They Need To Be Fed

They Need to be Fed is the type of game that keeps you up at night playing just one more level, one more go, one more attempt; you just don’t want to put it down. The fact is that we have social lives and busy, busy work lives to contend with – never mind combating the electronic temptations from our smart phones.

The game is an intriguingly named title, for the iPhone and iPod touch, revolving around the player guiding a shadow like creature across treacherous pits, platforms, spikes and jumps and collecting diamonds scattered across the levels along the way. At the end of each level however players reach their goal, the goal we all strive for, to errr… sacrifice themselves by jumping into the gaping mouth of a hungry predator. Yes there’s something rather macabre about ‘They Need To Be Fed’, what with the whole let’s make ourselves into morsels angle, so it’s lucky then that it’s a whole heap of fun to play.

‘They Need To Be Fed’ is most closely related to Cut the Rope at least in visual style, overall goal and simplistic controls. Although admittedly the latter is something of a theme among the majority of iPhone titles. The good thing about They Need To Be Fed is that unlike quite a few iPhone games, the controls work perfectly. Players move left and right, or jump, by pressing in the appropriate place, as indicated on the touchscreen. The simple controls are used to move your little shadow creature across some pretty dangerous terrain. It all works perfectly, there’s no gaping holes or glitches in the gameplay and it’s ‘pick up and play’ easy too.

One important thing that the game does very well is gravity, or the application of gravity to certain platforms. As players move through the levels they will notice that you can run the whole way round each individual platform, as each has its own centre of gravity. This comes in mighty handy and forms the basis for the majority of puzzles in the game. Jumping from one centre of gravity to another is both tricky and at the same time highly enjoyable. It’s not without its annoyances however, as at times the shadow can get confused about which orbit to enter and end up flying off into a hazard. Add to this the fact that directions can become mixed up when you are bouncing from platform to platform and the one clear thing is this: you will die a lot.

Visually it’s presented in a minimalistic fashion. It’s fresh and interesting looking without being over the top or in your face. The animations are if nothing else pretty darn appealing to look at; always a plus point. With seven worlds to discover and each world a different design, it makes for some really nice viewing. Although chances are low that you’ll be engrossed in the background pastel colours, as the game can get pretty tricky in the latter levels.

The only real problem with They Need to be Fed is that there’s not enough of it. Irony ensues when you soon realise that the addictive morsels of game time you get aren’t nearly as filling as you would like them to be. The levels are fast, short and fun but they’re over in a flash just like the rest of the game.

It’s an unfortunate final point to have to make as the rest of the game is so appealing.