By Umar Bastra
How many days has it been now, since I last saw the sun? I seem to have lost track of time. I feel light headed and I think I might have a fever. My body feels cold. I can feel my humanity slipping away with every passing minute and there is no one here to keep me company. I can’t remember when or how it all went wrong. Is it my fault things turned out this way?
No, it’s not my fault. I’m not this type of person. Somehow, something went wrong, but what? What caused this? Ah, now I remember. It’s that damn game. Yes, it’s all coming back to me. My wife went to bed early; I was literally left to my own devices. I booted up that game on my Vita and next thing I knew I’m here, a broken shell of my former self. Yes, that game made me what I am now. Something I swore I would never become…a casual video games addict.
Dramatic jokes aside, King Oddball is awesome. Back in the day, puzzle-type games were actually sold in stores. I don’t think there was any concept of a casual game back then. In fact, those games were considered to be quite ‘hard-core’. Games such as Kurushi and Kula World tested your skills as a gamer not the limit of your wallet. I grew up playing and loving these games and that’s probably why I’ve become so addicted to King Oddball.
King Oddball follows the epic tale of King Oddball who is on a quest to end the world. That’s it. There is honestly nothing more to the story, not that it matters though. King Oddball doesn’t need to have a story. All you need to know is the King is out to end the world and it’s your job to help him.
King Oddball is a physics-based puzzle game. The aim of each level is to destroy the earth’s armed forces which consist of tanks, soldiers and helicopters. So how exactly do you combat these enemies? With your tongue and a few rocks of course. A typical level consists of a few stationary enemies and King Oddball who is usually on top of the screen. You start out with three rocks and the King then attaches his tongue to one of them and starts to continually swing it from left to right. Your job is to then tap the screen so that the King can release the rock on a trajectory path towards an enemy. It might sound really simplistic but the excellent physics allows for some serious precision, thus making combos more about skill than actual luck.
A combo occurs when a rock bounces off one enemy and hits the next and this is where true addictiveness of the gameplay lies. Once you get the hang of things, you’ll easily be destroying multiple enemies with one rock. Destroy 3 enemies with a single rock and you get an extra gold rock to add to your ammunition. If a rock bounces off an enemy or one of the bouncy balloon type objects found in later levels and hits the King, you’ll get an extra gold rock as well.
King Oddball is certainly not a difficult game. Once you get into the swing (pun intended) of things, you’ll find yourself blazing through levels. That’s not to say that it’s completely without challenge. There are bonus levels that task you with some really tricky situations such as the Boom stages. These levels replace your rocks with grenades and enemies are usually protected by layers of different kinds of materials. You have to carefully launch your grenades so that it lands on a weak spot and when it explodes it destroy the defences and hopefully the enemy as well. There are numerous achievements and secrets to uncover as well for those looking for an extra challenge.
The game looks good and the graphics and art style are done well enough for this type of game. There’s not much else I can say about it besides, it’s well done and effective. The sound on the other hand leaves something to be desired. The music is actually great, for the first half hour or so. But after that you’ll probably want to listen to some of your own music while you play this game. It just becomes too repetitive and starts grating your ears listening to the same tune over and over again.
I really enjoyed playing this game, and it’s not only because it’s a fun game, but it exhibits design that is honestly fading away in modern gaming. I love that King Oddball doesn’t care about your life. It just wants you to have fun. This game is not worried about how social you are. You don’t have to feel pressurized about tweeting your scores to your 10 followers, because there is no score. Hell, there is no real main menu to speak of as well. You just choose level and play and that’s it. No Facebook or Twitter integration. No Micro-Transactions. It’s just pure, simple fun, and that is why I love this game.
Last Updated: February 18, 2014
King Oddball ends the World | |
Besides the repetitive soundtrack, this game is a real joy to play. You’ll find yourself losing track of time as you continue to tell yourself “just one more level”. King Oddball is a clean, simple and honest game and is a prime example of just how fun casual games can be without relying on dodgy mechanics to extract maximum profit from gamers.
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King Oddball ends the World was reviewed on PS Vita | |
66 /
100
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VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 15:44
Nice Review Umar! I really like this kind of game, and it makes me sad that I don’t have a Vita.
RinceandLeSIGH
February 18, 2014 at 15:49
Does anyone? *runs
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 18, 2014 at 15:56
What’s a Vita? Is that what they call the WiiU controller?
RinceandLeSIGH
February 18, 2014 at 15:59
Yes, only less successful? Tehehe *Geoff is coming for me…
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 16:00
Run ginger RUN!
RinceandLeSIGH
February 18, 2014 at 16:02
Skips away, I mean, cough, run!
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 18, 2014 at 16:05
Tell us again how much you enjoyed playing AC Liberation? 😉
RinceandLeSIGH
February 18, 2014 at 16:05
*-0
TiMsTeR1033
February 18, 2014 at 16:08
Tis was a lovely game.
RinceandLeSIGH
February 18, 2014 at 16:10
PS… Twitch, twitch…
Mossel
February 18, 2014 at 16:00
It’s something you drink before you spend the entire night on Steam.
TiMsTeR1033
February 18, 2014 at 16:01
Its orange isnt it?
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
February 18, 2014 at 15:52
It’s available on iOS as well. 😛
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 16:06
Time to charge my iPhone up I guess 😛
TiMsTeR1033
February 18, 2014 at 15:58
Btw Broforce Beta is prettt sweet but the game is prob alot better Mp. still alot of fun, but exceptionally easy.
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 15:58
Will look at getting it and we can possibly MP it.
TiMsTeR1033
February 18, 2014 at 16:00
Would be sweet. Dunno how would work though, only saw death match and stuff no online mp option as was offline beta.
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 16:01
Where there’s a will… there’s normally a way, not always, but sometimes.
TiMsTeR1033
February 18, 2014 at 16:01
I shall check later. see what I can find out..
RinceandLeSIGH
February 18, 2014 at 15:49
Nice one Ligh, I mean Umar!
Umar Reborn
February 18, 2014 at 16:31
Sigh, thank you…sigh…thank you so…….sigh much
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 16:32
WIN
TiMsTeR1033
February 18, 2014 at 15:55
Congrats Umar very nice review boet!
Umar Reborn
February 18, 2014 at 16:32
Shot tim 🙂 thanx for reading
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 15:56
Am I the only one who will scroll until the page header lines up with the background properly?
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
February 18, 2014 at 15:58
What resolution are you running at, and on what browser?
On our side, it does line up from load.
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 15:59
Mine lines up on load too.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
February 18, 2014 at 16:02
Same here.
Chrome, max res
RinceandLeSIGH
February 18, 2014 at 16:03
Also got that. The tanks turret it cut of until you get to the very top.
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:04
I’m running on Firefox off my Mac. 1920 x 1080. If I change the logo divs padding-top to 15px as opposed to 20px it lines up fine. I’m sounding like a crazy person here…
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 16:05
You just opened yourself up to ridicule… lots of it.
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:06
IT’S A BIG DEAL, OK? Whenever I open, I need to scroll ever so slightly for it to line up. And I do it. EVERY TIME. I am nothing if not consistent.
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 16:07
Don’t worry, it would but the hell out of me too… sometimes I get a couple minutes of fun playing with chopping something off by scrolling.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 18, 2014 at 16:10
That’s what she said?
RinceandLeSIGH
February 18, 2014 at 16:15
I have it too man. Using both Chrome and Firefox, though not using IE (I mean, who would)…
TiMsTeR1033
February 18, 2014 at 16:16
Think Geoff or someone placed the picture a lil off.
Her Highness the Hipster
February 18, 2014 at 16:23
never fear, mac guru to the rescue! have you zoomed in or out? sometimes a command + or – will fix for you. also, don’t worry, it messes with my OCD, too
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:26
Hello. No, no fix unfortunately, just zooms out making it a little harder to spot. OR WAS THAT YOUR PLAN?!
RinceandLeSIGH
February 18, 2014 at 16:14
HAHAHAHAHA! Where is Zoe, new fan! Though that being said I am running Chrome on 7.0 and also have issue with lineup.
TiMsTeR1033
February 18, 2014 at 16:05
The mac is the issue..
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:06
It’s my work machine, no choice in the matter.
TiMsTeR1033
February 18, 2014 at 16:07
a solution just live with it lol
Gavin Mannion
February 18, 2014 at 16:30
You’re not ad blocking?
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:31
I would never! See my screenshot as proof!
Gavin Mannion
February 18, 2014 at 16:32
Yeah getting two conversations crossed here
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:46
Who do you think I am? TiMsTeR1033?
TiMsTeR1033
February 18, 2014 at 16:06
playing with div tags just to make things align… so very sad.
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:07
Oh yeah?! Well…well..ok, I agree.
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:11
Look at it. LOOK AT IT!
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:12
SEE?
TiMsTeR1033
February 18, 2014 at 16:13
dude mines exactly the same flipping hell!
TiMsTeR1033
February 18, 2014 at 16:15
see mines the same dude
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
February 18, 2014 at 16:22
Also, stop adblocking. It takes the food right out of our mouths.
Gavin Mannion
February 18, 2014 at 16:30
You want to put $0.10 into my paypal account per page you read since there are no ads there?
RinceandLeSIGH
February 18, 2014 at 16:35
lol. Guilt man, guilt.
Gavin Mannion
February 18, 2014 at 16:38
No it’s greed… or the desire to pay salaries at the end of the month without dipping into my kids college fund..
okay fine it’s guilt, pay up
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 16:39
lol! #Epic
RinceandLeSIGH
February 18, 2014 at 16:39
Clicks, clicks, clicks…
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 16:40
That like “Pay up or I’ll block you from my site”?
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 16:43
@timster1033:disqus you in trouble boet.
Gavin Mannion
February 18, 2014 at 16:37
Where is the top black menu bar on your screen?
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:45
Oh that, sorry, I cut it off when I did my screengrab as these confounded Macs won’t let me just print screen! It is there. Promise. I HATE YOU, MAC!
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 16:47
You just lost Zoe as a fan with that comment. cc @disqus_3ihQj32EWp:disqus
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:50
Stupid beachball. Ruining my day with your cheerful colours. I hate you, beachball, I hate you. I am a designer and I DO NOT LIKE MAC. There, I said it.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
February 18, 2014 at 16:44
OCD IS BEAUTIFUL
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:56
Damnit, I upvoted that and now the left side is blue and the right side is grey! FLARGLE!
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
February 18, 2014 at 16:08
hmm…definitely something we have to look at.
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:15
HAHAHA! I told them! I told them! But they wouldn’t believe me! Oh no, not until it was TOO LATE!
RinceandLeSIGH
February 18, 2014 at 16:16
Mine too man.
TiMsTeR1033
February 18, 2014 at 16:16
You sure you adjusted the image correctly mine has the issue too.
RinceandLeSIGH
February 18, 2014 at 16:16
Eh? You just said you didn’t 😛
TiMsTeR1033
February 18, 2014 at 16:17
I only noticed it now i got the same thing.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
February 18, 2014 at 16:21
Yeah..busy looking at the page now, and it’s fine. Tried different browsers. Hmm.
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 16:24
Ignore them Geoff, they’re just being difficult.
Mossel
February 18, 2014 at 16:07
Mine also lines up and I’m using IE. *insert GAH! HORROR! SHUN! KILL IT WITH FIRE! here
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 16:08
GAH! HORROR! SHUN! KILL IT WITH FIRE!
TiMsTeR1033
February 18, 2014 at 16:08
Dude! dude…..
Mossel
February 19, 2014 at 07:03
lol I’ll have you know I have no choice! It’s my work pc, we can’t install anything on it, not even Chrome…
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:24
I just opened in Safari and it looked great until it was done loading. Then crap went mental
Mossel
February 19, 2014 at 07:04
You should try IE. lol just kidding, try using chrome.
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:21
I’m sorry, I seem to have started something.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
February 18, 2014 at 16:47
LOOK AT THIS
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2014 at 16:49
Another one without ads… you gonna have to pay up too 😛
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
February 20, 2014 at 06:07
Ehhh. .. whoops 😀
It’s the work laptop. Firewalls and stuff like that
Unavengedavo
February 18, 2014 at 17:13
I just try and ignore it, but it never works!!!
Umar Reborn
February 18, 2014 at 16:31
Thanx guys 🙂 I love you all
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:32
Great review, btw. Ignore the little thing I started down below. If you know what I mean…
Umar Reborn
February 18, 2014 at 16:33
Lol you’re doing it right. Here at LG…getting side tracked is normal
Mark Vincer
February 18, 2014 at 16:55
My mom would be so proud if she saw me talking to so many people!
Her Highness the Hipster
February 18, 2014 at 17:04
this comment just made me so happy 🙂
Umar Reborn
February 18, 2014 at 17:50
Haha. We’re all friends here. Being social is fun 😉
Weanerdog
February 18, 2014 at 20:03
Nice review. Looks cool
Umar Reborn
February 19, 2014 at 07:25
Thanks bud 🙂