Hungry Shark World
Fun but bloody feeding frenzy has more screams than science.
Parents say
Based on 4 reviews
Kids say
Based on 14 reviews
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Hungry Shark World
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Hungry Shark World is a game where you take control of a shark and make it as big as possible by killing and eating sea creatures and people. To stay alive, sharks must stay in motion and constantly eat, and the highest-value targets are human tourists. Both sea life and humans bleed when attacked, and human attacks result in screaming and crunching sounds. It's possible to play without spending money, but free gameplay requires watching a lot of commercials for other apps, and a slow upgrading process encourages players to break out the cash. Read the app's privacy policy to find out about the types of information collected and shared.
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What’s It About?
HUNGRY SHARK WORLD doesn't have much of a narrative; it simply gives you control of a hungry shark and lets you eat everything in sight. The idea is to eat nonstop, avoiding bigger predators and harmful objects, thus growing as big as possible and taking on bigger prey. Steer your shark via the touchscreen and use occasional boosts to swim around various oceans looking for food. Schools of fish, crabs, turtles, and swimsuit-wearing tourists are all fair game. Without a steady stream of food, you die. Without spending real money on upgrades, it takes quite a bit of gameplay and ad watching to advance your shark to the next level.
Is It Any Good?
Though it takes time to get the hang of steering your starter shark, once you do the fun really kicks in. The two virtual thumbstick controls are mostly pretty good (you can get hung up in some places), and the movements of the AI fish are just random enough to look real without it being impossible to catch them. Early on, the life meter counts down very quickly, and schools of tiny fish are just not enough to keep your shark alive. Survival depends -- at first -- on eating humans. Yes, hapless swimsuit-wearing tourists must be mercilessly devoured in a cloud of blood if you want to get anywhere, and although the cartoony graphics mitigate this some, it's still disturbing. On the other hand, players not phased by dead-eyed fish with rows of razor-sharp teeth eating people are in for a lot of fun. It's cool to level your shark, not to mention buy upgrades for it with gold you've earned by eating. It's also fun earning the experience needed to unlock bigger sharks and different ocean maps. Of course, if you're not the patient type, unlocks are easily purchased. Aquatic phobias aside, this is one underwater eating contest that's well worth entering.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in video games. Is having your shark eat a swimmer in this game different from a shooting game? Why, or why not?
Discuss the bad reputation sharks get from the media and find out how often people really get bitten. Are sharks really man-eaters, or do they serve another purpose?
Think about the different sharks. How many kinds of sharks can you name?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Pricing structure: Free (with optional in-app purchases)
- Release date: May 5, 2016
- Category: Action Games
- Topics: Ocean Creatures
- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Version: 1.0.10
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 8.0 or later, Android varies with device
- Last updated: July 26, 2016
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