When you think of the dream careers of kids today, you’re likely to think of things like Police Officer, Firefighter, Pilot, or Astronaut. If those done come to the top of your list, it might be things like Movie Star, Superhero, or [insert favorite musician here]. The world of iOS apps and games has now become so expansive, that it can allow us to experience the life of our dreams, and if your dream is to be like Justin Bieber, then Pop Rocks World HD may be the perfect opening to your life as the next big thing.
Overview:
Pop Rocks World HD ($1.99 in the App Store) is a music industry based RPG for iPad. With the central focus of working your way to the top of the charts and to virtual celebrity status, Pop Rocks World HD is the first music based RPG to truly follow the career of a solo artist.
When you begin your journey, your first task is to pick an idol (as a mentor to introduce you to the game). This will give your character a baseline for the 3 key attributes of the game: fame, charm, and showmanship. Once you’ve setup your character and proceeded through the brief tutorial, you are on your own to become a superstar.
The two main areas of the game are performances and challenges. In a performance, it’s entirely a matter of chance to decide how you do, with a simple spin of a wheel (slot-machine style). If the wheels match or create a winning combination, experience points and moolah are awarded to your character. More experience points means high attributes.
Challenges involve playing against other Pop Rocks World “musicians” in a test of speed and focus. In a challenge, a group of nine numbered blocks appear on the screen, in a random order. Your job is to hit the highest numbered block before they disappear. Your opponent is tasked to do the same, and the player left standing (or with the higher score if time runs out) wins. Every time you win, you are awarded experience points and fans.
While those are the two primary playing aspects of the game, there are many more elements to becoming a star, like your personal image, which is a true reflection of the music industry today.
Verdict: [rating: 4.5]
Pop Rocks World HD is one of the most fun and accurately portrayed RPGs I’ve ever played. Having experienced a (brief) attempt at a career in music, the elements of the game hold true to the real life challenges of musicians today. Not only is the game realistic, but Pop Rocks World HD uses creative, fun, and unique ways of turning non-musical tasks into virtual performances.
Pros:
- Realistic challenges and goals
- Fun cartoony graphics
- Use of non-musical tasks to turn anyone into a rising artist
- Creative and enjoyable soundtrack
Cons:
- No way (that I could find) to start a new career.
If you’ve ever considered a career as a musician or singer, be sure to check out Pop Rocks World HD for iPad, $1.99 in the App Store.
