Review: Unpleasant Horse

The more observant will instantly spot that Unpleasant Horse doesn't quite fall in line with what is expected from Popcap. That is why "4th & Battery" has been created; to act as an indie label to cater for Popcap's strange or marginal ideas. 

The protagonist is the Unpleasant Horse, complete with skull tattoos and a dark mane. But when viewing the title screen, look beyond the fluffy pink background into the sad eyes of the horses beyond and you get an inkling of what is to come.

The initial tutorial is brilliant in a sadistic, dark way. The basic mechanics are explained simply - touch the screen to jump to a cloud, or make a leap of faith if you are that way inclined. Then the line of, "Oh look! A pritty pony!! Let's go say hi" pops up. At this point Unpleasant Horse lives up to its name.

You see, the objective is to leap from cloud to cloud, and occasionally weighing down flying ponies so that they drop into a sea of sawblades. All of these actions gain points, with extra awarded for linking ponies, mega jumps, or dismounting just before you get devoured yourself.

The artwork is well done with subtle animations. Players will almost feel bad for those ponies being brought to their deaths as they weep before disappearing in a torrent of blood and gore. Their wings flap in desperation as they try to avoid the inevitable but it is of no use. Clouds darken with your presence and lightening flashes.

The game mechanics are implemented well and work fluidly. Combos are rewarding to chain and provide a challenge, while style points push the player to drop closer and closer to their own demise before leaping away from the clutch of the saw blades.. Bird feathers allow for an extra hop which can extend the chaos. However, there is never a need to move on. This is one point where the game falls down as it provides less of a challenge and more of a test of patience.

If the player can wait for an appetising screen, they can make great progress and rack up the points. Popcap have capped the number of feathers a player can hold at five. This means that there could be an end at some point as players eventually lose their run of luck, and cannot get an extended jump. An online leaderboard could have been an added touch.. Unless you are competitive and strive for perfection, or are sharing your iPad or iPhone with others, the game does lose its appeal.

Unpleasant Horse is an interesting change of direction for Popcap. It would traditionally be associated with colourful, family friendly games. At a push, the exception may be Plants vs Zombies, but even that can appeal to all. However, the cartoonish gore and game theme may be enough to put many players off. The background metal music is not for everyone, and the scream of horses mixed with the rev of saw blades may cause some to lose their appetite.

Players can certainly have plenty of fun with Unpleasant Horse. It is free so everyone should play it a couple of times at least. The various extras for scoring points reward a blend of creativity, daring and luck. Unpleasant Horse is a great way to kill some spare time. Overall, Popcap has put together a fluid, fun little game. However, it loses out in terms of long lasting appeal unless the competitive spirit is ever present.

Price: Free

From: App Store

Developer: 4th & Battery (by Popcap)

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile - Review

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is the sequel to the 2009 release, The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai. It is currently available on XBox 360 for 800 XBox Live Arcade points. Ska Studios is behind both releases and is well known for other Indie titles including I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1NIT!!!1 . 

If Shank, Limbo and Fear were to have an illegitimate love child, the result would be The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile. Combine the gratuitous violence of Shank, the simplistic beauty of Limbo and the psychotic chilling story of Fear and you have an idea of what to expect.

There are two separate solo campaigns available. These run in tandem with one another for a large part of the game.

In one, the player takes on the role of Yuki, the step sister of the protagonist (The Dishwasher) of the original title. The opening sequence harkens back to the first title where The Dishwasher battles Yuki. After being reanimated, she experiences a series of nightmares that give the player an idea of the surreal imagry that is to follow. She must break out of the prison and set out on a quest to take revenge on the three figures of power responsible for her incarceration. These are her three marks on the world: Banker, Judge and General. 

For those who have played the original, the player resumes the familiar character of The Dishwasher. He sets off to find and assist Yuki. The player must battle through a sleuth of enemies in a bid to track down Yuki. Upon meeting, the story takes a darker turn which you will have to play to enjoy!

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile looks great despite an abundance of grey and somewhat simplistic visuals. What it may lack in graphical detail, it more than makes up for in violence and gameplay quality. The game is quick but accessible. For the technically minded, it is possible to string together massive combos that expand beyond the typical, "Mash X". Both characters have the ability to dash, which allows for avoiding attacks, moving through gates, and getting from one enemy to another in the blink of an eye. With such an impressive visual and speed, why would you walk anywhere?

The story part of the game is told through comic strips. The images used are chilling and dark but excellently done and implemented. They don't take all day to scan through, avoid the risk of poor voice acting, and are possible to skip if the player has to come back but has seen it before. 

Players have plenty to aim for when playing. There are times when it is better to go against the sign posted route. Exploration often leads to gifted items, powers or minigames. Yuki is a proficient violin player while The Dishwasher is a dazzling guitarist. Here, the characters can bring some colour into the world as fireworks explode as the "concert" reaches a crescendo.

Regardless of how good the player is at hitting buttons in time, the game will not punish as bum notes are not implemented. Players who lose track of the controller layout will simply be rewarded with a lower percentage. And of course, to top it off, the instrument of choice gets slammed into the ground. If Yuki and The Dishwasher weren't trying to exorcise demons, they would be chart toppers.

Each level gives a tally of score, highest combo, time taken and so on. Competitive players may replay levels multiple times to perfect a run. There is also a speedrun difficulty. For those who need variety, there is a co-op storyline along with an arcade mode and the Dish challenge. The latter features an online leaderboard where players can showcase their best run for slicing and dicing waves of enemies. Finally, for those that seek perfection, there is a practice room.

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is not for the faint of heart. Battles are fast and frantic. In co-op it can be especially tricky to work out where your own character is on screen. The coloured arrow overhead is helpful but doesn't always stand out enough against the backdrop of spraying blood. Blood splatters on the walls and screen, and executions result in characters being sliced or torn from limb to limb. For those who believe that games are turning people into killers, there is plenty of ammunition as multiple rooms feature screens that flicker between "WAR" and "KILL".

Don't tell Microsoft but The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is a steal at just 800 points. If you love fast, fluid combat with plenty of over-the-top violence, this is the title that will make your year. Finally, players can feel like a bad ass without actually facing physical harm. Dodge, duck, dive, dip and dodge with the greatest of ease while slicing enemies in two. And if you get bored of that, crack out a violin or guitar solo or two. What's not to love?