Day 188, Game 188 - Monsters University: Catch Archie

You know when I play and write about games like this, there is a good reason for it. Well, this posting is no different, because well, I have a million games to play and these types of games usually don't make it to the top of my gaming priority list. If I filled my free time with free kids games on my iPad, I would seriously, literally never get to finish any awesome, real game I ever buy and play. Not that I'm doing a banner job as it is at completing my pile of shame, but still. Could you imagine?

The reason I played Monsters University: Catch Archie was a simple one: my daughter. I had her over for the weekend, which is always awesome. We went to see the new Monsters University movie on Saturday, and while were just hanging out around the apartment, she discovered I had an iPad. 

It's not that I had been hiding it from her, I just hadn't ever thought to bust it out for her to play, for no other reason than we are always busy when she is over here, so we don't have much time for that kind of stuff for the most part. But this weekend, we had a little bit of free time, and well, one thing led to another, and the next thing I know, I am downloading tons - and I mean tons - of kids games to my iPad. Ones of which was Monsters University, mainly because she was still on a high from seeing that movie.

This is an endless runner type of game, which I usually don't play at all (except for like Bit.Trip Runner 2), but I hear that kids these days love these types of games. Unlike most game where the camera is fixed directly behind the player, the camera in this game is off to the side at a angle. It's not a bad thing, just a thing to get used to if you are familiar with "the norm." You swipe the screen to drift right or left, jump or duck, but you always recenter in the path, which makes it easier for young ones it seems. Collecting tokes is the key to high scores, as is catching the pig you are chasing (Archie) in order to beat the level properly, opposed to running out of time. 

My little princess did a fairly good job with it, truth be told. She wasn't the best or fantastic, but for a four year old, not too shabby. We eventually just started playing together, both trying to swipe at the same time, usually ended in disaster, but making for fun daddy-daughter times. After she went to bed, while I was waiting for her to fall asleep, I actually went back and played more levels, trying to 3-star them, because well, I have a problem. 

Overall, it's a free game, and while it doesn't last super long, it's a fun game for the little ones to play without getting more frustrated than necessary. Just try not to like it too much - I'm sure you all have games sitting around, waiting to be finished, too. 

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