I really admire people that can make something that’s entertaining to both kids and adults.  I think that’s why I like Pixar films and going to Chuck E Cheese so much.  That’s also a big part of the appeal that Frootrees has on me.  It looks like a kid’s game, it sounds like a kid’s game, and it even plays like a kid’s game – until you get four different types of fruits going at the same time.  It sure kept my fingers busy at that point.

Frootrees is a game of sorting fruit.  The fruit starts of young, ripens  and then grows old just before it falls off the tree.  Your job is to grab the fruit before it falls and put it in the appropriate container.  Containers are represented by bars at the bottom of the screen that are the same color as the fruit.  You get 1 point for each young or old fruit that you manage to collect, and 2 points for each ripe fruit.  As you collect several fruit in a row you’ll build up a multiplier that counts against any future fruit you collect.  Miss or misplace just one fruit, however, and the multiplier drops back down to one.  The game starts with two types of fruit, and eventually you’ll make your way up to four.  If too many fruit fall off or end up in the wrong containers it’s game over.

Look At All That Fruit

Sorting the fruit is simple.  Grab a fruit with your finger and fling it over to the container it belongs in.  The problem is this is not always as easy as it seems.  Tossing the fruit didn’t seem quite as responsive as it should have been, and there were a few times where I accidentally ended up tossing a fruit in the wrong spot because when I finally got hold of it I flung it too hard.  Overall it’s a simple mechanic to get used to, and if you’re skilled enough you can even toss the fruit up in the air first to score more points.

The graphics definitely teeter on the “cute” side, though they are still a pleasure to look at.  The branches of the tree sway gently in the wind, and the various fruit have great expressions on them, especially when they’re stretched out because you pulled them but didn’t quite get them off the tree.  I was a bit disappointed that the tree’s eyes didn’t at least blink or something, but I guess you can’t have everything.  The sound effects are great, and I’m guessing they were done by kids (or adults that are kids at heart).  I also really like the music.  It’s very calm and relaxing, and easy to listen to even when you’re not playing the game.

Sometimes the slightly less than responsive controls get frustrating.  Otherwise, Frootrees is a simple game that’s a blast to play.  It’s kid friendly, adult challenging, and easily provides that “one more time” feeling.  Besides, fruit’s good for you, right?

Final Verdict: Recommended
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