Flockwork is the latest game from Shanghai-based ReignDesign, designed for play on the iPad. The dynamics of the game are a little tricky to explain. But to put it simply, you are tasked with caring for a flock of sheep after a somewhat incompetent dog has let them go free. You have to navigate the sheep past an assortment of hazards – like water, fire, barbed wire, or predators – to guide them safely to their pen.
The challenge lies in the control, as you don't merely control one sheep with your touch, but all of them at once. But by herding them against onscreen obstacles like rock walls or trees, you can change their position so that they match the position they need to be in to fit in their pens. So in that respect, the game is actually a series of short puzzles for you to solve.
I enjoyed this game up for the most part, although I found the 'fall' round more frustrating than any game should ever be. I should note that some of the rounds of Flockwork are amazingly quick, requiring only a second or two to flick your sheep in with one or two motions into the pen. And so in some of the fall rounds where lava was involved , I found that it was a constant repeat cycle of 'swipe-f$ck-restart' which was pretty much the opposite of fun for me. Also, achievement unlocks pop up during the strangest times, for example telling me I have unlocked Fall after it has already been unlocked. And the bonus rounds where you have to collect the stars are unreasonably hard.
As you can see from the level select screen, Flockwork is heavily influenced by Rovio's Angry Birds. Just as with Angry Birds, you can get star ratings for each level, ranging from one to three. But here the stars actually correspond to how many of the stars you collect in each level. Sometimes they are in plan sight, but in later levels they might be hidden under boxes. There are also Rovio style cartoon animations before the different rounds too, although they don't get more complex than to illustrate the fact that the sheep have escaped again.
Overall, I think it's a very well-designed game, and ReignDesign is clearly a very talented team. But I'd probably have liked it even more if they had left the fall round out of it. If you're going to learn any lesson from Rovio, it's that people – and especially kids – enjoy knocking shit over carelessly. Flockwork borrowed many of Rovio's art ideas, but the delicate touch and tolerant temper required for this game is almost practically the antithesis of what made Angry Birds so widely popular. Anyone can knock stuff over. Flockwork takes a little more skill, and a lot more patience.
But bottom line, there's certainly more than enough enjoyment here to be worth the 99-cent price tag. Also, if you have an iPad 3, you'll be pleased to know it supports the new retina display. Check it out for yourself over on the App Store.
Report an error
