Developed by Angry Birds creator Rovio, The Croods is a village-building game inspired by DreamWorks’ latest CG animated film. With these two studios behind it, you might expect the game to be a sure thing, both as a promotional tool and as a fun iOS game for all ages. Instead, this freemium title isn’t the least bit charming, and all it seems to want is your money.
Your objective is to create resources for the prehistoric Croods family by trapping, taming, and caring for wild animals. Each animal you domesticate is dependent on another to survive: Molarbears, for example, produce carrots to feed Bunny Beasts, which generate stones that are used to build more homes for your pets. The problem with this system is that you’ll often run out of supplies and be forced to wait hours for your animals to produce more resources, and then be expected to wait another hour or two for whatever it is you were trying to build to be ready.
Expectedly, it's possible to speed things up by using crystals, which can be purchased with real money; however, not only will you run out of crystals quickly, but their overall assistance really isn’t worth it. Why spend $4.99 on a bag of 106 crystals when you’ll go through them in a matter of minutes? Playing the game can be slow and tedious, not to mention expensive if you lack the extreme patience needed.
Not only does The Croods fail to capitalize on its format, but it does nothing to engage you with its characters or fanciful setting. The game has a diverse number of creatures to trap and use, but besides making resources for you, there’s really nothing else that they do. And because the game is devoid of narrative, you’ll feel like you’re helping out this cartoonish family without knowing who they really are. It’s a shame, too, because the game’s colorful visuals and relaxing tunes gave it potential to treat your senses to something sweet.
The bottom line. The Croods isn’t the kind of game you’d expect from a Rovio and DreamWorks partnership, and it fails to leverage the strengths of either while beckoning for your wallet.
iPad, iPod touch, or iPhone running iOS 4.3 or later
Colorful visuals and a relaxing soundtrack give the game a vibrant quality.
Waiting for things to be built takes a long time. Expensive in-app purchases don't add to the game's enjoyment. The Croods themselves take a backseat to the village-building format.
