Tiny Tower is a slightly quirky and addicting resource-management game, with the objective of creating a skyscraper full of happy “bitizens.” I found this app to be both charming and addictive, and the fact that it’s free should make it a “must-try” app for most folks.
The very first thing that struck me about this app was its graphical style. It has a very retro look, reminiscent of ’80s PC gaming. This is one case where the smaller screen of the iPhone or iPod Touch helps the graphics look better. There really isn’t enough detail to fill up the iPad screen, and the end result is blocky artwork that, while not ugly, leaves something to be desired.
Sound design is very much in the elevator-music style, which is appropriate, as an elevator is a prominent feature in the gameplay. While initially I found the music to be a cute touch, it quickly grew old, and I was disappointed to find that the music could not be turned off independently from the other in-game sounds.
The main point of the game is to build a tower, complete with floors of residential, entertainment, food, retail, etc. As residents enter your tower, they will either move into an available apartment, or spend their money at any of the other floors available. If they take residence in your building, they can be hired to work at any of the job vacancies that exist in your tower. You should be careful to match employees with jobs they like, or you’ll miss out on a multitude of money and time bonuses.
What I found to be compelling about the gameplay, was the difficult decision to evict a tenant on the off chance that another would come along with better employee stats to fit my particular needs. The choice is yours to micromanage every little aspect of your tower, or give it a break and let your little bitizens earn money in the background.
Tiny Tower integrates nicely with Game Center, providing many extra goals to keep you motivated. Part of the fun, is certainly the race to be just a few floors taller than your friends as you race toward the sky. There’s no doubt Tiny Tower will be keeping future managers busy for a long time to come.
Download the free Appolicious iPhone app
