Kahoots Review
Posted Thu 3rd Jun 2010 9:36pm by Jim Hargreaves
Kahoots in 10 seconds:
PSP minis haven’t been around for long, originally catering for the PlayStation Portable before being made available for the PlayStation 3 as well. For those unfamiliar to these types of games, minis are just like your regular downloadable title,
though they will be considerably smaller in size and price. However, compared to some iPhone alternatives, the somewhat steep £3-margin for each title has steered many potential buyers away.
After digging around for a cheap and interesting minis title to play on my PSP, I found Kahoots. Being the cheapest one available at just over a quid, Kahoots demonstrates the true nature of minis and exceeds all expectations I had for such a tiny game.
Background:
Simply put, Kahoots is a puzzler in which players must lead their Kahoot from beginning to end without being killed. Before the word Lemmings comes to mind, I must say this game only coincides with the popular lead ‘em up due to premise alone.
Each of the 50 levels is made up from compilations of bricks which the Kahoot will walk along. By moving the bricks into place, you will be able to construct a path leading to the exit, hence completing the stage. During the first few levels, there will be little variation in the types of bricks on-screen, but as you progress you will discover several, each with their own twist. For instance, there are blocks that can make the Kahoot jump, switch direction or fall to the level below as well as immovable bricks and even cannons.
The net of variation may sound minimal on paper, but Honeyslug are inventive and clever in the way that each stage is unique, offering an increased amount of challenge as players progress. To mix things up, enemies known as Cardborgs are also thrown into the mix, forcing the player to either kill them or avoid them using a smart combination of bricks.
Gameplay:
The best thing about
Kahoots is simply how easy it is to get into. I am not the biggest of puzzle fans, but
Kahoots presents such an easy play-style that any gamer can enjoy. Tutorials are few but very funky and very informative, with the iconic Pegbeast dropping the occasional ditty here and there. Switching bricks can be done by targets the pointer to a specific
block, holding down the cross button, and then shifting it in the desired direction. The only other controls to learn are the stop and fast-forward mechanics assigned to both the L and R buttons. Stopping the game is essential in some of later levels as players will have to track the movements of their Kahoot and multiple Carborgs too.
50 levels may sound slim, but with some of the more challenging ones requiring multiple tries, the game never feels as if it’s robbed you. If simply beating the levels isn’t enough, you can also revisit each one and try to collect cakes, a task that never feels taxing. Awards similar to trophies/achievements can also be obtained by meeting in-game criteria.
Presentation:
The presentational values behind Kahoots may not be outstanding, but being a budget title with so much character easily remedies this. The menu is barebones, yet efficient, also allowing players to tweak several in-game preferences. Kahoots is definitely one of the most stylish minis on the market, with each level having funky wallpapers and brick design, accompanied by a playful background theme which never soils the ear.
Closing Comments:
For anyone who is looking to get into minis, Kahoots should definitely be your first choice. At such a rock-bottom price, even those who don’t take a liking to it won’t feel let down. It’s a title I constantly revisit for short bursts of play, and never feels to heavy, captivating the true meaning of what a mini should be. Kudos to Honeyslug to for producing a classic slice of micro gaming, amidst a sea of conventional and sub-par cases.
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28/07/2011 10:30am
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