Shoot the Cans is a cute diversion game for Android
by Toni McQuilken
Jul 11, 2011 10:27 AM –
Install
Shoot the Cans is an absorbing game that will allow you to take a break from your daily routine and relax by throwing down beverage cans in a row. You can use many different types of objects such as various balls with all items at close hand to throw down the cans.
Price: Free
Tested on: MyTouch 3G Slide, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- A physics based game where you have various configurations of cans to knock down with different types of balls.
- The different balls each have their own set of physics, making the strategy for getting all the cans more complex and challenging as you go along.
- You can adjust the height, angle and even speed of each throw to get the best possible score.
Cons
- Force closed on the MyTouch Slide – I was never able to test it completely on this device
- There are a few steps to throw each ball – it would be nice if this was streamlined a bit.
Features:
Shoot the Cans is an interesting take on the physics-based game craze. There are three different themed levels, and a wide range of ball types to toss. Each different ball behaves differently when you throw it. For example, you start out with the tennis ball, which moves fast and has a good bounce to it. The second ball you earn is the coconut, which is a lot heavier, so it doesn’t fly as fast or as far, but it will power through the cans if you get the right angle. Learning how each one behaves and how to best use it is part of the strategy, as you only get a set number and type of balls to complete each level with.
The premise is really interesting, and the levels get increasingly difficult, but after about the first 10-15, it starts to feel very repetitive. It would have been nice to have more themes, with each one having fewer levels to keep the scenery changing a bit more often than it does right now.
One thing to note is that while it worked on the tablet, the graphics weren’t quite as crisp as you would ultimately want them. This wasn’t designed as a tablet app, although it ran just fine. On the phone, while I was able to install it, I was never able to open the app, as it force-closed every time.
Watch on Mobile
-
-
shoot the cans get ready
-
-
shoot the cans ball select
-
-
shoot the cans height
-
-
shoot the cans speed
-
-
Shoot the cans main
-
-
shoot the cans levels
-
-
shoot the cans help
Fun Factor:
The game is a fun, with enough challenge to keep it interesting, but the similarity of the backgrounds, level after level, as you try to unlock new areas does get a bit repetitive after a while.
Addictive:
This is a nice casual game to pull out when you want to kill a few minutes standing in line somewhere. I don’t see it as the go-to game on your phone, but it certainly has a place there.
Graphics:
I wasn’t able to test it on the small screen it was meant for, but on the tablet, it expanded to fit the screen nicely, although the graphics did loose some of their crispness in the process.
Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:
The accelerometer and vibration aren’t used in this game, and the soundtrack is a kind of funky song that’s great at first, but you’ll probably want to mute it after a while.