Paper.io
It's another massively multiplayer open arena game where the idea is to survive and grow. The way in which you do so is a little bit Pac-Man and a lot Tron, as you expand your little square's territory by forming squares from your trail.
The twist comes from the other players attempting to do the same. Run into their tail and you'll destroy them, removing them from the round for good.
It's brutal stuff, and you'll probably die within ten seconds for your first few rounds. Here are some beginner's tips to help you get up to speed.
Throw us all into a static little room with the capacity to grow and the power to destroy, and we’ll be occupied for hours. Agar.io, Slither.io, and the newest addition to the genre, Paper.io, have all shown us that these basic compulsions make for pretty compelling gameplay. However, for all its predecessors lacked, Paper.io has dramatically improved upon the .io form and made arguably the best version yet.
In this competitive puzzle/strategy game by Voodoo, your goal is to outcompete the AI players to take control of the map. With very basic graphics, enjoyment of Paper.io comes almost exclusively from the gameplay.
To succeed in Paper.io, you must direct an ever-moving square to cover as much area on the board as possible. You can only move up and down or left and right by swiping or tapping relative to your previous position. If someone crosses your path before you fully enclose an area, you’ll die. If you cross your own path, you’ll die. If you hit a wall, you’ll die. That’s it. But something about these very basic parameters makes for an addictive and engaging experience, and Paper.io has created an appealing design to make it even better.
The minimalist geometries of the drifting square felt like a retro callback to pixel pushing in 80s Turtle graphics, but the fresh and juicy color palette gives it a cheerfully updated look. Collectible pixel avatars are reminiscent of Crossy Road and feature charming little sprites like a rainbow-trailing unicorn, a mud-smearing pig, a road-laying firetruck, sushi, different fruits, and even seasonal options like a reindeer or decorated tree. Unlike some other .io games, the overlapping colored territories look nice as they grow, due to the clear palette choice. And if you don’t use an avatar, but rather a random color from the generator, they’re always appealing rather than ugly, as other games have been.
There are two measurements for success: gold coins which you collect by occupying space, and eliminating other players or your high score percentage which shows how much of the board you’ve been able to conquer in one session. The coins you can use for avatars and the high score is just for bragging rights. You can also purchase coin packs if you really want a new avatar quickly.
The controls are simple – you travel in the direction swiped. Swipe up to travel up, swipe left to travel left and so on. Like in Snake, you cannot reverse direction and you die if you cross your tail. So if you mastered Snake on your Nokia phone you will find the gameplay easy.
In Paper.io, you gain territory by enclosing another area with your tail. This can be uncontested white space or an area already controlled by an AI player. Kill competitors by crossing their tails, but be careful as you’ll be killed when a player crosses yours.
It's tempting to go out exploring your environment as soon as you spawn, but that's a sure fire way to die straight away. You're most vulnerable in these opening moments, when you're the runt of the litter and unaware of your surroundings.
To start with, then, stay within your own territory and find a side that's relatively free of enemies - then start inching out, extending your territory in small increments. The more territory you have, the easier it is to access 'safe' areas without exposing yourself to danger.
There are a lot of ads, and they are really disruptive to the overall flow of the game. I found that once I removed the ads through an IAP (which also included a pile of coins), my overall performance began to improve considerably. Jumping quickly back in to the space means that you might be able to attack someone who just bested you (depending on where you spawn), or you might be in a better position altogether for a more successful run.
It's not a race
Linked to that first tip, note tis important point: it's not a race. There's absolutely no need to rush, and doing so will lead to your elimination.
Things can and will change quickly simply by staying in the game. You'll find that players at the top of the table will be eliminated, and all their gains will instantly disappear. So be patient.
It seems simple at first since the game is very easy to handle. But beware it might be a bit harder to master.
Whether you’re bold or careful, outwit your opponents by finding the best strategy to conquer the largest space. And stay cautious, you have a weak point : your tail. If ever it is touched by an opponent, you are dead.
Also make sure to guard your territory because in Paper.io nothing is sure as long as you do not own the whole territory. Stealing is legal and your opponents won’t hesitate to do so.
After the success of Quiz Run and Bool, Voodoo offers a new and fun experience inspired by io type games (popularised by agar.io). Find the simplicity and strategy on an io game in within a unique graphic universe.
We're in danger of repeating ourselves here, but another part of being patient and cautious is to avoid going for 'the big one' at all costs. Its so tempting when you see a vast expanse of free space to go for a mass land grab. But it's almost always a bad idea.
The truth is, regardless of your apparent isolation, you're never that far from an opponent. If you set off in one direction, you can be assured that some person is going to stumble across your extended trail from the other and score an easy kill. Don't give them that opportunity.
Pick your targets
Eventually you may get good at one-on-one situations, and be able to embark on an aggressive hunting style of play. But to start with you should try and avoid fifty-fifty fights out in the open at all costs.
Instead, only go for an opponent on those occasions when they're 'showing you their tail' and it's an easy kill. And definitely don't expose yourself just to take out an opponent - remember that rule of sticking close to home.
Occasionally there is a slight lag in responsiveness, which can be frustrating if it causes you to do something silly like run into a wall. There also seems to be a proliferation of bots which I suspect because of their highly unlikely travel patterns which trace out a long zigzag. With the controls as they are, accomplishing multiple far-reaching zigzags in very fast succession seems only possible by programmatic means. The bots don’t particularly effect the gameplay, but it does feel more fun to think I’m battling other players for territory rather than bots.
Tips for success:
Be patient and grow your area slowly, especially if you’re a beginner. You cannot be killed when you’re in your own territory so use that to your advantage.
Ignore the scoreboard. The biggest players can be wiped out in a moment so make sure you stay alive to reap the rewards.
Grab land when there are no enemies in sight. The easiest way to die is for a competitor to cross your tail so make full use of opportunities when your competitors are out of sight.
Expand along your longer borders. Travelling a short distance out and along your territory enables you to claim land while being able to swiftly retreat to safety.
Paper.io is great for beginners and noobs
The gameplay is simple, but there’s plenty of challenge for players aiming to be an expert.
Each game is fairly short so you can play it during breaks.
You don’t need to be connected to the internet so it’s great for people on planes. In the current version of the game, you only compete with AI enemies and not real players.
The game tracks your high score so you’ll be motivated to keep coming back to beat it.
Of course, at some point you're going to find yourself in a game of chicken with an opponent with a fair amount of space between you and your territory. If that's the case, often the very worst thing you can do is turn and run.
Try to quickly turn away and back into the opponent's tail in short order. And pray.
Paper.io is fun, addicting and definitely worth the free download, especially for .io fans. Those who maybe didn’t understand the appeal of these games will enjoy the simplicity Paper.io brings to the genre, along with the vibrant and charming aesthetics.
