If you’ve been looking for that next pick-up-and-play game that’s easy to learn but difficult to master, then look no further than Colour Flick. The premise is simple: throughout six varied game modes your primary objective is to flick a colored ball into the corresponding colored section of an outer circle, with the ball changing color after each swipe of the thumb.
While it may not sound all that enticing at first, increasingly challenging elements introduced as you progress remind you to leave those preconceived notions at the door. From rotating circles, to devilish shades of the same color, spiraling blockers, shrinking spaces, and even reversing the ball’s direction, the number of fresh concepts complimenting the core mechanic is commendable.
The level of thought developer Matthew Falzon has put into each facet of the game’s design is immediately apparent. The game’s core theme of color surrounds the app, providing a cohesive package within each game mode. For example, timed modes forfeit a standard countdown timer, electing to emphasis urgency through color gradually filling the inner portion of the circle.
The clean aesthetic of bold and bright colors popping from a black background, coupled with its understated soundtrack, allows Colour Flick’s visual and audio design to strengthen the player’s experience by emphasizing concentration while never becoming a distraction. And after several extended play sessions with the app, not a single bug or crash ever reared its ugly head.
As you explore each of the game’s modes, you’ll uncover a surprising amount of variety. ‘Infinite Classic’ tasks you with seeing how long you can survive, with each few waves throwing a new obstacle aimed to hinder your progress. ‘Infinite Rotation’ provides something similar, although with the added caveat of a rotating outer circle to aim for.
The core modes also offer timed alternatives, but the mode I found myself putting the most time into was ‘Challenges’. It’s here where you’ll find over 90 levels, each more demanding than the last, throwing every trick the game has to offer at you. Considering the basic central objective, it’s remarkable how the amount of mechanics peppered throughout the gameplay make it consistently feel original.
After each game of Colour Flick the player is rewarded with a form of currency, which is then used to unlock secret personalization icons for the center ball. This, along with striving to climb the ranks of each mode’s leaderboard, provides a surprising amount of longevity to the game – epitomizing the, just one more go, nature of mobile gaming.
The one niggle I came across throughout my time with Colour Flick, is a specific implementation of its ads. While far from intrusive (a simple banner at the bottom, with the ability to pay to remove it completely), upon failing, the game presents you with an option to carry on by watching a video ad. While not predatory at its root, this ability of a second chance may unintentionally fracture the leaderboards between those who are willing to sit through a 30 second ad and those who aren’t.
Nevertheless, Colour Flick is an absolute joy to play. It will test your reactions and thumb dexterity in equal measure, gradually ramping up the difficulty with challenging and rewarding gameplay. Available for free on the App Store and Google Play, download now and see how far your reactions can take you.
