Game Reviews

Cow Trouble

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iOS
| Cow Trouble
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Cow Trouble
|
iOS
| Cow Trouble

On first inspection, the importance placed on milk in Cow Trouble may imply that the game is a rather bizarre and elaborate piece of advertising for the British dairy industry.

While it may subconsciously preach the benefits of dairy in a balanced diet, Cow Trouble is a delightful mix of Angry Birds and 8-bit nostalgia that never ceases to make you smile. Yet, like milk, it's plain and unassuming, leaving you thirsty for something a little more sophisticated.

Ballin’

Taking its cue from the famous nursery rhyme, the introduction explains that Farmer Diddler’s cows have attempted to jump over the moon and as a result are now stuck in the clouds.

The only logical solution to this predicament is to tip the cows by using an assortment of balls, which are provided to you by the town’s superstars as they become increasingly desperate for milk.

Four types of ball are provided, and each possesses a unique characteristic: beach balls are bouncy, baseballs are tiny, bowling balls are heavy, and bomb balls are fairly self-explanatory.

The game plays similarly to Angry Birds except that the tools in your armoury are sporting goods and the pigs are replaced by cows. The key difference is that balls are dropped from above as opposed to the side, and you release them by sliding your finger down the touchscreen.

Angry Cows

The 20-stage campaign gradually introduces new balls as well as other elements such as UFOs, armoured cows, and explosives. These levels are supplemented by another 30 star challenge stages, which are considerably more difficult.

Progression through the campaign is rewarded by special ball powers from the 'Holy Cow'. These can be used by swiping across the screen in the desired direction after the ball has been released.

Only two balls can be used on each level, so these power-ups add another dimension to your strategy and affect the optimum combination required to gain the gold medal on each stage.

The balls and power-ups unlocked during the campaign can also be used on earlier levels, making previously unattainable medals easier to achieve.

The dish ran away with the spoon

Although Cow Trouble offers a greater degree of strategy than its competitors, it lacks the consistent appeal that makes its rivals so enticing.

Whereas Angry Birds allows you to set power and trajectory, in Cow Trouble you merely select where your balls are dropped (one of the rare times in life when you get a choice in such a matter) and choose when to use a ball’s power-up. This makes movement feel less than precise and a little bit too random at times.

This frustration is exacerbated by the delays between attempts. A good deal of trial and error is required to overcome the challenging levels, which means the gaps between goes can be incredibly irritating.

Despite these concerns, Cow Trouble offers enough variation on a familiar formula for it to be a worthwhile experience that revels in its oddity.

Cow Trouble

While its core gameplay is inspired by the likes of Angry Birds, a fun art style and nonsensical storyline help to differentiate Cow Trouble from its iPhone peers
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Steve McCaskill
Steve McCaskill
A crippling addiction to Football Manager threatened Steve's education and social life for much of the past ten years, but he has come through it with a history degree and an unparalleled knowledge of zonal marking.