RoboSockets – Challenging, Addictive & Fun Robot Puzzler
by Paul Wilks
Feb 28, 2012 8:45 AM –
Install
RoboSockets is a smart puzzle game where you have to link robots together. Link five in a group and they’ll disappear. Not completely different to games like Chuzzle or Birzzle; RoboSockets gameplay is challenging, addictive and fun.
Price: Free, ~$1.40 for Ad-free Version
Tested on: HTC Desire HD
Content Rating: Low Maturity
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Addictive gameplay!
- Cool graphics!
- Great sound!
- Easy to play!
Cons
Features:
There’s a familiar air to the gameplay in RoboSockets. If you’ve played games where you need to link three or more of the same objects: birds, jewels, circles. etc. then this is reminiscent of that. RoboSockets does differ slightly, and in a unique and fun way. Each robot that falls has a number of sockets, a combination of those which face either left, right, up or down. Link two robots of any kind together via this socket and you have a connection. The aim of the game is to get five robots connected to make them disappear.
There’s loads of levels and quite a few bonuses to get as well. For example there are bomb robots which take out the entire level they are on and there are also robots that push and destroy robots next to them. Levels get more and more challenging as you progress and there’s a kind of rolling narrative that gives some explanation to your efforts to save RoboCivilisation. The gameplay alone is genuinely superb and lots of fun, however all is not a bed of roses…
However, the free version of the game is plagued by some genuinely awful advertising models. Firstly you have the super-spammy ad banner at the top; expect dating ads, iPad2 offers and lots of pictures of Steve Job’s biography which is available in Audiobook format if you didn’t know that already. These things flash and scream for your attention throughout your time playing the game and are massively distracting. The placing of the banner too gives opportunity to accidentally clicking on when the game gets frantic so expect the possibility of being dragged screaming in frustration to the web or Market at a crucial point in the game.
Then you have the pop-up Tapjoy ads which love to pop up every now and again and take up the whole screen. There is also a Papaya banner along the bottom of the screen which covers some of the base-level robots. Genuinely awful placement that doesn’t go away when the game starts. Papaya is a cool way to share your scores with friends and their social gaming network is a great feature for many games they support. However, whoever decided on the placement of their banner here seriously needs to look at it again.
These all ruin the experience of playing RoboSockets which, beneath all the flashy ads is a brilliantly playable and fun title. There is a full version without ads and I can only recommend you try that and skip this messy free version.
Watch on Mobile
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RoboSocket – Typical gameplay view
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RoboSocket – Typical gameplay view 2
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RoboSocket – Build up liquid on the left to complete level
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RoboSocket – Some Robots have more connectors than others
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RoboSocket – Robots fall from… no I don’t want to chat
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RoboSocket – Expander
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RoboSocket – Connect 5 and they explode
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RoboSocket – Collect facts
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RoboSocket – Game paused. Which is lucky as you have a new message
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RoboSocket – Level failed
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RoboSockets – Main menu
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RoboSocket – Level introduction
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RoboSocket – Tapjoy popup
Fun Factor:
The game is lots of fun and is engrossing and enjoyable. It’s just totally sullied if your screen taps get too close to one of the spamtastic ads which infect this otherwise superb game.
Addictive:
It has the potential to be one of the most addictive games in the Android Market. The ads in the free version, however, reduce this significantly as they constantly draw your eyes away from game itself. 
Graphics:
The graphics are actually kind of retro with limited pixelation, but this looks very cool indeed in this format.
Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:
It seemed to me that there are a few different looping tracks in the game. One is really good, the other less so. You can easily turn the music on and off though so it isn’t an issue.
Tags:
Android App,
Android Apps,
Android Game,
AndroidTapp.com App Review,
Birzzle,
Chuzzle,
RoboSockets
Categorised in: Brain & Puzzle, Licensed Content, Papaya Mobile
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