Review: Tweens (iPhone, iPad)

Like a Pig in Mud

You’d think that there would be no chance for upcoming puzzle or arcade games on iOS devices. Whilst it’s true that a lot of developers are trying to get out there with more advanced and complicated games, there’s still a lot of room for the simple treasures of the puzzle gaming genre. Kokakiki‘s Tweens is definitely one of those treasures.

Tweens takes everything that makes a puzzle game simple, addictive and fun, and combines them all into one accessible package, providing a game that is both fresh-faced and exciting, whilst remaining familiar and simple. This could very well be the next big social game.

Your New Addiction

In Tweens, you race against the clock to match same-coloured pigs with one another; tap one pig to send it racing off to another of the same colour, providing its path is clear. That’s pretty much it! Whilst at a glance this may appear to be your run-of-the-mill puzzler, what it actually is is a hectic and desperate struggle for victory. It’s honestly surprising how engrossed you can become simply by looking around for matching pigs before the clock runs out. By the end of the first three levels, you’ll be hooked, and by the end of the first ten levels, your shoulder and entire arm will ache something awful from all the flailing, but you won’t be able to close the game. You won’t want to.

And, as if the pure addictiveness of the game wasn’t enough, there are elements to kick everything up a notch. Bombs, flying pigs, freezing time, and challenge levels all play a part in the game, and they all bring something new to the game. It’s fun enough to just try and match up the swine, but when there are explosions, obstacles and objectives, the game really comes to life, and it’s not just about mashing at your screen and hoping for the best – it’s about knowing when and how to utilize your arsenal of awesomeness.

Overall, the gameplay is fun and easy to come back to, providing you can put it down in the first place!

Pretty Pigs

The art style of the game has obviously taken some inspiration from Angry Birds, the massive social phenomenon. The pigs that you are placed in control of have amusing characteristics, and make them almost distracting from the main aim of the game. Kokakiki have clearly recognised that what it takes to be successful in this market is a quirky style, and whilst the style of Tweens isn’t unique, it’s still novel enough to draw you in as you play.

What’s more, the game comes fully equipped with a hilarious soundtrack – pigs squealing and snorting to a tune has actually never been so amusing. Honestly, with the mixture of out-there characters and catchy music, it almost feels like the game is trying to distract you from winning. But you’ve got to power through that! As a package, Tweens is superb – a well-polished game that is set to eclipse some of this year’s hottest puzzle games. Don’t be surprised if Tweens is the iOS titan of 2012.

Final Verdict

Although, at its core, Tweens hasn’t done anything revolutionary or unique, it is no doubt a great puzzle arcade game. On every level, it is entertaining and fun, but the real victory is the game’s addictive gameplay. Pigs will squeal, your arms will throb, and your screen will beg for mercy from the relentless tapping, but you will not stop playing this game once you start, that’s for sure.

Buy the SD game here for $0.99 or £0.69, or buy the HD version here for $1.99 or £1.49.

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