Pixel People Review
PROS
- It's got that “Gotta Catch em all” edge to it.
- The developers try to create systems to distract you from the waiting based freemium model.
- The music helps make the time fly by.
CONS
- It's built around a freemium model where you wait or spend money.
- It can be tough to tap on certain buildings once your city starts growing.
VERDICT
While not a terrible use of the freemium model, it's not doing itself any favors by engaging in a 'wait or spend' game style. For those susceptible to these mechanics though, Pixel People is one of the least offensive games in this genre, and will keep you glued to your screen.
- Full Review
- App Store Info
Earth, gone. The human race, pretty much destroyed. Send in the clones! It's time to repopulate the species among the stars; to create a clone based utopia. First up, let us preface this review with a warning. This is a true freemium title. Many of the actions in this game take time to complete (up to a few minutes worth). All the time based actions can be sped up by using the utopium resource which is the in-app currency. Despite this, Pixel People strives to give you things to do so you aren't actually waiting around. Whether it succeeds in this goal is another story all-together.
The meat of the game is a clone creation system that carries a Pokemon-esque 'gotta catch em all' component. You are given a clean slate clone, and using the professions already at your disposal, you try to create new people that can help run your metropolis. Often these new clones have specific buildings to operate in that need to be placed on the map, and to get a clean clone in the first place, you need to make sure there is suitable housing available. Each building on the map will give you money at regular intervals, and the more people that occupy them, the more money they will give. Once two or more occupy a building, romance can occur in which you have to hold down a heart till the heart meter is full, and once the heart bar is filled up completely bonuses are awarded (on top of the random money rewards that pop up around your city, to give you yet another thing to tap on when you're waiting around). Land can be upgraded as before long you'll find yourself running out of room, and often your workers will idle and the building will have to be tapped on to get them to resume their money collection duties.
The game has an isometric perspective that sometimes makes it hard to tap on the right building, but the pixel art is enjoyable and you gain a certain level of satisfaction in watching your city grow. There doesn't seem to be much reason to plan your city in any fashion (aside from aesthetics), so feel free to plonk your buildings down where-ever you like, but the more detail oriented of you will make use of the roads to separate your homes from let's say the construction yard or city hall. And special mention does need to be given to the music which creates a certain hustle and bustle, but does so in relaxing tones.
Truth be told, with all the bonuses, idling workers, and the romance going on (as well as crafting your city), the tedium associated with waiting around for clones to arrive or buildings to finish is cut down, but not eradicated. Just the idea that you need to wait around to continue your game or pay money is a pretty abominable concept to many gamers no matter how well the idea is streamlined, but for those of you who enjoy this style of game, there is a solid sense of progression, and the clone creation system is pretty addictive, as you combine pairs and see what you're going to get. As freemium titles go, Pixel People isn't half bad, and that's about all you can say really.
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