Overview
I’ve never been a huge fan of Squids or Molluscs in general, but I recently had a change of heart thanks to a new Android game called SQUIDS. SQUIDS is an awesome mix of action and turn-based strategy with some RPG elements thrown in for good measure. It’s also a physics-based game with a great storyline, and as bad as I hate to admit it… some pretty loveable squids.
Gameplay
When you first fire up SQUIDS you’ll go through a brief scene showing the back-story behind this underwater adventure, and then you’re introduced to your team. Your tactical team of Squids each has their own look, special abilities and personalities, but they do have one thing in common as they all have tentacles. Traveling around the expansive levels of SQUIDS is as easy as pulling on your Squids tentacles and letting go. You’ll have a certain amount of energy per turn, but can find power-ups lying about the levels to extend your turn. Each level will have a certain requirement or set of tasks to complete, and you’re score is based on pearls collected, turns taken, squids survived, and whether or not you found the Secret Star.
Features
If you like putting together teams and decking them out with gear, SQUIDS has you covered. From the Base section of the game you can put together your team and you’ll get 8 different Squids to choose from spanning 4 different classes. Each class has its own set of quirky stat boosting hats; my favorites so far have been the hockey mask, beer hat, and Snowy. As for the power-ups there are 7 that you can buy with pearls and 10 that can only be bought with cash. The in-app cash based ones are mainly pearl packs and squid packs, but there is one that allows you to unlock everything in the game for one price. SQUIDS has 21 levels and a finale level which may not seem like a lot, but it does have quite a bit of depth when you factor in the team building and equipment. The levels aren’t a walk in the park either, especially if you want to shoot for a perfect score.
Verdict
It’s hard to pick out a standout area of the game because SQUIDS is strong all around. The storyline is great and well thought out; after only a few levels I started to become involved in the game and was shocked by an early surprise I didn’t see coming. The graphics, sound, and gameplay are all top-notch as well… in other words SQUIDS is a game you don’t want to miss. The Game Bakers really did an outstanding job with the game, and I’m anxious to see what they have up their sleeves next. SQUIDS is 100% free and you can pick it up in the Android market.