Pillman: loops of fire – A Clean Game of Attack

Save this world from invasion!

Alarming at first, Pillman: the loops of fire will have you coursing through veins, literally, to capture the enemy and defend the body you’ve penetrated. This app is a puzzle game like none other. Running on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, this game conjures up memories of Pacman with its yellow little pill running around the internals of some unlucky bloke in a quest to defeat viruses through game play, sending you from one level to the next to expunge foreign elements.

When you first download the game and start it, you’ll be at Level 1. The game first opens up with a minimovie about Pillman, who is summoned buy an alarm to hunt down and remove the enemy lurking in the depths of one’s body. Level 1 is very basic tutorial that demonstrates how the game works. You basically launch Pillman into the bloodstream and try to encircle a green virus with a ring of fire. This destroys the virus and earns you points. There are red blood cells and stars worth capturing, because they earn you more ammo, or more appropriately, strength.

As you complete levels, of which there are 72, you are met with more challenging viruses to kill and more impediments; and, you are better armed. There are three worlds in which Pillman can find and eliminate the viruses: Red World, Blue World and Green World. Future worlds are up and coming and you can learn more about them by syncing up with Facebook and/or Twitter while earning extra points. Options while playing include being able to control music, sounds and sending your stats to friends via SMS or email.

Each level presents more complex barricades, clots and embolisms that the viruses put up to stop Pillman’s quest. Beat those and you move forward to the next realm of the body human. Each world you enter offers up something new, so challenge is never lacking. Note that the first 15 levels are played for free. After that, you pay with points or in-app purchases. Yearning to continue your crusade to eradicate disease and foe on multiple devices? Sync the app to iCloud and you’re good to go. Continue play from where you last finished while you’re out and about, so you never miss a beat!

The only thing that was not appealing about this game was the lack of instruction on how to guide Pillman around the virus and not into its mouth, once you’ve launched him. I was stuck on Level 2 for about 5 rounds until I figured out that pressing your finger on another part of the screen or another item would help move Pillman away from his launched track and around something rather than straight into its mouth. I was eaten 5 times before I got the hang of it. Better instructions may help, either spoken or written.

The vibrant 3D graphics and engaging sounds make up for a little of what was lacking; and of course, there is nothing better than more practice to really know how to play and get better at playing it. A few more rounds will probably get me there; but, for the meantime, I’m just glad that there is game out there that is appropriate for kids, educating about the world of internal battles in a non-violent way.