Let me cut right to the chase, King Oddball really has no reason to be on PS4. It’s priced at R86 or R101 , depending if you buy it with cross play for Vita.
From the interface, to the game itself, it is by all means a physics based mobile puzzle game in the same vein as Angry Birds. Developer 10Tons released it on the Vita back in January and has been rather popular. What’s changed on the PS4?
You are King Oddball, and your mission is to take over the world. How? By throwing boulders at the military with your tongue. The gameplay is similar to that of Angry Birds, except the level size is fixed, and the tongue sways back and forth without your control. This limitation provides some nice challenge in the later levels, of which there are 120. Progress is made by clearing a 4×4 grid of levels to move onto the next grid.
A nice touch is the scoring system. Instead of dealing out a ranking like Angry Birds, you just have to complete the level with the boulders you are given. Extra boulders are awarded when you hit three or more enemies with a single boulder. This reduces level grinding significantly and makes progression more satisfying. Occasionally there are bonus levels that use grenades and other modifiers. It’s addicting and fun like Angry Birds, so no complaints there.
The graphics are very much a flash cartoon, mobile game affair. Don’t expect anything different on the PS4 either. Not to say that it looks bad, but its animation and character design is rather simple, and I don’t particularly like it. King Oddball himself is kind of unique, but it’s an art style all too familiar to me. The backgrounds are rather pretty though.
The music by Jonathan Geer is catchy, but becomes maddening after a while due to the very short loop that plays over the levels. It would’ve been nice to see more than two short ditties, but this being a primarily mobile game I’d imagine a lot of people would mute the sound anyway.
Unfortunately, that’s kind of my lasting impression playing this on the PS4. Am I really playing a mobile game on the PS4? There really seems to be no reason for it. It was already released on the Vita, now you can pay a little extra to play a mobile game on your television? It doesn’t make sense. This game feels like something I shove into my pocket after playing it to waste time until the train comes, not sitting on the couch and playing it on my television.
Last Updated: April 2, 2014
King Oddball (PS4) | |
King Oddball is fun, it really is. I could see myself playing this on my phone, or even my Vita, even though there are much better things to play on Vita. But as far as I can see, there is absolutely no reason to buy this on Ps4, and if this appeals to you, I would recommend buying it on a mobile platform.
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King Oddball (PS4) was reviewed on PlayStation 4 | |
64 /
100
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Half-Minute Hero [Umar]
April 2, 2014 at 13:01
Lolwut..PS4? Loved the game on Vita though
Hammersteyn
April 2, 2014 at 13:02
Agreed, why on earth bring this to console? They probably saw how many people bought Angry Birds.
Stephen Snook
April 2, 2014 at 13:04
To be fair, it’s out for basically everything. But I still felt silly playing it.
Hammersteyn
April 2, 2014 at 13:08
Even PC? Very silly indeed.
Stephen Snook
April 2, 2014 at 13:22
http://www.10tons.com/Game/king_oddball.html
Look on the right on the page. They are out for EVERYTHING
Hammersteyn
April 2, 2014 at 13:33
webOS,bada,Symbian? good heavens it doesn’t even look that good. I’ve played better flash games on Kongregate.
Rince
April 2, 2014 at 13:09
Why put this on the PS4? Those who have a PS4 more than likely don’t ONLY own a Nokia 3210 and have a cell that can run it. Very strange!
Ta'i Ngatokorua
April 2, 2014 at 16:34
I loved that phone :/
Jedi JJ
April 2, 2014 at 13:09
I thought cellphones were for keeping in touch with people.
Rince
April 2, 2014 at 13:15
Nope.
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 2, 2014 at 13:17
RinceTinTin bwhahahahahaha
Rince
April 2, 2014 at 13:18
You odd ‘man’ 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 2, 2014 at 13:20
I’m a real boy!
Jedi JJ
April 2, 2014 at 13:20
Why do I have a grand total of 13 numbers on it then? What a waste of space.
Rince
April 2, 2014 at 13:21
Well you only have one friend so much suggestion works? *RUNS
Jedi JJ
April 2, 2014 at 13:21
I also have a girlfriend.
Rince
April 2, 2014 at 13:24
What’s that? #foreverSP *SNIFF
Jedi JJ
April 2, 2014 at 13:25
It’s the same feeling you get when you see Trevor, only they feel the same way back.
Rince
April 2, 2014 at 13:25
You shut up! He feels! He does!
Jedi JJ
April 2, 2014 at 13:27
Hahaha.
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 2, 2014 at 13:27
I don’t think disdain counts in this situation.
Jedi JJ
April 2, 2014 at 13:27
Ouch
Rince
April 2, 2014 at 13:28
I take what I can get…
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 2, 2014 at 13:17
They’re also for, as I’ve recently discovered, playing Plants vs Zombies.
Jedi JJ
April 2, 2014 at 13:18
Haven’t actually tried that yet.
On a serious note. Anyone getting goat simulator?
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 2, 2014 at 13:20
I’m sure as hell not.
Jedi JJ
April 2, 2014 at 13:20
Same here. But would like to see it in action.
Rince
April 2, 2014 at 13:21
That really rubbed you up the wrong way didn’t it maaaan?
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 2, 2014 at 13:26
Maybe I came across a bit gruff 😛
Rince
April 2, 2014 at 13:28
Eish http://media1.giphy.com/media/GQnsaAWZ8ty00/giphy.gif
Half-Minute Hero [Umar]
April 2, 2014 at 13:13
It’s better than retail priced Angry Birds on console?
Gavin Mannion
April 2, 2014 at 13:48
Charles Manson was better than Hitler but I wouldn’t invite him to a party either
Half-Minute Hero [Umar]
April 2, 2014 at 14:11
LOL! Fair point indeed!