Monday, August 4, 2014

Pet Dino Rescue Adventure



I decided to fix my gaming study woes by getting a couple of the (mindless) simplified single-person games to see if my amusement is peaked.  After playing a few of them for a bit (okay quite possibly it was several hours,) now I can say… WOW!!  Good move dude!!  I got some apps on my kindle, specifically; Dino Hunter: Deadly Shores, Hungry Shark Evo, Pet Rescue Saga, and SAS: Zombie Assault 3.  I was sure that one of these few minutes per play, type of games would peak my interest and enjoyment. 

Specifically, I would like to discuss Pet Rescue Saga and Dino Hunter.  Pet Rescue Saga is a kids type of game (a la bejeweled,) whereby one must move tiles to line up successive colors to unlock paths in order to free birds, domesticated, farm, and other assorted ‘pets’.  I had thought I was getting a children’s game with a flavor of Steven Kings Pet cemetery, but while the name clearly implies this… it was not the case.  This game was ultra-elementary with a cute little game board representation to display a player’s progression through levels.  Each of levels 3-9 (or 21?) introduced new implements that the user could employ to expedite safe passage of the aforementioned pets.  And yes, embarrassingly I played off-and-on repeatedly until I had completed 21 levels.  It was enjoyable and silly funny.  I believe I remarked several times ‘Don’t worry, I’m going to save you and free you little pets’. 

The significant learning takeaway from this game was two-fold. First, the layout was obvious and intuitive as to the goal of the level and when specific items are introduced, (i.e., implements such as rockets, balloons, bombs, wire-cutters, etc.) they were accompanied by a short, clear set of directions how to use them.  Secondly, while the beginning was easy (probably even for a 7 yr. old,) it was fun to complete levels and the challenges of each level were enjoyable to finish.

Now onto the really fun one… Dino Hunter.  This game was just plain fun.  The first couple of levels introduce tips and instruction on how to use various weapons and sights to hunt various dinosaurs.  This instruction was not overly technical at all.  It was simply offering the player ways to dial a scope in, how to use iron peep sights, specific areas to target, and implied notes onto the attributes (strength and stability,) of the weapons at your disposal. 

In large part, the learning attributes present early on in this game were largely educational about how to employ weapon strengths to achieve level success.  Some of the levels have the player engage docile, non-threatening dinosaurs, and some require judicious use of firepower to subdue violent, evil, Doug-eating dinosaurs.  As a firearms enthusiast this game definitely strikes a nerve and is quickly addicting.  I do not like the prospect of being seriously injured, maimed, or devoured.  In a game or otherwise.  All of these things will happen to players while playing this game.   

Interestingly, it was because of my many deaths while playing that I resorted to using the internet for ways to succeed.  Surprise!  It happens in real life too!  Interestingly, after learning a bit from some reading online it brought me back to what I have always known fundamentally as a shooter; outfit the weapon you have to suit the threat(s) you will be confronted with.  This (BIG SURPRISE!!) require you to play more, get more contract hunt money and outfit yourself more suitably for the dino at hand.  Give Dino Hunter a try, it's worth 49 minutes, or 3.79 - 7.13 hours.

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