Puffle Launch – similar to Angry Birds, launch your pet to earn coins for Club Penguin
by Paul Wilks
Feb 17, 2012 9:23 AM –
Install
Puffle Launch is a cute game where you fire a puffle (for those in the know, a ‘puffle’ is a pet from the popular online Disney community ‘Club Penguin’) through a series of cannons to a goal. There are 48 levels of challenging gameplay that is suitable for all ages. A huge bonus is that you can earn Club Penguin coins in the game which can then be uploaded to the online community.
Price: Free, $0.99
Tested on: HTC Desire HD
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Slick graphics!
- 48 levels!
- Ability to upload earned coins to Club Penguin!
Cons
- No means to zoom out to see where the goal actually is.
- Overly familiar and uninspiring gameplay.
Features:
Puffle Launch is an official Disney game in which you fire a brave puffle through a variety of cannons. The helmeted little guy can also be controlled with mid-air movements (left, right, etc.on your touchscreen) in order to complete a level. There are 48 such levels and three modes: Normal, Turbo and Slo-Mo- the latter two of which you can unlock if you complete all levels with a certain score.
Gameplay is, at times, incredibly fast as he jettisons across the screens at some velocity. There are different cannons that perform various functions; some which just shoot automatically, some which you control the shot, and some which you control the aim.
Perhaps a big pull here is the ability to win coins which can then be uploaded to a specific Club Penguin account. These coins, can be used to purchase all kinds of items in the online Club Penguin world. In short, if you have kids on there, they will love you all the more for winning them coins!
The game is well designed and developed, as you would expect from a Disney title, but there was something incredibly counter intuitive about the gameplay. It doesn’t allow you to zoom out to see where the goal is, or to view the rest of the course. For example, in Angry Birds you can pinch to zoom out and see where you need to fire your feathered friends… Puffle Launch isn’t a million miles away from this gameplay concept, yet not letting gamers see the whole level is very frustrating.
Watch on Mobile
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Puffle Launch – Level view 1
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Puffle Launch – Level view 2
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Puffle Launch – Level view 3
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Puffle Launch – Level view 4
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Puffle Launch – Level view 5
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Puffle Launch – Level view 6
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Puffle Launch – Level view 7
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Puffle Launch – Level view 8
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Puffle Launch – Level view 9
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Puffle Launch – Checkpoint
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Puffle Launch – Occasional in-level tutorials
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Puffle Launch – End of level
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Puffle Launch – Main screen
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Puffle Launch – Level select
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Puffle Launch – Between level instructions
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Puffle Launch – Collect coins, add them to Club Penguin
Fun Factor:
I think this might have more of an appeal to kids who play Club Penguin and can relate to the puffles. The game is well designed, well animated, contains lots of levels and different modes. However, it just didn’t feel in any way original or something we haven’t already seen before. Instead, the format just feels a little bit tired now.
Addictive:
If you’re playing the game to build coins for Club Penguin then of course, this is something you might return to again and again. The simplistic gameplay is also more than enough to entertain small children for long periods of time. I doubt however, that many adults will become addicted to it. It just has nothing there to engross a player and lacks the imagination of many other titles out there.
Graphics:
The graphics are nicely animated and resilient despite some occasionally fast gameplay. Design is pretty much identical to the Club Penguin animation and community mini-games.
Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:
Music is actually very good, high octane rock backing track and suitable shooting sounds, splashes, bells, etc. Very polished and suits the game well.