Author
Josh Cox
Price: $3.99
Publisher: Get Set
Addicus is an addition based game where you must quickly use basic math skills to complete timed problems. Sounds pretty easy right? Well, to make things a little more difficult the developers at Get Set added a color aspect to the game that adds (pun intended) a twist.
The object of the game is to add your numbers to match the number in the upper left corner of the screen. Your numbers are located on a bunch of colorful mushrooms growing out of the ground. These mushrooms can be red, blue, or yellow. The color of the mushroom is very important because you must only use the same color of mushroom as the number in the upper left corner. For example, if the number is a yellow 9, then you must only use yellow mushrooms to add up to 9. The only exception is when the number in the upper left corner is white, then you can use any color of mushroom.
As you play more mushrooms will pop up with new numbers. Once mushrooms stop popping up and you finally tap on the last one, you have completed that level. Don’t celebrate too long because the next level starts immediately. The time limit expands in each level, but so does the size of the number you must add up to. Even as low as the second level I had to start using 3 mushrooms to match the bigger numbers I was getting.
The graphics and sound are good, but you have to think and act so quickly it’s hard to dwell on them long enough to enjoy them. The background makes you feel like you are looking directly down at the ground; there are rocks, mini trees, flowers, and even colored stars. At the beginning of each level the ground shifts to a new location with new mushrooms. I liked this. It gives each level a different feel even though you are still just adding numbers. The music is an upbeat song that doesn’t ask for much attention but like I said before you really don’t have time to listen.
Addicus HD uses multiple controls available on Apple’s iPad. When selecting mushrooms all you have to do is tap them. To unselect a mushroom just tap it once more. If you want to unselect multiple mushrooms at once, shake the iPad.
You can use OpenFeint to challenge a friend and post your most recent score. But beware it does not keep your personal best. It will only show you what your score was on the game you just play. There is a small learning curve that you have to get over before Addicus HD becomes fun. So keep that in mind when playing for the first few times.
This is one of those games that you can play to keep your mind sharp or to pass the time. I thought the game was fun but not that fun. I mean come on, you’re doing math! How can that be fun, right? All joking aside, I really can see where Addicus HD could get addicting for some people. And at $3.99 it is on the cheaper side as far as iPad games go, but there really isn’t a lot of replay value (same thing over and over). Visually this game looks fun but unfortunately comes up short on game play.
Overall Ratings for $3.99 Price:
Overall Value: 2.5 out of 5.0 stars Graphics: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars Sound: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars Controls: 3.5 out of 5.0 stars