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If you think two Chillingo dual shooters could NOT co-exist, you are definitely in for a s-h-o-c-k!
Minigore ($0.99)
When Chillingo released iDracula, I thought that was it for them for this genre. For some reason, lightning strikes twice in Chillingo twice as this game’s NOT one to be missed.
Minigore is sold as a dual analog shooter with fantastic 3D cartoon graphics, and addictive gameplay. This is a very intense game which you simply cannot put down. It has some social networking downsides, but this game gives iDracula a run for its money.
Presentation
The graphics are just fantastic. They aren’t all that realistic, but aren’t cartoonish, it’s more of a pop-out, box art, diorama type scenery and characters. The attention to detail is fantastic, and it all fits. The design is nothing like iDracula. I wouldn’t say it’s the opposite of it, but Mountain Sheep achieved to create a unique environment for Minigore. iDracula is one heck of a title to get on par with, or even top. On top of that, I have yet to encounter a single bug, and it runs flawlessly.
John Gore’s look and feel reminds me of Little Big Planet with his square shaped head and teeeeeny body. He’s like Boxboy’s long S FR7WTAlost cousin or something. But take note: I am obsessed with LBP and not any lesser with Minigore. Add that with the halo effect on the ammo’s as you fire, Minigore over iDracula hands down.
Controls
The controls consist of two analog sticks that you use to move and shoot. This is nearly identical to iDracula, and for good reason, the controls are ergonomic, simple, and effective. Turn off the “Show Pads” option, and you can make your directional pad anyone on that side of the screen (left for movement, right for shooting). These are the best that can be made for a touch screen device, but this is still a game that would excel with physical controls.
Gameplay
The gameplay involves simply surviving as long as you can against an onslaught of “furries”. You compete and play only to beat your own high score, and online scores via OpenFeint. The key is to be quick and not sit idle on one corner. This game includes an Expert mode, where it’s a perpetual onrush of furries, and the point values are doubled. Expert mode is far more fun to play but very difficult.
We all know four leaf clovers are for good luck right? Well if John finds 3 of them, he turns into this flaming monster where you can simply stomp multiple furries at once. This extreme stomp mode reminds us how the ox transforms in Year of the Ox.
The furries come in about three to four sizes. The smaller the size the less headshots it needs to die down. The bigger furries multiply when shot and turn into the next smaller sizes and so forth. Get bitten by them thrice, and you’re dead!
This game presently lacks achievements, but the intense play keeps you playing over and over. You get scored based on how many and the type of furry you kill. Each small furry is worth 1 point, medium is worth 10, and the large is worth 50.
Suggestions
Take all of these with a grain of salt. I’m slowly piecing together EPIC news regarding future updates for this game. I can tell you safely multiplayer co-op will be one of them.
- More maps to play on. This one is nice, but perhaps underground, and during the day would be great for diversity.
- Your own OpenFeint username. And another game forgets that part of it, and I have my 11th randomly generated OpenFeint username. It would be amazing to have ONE username to encompass all of my Feint-enabled games.
- Lives and health power-ups. Another item that could be added that would add more gameplay length and value would be to have a health pickup.
- Delayed invincibility trigger. Why can’t I pick up all 3 and then give my device a shake to activate at any time?
- Swap controls. Rather than swap sides, which keeps the controls on the same hands, why can’t I swap the movement and fire buttons? I’m left handed, and most players use fire far more and need more accuracy with the gun direction, while movement doesn’t need as much precision. Just an idea.
- We need some drastic Menu button design changes. The little text bubbles look out of place. It just doesn’t fit the game. Please fix.
Conclusion
To be honest with you, I was able to preview the game once before. It didn’t have all the bells and whistles of what it is now, and I found myself let down. However, the AppStore version completely shocked the hell out of me and found myself completely drawn to the game. Do not even get me started on the scheduled updates just yet. Those updates in itself need its own post, and yes it’ll get one.
You’ll be BATCRAP crazy not to check this game out. Everybody’s goring it out so why shouldn’t you! LOL.
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This game is addicting. Yes, it only has one level, limited guns, enemies, maps, no multiplayer, and faulty online scores. But the fact that its just simple is awesome. Everytime I get a new high score I can’t beat it later on.
The menu option screen does look out of place. Seems like they just stuck buttons there without applying much creativity.
One thing that can get frustrating is when your thumbs cover the lower parts of the screen so much that its hard to tell if an enemy is coming. A later update is supposed to add radar so maybe that will fix it. I had a thought in mind that maybe the could make the score and shotgun shell meter partially translucence so you could tell if enemies came from that way. But just a thought.
Scores need to be fixed. They won’t update online. Not sure why not.
I think that letting you set a name for high scores would be useful if more than one person would play on the phone.
I hope the next update, which should be out soon, adds lots of awesome features.
oh and btw, i thought small enemies where 2 pts each?
Loving it, didn’t think it would be that great but after I bought it yesterday i’m hooked! It’s so good! Superbad, i’m able to use my own feint username that I also use in 3 other games and I also thought the little ones were worth 2 points.
I’m able to use my own feint username for all 11 of my feint games o_O
This game is alot more fun now that they have different characters that promote replaying of the game.
Lot of fun. Dual stick controls are spot on and the furries are fun to blast. Love grabbing that third clover and mowing over those little monsters.
This game is fun for getting out your aggressions.
Minigore strikes a nice balance of blood and cuteness. The music is epic and the voiceover cracks me up. The updates(finally) bring it up a notch from the original release. It's not something I play every day, but when I do I enjoy it!