Game Review: Save Goldie the fish in Arrows & Sparrows

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by Chrisanna Lazaridou on 26 January 2017 · 3211 views

Every time I watch a documentary about wild life, I can’t help but worry about the moments a predator will go after its prey. Despite knowing that predators only want to survive by eating, I still wish that the prey will somehow survive and cheer for it. I suppose it is the instinct we have about attackers that makes us think of animals the same way we do about people and can’t stand watching an innocent creature die, even though all of them are actually innocent. Thus, I was very excited to try out Arrows & Sparrows, a game that gave me the chance to feel like I’m actually protecting the weak against the strong and actually have a lot of fun while doing so.

Plot

In Arrows & Sparrows the player takes upon the role of the protector of Goldie; a goldfish that lives with other fish peacefully in a lake, until one day a team of nasty sparrows decide to catch Goldie and eat her. They completely disregarded though, your intervention and now they have to first get through you and your arrows, before they can get even close to Goldie.

Gameplay

The gameplay is easy in terms of rules but it takes practice to be able to stop all attacks from the sparrows. Your crossbow is at the left of your screen with the lake in front of you and the sparrows will fly from both left and right. The controls are simple; to shoot, all you need to do is tap and hold on the crossbow, aim in any direction, and then release your arrow. You can only use up to five arrows each time, so be careful and precise when you’re aiming. The sparrows will come up with various techniques to get past you and grab Goldie. Sometimes they will swoop down to grab her with their claws, or they will drop eggs inside the lake to make more birds, even bombs. They will also send other birds as decoys to distract while the main ones will attack Goldie. As you can see, you will have a lot to take care of and the game is very challenging in contrast to how easy it is to play.

However, it wouldn’t be fair if you also didn’t have your own ways to stop them, right? Even though the birds have a variety of attacks prepared, they all have a weakness e.g. if you aim and it a bomb carrying bird, then the bomb will explode leading the rest of the birds to the same fate. You can also strengthen your arrows and take out many birds at once. You will also be able to activate power-ups such as the TriShot that allows you to shoot 3 arrows at the same time, by collecting feathers from the birds you shoot. Feathers are the game’s currency and they are a good reason to urge you to take down as many birds as possible.

In-app Purchases

There are 20 levels available for free, for you to enjoy and see if this game caters to your preferences, and then you have the option to buy the rest through a single IAP for $0.99 for a total of 60 more levels. You can also purchase Feather bundles if you are in immediate need of power-ups, but the more you improve your skills, the easier it will be to shoot at birds in the most effective way and earn feathers without having to spend any money.

Graphics & Sounds

Visually Arrows & Sparrows is very cartoonish and this makes the experience a lot more fun and lighthearted. It is also very colorful and everything moves smoothly and fluidly. I especially love the expressions of the sparrows, because they are absolutely hilarious. The BG music is also joyful and comedic and fits the game perfectly.

Conclusion

All in all, Arrows & Sparrows is a very pleasant and cheerful game with a very straightforward plot and gameplay that is perfect for players of all ages. If you’re good at aiming, then give it a try and you won’t be disappointed. Let us know your thoughts and impressions in the comments below.