Game Info
GAME NAME: Mighty Fin
PUBLISHER(S): Launching Pad Games
PLATFORM(S): iOS 3.1 +
GENRE(S): Action, Adventure
RELEASE DATE(S): 9/6/11
Mighty Fin, the game about an adventurous goldfish who sets out to conquer the high seas, is making a big splash in the iOS game market. Mighty Fin utilizes a simple game mechanic from the out-of-nowhere app store sensation Tiny Wings, but adds enough of its own charm and gameplay variations to make it a welcome (and worthy) addition to the iPhone and iPod Touch game market.
Buy Mighty Fin in the App Store
CLICK HERE:
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Gameplay
If you have played Tiny Wings, you likely already know how to play this game. The gameplay couldn’t be any simpler – touch the screen to move your character down into the deep and release the screen in order to send him sailing through the air. At first glance, this may seem like a rip-off, however, Mighty Fin offers enough differences to make it a completely unique (and fun) game experience.
Unlike Tiny Wings, there are no hills to gain momentum and launch yourself higher and higher. Instead, the makers of Mighty Fin chose to implement other game elements (such as enemies) to set itself apart. Fin’s range of motion is consistent, so the challenge does not involve making the perfect jump and landing, but rather, avoiding the barrage of baddies in your path while attempting to collect as many coins as possible. In many cases, the pursuit of the coins brings you precariously close to annihilation. There is no health bar or meter, so merely skimming the top of a bad sea creature will send you hurtling toward your untimely demise, whereupon you must begin your journey anew.
The Game
Mighty Fin takes you on a journey through 8 fun and challenging undersea levels. As the player, you must guide Fin (the mighty one) through treacherous seas filled with all sorts of hazards (including dastardly penguins) while collecting coin bubbles to boost your score and unlock awesome (yet not entirely useful) items. On each level, the bubble coins are arranged in a manner as to guide you along a semi-defined path. By collecting several coins in succession, you multiply your score. The goal of the main adventure mode is to reach the end of the level in order to unlock the next levels and additional gameplay modes. Along the way, there are numerous objects that can bring your journey to an abrubt end, including floating islands, crabs, jellyfish and the aforementioned penguins.
One of the most enjoyable features of the game is the ability to unlock costumes that Fin can adorn on subsequent levels. These costumes do not alter gameplay in any way, but they do immediately bring a smile to your face. I mean, who doesn’t have an automatic smile reaction when they witness a goldfish wearing a tophat and a monocle? Each costume that you unlock will appear at Sal’s Souvenier Shop which you can access in the mission selection screen.
Once you reach a high enough score on a level, you will unlock additional gameplay modes, including Endless Mode and Survival Mode. Endless Mode can seemingly last forever as long as you don’t smash into a baddie along the way. Survival Mode adds an additional twist where the speed of your character will increase as you collect coins, making it much more difficult to successfully navigate the treacherous waters. These additional gameplay modes, in conjunction with the leaderboards and Game Center integration, greatly enhance the replayability of the game. However, the scarcity of levels presently in the game is perhaps one of its biggest shortcomings. Hopefully, more levels will be added in days to come to increase the replay factor.
Graphics and Art Style
Mighty Fin features a distinctive art style and highly polished 2D graphics. When you play this game for the first time, you will be immediately be attracted to the winsome characters and scenery. The paper cut-out look of the game really lends itself well to the wistful and joyful nature of the game. The game’s art style is dripping with personality. When playing the game, you can definitely see the attention to detail that went into creating each asset. This is perhaps best demonstrated in the design of the game’s hero, Fin.
Fin features a very simple design, even so, his jubilant personality is infused into each pixel. As Fin jumps into the air, his open-mouthed expression gives off a sense of joy that is appropriate for the high-flying antics portrayed on the screen. This sense of joy permeates throughout the design of each art asset, including the inumerable hats and costume pieces Fin can wear.
Sounds and Music
Mighty Fin features a calypso-inspired soundtrack that is perfectly orchestrated for Fin’s aquatic journey. The music and sounds add to the fun and enjoyment of the game, creating a seemless, cohesive casual gaming experience.
Conclusion – Mighty Fin Review
Mighty Fin is one of those games you can’t help but love, even if the gameplay does lack in originality. The game has utilized the drop-dead simple gaming mechanic made popular by other iPhone games but infused enough of its own unique spirit, charm and perfectly balanced gameplay elements to create an experience that is enjoyable for gamers of all ages and skill levels.
Buy Mighty Fin in the App Store
CLICK HERE:
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