Everyone wants to be a big fish in a small pond, and that’s exactly what you can become in Feeding Frenzy 2: Shipwreck Showdown which is now on PlayStation 3.
First released back in 2006, PopCap’s sequel to the aquatic eat-or-be-eaten game has just made it onto the PlayStation Network.
It’s a fast and frantic game, and at only £6.29 it’s well worth diving to the bottom of the ocean to pick this pearl up.
The underwater adventure features 60 levels, during which players will control several different fish ranging from Boris the butterfly fish early on to Goliath the great white shark further in.
On each stage you’re given an area of sea to swim around in.
The aim is to move your fish around gobbling up any marine creatures smaller than you while avoiding any predators bigger than you.
There are some levels where you can leap out of the water to catch bugs and some midnight levels which are only partially lit but most of the stages play out very similarly to one another as you attempt to rise to the top of the food chain.
During levels various power-ups appear which either help you survive or activate scoring bonuses.
Controlling the fish is very simple using the left stick, with limited use of buttons for actions such as dashing, sucking up schools of fish and jumping.
My complaint about the controls is they are too twitchy and the fish move around too briskly, resulting in my fish needlessly becoming snacks to passing enemies.
At least the controls are extremely easy. In fact, the whole game is very straightforward, not very mentally taxing at all. Having quick reflexes is the main skill required.
The bright colours, cute graphics and simple mechanics make Feeding Frenzy an ideal game for children, although keeping the fish from being swallowed up is challenging enough for us grown-ups too.
While the game is definitely fun to start with, it can get slightly samey after a while.
It doesn’t have the same amount of variety as other PopCap games. For instance, in Plants vs Zombies there are dozens of plants which means there are lots of strategies for defeating the invaders. In Bejeweled there are usually several moves which can be made with multiple possibilities.
Feeding Frenzy is one-dimensional by comparison. It’s literally just about swimming around and gobbling up other fish as quickly as possible.
This lack of depth, which is quite surprising for a game which mostly takes place near the seabed, is compensated by a good selection of play modes.
The main story mode can be played on either normal or easy setting. You can also compete against up to three friends in co-op mode.
Additionally there is a time attack mode, 10 party games and a ‘frenzyfest’ multiplayer tournament.
While Feeding Frenzy 2 lacks a little of the magic found in other PopCap games which makes them fiendishly addictive, it’s still a fun budget title which makes a big splash for a low price.
It’s a colourful and cute game which offers hours of family entertainment.
Verdict: 7.5 out of 10 – A likeable light-hearted game that should feed your appetite for underwater adventure.
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