Welcome to the first entry into a fun new series that will be highlighting Android developers, studios and teams that we feel deserve your attention. These will be anything from game studios to hard working ROM developers. For our inaugural installment, we wanted to take a look at PopCap Games.
PopCap has been making PC games for years and have recently begun making the jump to Android with some of their amazing games like Plants vs Zombies and Peggle. PopCap games on Android are unrivaled in their polished graphics, engaging gameplay mechanics and excellent sound structure.
Here is what PopCap has on the market as of now!
Peggle
Peggle is one of the most entertaining and addictive casual PC games that we have ever played and we are thrilled to say that nothing has been lost in the translation from PC to Android. The object of Peggle is simple: clear each stage of all orange pegs by shooting metal balls from a cannon of sorts, placed at the top, center of each stage.
The true beauty of Peggle, however, comes from the Masters that guide you through each level. Each Master has a different ‘special ball’ that you can enable two times in each stage. These range from a shot indicator that shows you the trajectory your shot to a ‘flower ball’ that automatically removes a percentage of the orange pegs on the board.
The beautiful graphics, ridiculously addictive gameplay and first-rate characters make Peggle a must-have for any mobile gamer.
Plants vs Zombies
The iconic Plants vs Zombies – where to begin! This game has absolutely excelled one very platform that it has made its way to and that is saying something as the game is available on iPhone, Android, Xbox 360, PC, Mac, Nintendo DS, Bada, PlayStation Network and Windows Phone 7.
The game is a tower defense style game, where players must utilize an arsenal of plants to hold off an ever-growing horde of zombies. The game manages to reinvent zombie lore, tower defense games and horticulture while still making sense and being extremely enjoyable.
For those unfamiliar with tower defense games, how they work is simple: enemy waves come from one side of the screen and their goal is simply to get past any defenses you have set up so that they can reach the other side. Every developer puts their own spin on who the enemy is and why they want to reach the other side as well as what you have in terms of defense.
Plants vs Zombies is an amazingly fun and strategic game that never seems to get old. If you’re into tower defense games, zombies or plants – this one is a game you’ll want to check out!
Chuzzle
Chuzzle is an adorably addictive puzzle-style game where players must arrange the adorable Chuzzles in groups of three or more to pop them. But don’t feel bad, according to PopCap Games, this is the only way to make a Chuzzle truly happy!
The catch with Chuzzle is that you can’t just move them freely around the stage, you have to move their entire row horizontally or their entire column vertically. Throwing in the mega Chuzzles that take up the space of around four normal-sized Chuzzles and a round timer and you have yourself an amazingly fun and frenetic experience.
Chuzzle features four main game modes, all of which offer an enjoyable experience.
- Classic Chuzzle - The original puzzler, Classic Chuzzle is available in two difficulty settings: Casual and Expert. (When you play Chuzzle for the first time, the game will default to Classic Chuzzle in the Casual difficulty mode.)
- Speed Chuzzle - Not for the faint of heart. Speed Chuzzle is Classic Chuzzle but with a timer. Add time to the clock by making Chuzzle matches, but once the timer runs out, one or more Puzzle Locks will drop.
- Zen Chuzzle -Looking for a cute and fuzzy balm to soothe your nerves? Try Zen Chuzzle, where all Puzzle Locks and timers are eliminated, leaving you nothing but a serene and blissful Chuzzling experience.
- Mind Bender -A completely different way to Chuzzle. In Mind Bender, a Chuzzle version of Rubik’s cube, you try to arrange the cute furball Chuzzles into pre-defined patterns. Can your mind bend around all twenty levels?
Bejeweled 2
As far as I could discover, Bejeweled 2 is the only PopCap game to be available in the Android Market. At any rate, the Bejeweled franchise was one of PopCap Games’ first major entries into the PC gaming market and is just as fun and engaging as it was when the series first got started.
In Bejeweled 2, players are required to make matches of 3 or more to create sparking showers of gems. Blast your way through multiple levels and game modes. Bejeweled features hints on demand if you get stuck.
Featuring excellent sound and beautiful graphics, Bejeweled is more than worth the $0.99 it sells for in the Android Market.
It definitely looks like PopCap has an amazing future ahead of them. Some of games they have developed on PC are already revered as legends in the industry and it is clearly only a matter of time before that reputation proves true on Android as well.
Written By
what the hell!? we got acquired by EA!? who said that? if we did, i’ll quit on monday. leadership promised a IPO after how many years.