In Super Fowlst, you control a chicken with an apparent inability to sit still. Additionally, your chicken has an intense desire to kill all enemies in its way and make things explode.
Super Fowlst is all about its platforming movement, which is rather unlike any other game – by pressing on the left or right side of the screen, you can make your chicken hope to the left or right, respectively.
However, the angle of ascent is not directly vertical, it’s sort of parabolic. This weird movement range means that you will be frantically clicking both left and right, desperate to try and hit your enemies or avoid their laser bolts.
The levels are littered with enemies all trying to kill you, some of them moving slowly and firing, others hopping aggressively and occasionally becoming dangerous to the touch.
The key draw of Super Fowlst is the fact that each level, and indeed each play through, is procedurally generated and randomized, meaning no two playing experiences are the same. Enemies, obstacles and even the terrain are completely different, allowing for a great degree of replayability.
The frustration comes in with how the gameplay actually works, as well as the somewhat forced replayability.[sc name=”quote” text=”The frustration comes in with how the gameplay actually works, as well as the somewhat forced replayability.”]
The movement controls are smooth in the sense that they’re consistent, but they’re consistently confusing and stressful – you’ll desperately want to just move in one direction or another, but the constant parabolic arc of your movement forces you to move in strange zigzag patterns that don’t get you where you need to go.
You’ll swiftly discover you’ll be moving back and forth, back and forth, just trying to hit one single stationary box, unable to do so. Your feet will clench, your fingers will cramp and tears will begin to form in the corners of your eyes.
The level system itself is another frustration because each bout of gameplay is entirely independent of one another. Except for the few upgrades you can buy in between levels to improve your abilities, each time you die (which can happen extremely suddenly and quickly, despite your best intentions) you are forced to begin all over again.
Though the levels are now completely different and randomized, you are still forced to repeat the same basic curve of difficulty, playing the same basic stretches of gameplay over and over again.[sc name=”quote” text=”Though the levels are now completely different and randomized, you are still forced to repeat the same basic curve of difficulty, playing the same basic stretches of gameplay over and over again.”]
Super Fowlst is an interesting experience even if only for its unique movement system. The jerky, sporadic movements of your chicken will keep the levels unpredictable and enjoyable to a certain extent, but the immense quantity of frustration inherent in the gameplay will stop you being able to truly enjoy yourself.
Super Fowlst is useful as a singular experience, but it’s best to stop playing before you throw your phone against the wall.
[review pros=”The movement system is unique and interesting, to a certain extent.” cons=”The immensely frustrating movement system will cause you to lose your mind. The forced repetition of the same basic levels will leave you bored and even more frustrated.” score=4.5]
[appbox appstore id1438938483]
[appbox googleplay com.thomasyoung.superfowlst]
