Save the Snail

Posted by: Veronica September 26, 2013 in Brain & Puzzle, Games Leave a comment

Have you ever tried to think how hard can life of snail be? I presume the negative answer. But don´t worry it was the same in my case. Enthusiasts from so far unknown game studio Alda Games had some kind of different opinion. And here we are – another physics puzzle game saw the light of our screens. But question remains – how difficult the life of snail is?

According the graphics, it must be wonderful, not hard. Why? To explain my statement I have to say something. Sometimes I am suffering from… how to say it… fatigue from bombastic and unbelievable effects with huge lightings and so on. Save the Snail is absolutely different. 2D hand-drawn environment is just and only and simple said – beautiful. I believe it can attract all age groups – from small kids until adults.

The gameplay mechanics is pretty easy. Basically it is only about moving objects from side to side. And if you are convinced that will fall in proper place, you just leave it and the element will fall down. Simple, easy… and addictive.

Must be said, simple is only mechanics. Practical performance is not just about handling the objects from side to side. It has its own purpose. Name Save the Snail can explain it quite concretely. Your task is to keep snail (or snails) alive in various dangerous situations. You have to hide them from scorching sun beams or falling rocks or keep them out of sophisticated deadly traps.

You can use some ordinary objects like buttons, pencils, coins or saltshaker (but salt shaker, not salt! Hope that everyone knows that salt is fatal for snails in reality…) and you have to count with the physics of game. Game is powered by Unity 3D engine, so that means that this part is really great, physics works pretty realistic.

These were the positive parts of game. What can be a little annoying, that is sound design. To be more precisely, the absence of comprehensive sound design. Background Music is totally missing and the rest consists from just few samples. But honestly, who plays games like this one with sound turned on? Second negative part of game is related to physics. I have mentioned that is great and it is, but sometimes it seems to be too sensitive. And last but not least, game like this deserves more than 24 levels.

My final result still belongs to positive connotations. Save the Snail is hilarious and despite the lack of music it is pretty funny and playing Save the Snail is definitely NOT wasting of time and money as well. And the answer to the question from the introduction? Yes, life of the snail can be pretty hard and full of danger but it can be also fun. And it is good that authors decided to show us the funnier part.