Released last month, one-finger flinger Ordia ($3.99) seems to have flown entirely under the radar. Until, that is, it received an Apple Design Award last week. So, prompted by Apple?s choice, and despite a general disinterest in flingers, I decided that if it can make it to the Design Award stage, I can probably spare a few days and give it a shot. Besides, it does have some great art.
Now, three days later, I?ve jumped all the jumps, collected all the collectables, and dodged all the hazards. Yet I am left with a question: What is it that is so elegant, so exquisitely tuned that it captured Apple?s attention" Was it, perhaps, the delightful feedback when pulling back to jump, or the tactile bump on first launch" Or maybe the smooth gameplay, seamless animations, and forgiving difficulty" Perhaps it was a mixture of it all, or something else entirely?who can say" Regardless, there is something to be said for a short game with nearly flawless components. Ordia is a visually impressive game. Using three distinct colour palettes it crafts a delectably minimalist experience across three detailed ?worlds?, each with its own atmosphere and style. Even on the scale of a single level, an effort has been made to liven up the background, and it shows. There?s always a bush, a waterfall, or some other touch that adds a certain flair to levels that would otherwise be lacking. The overall effect is wonderful, and it?s hard to find anything that deserves criticis...