Review: Snails for the Palm OS
By: Jonathan Choo
August 3rd, 2004

Snails was originally a PocketPC game developed by Futech Kft (PDAMill). It was released back in early 2002. I remembered playing this game 1 ½ years ago on my Toshiba e310. When I moved back to PalmOS, this was the game which I missed most. I wanted to ditch my Tungsten T3 just to be able to play this game.

However PDAMill took notice of the PalmOS gaming community who are generally swamped with low quality games. They released Snails for PalmOS a few months ago after a long beta testing period. They have also released the game on Windows for Smartphone and SymbianOS Series 60 platform. The game would also be released on PC.

For those who grew up with the Worms series, this game would be very familiar as it is a turn-based action game. The rules and game style are also similar to Worms. There are missions to be followed through three different Snail races – the Moogums, Lupeez and Nooginz, with each level completion bringing a new weapon to your arsenal.

Every game of Snails involves two groups Snails army battling against each other with a bunch of weapons. The results are brutal and funny. However this is not just another mindless game.

The game itself is pretty straight forward to play. You won’t be needing any guidance or manuals, but just in case – there is one in the main menu.   There is a great selections of weapons that can be used. Some are locked until you advance through the game and most have limited quantities. The most powerful weapon that can be used is the ‘Nuke’ which is pretty powerful. But my favourite is Napalm Gel. If you aim properly – you will surely finish of your target.


 

As you can see from the two screenshots above, physics play a large part in the game and how well you manage to kill of your target. Winds can be a disadvantage but use it properly and you can reach your enemy’s hiding place. In places such as the moon mission – the physics are a little different. Snails can jump higher due to the lack of strong gravity.

Graphics are well done with nice special effects for when the Snails bounce, explode and more importantly visual effects spectacle caused when a rocket slams into your enemy (or yourself). Particle effects such as rocket trail are also included.

Humour features highly around the game from expressions to the one-liners. The music and ambient sound is very well done and takes full advantage of the amazing speaker found on the Tungsten T3.

Sadly, unlike the PocketPC version – Snails for PalmOS does not feature multiplayer gaming – yet. So you can’t pick it up and go head to head with other PalmOS or PocketPC users. PDAMill has stated that the feature would be implemented in the future.

Some older Sony Clie PDAs would have problems playing audio (I am sure most of you know why). But most of the newer ones do work nicely.

You can check out Snails forum for information on how to obtain the tool editor. You would need it if you want to create custom missions, weapons and maps for the game.

The price is a mind-boggling cheap US$9.95 [BUY] and gives you access right to all the Snails game released on other platforms. The game is around 3Mb in size but if you use the editor to add additional weapons et al., you would need to make sure your device can handle it. It should be noted that Snails for PalmOS requires a OS5 device.

PIC Bottom Line

PROS
CONS
  • Amazing graphics and visual effects
  • Great sounds and music
  • Clean cut design
  • Superb playability
  • Strong replay value
  • Cheap
  • No multiplayer (yet)
  • Bad quality audio on some Sony devices (not PDAMill’s fault)
  • Large File size

Overall Rating: 9/10

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This looks like another game that's already out...

IsLNdbOi @ 8/3/2004 10:17:45 PM #
Looks like RifleSlugs.
RE: This looks like another game that's already out...
siralien @ 8/4/2004 2:24:19 AM #
or Worms on the PC. Been out years.


RE: This looks like another game that's already out...
simond @ 8/4/2004 4:55:47 AM #
I remember playing Worms on my Amiga, great game ;)

RE: This looks like another game that's already out...
abosco @ 8/4/2004 5:03:45 AM #
I've played Rifleslugs and I've played Snails. I've played Worms Armaggedon on the PC as well as Worms World Party, and I can clearly say that Snails matches up so much closer to the playability of the original PC games than Rifleslugs, which can be painfully slow at times. Rifleslugs also thoroughly enjoys crashing. Trust me, this game is worth the ten bucks you have to shell out since you'll want to be taking your PDA into the shower just so you don't miss a beat. It's lots of fun, and an equally favorable review.

-Bosco
NX80v + Wifi + BT + T616
RE: This looks like another game that's already out...
Altema @ 8/4/2004 4:51:55 PM #
Have to agree about RS crashing a lot. I just lanched it to compare graphics and got a fatal exception. The graphis are better in RifleSlugs, but landscape mode is not supported. The multiplayer options are nice, with BT, IR or network. Unfortunately, it's been several months since anyone has been online. I may give Worms a look once they come out with multiplayer.

RE: This looks like another game that's already out...
Hal2000 @ 8/4/2004 8:32:48 PM #
Into the shower is funny.

Zodiac2/T616
1.128 gigs under the hood.
RE: This looks like another game that's already out...
JonathanChoo @ 8/5/2004 8:42:33 PM #
Now all we need is for Jamdat to port Worms over to PalmOS.

--
PalmOne Tungsten T3/256Mb Panasonic SD; HP h4150/512Mb Sandisk Ultra-II, Sony Ericsson T630

Palm offers the highest resolution?

asiayeah @ 8/4/2004 5:58:39 AM #
Among all the different platforms that Snails run, I assume Palm offers the highest resolution, 480x320. (There are some Pocket PC at VGA, but I don't think Snails support those, does it?)

So does the Palm 480x320 resolutions reflect better graphics?

--
With great power comes great responsiblity.

RE: Palm offers the highest resolution?
JonathanChoo @ 8/4/2004 10:08:25 AM #
The graphics are the same as on PocketPC but because of the higher resolution, you get more screen estate to view with. Because of the pixel density everything looks sharper. I assume the next version of Snails for PocketPC will take advantage of VGA by giving a larger view - not better graphics.

--
PalmOne Tungsten T3/256Mb Panasonic SD; HP h4150/512Mb Sandisk Ultra-II, Sony Ericsson T630
RE: Palm offers the highest resolution?
Altema @ 8/4/2004 4:57:05 PM #
I've seen the same on other games that have both versions. We used to burn hours playing Warfare Inc with a pair ot T3's and my h2215. Each character will use the same number of pixels, so what you really get is more on the screen. It's a tradeoff either way; you see more of the action on the T3, but objects are larger and easier to see on the PPC. The kids did not care either way, but with games that have very detailed graphics and a high pixel density, you wind up with your nose on the screen and eyestrain.

No multiplayer??

Winter_ @ 8/4/2004 8:24:47 PM #
Sadly, unlike the PocketPC version - Snails for PalmOS does not feature multiplayer gaming - yet.

HUH??? What good is Worms without multiplayer?
Oh my god... it *did* seem too nice to be real.

RE: No multiplayer??
ChipKerchner @ 8/5/2004 10:44:26 AM #
Oh yes... A $9.95 game without multiplayer, unreal (NOT). Geez!

Sound for old Sony OS5 devices

JonathanChoo @ 8/4/2004 9:10:27 PM #
If you want sound on Snails (and other PDAMill games) you can install MCA from http://www.aibohack.com/clie/modclieaud.htm Never tried it but many NX/NZ/TG users seems to be happy with it. It even enables sound on Aeroplayer, pTunes and MMPlayer.

--
PalmOne Tungsten T3/256Mb Panasonic SD; HP h4150/512Mb Sandisk Ultra-II, Sony Ericsson T630

Thanks

pdamill @ 8/6/2004 4:50:14 AM #
Thanks for a nice review Jonathan!

We're working on a new version of Snails which will add Treo 600 and Zire 31 compatibility and there's also Snails Zodiac Special Edition coming next week!

Cheers,
Peter


www.pdamill.com

RE: Thanks
JonathanChoo @ 8/6/2004 9:05:58 AM #
Cheers!

So when will multiplayer be implemented? ;)

--
PalmOne Tungsten T3/256Mb Panasonic SD; HP h4150/512Mb Sandisk Ultra-II, Sony Ericsson T630

Jonathan, where can I reach you??

Zita @ 8/9/2004 7:43:37 AM #
Jonathan,
please take contact with me at: zita@pdamill.com

Thx!


New price

Quillim @ 1/9/2005 1:08:04 PM #
Booo! It's $19.95 now :( And I didn't buy it while it was $9.95!

~Honk if you love peace and quiet.
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