Farm Tower HD

When it comes to cute looking games few will rival the innocent cuteness of Farm Tower HD which just oozes charm from the first moment you start the game. Just looking at the title screen (image to the right) you could almost think this was the next big kids TV program, but no, this is one of the Android's most attractive and appealing games.

 The idea of the game is really simple, and although not completely original it's one that suits the touchscreens brilliantly. What you need to do it get rid of the colourful blocks on the screen but don't let the various animals touch the ground (they are to stand in on solid "metallic" block). In principle it's really easy but yet due to the excellent level design the game gets genuinely challenging and yet you will find yourself addicted to it because of it's simplicity.

With over 100 different levels set between 4 "episodes" (Episode 1 has 16 levels, Episode 2 has 80 levels, Easter Special has 5 levels and Valentines Day has 6 levels) the game has got a solid life span and with the difficult of some of the later levels being genuinely tough you will be challenged in the game as the puzzles become less straightforward.

As well as looking relatively cute and having a cute concept the game also features some rather nice music (though it does seem limited to the title screen), whilst the in game sounds are limited to very simple (though oddly irritating) animal sounds, such as "squeaks" from the chickens).

Now onto the flaws with the game and there is a few of them which can take away some of the fun of the game. Firstly some levels are too big for the screen. You end up trying to drop the animals onto completely off screen metal blocks and it almost becomes a game of chance. What doesn't help are the adverts sitting on the bottom of levels where you are trying to put the animals. I understand the need for adverts on free games, honestly I do. But how about putting them between levels and on the level select screens rather than over the actual gameplay screens? Add these problems to the irritating in game "sounds" and you end up having a game that although cute is badly flawed.

Addictiveness-7/10. If you can oversee the flaws with the game this will have you coming back for more
Controls-10/10. Exactly what you'd expect and they work sublimely
Graphics-6/10. Plenty of cuteness though also bland at times especially the backgrounds.
Sounds-4/10 Nice music on the title screen but irritating sounds in-game.
Originality-4/10 There is a lot of similar games out there and you'll likely have already played one.

Total score 31/50

Although the game if cute it has too many flaws for me and the problem is that many of them would be easy to solve. A sound menu (allowing you to turn them off), playing the music in the main game, putting the adverts between levels and allowing a permanent "zoom out" would all improve the game. It's almost as if it's just fallen short of being a really good game and it's a shame as it's got a genuinely cute charm about it that although sickly you really want to enjoy.

Game mark B-