Fruit Ninja HD for iPad: Why is this Game so Awesome?

App Name:	Fruit Ninja HD
Platforms:	iPad
Publisher(s):	Halfbrick Studios
Version Reviewed:	1.0
Genre(s):	action
Release Date:	July 14, 2010
Price:	$2.99
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Since day one, Halfbrick Studios has not disappointed loyal fans of Fruit Ninja when it was first released on the iPhone. Though it’s not something I’m especially proud of, I count myself among the game’s most devoted followers . . . Even with a handful of brand new games waiting to be played, I still find myself coming back to slice more fruit whenever I’ve got a few seconds to spare. Rather than trying to figure out what makes the game so addictive, I’ve come to accept the fact that I am a fruit ninja, and always will be. But even with my hours of practice, that global leader board remains out of reach, but barely . . .

Few people with an iDevice haven’t experience what Fruit Ninja has to offer. But before we get to the specifics of the iPad version, let’s recap . . . Fruit launches onto the screen from the bottom up, and you’ve got maybe a second and a half to slice it before it completes its arc and disappears again. Your fingers act as the blades, so get swiping wildly to reach high scores. But watch out for the bombs. Slicing into an explosive bomb means the round is instantly over.

Fruit Ninja HD is the long awaited iPad counterpart to what we’ve long been playing on our phones. It utilizes the full screen, has all the features of the other versions (see below), and even introduces a new multiplayer mode that is more than just a novelty. This mode switches the perspective to portrait and splits the screen in half. You and a friend are responsible for opposite games taking place at the same time. Not only does this mean you don’t have to pass and play, but it’s competitive as well. You don’t compete for highest score; instead, multiplayer is meant to see who can last longer. Players can launch bombs onto their opponent’s screen and try to encourage an error. It’s not as addicting as the classic solo mode, but the chance to experience fruit ninja simultaneously isn’t something to be missed, and Halfbrick shows a good first effort and bringing the iPad multiplayer craze to Fruit Ninja.

The rest of the updates we’ve seen over the last few months are also included in the HD version. In case you played Fruit Ninja a long time ago and haven’t checked back to see what’s new . . . The combo feature allows you to time swipes to get bonuses. There is support for up to eight gestures at once, and an “ultra rare” fruit awards 50 points (but don’t expect to find this spiky fruit often. It truly is ultra rare).

It’s true that Fruit Ninja HD is a smaller game than many we’re seeing released on iPhone and iPad. The gameplay modes are the same at their core, and we’re still waiting for things like “dicing” (slicing fruit more than once). But it still can’t be denied that Halfbrick has nailed the formula for an incredibly accessible, yet insanely addictive game. The more you play, the more fine-tuned your skill and reaction time will become, and from there it’s a downhill slope to complete inability to quit playing . . . Let’s hope Halfbrick keeps it coming with the updates, that way this fruit is bound to stay fresh.

Our Score: 4.5/5
Fruit Ninja HD is available at $4.99 at the time of this review.

About the Author

Devin Wieland

 

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