Can You Escape? (Video Game Reviews #11)

Intro:
Can You Escape? has players stuck in a single room (or a few) with only their wits to help aid their escape. There are no context clues to show you the way. All you can do is observe the environment and interact with it to your best ability. In other words, every player is limited to what they can interact with in each level and these limitations drive the puzzles along.
Console: iOS, Android, PC
Genre: Puzzle
Publisher: MobiGrow
Series: Can You Escape? #1

 

Quality:
Length -: Considering that the game, in total, is only 12 stages (if you pay) and 8 stages if you play the free version, it is fairly short. This is a drawback to the game because I was stuck on one puzzle, but, since there is an option to look at a walkthrough at any point whilst playing, I was able to get through it very easily. I finished this game in probably 30 minutes total. The point of a puzzle game is to have many, varied challenges that make you think. I, unfortunately, cannot say that this game follows that formula.
Music -: The music is annoying at times. I even remember shutting off the music on the 8th stage because it bothered me so much. It was this weird combination of elevator music and country that did not fit the theme of the room at all. It was painful at best. Creativity +: I do think some of the puzzles are creative and you have to think creatively in order to solve them. For example, there was one puzzle involving shapes and photographs that I thought was pretty unique.
Art +: The art was pretty good. In some of the rooms, there were paintings of varying things such as animals and people. They were pleasant to look at.
Graphics -: The graphics are a little dull. Nothing really stands out and it just feels like the graphics could have been a lot better. The game was released in 2013; mid-2013 as well and it looks like a 2007 game. 2013 games definitely can do better.
Gameplay +: I thought the puzzles were fair and made sense, to a point. There were some times that I didn’t know what to do at all and couldn’t figure it out after leaving the game and coming back several times. Gameplay isn’t a negative though because the game offers a walkthrough whenever you are stuck.
Replay Value -: It’s a puzzle game. Once you finish the puzzle, there is no point in going back to play. The only time to go back to this game is if you can’t figure out a puzzle, but, since there is a walkthrough for every level available with just a tap, replay ability goes out the door.
Control +: The controls are pretty simple, just tapping the screen in places you feel there may be a clue. It’s hard to go wrong with that.
Satisfaction of Winning -: I know I have mentioned multiple times that the game offers a walkthrough feature, but here is where I will discuss it further. The game loses so much satisfaction of winning with this feature. Because any player is able to just look at how to do the puzzles without even thinking, what’s the point of even playing it? Don’t get me wrong, the idea of having a walkthrough feature in a puzzle game is pretty nice. However, you don’t even get deducted any points for using it. In other words, Can You Escape? should have implemented some sort of system that would punish players for using this feature so they don’t always use it.
Difficulty -: The difficulty fluctuates weirdly. I was stuck on level 7 for so long. I thought it was the last level because I couldn’t figure it out for the life of me. I finally did figure it out and thought level 8 would be much harder, but, instead, I finished it in only 10 minutes.
Sound Effects -: There were barely any sound effects. No, I mean, there was only 1 sound effect in the whole game. Whenever you collect something, a click is sounded. I am only having this be a minus because there were so many opportunities for sound effects but there were none. For example, there is one level with a car. If the game had more sound effects, it could have had the player hear a tinny sound whenever they clicked on the car.
Sound Quality +: The few sound effects are clear and fine.
Glitches -: The game crashed quite a bit. It was very frustrating because I would be almost done with a puzzle and then the game would crash and it wouldn’t save my data. There was also this other glitch that would have an “ad” pop up but only a black screen with an X on it would show up.

Quality Score: 6/10

Entertainment Score: 7/10

Conclusion:
I find the game to be at least a little entertaining. The length matches the entertainment, if that makes sense. What I mean is, the game is so short and the entertainment that a player will get out of it matches a game that lasts only 30 minutes. There are sequels to this game, so, I would recommend checking those out first before playing this one. Can You Escape? is free, but it isn’t really that worthwhile.

Chowder Review (Show Reviews #7)

Intro:
Chowder is an apprentice to Mung Daal, a chef who runs a catering company. Every episode includes the various adventures Chowder goes through, due to his incompetence, with the fellow members of the catering company: Mung Daal, Schnitzel, the assistant, and Truffles, Mung Daal’s wife.
Genre: Family/Animation
Rating: TV-Y7
Season #: 3
Episode #: 49
Creator: C.H. Greenblatt
Run Time of Episodes: 20 minutes

 

Quality:
Dialogue +: The dialogue was fine. The writing in this show is clearly well thought out.
Plot -: I thought the plot was pretty standard of normal animated cartoons. The only aspect that was unique about the show was the fact that Chowder was focused on food. In other words, the show focuses on various foods and what it is like to be in a catering company. Now do not get me wrong, I am not saying that Chowder is an accurate representation of what it is like to be in a catering company, but you know what I mean.
Music +: The music is memorable and enjoyable. There is no track that is annoying or out of place. For instance, the theme song is really memorable and enjoyable to listen to each time.
Lip Sync +: The lip sync was never an issue. I do not recall any moments where the lip sync was bad.
Story -: The story was pretty standard just like the plot. Similar to every animated cartoon, there are a few romances present such as one with Panini and Chowder. Chowder clearly does not like her and she is borderline obsessed with him. The story elements, like the romances, are quite average.
Characters +: I feel that all the characters are really enjoyable to watch. Mung Daal was a great father figure to Chowder and you really felt for him when he had to deal with Chowder’s misadventures. Schnitzel is a rock monster that is, in a way, the comedic relief. He speaks by only saying “Rada rada”. I really like Schintzel because you never know what he is saying but in a way you do. You can determine what he is saying from the other characters’ reactions to what he says. Truffles is a mushroom fairy that is Mung Daal’s wife. She is also the greeter to the catering company. She is hilarious and kind of badass, in a way.
Animation +: The animation is clean and great. I really like the colors used and the different ways of animation that were used. For instance, Chowder’s cap and outfit have a background to them that move while he moves. As Chowder moves, the color and design on his hat and outfit move with him. I really liked this aspect of the animation.
Humor +: This show is honestly really funny. I enjoyed the humor to this show when I was a kid and even now, I still enjoy it. I felt that the funniest characters were Shnitzel and Chowder and especially when they are together. There is a lot of breaking the 4th wall humor. I LOVE that type of humor.
Sound Quality +: The sound quality was fine. There were never any issues regarding not being able to hear any dialogue.
Plot Consistency +: The plot stayed consistent throughout. There were no episodes that did not derail from the actual plotline. Although, I do have to say that the plotline is pretty simple to follow.
Re-watch Ability +: I feel that this show is really well made. Because of this, it is definitely worth watching again.
Creativity +: I feel that the plot and story elements are not necessarily unique but the setting is pretty unique. Having a main character being an apprentice to a chef makes the show pretty creative in my mind.
Voice Acting +: The voice acting is superior and all the voices fit the characters well.
Setting +: I really like the setting of this universe that Chowder is set in, which is Marzipan city. All the types of characters are varieties of animals and every character design in this city is unique. Marzipan city is truly unique and an enjoyable place to set a story in.

Quality Score: 9/10

Entertainment: 8.5/10

Conclusion:
I never really expected Chowder to receive such a high score in quality because, while the show was entertaining, it was nothing special. However, I really think the best audience for this show is younger audiences. True, older crowds will be able to appreciate the care and love put into every episode, but the intended audience was for kids. I suppose the show is good for anyone, but just remember that it is intended for younger children.