Web/Mobile App Critique

 The Mobile App I decided to review is Candy Crush Saga. I have been playing this puzzle game for almost a decade.  Currently, there are 12,275 levels; this game can last a lifetime if you choose to play that long. The objective is to match at least three of the same-colored candies in a row to clear areas of the board. There are several different special candies you can use to help clear the board.

Here is how the special candies work:

Striped Candy: This is made by matching four Candies in a straight line. When matched, the Striped Candy removes all the Candies, either a horizontal or vertical line across the board. This is determined by the direction of the stripes on the candy.

Wrapped Candy: Wrapped Candies are made by matching five Candies in an “L” or “T” shape. The Wrapped Candy explodes, taking out all the surrounding Candies.

Color Bomb: Match five Candies in a straight line to make a Color Bomb. Swap the Color Bomb with a nearby candy, and all the candies of that color on the board explode.

Swedish Fish: Fish are created by matching four Candies in a 2x2 square shape. When matched, the Swedish Fish will swim across the board and eat the candies it encounters in its path. 

Coloring Candy: This special Candy is made by matching at least six Candies. Five must be in a straight line with at least one more next to the middle Candy. Switch the Coloring Candy with a regular Candy, and all the Candies of that color on the board will be painted to match the Coloring Candy.

Several boosters or Power-ups are also offered to help players through challenging levels, but these must be purchased -- and the amount you can spend is astounding.  This game is easy to play, well-designed, and updated weekly. It does take some skill if you want to get through some of the more difficult levels. The game starts out easy and gets more difficult as the levels progress. You can play in different game modes, and you can even challenge your friends; this app can be connected to Facebook to add friends, but it is not required. There is an abundance of activity in Candy Crush Saga to keep you playing for hours. The Pros of the game are that there are dozens of levels, boosters available, and you have the ability to challenge friends for extra perks. The cons of the game are the frequent crashes, you lose a life and miss out on a potential win, there are never enough moves, and there is a constant push to spend money to play to progress or get more moves.  One recommendation I would suggest would be to improve the crashing issue; it is probably the most frustrating thing about the app. The second is more ways to add boosters or moves without purchasing. Lastly, more social features, such as a chat area to ask for boosters, lives, etc. from friends. Other than the crashing issue using this app is a great way to unwind and pass the time.