Games for Lunch: Flock!

In a nutshell: Go that way. No, not that way, that way. No, the other way. GRRRR!
5/1/2009 6:20 PM | 1 Comments | Page 1 of 3

Developer: Proper Games
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: April 8, 2009
Systems: Xbox 360 (reviewed), PS3, PC
ESRB Rating: E
Official Web site

0:00 I remember being enamored with this cute action/puzzle game during a short demo at E3 '08, but I just didn't know if it would have any staying power. We'll see, won't we?

0:01 Some loading and some file creation take up this entire first minute.

0:02 "Use your UFO to herd any animals in the level to the Motherflocker." I love any game that can be distilled into a single sentence that way. Also, "Motherflocker" is an epic win of naming.

0:03 Level 1 is named "Un-Baa-lievably Easy." I wonder if it'll be tough...

0:05 So, basically, I'm a UFO hovering a few feet off a patchwork of sewn-together grass. When I get close to the white puffball sheep, they run away scared. I have to use this reaction to herd them towards the Motherflocker mothership. The sheep are incredibly cute as they bounce up and down and away from my ship.

0:07 On to Level 2: "Hide and Seek." Here the sheep are hiding behind trees, but my ship's antenna points out the closest ones. I have to get used to making wide arcing circles around the sheep, so I don't inadvertently push them in the wrong direction while I'm trying to get in position.

0:11 Level 3 is named "Flocking It." That's not even a good pun! Anyway, this level introduces a small ramp and a fence that annoyingly splits my herd in two. Gathering up the ones that went the wrong way slows me down enough to fall down to Silver medal status. Bleh.

0:14 Level 4: "Boost-iful" is the first one that lets me tap the left trigger for a minor speed burst. It's also the first time I send a sheep to its death, accidentally pushing him over the walls via a small ramp. His pathetic "baaa" as he falls is heartbreaking. My mourning slows me down to Silver medal level again, despite the speed help from the boost.

0:17 Level 5 is named "Twist and Turn," though I have no idea why. It includes tricky hills which require careful sheep management to avoid sending them into the drink. Reminds me a bit of Marble Madness, in a way. Single sheep seem to be getting constantly separated from my flock, thanks to the vagaries of my pushing. I realize now that I should probably leave them behind and go back once I've fulfilled my flocking quota for the level.

0:18 Level 6 is named "Sheep Go Baa." Are the level namers even trying anymore?

0:20 "Sheep are made of cotton wool. They will shrink when made wet." Indeed. The mini-sheep are somehow even cuter and bouncier than the full-sized ones. They can also sneak under the wooden fence in this overly simple tutorial level. Come on, guys, bring on the puzzles already!

0:21 Level 7 brings back the witty with the title "Honey I Shrunk the Sheep." OK, but shouldn't that have been the title for Level 6?

0:23 Urgh. So this level requires looping the sheep around a small Figure 8 track to get to the water that will shrink them and let them through the fence right in front of the Motherflocker. Simple enough, except I keep accidentally pushing the sheep the wrong way when I try to reposition my ship, resulting in having to do the whole Figure 8 twice. I have to get used to going AROUND the sheep instead of through them, I guess. My first measly bronze medal.