Schrödinger’s Rat review

By Torbjorn Kamblad, Sweden
for www.touchgen.com

Published: January 17, 2010

Schrödinger’s Cat: A cat, along with a flask containing a poison, is placed in a sealed box shielded against environmentally induced quantum decoherence. If an internal Geiger counter detects radiation, the flask is shattered, releasing the poison that kills the cat. The Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics implies that after a while, the cat is simultaneously alive and dead. Yet, when we look in the box, we see the cat either alive or dead, not both alive and dead.
(From Wikipedia on Schrödinger’s Cat)

Based upon this paradox comes Schrödinger’s Rat from the same people responsible for games such as Kern and Press Check. Stylish minimal games with unique gameplay mechanics based on some obscure idea. Schrödinger’s Rat is stylish and minimal but surprises me by not having any uniqueness to the gameplay. At heart Schrödinger’s Rat is a maze game in the same vein as Labyrinth.

The game mechanics lets you guide a ball through a maze by tilting your iPhone. It is quite responsive but the ball feels really slow, and lacks momentum and weight. Sure it is supposed to be a chalk ball but then maybe it isn’t fun guiding chalk balls when compared to metal balls. A timer in the form of a Geiger meter counts upwards quickly, and once it reaches the top it is game over. Obstacles move around in the mazes forcing you to be precise in your movements.

Once a level loads you got to look for the best way to find your way to the exit, and once you pull the lever to the right the Geiger meter starts. I found it too be almost too intense having no way to counter the meter, and even if your ball is close to the exit you won’t get any momentum helping you once the meter is full. There is no way to recalibrate the accelerometer as far as I have found. It is quite hard to having to play the game with the iPhone flat all the time. I love playing in a sofa or in bed, and it can’t be done.

The art style and presentation is top of the line just like other FORMation titles. You progress through the periodic table, and save rats for each level. It is quite trippy with really strange ideas all based on physical theorems. Powerups, and a host of different obstacles are introduced along the 87 mazes. 30 extra mazes are also available through DLC.

The music is strange, and really enjoyable musical box takes on classical tunes. At least that is what I guess it is. The sound effects are good too adding urgency to proceedings by alarming you when the Geiger meter is ticking towards meltdown. You can play your own music, and keep the sound effects as well.

I like the idea, and art style of Schrödinger’s Rat. Just reading the manual in the game is fun, and teaches you some of the strangest physics I have ever seen. Sadly the gameplay isn’t up to the same level, and I find myself bored with the tilting. Perhaps with some line drawing to pass the mazes the game might feel less tired than now. Still at a dollar it is one of the better maze games out there but still not even close to the greatness of Labyrinth 2.

Final Rating

3-stars

Schrödinger’s Rat $0.99
Version: 1
Seller: SouthPeak Games

Review disclosure: Any games reviewed on this page may have been provided to us by the developer for the purposes of this review. Note: the resulting review score is never impeded by this fact, all opinions are that of the TouchGen reviewer and not the developer. This is in keeping with our O.A.T.S oath. Read more about O.A.T.S here

One Comment on "Schrödinger’s Rat review"

Jason Franzen on Mon, 18th Jan 2010 5:25 pm

Regarding the Calibration of the device for playing when not level, the game does offer this feature, located in the LAB > SETUP.

Schrödinger’s Rat review

Final Rating

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