Mars Needs Cows!

 

 

Astraware has given us some incredible games.  Bejeweled, Bejeweled 2, Text Twist, Zuma.  Face it, it’s a long list.  So when Alison from Astraware hooked me up with a few games to review, I was excited.  But a game called “Mars Needs Cows”?  Come on.  What kind of game can this be?  Well, I can sum it up in one word. ADDICTIVE!  Okay, two words. FUN!

The Basics:  The playing field is a pasture.  In the center of the pasture, X marks the spot.  This is your goal. Your mission is to lead a farm animal to the X.  For every level, you are given instructions on what animal(s) to beam up.  A cow, a pig, a chicken or a combination of farm animals.  The first thing to learn…pay attention to which animals you need to beam up!  These may be dumb farm animals, but this is a game of strategy. 

How Hard Can This Be?  It sounds seductively easy.  Point animal to X.  Animal goes to X.  Animal beams up to Mars.  Easy! Right?  Sort of.  For the animals to beam up, they have to be blocked in to the X.  Not a problem.  On every level, you have extra animals and sometimes scarecrows and/or farmers to aid in blocking the animals.  They are strategically placed to help you.  They may be on the edge of the field.  They may be located somewhere near the middle.  The problem is, once you move an animal or scarecrow or farmer, they will always go to the edge of the field. Nothing ever stops in the middle.   And just when you think you have the easy parts down, Astraware throws in a curve or two.  Some of the fields have holes into which the animals can disappear.  Sometimes they throw in foxes and wolves, which can eat your animals. Or maybe you send your animal into an electric fence. One aid available is that the farmers can shoot the foxes and wolves.   The game looks simple.  It is much harder to explain than it is to play.  What it is, is a game of strategy that requires planning.  And thinking.  So far, I have mastered the “easy” level and am just starting the medium level. I have had my 9 year old and 11 year old daughters playing it also.  They love it.  It’s not rocket science, but it’s not a “gimme” either.  I know this little "mini-review" does not do the game justice, so give it a try.  Find out which is smarter, a Palm Addict or a Farm Animal!  You don't have to tell, but either way, you'll have a good time!

Mars Needs Cows.  Strange name, fun game!  Astraware, you have done it again!

-RT, Associate Writer (Salt Lake City, Utah USA)