Beeing

The App Store isn't always a hive of innovation, but it's still frustrating to come across game after game offering very little that's new. Beeing is so similar to the raft of feather-fuelled post-Angry Birds casual efforts out there that you'll wonder whether you've tapped on the wrong icon.

You control a rather tubby bee by swiping up and down on the touchscreen as he buzzes from left to right, hoovering up honeycombs and dodging nasty spiders.

It's not a tricky proposition: as long as you don't crash into any obstacles you can cruise through the entire thing. And even if you do clip something, your sizeable health bar should see you though most hairy situations.

It looks nice, with chunky pre-rendered characters, bold colours, and pin-sharp lines (on a Retina display at least), but it's all just a bit uninspiring.

Beeing almost feels like iOS gaming by committee, with all the modern touchstones - like cute characters, static cut-scenes, and levels you can go back to for three stars. It's hard not to feel like you've done it all before, and the ludicrous ease of the first few levels doesn't help to raise the tempo.

As you move through the game it does pick up. Almost every level introduces a new power-up, be it a magnet that sucks the honey towards you or a potion that turns you into a tiny bee so that you can squeeze your way through small spaces.

And it becomes increasingly difficult to track down your lost children in each level for the elusive three-star ratings, which is the only real challenge (and the currency you need to unlock levels, weirdly).

There's nothing inherently wrong with Beeing, and if all you want is something to show off the clarity of your Retina display and keep you occupied for five minutes while you're doing it then this is as good as any other for the purpose.

But if you're looking for something innovative and ambitious you'd best move on.