Cubes vs. Spheres Review

Monday, August 29, 2011

Cubes vs. Spheres Review

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Cubes vs. Spheres Review

By Rob Rich on August 29th, 2011
Our Rating:

:: BLOCK-BUSTER
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Keep those uppity cubes in check in the most direct and efficient manner: through violence!

Developer: ShockPanda Games
Price: $0.99
Version: 1.0
App Reviewed on: iPhone 3GS
Graphics / Sound Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars
User Interface Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Re-use / Replay Value Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

Overall Rating: 4.56 out of 5 stars

Tensions have been high between the proud spheres and the barbaric cubes for centuries. It was only a matter of time before an all-out war. Now the cubes are on the attack, attempting to overwhelm the spheres with sheer numbers. The spheres have no choice but to fight back, by tossing themselves directly into their aggressors. It’s almost certain death, but their sacrifice can help to ensure a future for the rest of their people.

Okay, so there isn’t quite so much subtext to the story behind Cubes vs. Spheres, but the idea is still to take out hordes of encroaching boxes by flinging balls at them. Players have only to tap on the icon for their desired spherical ordinance, then flick a finger in the desired direction. Angle and strength affect trajectories, naturally, and points earned through completing a level can be used to purchase new spheres or upgrades.

Cubes vs. Spheres starts out a little slow (and hard), but everything picks up quite a bit once the ability to split the default blue orbs into three in mid-air is unlocked. Then things get incredibly hectic and fun (and hard). From there, it becomes an almost endless gauntlet of cube carnage with exploding bits flying every which way. Special spheres, such as the one that explodes or the heavy one that plows through multiple targets, have to be purchased individually (they have finite ammo) but can be invaluable assets when things get dicey. And dicey things will get once the cubes start introducing new forms, such as the giant one that breaks apart into several smaller ones or those crafty semi-invisibles.

The only problem I’ve really encountered with Cubes vs. Spheres, aside from a bit of game lag after returning to the app after a call/text/whatever, is an occasionally unresponsive touch screen. Sometimes tapping the button to call a sphere won’t register and I find myself high-and-dry with a whole lot of incoming cubes, sometimes a sphere will launch when what I really wanted to do was turn the camera, but these occurrences are fairly infrequent and they don’t detract from the sheer fun of it all.

I feel it’s important to restate this: Cubes vs. Spheres is a lot of fun. Don’t be discouraged by the semi-slow start, because it gets much, much better. It looks gorgeous in its simplicity, it’s addicting with all its unlockables and randomized cube behavior, and just keeps giving players more. It’s a great way to spend a dollar.