Koala Dartz, a recently released dart-throwing, balloon-popping game from EasySoft, offers some inventive bonuses that give its competition a run for its money.
In the newest dart-throwing app store game, Koala Dartz gives us a cute little koala friend with a penchant for popping balloons. With a limited and specified number of darts available in each round, the koala must pop a predetermined number of balloons in order to advance to the next round. In the early going, it may be 9 out of 12 balloons. As you progress, you will find levels that require all balloons to be popped before moving on. There are 45 levels in the game, with the promise of an update that will bring a level editor sometime in the future. As quickly as you might complete the first few levels, the difficulty ramps up before you get too deep into the game. We’ve been mired in the 20’s for some time now, so this isn’t the type of game that should be finished too quickly. Scores carry over from one round to the next to arrive at an aggregate score by the end of level 45. You must use all available darts in each round. Anything popped beyond your quota is a bonus.
The most exciting aspect of Koala Dartz that sets it apart from the rest is the use of special balloons and other fun objects. There are many helpful bonuses, like the bomb balloon that destroys many balloons around it or the thumbtack balloons that fire thumbtacks in all directions when popped. These can help you meet your quota quickly and, in some cases, are necessary to pass a level. Fans are used in some levels to alter the trajectory of your thrown dart to reach difficult areas. Of course, there are objects that hinder your progress, too. Some balloons, if popped, cause all balloons around them to become unpoppable. There are brick structures that must be broken by your darts in order to access balloons behind them. This, of course, requires you to use some of your precious few darts, so you must be extra selective with your throws. Magnets can pull your dart right out of the air if you throw too close to them. There is actually a lot more strategy involved in Koala Dartz than initially expected.
The graphics are fun and colorful, with bold colors and a clean interface. There is a steel-drum themed soundtrack that is bright and cheery. Touch controls are used to throw darts. Simply touch the screen and drag in the direction that you want to throw the dart. The more you drag, the longer your arrow gets. The arrow will show a power percentage to indicate how hard the dart will be thrown. Darts are not thrown in a straight line, but use a parabolic shape that more closely resembles the actual physics involved in throwing an object.
This game is quality all the way. EasySoft even made a good decision to simply continue play rather than give a specified number of “lives” before ending the game. Fail to meet your quota, and your only option is to try again until you get it right. This is a real bonus for kids, as they won’t become frustrated by failing to pass the levels quickly. While the competition, such as Bloons and Cupid’s Flick, offer great gameplay and their own unique experiences, we feel that Koala Dartz has emerged from the pack to find its own niche in an increasingly crowded marketplace. The $0.99 price point is appropriate, too. Koala Dartz pop-pop-pops its way to a 5-Dimple rating.
Koala Dartz gets our AppSmile 5-Dimple rating:
