Search PalmPower's 487 Palm-related article archive 
Home
EasyPrint
News details Click here for the RSS feed's XML code. This is not a browser URL.
Articles-only Click here for the RSS feed's XML code. This is not a browser URL.
PRODUCT REVIEW
Corral some crazy kittens with Herdin CatZ
By Chris Phillips

I was looking for a fun game that would allow me to test the color screen on my Palm m505 when I came across Herdin CatZ from Notions Software at http://www.notionssoftware.com. This is a wacky game developed by someone with an active imagination. Though very concept of herding cats is preposterous, the author manages to expand on it in a unique and creative way. The result is a visually appealing and challenging game.

First impression
The first thing I noticed when I started the game was the liberal use of color. The author does an excellent job of creating a gaming environment that's pleasant to look at, without being distracting, as you can see in Figure A.

FIGURE A

Here's the Herdin CatZ startup screen.

The first thing you do is choose whether you want to start a new game, continue a previous game, or change the options. I jumped right into a game. Once you tap "New," you're presented with a brief description of the situation and what you must do. As I started playing the game, I was slightly disappointed that it wasn't more difficult. I raced through each of the five levels in the first world without losing a single cat. I suppose the game may have been designed this way to give you a chance to learn how the game works. But, by the time I was done, it felt a little monotonous. The second world, however, was more difficult, and I invested much more time (and several cats) in completing it.

Overview
Herdin CatZ consists of five worlds: Tree world, Bug world, Fish world, Yarn world, and Cheese world. The route between each of the five worlds is pictured in Figure B.

FIGURE B

You'll have to navigate your cats through each of the five worlds.

Each world has a different variation of five levels that must be completed before moving to the next world, and each world is progressively more difficult than one before. You start each world with three cats. If you fail to accomplish the objective of a given level, you lose a cat and have to start the level over. If you lose all three cats, you must start the whole world over.

Corral Craze
The object of the Corral Craze level, pictured in Figure C, is to herd at least five cats through the gate of the corral.

FIGURE C

Herd the cats through the gate before time runs out!

You do this by using your stylus to encourage the cats to move in the direction of the gate. Of course, the cats have no interest in this and wander around everywhere except the gate. There is a door in the lower right-hand corner that the cats try to escape through. If enough cats escape through the door, you lose. If the timer runs out, you lose. If you manage to get enough cats through the gate, you progress to the next level.


1  ·  2  ·  3  ·  Next »
Other articles you might like
Home > Phones and PDAs > Palm and Treo > Software (211 articles)
   TealOS: great Palm software you are prohibited from buying
   CallRec gives your Treo better call recording
   Edit Office files on the go with Documents To Go
Home > Reviews > Software > Palm (195 articles)
   TealOS: great Palm software you are prohibited from buying
   CallRec gives your Treo better call recording
   Edit Office files on the go with Documents To Go
Home > Games > Palm Games > Simulation Games (8 articles)
   Village Sim lets you control your own village people
   How to be a Plant and Fish Tycoon
   Palm games for pool sharks
Get Weekly Email Updates
Subscribe to our regular weekly email newsletter. It's packed with tips, reviews, deep analysis, and the latest news.
 
Other PalmPower Articles
Palm gets up to date with new Tungsten family of handhelds
Create handwritten email with riteMail
Presenter-to-Go puts PowerPoint presentations on your Palm OS handheld
Looking for the cutting edge
Gain remote access to databases and PLCs
PalmSource Open House showcases what's new in the Palm community
Analysis: handheld market share
More from the ZATZ journals
Computing Unplugged: The iPad defenders have spoken
David Gewirtz Online: CNN commentary and analysis
DominoPower: Application development, William Shatner, and the origin of the universe
OutlookPower: More about disappearing text
-- Advertisement --

ONLINE GROUP CALENDAR - FOR UP TO 100 OF YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS
Stay organized and in control with 24/7 access to all of your important events, projects and files --whether you're at work, at home or on the road.

You can share your calendar, projects and files so everyone in your office is up to date. Plus, search your entire group to find times when everyone is available to meet, manage company resources and much more.

Organize your entire team for as low as $9.95 per year (and yes, that's where the decimal place is supposed to be!)

Tap here to get started right away.

ZATZ Home  ·  News  ·  Back Issues  ·  Credits/Trademarks ·  Link To Us
Copyright © 1998-2010, ZATZ Publishing. All rights reserved worldwide.
Editor's Login