Finding Dory: Just Keep Swimming Review
Disney’s latest video game to come to mobile devices is “Finding Dory: Just Keep Swimming”, a side strolling game that is inspired by the latest Pixar movie, featuring characters like Dory, Nemo, Marlin and newer characters like Hank and Destiny. This game is available on Windows 10, IOS & Android, plus it will be coming to Apple TV soon. The game is priced at $3.99.
Pros:
Roger – The game has 13 levels, requiring Dory to get to the end of the level, dodging other fish and grabbing hands, while using the current to push forward Dory. As you would expect, it gets slightly harder with each passing level and some of the levels have different gaming styles, some require you to collect bubbles, while other levels have have friends to find or enemies to out swim. Each level requires a certain score before unlocking the next level and also adds replay value to the game to improve how many stars you can get. Many of the later levels took me a couple of attempts to master, which I think adds a good challenge and replay value. There are some really enjoyable levels such as trying to out swim a squid or when children are trying to grab you from above.
Travis – While the game is geared towards children, I had a lot of fun playing the game. It is straightforward enough where kids can easily understand how to navitgate the game, yet quick paced and challenging enough where I did not find myself bored with the game.
Roger – I was impressed with the overall graphics of the game as I found it to be very bright and colourful, the story sections between each level is a nice touch. A couple of the levels have been locked away until after the movie is released, probably to avoid spoilers, though the game does give away plenty of details of the movie.
Travis – Coming directly from Disney Interactive, the animation and voice casting is spot on. While it doesn’t sound to me like they are the original actors’ voices (Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, and Ed O’Neill), whoever did voice them did a great job.
Roger – It’s also great that this game was a straight up purchase game, rather than going for the free to play model as there isn’t any constant bugging about buying extra content, no confusing different types of currency, meaning you can just sit back and enjoy the game. At just $4, it’s a good price for hours of entertainment. I spent a couple of hours sat in the backyard going through the levels, so it’s not going to keep kids entertained for weeks, but it’s a good little pocket money purchase.
Travis – At the cost of $3.99, I got 11 levels to navigate through, with an additional 2 levels coming with the release of the movie. Thirteen levels total for roughly about a quarter cost for each level. The value, for me, is there… especially since you can replay each level whether you get the three star ranking the first time around or not.
Cons:
Roger – For me one of the slight cons of this game is its slightly shorter than I had expected, with just 13 levels, this feels very short and I was able to get through the game within a few hours, for a paid app, it’s hard not to compare to other recent Disney mobile games that are free to play, and feel it should have included more levels or even have some alternative characters to control like Nemo, to inspire replay value. However for the price of the game, I feel this still offered value for money.
Travis – My major, and only con, is SPOILERS. This game is very spoiler heavy in regards to events from the movie. Not sure I would have initially played the game if I knew that. Once I realized how spoiler-laden the game was, I figured it was too late to turn back now.
Overall Thoughts:
Roger – Just Keep Swimming is a fun little game, a perfect companion game and a great way of spending some hours playing and I’m sure kids will enjoy it even more. I think making this a paid app was the correct choice as in the world of mobile games constantly pushing for additional purchases, this made it more enjoyable. A fun solid side stroller and it’s beautifully done, I would certainly a good budget title to get in the Finding Dory mood.
Travis – I am big into Disney mobile gaming these days, as I am usually on the go and not at home to enjoy Disney Infinity on my PS4. Finding Dory: Just Keep Swimming is a perfect addition to my game collection on my iPhone, and even though I already have all of the available levels at three stars and complete, I will be replaying them throughout the summer, at the very least. It’s a fun game which doesn’t take a lot of thinking, which on most days I need.
Check out this gameplay footage of Roger playing the first level.
What do you think of Just Keep Swimming? Comment below: