Oregon Trail, a reimagination of the classic Apple II game, has been brought to the iDevice by Gameloft. While keeping true to the gameplay of the original, Gameloft has polished the rough edges and added some fun mini-games that create an enjoyable experience for nostalgic adults, as well as a younger generation who may not be as familiar with this little blast from the past.
As in the original, your family is trekking across America. You choose your profession, your wagon type, your pace, the time of year you’ll leave, and the names of your family members. The only thing missing is your initial shopping spree where you determined how many oxen, axles, pounds of food, bullets, and other items you would take. As you traverse, your characters will wisecrack with each other, you’ll meet people along the way who invite you to perform certain tasks, someone will get sick, someone will get lost, weather will affect your journey, etc. You must make decisions regarding when to rest, which paths to follow, and how quickly you can move. There are touch screen options for these decisions, so you are never more than a tap away from customizing your trip. Along the way, you will be given options to take part in mini-games, including the classic hunting game from the original, as well the new fishing game, berry collecting, gold panning, and more. Even crossing rivers has become a mini-game, as you use the accelerometer to avoid hitting rocks in your path. There will be several opportunities to earn money, which can be used to buy food, supplies, or upgrades along the way. The gameplay has even been extended to take much longer than the original. We remember completing a full game during a class period in school. Now, you might be looking at a couple of hours to finish your game.
The graphics are the most notable update. With bold colors and a cartoony look, half of the entertainment value is in watching the family’s eyes (and oxen’s eyes) pop while following a grueling pace or seeing an eagle swoop down and steal one of your children. The sound is nothing special and there are few voiceovers, despite seeing character’s mouths moving. Most of the information must be read from the screen. Controls mainly utilize touch, with a couple mini-games using the accelerometer. The game is simple enough for an elementary school child to use, yet enjoyable for adults, as well.
As there are tons of options from which to choose, random events which occur, and different paths to take, the replay value is very high. The nostalgia factor alone justifies the $4.99 price tag, though a price drop to the $3 range might be more inviting. Oregon Trail presses on through good times and bad to achieve our 5-Dimple nod of approval.
Oregon Trail gets our AppSmile 5-Dimple rating:
