of popping virtual balloons with a dart. Do those kind of people even exist?
***
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Quick Take
Value:Very low.
Would I Buy Again:No.
Learning Curve:Low.
Who Is It For:People who found Angry Birds a bit too exciting.
What I Like:It's a bit like Angry Birds...
What I Don't Like:but with all the fun stripped away.
Final Statement:Go pop some real balloons instead. Do it at a 5-year-old's birthday party for extra kicks.
Balloon Dart is fun, but challenging game where you use a dart to pop as many balloons as you can. In Balloon Dart, you can bounce your dart of walls or knock them down to pop all the balloons.
At the end of every level, your score will be saved. Can you beat your own high score?
If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please e-mail me at [email protected]
Requirements - 2.2 or higher
Screenshots
Article By Robert Zak
I'm an up-and-coming freelance writer (or so I like to think) specialising in film, apps and gaming. Aside from writing app reviews on what sometimes feels like a mass scale, I've also contributed work to The Independent and IGN.com, and am on the writing team of the popular Lifestyle blog, WhatCulture.com. Like what you see? Follow me on Twitter @Rob_Zed and get in touch!
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