Developer: Sillysoft Games
Publisher: Sillysoft Games
Platform: Android, iOS
Tested on: Android
Turtoa: Global Rhythm – Review
We can all occasionally use a distraction from our daily struggles, and Sillysoft Games’ Turtoa: Global Rhythm might just be the ticket to do so. Promising an escape to a musical wonderland filled with turtles, aquatic dragons and rhythmic beats, Turtoa looks like an interesting way to cheer up your daily commute or lunch break. We took a good look at the rhythm game to see if it lives up to its promise.
Story
Throughout its opening stages, Turtoa tells a simple but endearing little story to give some background to its aesthetic choices. Turtoa’s tale takes on the form of a simple creation myth and explains how in the beginning there was only absolute silence. When a turtle and a dragon team up and start making music, the world is formed. This premise is outlined in just a few sentences but it works surprisingly well and really elevates the game’s presentation.
Graphics
While we were suitably impressed with Turtoa’s music and gameplay, we weren’t a fan of the overall presentation. Your mileage may vary on this, of course, but the garish colors, font choices and clashing art styles for the character designs are probably going to turn off more people than they are going to draw in. A more subtle approach to the visuals would have been preferable here, especially as that would make the game feel less cheap.
Sound
Music is probably the most important element of a rhythm game, and Turtoa certainly delivers on this front. The soundtrack features roughly eight hours worth of tracks, spanning a variety of genres from all around the world, and according to developer Sillysoft Games new tracks are to be added on a monthly basis. The music comes to Turtoa courtesy of a variety of acclaimed artists, ranging from Burning Babylon to DJ Drez. If you’re curious about the music, you can actually check out the full soundtrack for free on Spotify.
Gameplay
Turtoa provides players with a classic rhythm game and tasks players with tapping their screen in sync with the music. What’s on offer here isn’t anything new gameplay-wise, but it is executed really well. While the music is playing, a stream of turtles and dragons are swimming across the screen. Turtles need to be tapped, while you’ll need to hold your finger down over a dragon’s back when it swims by. Timing is key here, of course, and you’ll need to tap whenever a dragon’s head or a turtle’s body is lined up in accordance with the line of icons on the bottom of the screen. Of course, this is a relatively easy task if you’ve got a good sense of rhythm as the flow of the fauna matches that of the music. The stages themselves are also well-crafted. Sillysoft Games claims that all of the stage layouts were created by hand instead of automatically generated, and we have no reason to believe that they are lying about this.
The game does spice things up with the addition of extra animals that influence the flow of the game. A perfect prawn will take over from the player, for example, and will tap the screen for a few seconds, which can be particularly useful during some of the trickier parts of certain songs. Meanwhile, a snail will slow down the music, giving you more time to react. This does come with the downside that once the snail’s effect is over, the music will instantly return to its normal speed, so you’ll have to react quickly. The gameplay is simplistic and perfectly suited for quick pick-up-and-play sessions. While you probably won’t play Turtoa for hours on end, it’s a perfect game to play a few rounds while you’re waiting for the bus or have some time to waste during a lunch break.
That said, a pair of headphones is essential here. As Turtoa is a music-based rhythm game, you can’t quite play it with the sound of your phone off. Sillysoft Games was certainly aware of this as they even included a Bluetooth sync feature. As is common with wireless devices, there is often a slight delay of a few milliseconds between what’s on-screen and what you hear. While this is usually barely noticeable when you’re watching a video or listening to music, this can really ruin your experience when you’re playing some of Turtoa’s trickier levels, so being able to sync things up is a welcome addition.
Of course, how enjoyable a level is depends on a number of factors, including how accurate the game registers your taps. Admittedly, this wasn’t always perfect, especially when it came to tapping and subsequently holding down on the dragons. This might have been our own fault; perhaps our sense of rhythm isn’t as good as we thought, and these instances weren’t a constant factor. It might also be device-dependent, but it is something to keep in mind. We’re just nitpicking here, because overall, Turtoa provides good, clean fun. The choice of music really helps to get into a level too, and we often found ourselves moving our head in sync with the beat as well as our fingers.
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing experience or a challenging game session, Turtoa has you covered. There are several game modes present here, with the higher difficulty ones offering longer versions of the music tracks. Leaderboards add a degree of replayability and the game is set to receive additional features in the future, such as a Beatmap Creator, that will let you mod your own levels. These additions ensure that Turtoa will be a game returning to from time to time rather than a title that you play for 15 minutes and then delete from your phone. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a portion of Turtoa’s profits will go to the Sea Turtle Conservancy. This alone should be enough reason to take a look at it.
Conclusion
Turtoa might not bring anything new and innovative to the table but what is present is executed so well that it’s a very easy recommendation. The game features a fantastic soundtrack and good gameplay. The promise of additional content in the future, including new music and the ability to mod your own tracks, are the icing on the cake. The game is also set to come to Steam in the near future, so keep an eye out for that version, but even so, this is a title you should give a try on your phone right now.
Turtoa: Global Rhythm - Review,
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