Format: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Developer: Chillingo Ltd
Another day another freemium town builder style game comes to my attention. I will fully admit that in the past I have not been to keen on these types of games, but there have been a few exceptions that have really won me over. Pixel People is a game that from the first screen shot I saw peaked my interest.
It is the games graphics that actually got me interested in Pixel People. The game uses Pixel art as its art style which is really cool in my book. It certainly makes it stand out a little from the other freemium town builders that are clogging up the iOS market place. At a glance the game reminds me of the classic Sim City that I used to play on my dads old PC.
As far as the game play goes. I hate to say it, but this is kind of like every other game based on this model. The basic idea of the game is that you need to create this new utopia. You create not only the buildings, but the people who will live here as well. By mixing up the residents you can make new unique ones. This is one thing you really have to give the game credit for as the amount of different people you can create is amazing. There are well over 100 different people here and each one it feels like has there own special purpose in the town.
I am sure you have already guessed that building a new property is very time consuming. I will say that it does not take as long as some other games do, but it is still a huge pain in the back side to have to sit and wait for a new building to be built. But there is a addictive quality to the game where there is always that chance you will unlock one of the new people in your town so the game will keep you coming back in that regard.
The problem with Pixel People is that for its good ideas you are still at the mercy of the freemium model. So you either have to sit and wait. Which I know in my case has made me lose interest in many games. Or you will have to open up your wallet and pay. But the fact that this game does have 150 different people did keep me coming back for a while. And I am sure there will be some people out there who will want to unlock every one. Well more power to you, but you are going to need to either be very patient or spend some real money.
This is a very frustrating game to review. You see I love the art style and the ideas of unlocking 150 unique individuals really does appeal to me. But at the end of the day the freemium model will probably make me move onto something else before I see all what this game has to offer which is a shame. Still if you are a fan of these town building style games. Then I encourage you to check this one out. I am sure you will get a kick out of all the different people you can put in your town.