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There’s no clear-cut explanation as to why a rather hungry lizard is inhabiting a baked goods factory, but a little nonsensicalness never hurt anybody. At least I’m pretty sure it hasn’t. So anyway this cute little bug-eyed critter is running amok, eating all the doughnuts and metal scraps (??) it can cram into its tiny yet seemingly endless gullet. It’s simple, it’s meant for quick plays, and it’s actually a pretty cool game to boot.
Snapping up ten snacks will earn a coin that can be used towards purchasing cosmetic items, while eating metal bits just has to be done to keep things moving. If too many metal pieces get past, it’s Game Over. A number of special doughnuts will appear from time to time and have varying effects on the game such as speeding up or slowing down the action. Pastry Panic comes in two flavors: Mad Dash and Tongue Tied. Mad Dash gives players control of the little lizard’s movements, going back and forth and up and down across three conveyor belts. Munching on pastries and metal shavings all the while. Tongue Tied removes the mobility but makes up for it with a very stretchy and sticky tongue that can be directed with a tap. The same rules of metal and pastry eating apply, of course.
There’s something to be said about simple action/puzzle type games with an emphasis on quick plays and a bevy of cosmetic incentives to keep playing. Pastry Panic is great for quick bursts of play or extended sessions, and there’s almost always a new hairstyle or un-lockable character to shoot for. Simply being fun helps a lot, too.
I found it can be somewhat tough to get an accurate hit with the tongue once things start moving quickly, although leading the target helps a lot. There was also this really weird issue that cropped up where the lizard kept moving to one side automatically after I took a screen shot while moving. Also not a huge problem unless someone plans to snap a picture or two – say for a review – but it’s annoying when it pops up.
Pastry Panic is, quite simply, another pick-up-and-play iOS game destined for Classic status. There’ve been a lot of those lately, haven’t there? Not that I’m complaining.