Review: "Glowfish" - iPhone/iPod Touch

Reviewed by Paul for FamilyFriendlyGaming

SCORE: 87/100

Glowfish is an underwater exploration of color. This iPhone/iPod Touch app is one of the more interesting titles I have review this month. First off visually it is stunning. The colors are bright, alive, and have tons of animations. In some ways this feels more like a Nintendo 3DS or PS Vita title. Between us, I hope they port it across.

The graphics in Glowfish are so alive that I felt like I was underwater finding my friends. The levels are insanely long for this hand held. Most apps are a few seconds and the level is done. The levels in Glowfish take minutes to complete. They broken out into different stages. We have to find all our friends to unlock the next section of the level. Which is sometimes the whirlpool to the next one.

The music in Glowfish fits the aquatic theme. I found myself smiling on more than one occasion while playing Glowfish because of the ambiance the music presented. Bumping into other fish can be a bad thing sometimes and they can knock your friends away. If you have no friends and take a hit then you have to restart at the last continuation point.

Glowfish has on screen buttons, and an on screen joystick. This joystick works most of the time. My finger slipped a few times and it was not working for me. I had to look down and find it on the screen again. Glowfish is a game that screams for a controller. A controller would propel Glowfish into the upper echelon of family friendly video games.

The game play is all about finding your friends and bringing them back home. They are out there lost, and it is up to us to help them. Sort of the go great lengths to bring Nemo back from that Disney Pixar film. I know Apple gave it a nine years and older rating. Seems a bit high to me. Yes you can bump into things, but it is not what I would consider violence. Firing bubbles at enemies definitely earns Glowfish its rating.

I enjoyed playing Glowfish, and have a suspicion that I may for many weeks to come. I strongly believe it needs to be ported over to a hand held with a controller. That is the biggest thing holding Glowfish back. Currently Glowfish is selling for $2.99 so its not too damaging on the bank account.

Graphics: 92%

Sound: 86%

Replay/Extras: 90%

Gameplay: 82%

Family Friendly Factor: 83%

System: iPhone/iPod Touch

Publisher: Mumbo Jumbo

Rating: ‘9+’ - 9+ {Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence}