Pizarro Review

By , on March 16, 2011


Pizarro
Download on the AppStore
3 out of 5

PROS

  • Clever interactive musical elements; upbeat Jazzy style.
  • Simple Jazzball/Qix style gameplay with a modern influence.
  • Clean, effective visuals.

CONS

  • Playing without sound can lose its appeal quickly.
  • No real variety in the challenge.

VERDICT

If you like funky jazzy tunes and fun, simple gameplay, you'd do worse than spending some time with Pizarro's classic arcade gameplay.


  • Full Review
  • App Store Info

While you may not have heard about Jezzball, it's likely that if you've owned a desktop PC during the mid to late 90s that you've encountered this simple game in one form or another. Based, in part, on the Arcade classic Qix, it has seen several iterations on the App Store already however Pizarro by Corrino Software has to be the classiest version to date.

The basic gameplay revolves around touching the screen to inflate circles and players will need to cover at least 80% of the screen to continue to the next level. However, there's a catch - tiny balls are constantly bouncing around the screen (often at different speeds) and if they collide with your circle as it's growing it's completely canceled. To add a small unique twist to the game, collisions will also result in losing the energy used to create the circle, with the game ending if you run out of energy before completing a level.

This is all well and good, but so far so similar, right? Thankfully this is where the game's presentation begins to shine as Pizarro features a soundtrack with a jazzy influence that changes as you interact with the game. Piano keys tinkle as the balls bounce around the screen while bass lines slowly thumb their way in the background, occasionally punctuated by trumpets that signify a completed circle. The overall experience is simple, but effective as you occasionally encounter a clever riff.

However, without the backing of its soundtrack, Pizarro quickly loses its appeal as its dated gameplay serves well only as a temporary distraction. The implementation of an energy bar shows an understanding of modern gaming tastes and influences, but it's not enough to keep players coming back for more; a great game for those who like to play with their headphones on.

Screenshots

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