[Discovering Indies] Storm in a Teacup

The video game industry in its most prostituted branch, that is, mobile phone games, offers a catalog that turns out to be the same as a discount store, that is, an endless amount of material to choose from, almost all of it cheap, in which from time to time we find something interesting and maybe even a gem.

Obviously I am generalizing in a base way, it is clear that there are many good exclusive smartphone video games that have nothing to envy of others published on other platforms, but in comparison with the number of crappy flash ports, plagiarism, imitations and games made to try out what programming is like that there is, we must recognize that the percentage of video games made seriously is a minority.

However, this trend is changing, thanks to the late but welcome measures and filters that little by little the respective managers of the virtual stores of the different mobile operating systems are taking. Although not everything is bad, as a positive point I find in video games originally developed for smartphones, the awareness of what they themselves are, I mean, they know that they are mobile games, they know who their audience is and they know what their limitations are.

Within these limitations, there are always games that go further as we were told. Jorge with YearWalk and other games that simply remain stably normal in all their sections. And it's not just about analyzing notable or profusely disappointing games, there must also be a space for video games that they don't shine particularly but hey, they comply. Storm in a Teacup is one of those titles, a game whose only admirable virtue is that it is not pretentious.

"storm in a teacup" It is an Anglo-Saxon expression that in Spanish could find its equivalent in the phrase «drown in a glass of water», that is, giving too much importance to something that really does not have it. This is surely not done by the company. Cobra Mobile, that life has not been complicated at all nor has it been given more importance than it deserves, you just have to watch their games Hey! It's not that I'm saying they are bad, but they are generic games that are not developed with an artistic or passionate vision, but rather purely commercial.

Originally developed for iOS and later ported to PC, Storm in a Teacup it's a very simple platforms, without combat or much puzzle whose only objective is to reach the end of each screen by avoiding obstacles and obtaining an object as an additional optional challenge. It is appreciated the full gamepad compatibility and the fluidity in the control of Storm, the main character who we can also customize - not much - with various skins both for him and for the cup in which he travels as we get objects and pass screens.

Everything that surrounds the title we can consider as a dream trip. Our protagonist seems to be involved in an adventure through his deepest dreams where everything is visually beautiful but dangerous. At this point it must be recognized that the graphic style is careful, perhaps the strong point of the game. Through children's scenarios that seem taken from a cut-out book, we are shown various screens that delight the eye.  Nothing to do with the music, beautiful and in line with the aesthetics of the video game until you realize that you are going to have to endure the same song over and over again until you finish the game.

It is not particularly long either, in fact it is very short for a PC game and average for a mobile game, about 50 levels plus some extra things that you will enjoy throughout about 3 hours of gameplay that will be enjoyable for you. As I said, this game is nothing out of this world, but it's not even close to being bad, what's more, during those 50 levels the scenarios will progressively change depending on the theme and you will be presented with new challenges, challenges that they won't be difficult for you to overcome but they will entertain you.

In short, the game is not a complete platformer, nor is it long, much less difficult, but it is visually beautiful and above all fun, and what is the main function of a video game? Entertain and amuse, and this game does it in equal parts. A dispensable title on PC but not annoying either and an option to take into account in the Windows Phone catalog (only for Nokias Lumia) and iOS. One of those cheap games that are overpriced on sale and if you buy it because you have some spare change it is not a bad purchase.