Cut the Rope
| Cut the Rope | |
|---|---|
 Logo of the original Cut the Rope |
|
| Developer(s) | ZeptoLab |
| Platform(s) | iOS Android Symbian BlackBerry PlayBook[1] DSiWare Mac OS X Browser[2][3] Windows Windows Phone BlackBerry |
| Release date(s) | Cut the Rope: 2010 (on iOS) Cut the Rope: Experiments: 2011 Cut the Rope: Time Travel: April 2013 |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle |
| Mode(s) | Single |
Cut the Rope is a series of physics-based puzzle video games by the Russian developer ZeptoLab for several platforms and devices. It consists of the original Cut the Rope (2010), the sequel Cut the Rope: Experiments (2011) and Cut the Rope: Time Travel (2013).
The objective of the Cut the Rope games is to feed candy to a little green monster named Om Nom while collecting stars. As of 2012, the original Cut the Rope had been downloaded more than 100 million times.[4]
Contents |
Gameplay [edit]
In each level, the candy hangs by one or several of the titular ropes which the player must cut with a swipe of their finger. Using various objects such as floating bubbles and bellows, the candy must also be manipulated around obstacles to get to Om Nom's mouth.
Each level pack introduces new challenges. Levels are scored with a zero to three star rating, according to how many stars the player picked up, and a point score depending on the number of stars collected and the amount of time taken to complete the level.[5] An in-app purchase called "Superpowers" makes play easier.[6]
Releases [edit]
Cut the Rope [edit]
Cut the Rope premiered on October 4, 2010 for iOS. A native (HD) version for the iPad was released on October 6, 2010. This was followed by the release of a free version with fewer levels for each device, called Cut the Rope Lite and Cut the Rope HD Lite respectively. Nine days after its initial release, the game had been purchased one million times and rose to the top of the App Store's charts. According to Chillingo, this made it the fastest-selling iOS game to reach that number of sales.[7] A free standalone Christmas-themed version of the game with 25 levels, Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift, was released in December 2010.
The Android version was released in June 2011.[8] The DSiWare version was released in September 2011 for Europe and November 2011 for North America on Nintendo DSi and Nintendo 3DS systems.[9]
In January 2012, a limited version of the game was published as a browser game for HTML5 browsers. The game is also available for a free download on the Windows 8 Consumer Preview at the Windows Store.
On January 2013, the BlackBerry version of the Cut the Rope was released to BlackBerry World following the announcement of BlackBerry 10.[10]
Cut the Rope: Experiments [edit]
Cut the Rope: Experiments premiered on August 4, 2011 as a sequel to Cut the Rope.[11] While its gameplay and presentation closely match that of Cut the Rope, the sequel introduces new gameplay elements as well as a new storyline and characters. The Professor, for example, “provides running commentary”[12] throughout the game as players unlock new levels and collect “hidden” photos that reveal more information about Om Nom’s character.
Cut the Rope: Time Travel [edit]
The second sequel, Cut the Rope: Time Travel, was released on April 18, 2013. It sees Om Nom travel back to the time of his ancestors, which means in terms of gameplay that players now feed candy to two monsters rather than to only one.
Level packs [edit]
All games in the Cut the Rope series group content into "boxes" or "level packs". Traditionally, boxes contained 25 levels each, but boxes in Cut the Rope: Time Travel contain only 15 levels each. Most boxes introduce a new element in the game, challenging the player with a new set of game mechanics. New boxes continue to be added from time to time through updates.
The following table summarizes the number of boxes and levels in each Cut the Rope game, as of April 2013.
| Game | Number of boxes | Levels per box | Total levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cut the Rope | 14 | 25 | 350 |
| Cut the Rope: Experiments | 7 | 25 | 175 |
| Cut the Rope: Time Travel | 6 | 15 | 90 |
| Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift (no longer available) | 1 | 25 | 25 |
Reception [edit]
| Cut the Rope | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Aggregator | Score |
| Metacritic | 93/100[13] |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| Eurogamer | 9/10[14] |
| GameSpot | 8/10[15] |
| IGN | 9/10[16] |
| Cut the Rope: Experiments | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Aggregator | Score |
| Metacritic | 85/100[13] |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| Cut the Rope: Time Travel | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Aggregator | Score |
| Metacritic | 87/100[13] |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
In addition to its commercial success, Cut the Rope was very well received by critics. As of September 2012, the aggregator website Metacritic lists a score of 93 (out of 100) based on 14 reviews, a rating of "universal acclaim".[13] IGN has praised the game for having "the addictive qualities of Angry Birds – great puzzles, near-perfect use of touch controls, and cute personality".[16] Gamespot has described it as "fresh, challenging, gorgeous, and highly entertaining”.[15] Jon Mundy of Pocket Gamer was equally positive, calling it "bright, imaginative, and supremely polished".[19]
At WWDC 2011, Cut the Rope won an Apple Design Award for the iOS platform.[17] In March 2011, it won the 7th British Academy Video Games Awards in the "Handheld" category and a BaFTA Award, the first iOS game to do so.[20]
Comic and merchandise [edit]
In July 2011, ZeptoLab and comics publisher Ape Entertainment announced a comic book series to be published as a stand-alone app. The comics tell the backstory of the candy-eating monster Om Nom and introduce new characters.[21]
The character Om Nom has become the subject of a viral video,[22] plush toys,[23] and a Mattel Apptivity game.[24]
References [edit]
- ^ http://crackberry.com/press-release-research-motion-previews-blackberry-playbook-os-20-ces-2012
- ^ "Behind the Scenes at Cut the Rope for HTML5." Cut The Rope. ZeptoLab. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. <http://www.cuttherope.ie/dev/>.
- ^ "Cut the Rope Hits the Web via Internet Explorer 9". Mashable. 2012-01-10.
- ^ Lynley, Matt. "After 100 Million Downloads, 'Cut The Rope' Lands On Google Chrome".
- ^ Kuchera, Ben. "Cut the Rope on iOS combines physics, monsters, and candy".
- ^ Leader, Bird. "Cut the Rope Experiments Superpowers Update Just Arrived". Rocket Pond.
- ^ Benedetti, Winda. "Superb 'Cut the Rope' game ties up iPhone/iPad charts".
- ^ Cut the Rope - Google Play
- ^ Cut the Rope - DSiWare
- ^ "BlackBerry shows off some of its 70,000 new third-party apps, including Skype, Rdio, Kindle, and Whatsapp". The Verge. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
- ^ KUMPARAK, GREG. ""Cut The Rope" Sequel Will Be Called "Cut The Rope: Experiments", Launching August 4th". TechCrunch.
- ^ Grothaus, Michael. "Cut the Rope: Experiments brings some new twists to the popular property".
- ^ a b c d "Cut the Rope iOS". Metacritic. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ^ Reed, Kristan (11 October 2010). "Mobile Games Roundup". Eurogamer. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
- ^ a b Reed, Chris (29 April 2011). "Cut the Rope Review". Gamespot. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
- ^ a b Buchanan, Levi (October 8, 2010). "Cut the Rope iPhone Review - The Next Angry Birds?". IGN. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
- ^ a b Apple Design Awards
- ^ "Video Games Awards Winners in 2011". BAFTA. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
- ^ Jon Mundy (2010-10-06). "Cut the Rope Review". PocketGamer.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
- ^ "Cut the Rope Makes History". IGN.
- ^ Rosenblatt, Seth. "iOS game Cut the Rope jumps to comics".
- ^ "Cut the Rope animated short makes its debut".
- ^ "Cut the Rope toys coming from Vivid".
- ^ "Apptivity™ Cut The Rope™".
External links [edit]
- Cut the Rope – iOS App Store / Google Play: Standard - HD - Free
- Cut the Rope Experiments – iOS App Store / Google Play: Standard - HD - Free
- "Cut the Rope" on the publisher's website
- Web browser version of the game
