Developed by Zeptolab and published by Chillingo, Cut The Rope puts you in charge of feeding candy to a cute creature that lives in a box. The catch is you can only feed him by lowering the candy from a rope.

The game’s 100 levels (25 per type of box) consist of a hard candy hanging on a rope. Slashing the rope with your finger severs it, dropping the candy down. The challenge is that the rope is not always hanging directly above the creature, and isn’t always suspended by only one rope. The trick is to cut one rope so the candy swings on the other, and time your next cut so the candy falls into the creature’s mouth, while collecting stars along the way.

Variations in the levels include stretched strings - which when cut propel the candy in the opposite direction; knobs that generate a new rope, which you must use as part of your strategy; and spiders that climb down the rope and eat the candy if you don’t cut the rope in time. Other obstacles include candy-breaking spikes, bubbles that float the candy upward and objects that blow wind to change the direction of the candy when you tap on it.

Multitouch works well here, as you can cut multiple ropes at once by using multiple fingers. Alternatively, you could make one clean, wide swipe, which is sometimes necessary to stabilize the candy. The swaying physics feels very accurate and the candy carries realistic momentum.

Each of the four box worlds are unlocked by meeting the required number of collected stars. There is the cardboard, fabric, foil, and gift box each with their own set of challenges and obstacles.

Cut The Rope also utilizes the GameCenter and Crystal achievement system, adding a competitive level to an already challenging game.

It’s a fun, frustrating game that always remains creative, and will certainly last you, with a cute cartoony art style and a professional polish.