Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots iPad Review

Fruit Ninja sold millions of copies on various mobile devices, making the game almost as ubiquitous on iOS as Rovio's Angry Birds. And, just like that series with its movie-inspired sequel, Angry Birds Rio, developer Halfbrick today released Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots, a game that accompanies the October 28 box office release of the same name, minus the Fruit Ninja part.

If you played the original, you'll see that Halfbrick stuck with the successful formula, but that's a great thing. The original Fruit Ninja controlled like a dream as your fingers sliced pineapples and oranges, and you basically receive the same high quality experience, complete with GameCenter or OpenFeint support to post high scores.

That said, there are a few surprises. The game is split into two modes: Desperado and Bandito. In Desperado, the game plays similar to classic Fruit Ninja. Fruit flies across your iPhone and iPad, slowly at first and then more rapidly, and your fingers need to swipe everything on the screen before it hits the ground and you lose a heart. Lose three hearts or accidentally swipe a bomb, and it's game over. Make good use of a combo system by swiping multiple fruits in one sword slash, and you'll see those points rapidly increase.

In Bandito, the game differentiates itself from the original by giving you a random assortment of challenges over the course of three acts and a finale. These challenges range from having to slash fruit while avoiding a giant bomb to cracking a tough-as-nails coconut to bashing open a pinata. The variety is a welcome addition to what could have been a monotonous game, and it makes this version of Fruit Ninja stand on its own.

Also, if you're a fan of Puss in Boots, he's definitely well represented. The game's setting has a nice tropical vibe with Spanish guitars, and the swashbuckling cat will add a quip here and there when you execute a deft move. Unlockables are also here, providing you with different backgrounds and sword effects. Our personal favorite? The cat claw.

Mobile game sequels are hit or miss, as some developers just slap a new skin on an older game. Halfbrick did that with one of the game's modes, but the Bandito mode as well as the humor in the Puss in Boots character makes this version unique. If you played the original, the new mode is worth the purchase, and if you never experienced Fruit Ninja, Puss in Boots is the perfect way to get started.

Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later.

Download Fruit Ninja Puss in Boots

Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later.

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