If you are in search of a simple, challenging, addictive game for your Windows Phone - you will want to try Night Chopper.
Night Chopper is inspired by the Timberman games but approaches being a lumberjack from a slightly different angle. The viewpoint of chopping down the tree is from the bottom up. That is you are looking up the center of the tree. The different perspective does take a little time to get used to and can drive you nuts (in a good way that is).
Available for low-memory devices, the developer has done a good job delivering a rather nice gaming title to our Windows Phone.
Night Chopper doesn't have an overly complicated main menu with options to play the game, check in on the online leaderboard, access your gaming options and view the About screen. Settings cover turning on/off the sound, vibration and online leaderboard participation.
Night Chopper does lack a help section and given the odd perspective of the game, I think a help section would be beneficial.
Night Chopper has two gaming modes, Classic and White. Both seem to play the same with the only difference being a white branch that appears from time to time with the White Mode that you can chop through.
Game Play
Game play with either mode is almost identical. Imagine yourself laying on the ground with a tree trunk hovering directly over you. You have four points on the trunk to chop at and you have to avoid tree limbs from reaching your position.
Each section of the tree you chop will earn you a point and if the branch reaches the bottom of the tree or you chop it with your axe, the game is over.
The white branch is a little ghost like in that you can chop through it to get to the tree trunk. In a way, the White Mode gives you a slight safety mode with the white branch should you get over run with branches.
There is a timer in play (represented by the bar running across the top of the game screen) with Night Chopper. The more you chop, additional time is added to the timer bar. You also have the ability to select a piano song that will play as you chop away at your tree.
Prior to making your first chop, tap the piano keyboard at the top of the gaming screen to choose your tune. Song titles include:
- Moonlight Sonata
- Bella's Lullaby
- Misty Mountains Cold
- Hall Of The Mountain King
- River Flows In You
- Zelda's Lullaby
- Dr. Who - I'm the Doctor
- The Godfather Theme
- And More
I like the piano music feature and it will help you maintain a decent pace with Night Chopper. Just don't get so involved with the music that you forget about the branches.
Overall Impression
Night Chopper isn't a complex Windows Phone game but that doesn't mean it lacks challenge. The perspective does take a little time to get accustomed to but once you get a feel for the game's point of view, game play begins to make more sense. I do wish the game had in the very least a help page diagraming things to help get you acclimated to the unique perspective.
All totaled, I found Night Chopper to be an enjoyable Windows Phone game to pass the time with. It will test your speed, reflexes and timing. It can also leave you a little flabbergasted at times as the branches sneak up on you.
Night Chopper is currently rated at 4.5 Stars, which isn't far from the mark. If you give Night Chopper a try, remember to rate the game in the Windows Phone Store and let us know what you think of the game in the comments below.
