Bobo is a simple time waster of a game for your Windows Phone where you have to help a mystical creature navigate its way through a mysterious forest. You guide Bobo up and down the screen to avoid various dangers as he floats endlessly through the forest.
The game's graphics are a little on the dark side, but matches nicely with the mood of the backstory. Game play with Bobo is simple but not without challenge. Available for low-memory Windows Phones, Bobo may not be a game to sit down and play for extended periods, but for short spurts, it might not be a bad title for your Windows Phone gaming library.
Bobo has a very minimal main menu with an option to mute the game's sound and an option to jump into game play. There is no tutorial or help screen but your highest score is displayed on the main menu.
You can find information on how to play Bobo in the Windows Phone Store description. In a nutshell, you tap the screen to send Bobo (who resembles a flaming eyeball) up or down on the gaming screen. The goal is to move Bobo up and down to avoid the jagged tree branches that are scattered across the top and bottom of the gaming screen.
Another danger you will have to avoid is a patch of limbs that is chasing Bobo. If you bounce Bobo too much between the top and bottom of the screen, Bobo's forward progress will slow down enough to let these limbs catch up with Bobo.
The gaming screen will have your score in the upper left corner of the screen and Bobo's health meter is in the top center of the screen. Along with the jagged branches, there are land mines floating throughout the forest. If Bobo hits the land mine, Bobo will lose a little health. If Bobo hits a tree limb, the game ends.
Your score is based on how far Bobo travels through the forest and you do have magic points that can be collected. I have no clue what these magic points do beyond having something to collect as Bobo moves down the forest.
Overall Impression
I will not say that Bobo is a terrible game but I will say that the game needs a little help.
I don't mind the darker graphics and game play can be challenging but where the help is needed most is with the game's mechanics. Tapping the game screen isn't always responsive and at times I found swiping the screen worked better than tapping. All of which causes a delay in moving Bobo out of harms way and will end your game. This can be particularly frustrating when you've got a rhythm going and a decent score in the works.
The game also needs a help section. I appreciate the developer adding instructions to play in the Windows Phone Store but you are not always in a position to visit the Store and read the description. Oh... one more suggestion is to add a few power-ups to the game to give it a little more flavor and help Bobo survive just a little longer on his journey.
All in all, Bobo is a time waster game that has potential. If the non-responsiveness of the taps were fixed, the game would have a lot more appeal. As is, you will need a little patience to stick with this game. Bobo is currently not rated and if you give it a try, let us know what you think in the comments below.
