Smack That Gugl

"Kill" instructions turn cute smacking game to creepy.
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Smack That Gugl
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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 Smack That Gugl is a target-smashing game in the Whack-a-Mole vein but that kids are instructed to "kill" the creatures, which puts a violent aspect into the game. Little clay creatures pop up and you smack them into colorful flat spatters as quickly as you can so as to "kill" them. Also note that some of the Gugl creatures are diseased (with some kind of pox) and you will lose a life if you touch them.
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Is It Any Good?
So much of SMACK THAT GUGL is cute, colorful, and generally inoffensive fun. But then there's the "Kill them all" directive that starts each round, which puts an ugly aura over the experience. This is basically a fun exercise in reaction time, and the challenge factor ramps up nicely as new types of Gugls are introduced -- some that require two smacks to destroy, or ones that split into two entirely new creatures, and so on. If only the "killing" aspect didn't make it feel creepy.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Release date: May 20, 2011
- Category: Arcade Games
- Publisher: Tayasui.com
- Version: 1.0.5
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 4.2 or later
- Last updated: August 22, 2016
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love fast-paced apps
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