App review: My Om Nom: Kids care for Cut the Rope critter in Tamagotchi-like game
My Om Nom is a game for iOS devices where players are in charge of Om Nom and her feeding and care. (Handout)
Screenshot from My Om Nom. (Handout)
Parents need to know My Om Nom is a Tamagotchi-like game for iOS devices featuring the breakout star of the Cut the Rope series. (Common Sense Media/TNS)
Parents need to know My Om Nom is a Tamagotchi-like game for iOS devices featuring the breakout star of the Cut the Rope series. Players are put in charge of Om Nom and are responsible for feeding, bathing, and entertaining the little critter. They’ll also show him or her — Om Nom can be either gender — affection and play games with the creature. There are no in-app purchases, which is a nice change for this sort of game, but players will have to earn in-game cash to buy outfits and toys for their pets.
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
In My Om Nom, players take care of Om Nom by feeding, bathing, and playing with him and ensuring he gets enough sleep. Most of the interaction involves tapping the screen and sending him to one place or another, though there also are few mini-games that aren’t too hard for kids. Doing well means in-game cash and props for your pet, such as outfits and toys. Taking proper care of Om Nom requires showing affection by rubbing its belly or patting it on the head and seeing the affection returned through the character’s eyes.
IS IT ANY GOOD?
Too many Tamagotchi-style games in the app store are cleverly disguised cash grabs. After a few levels spent hooking the player, the games require them to pay for new features in the hopes that the players will spend much more than they would initially. My Om Nom takes an old-school route, charging $5 up front but nothing on the back end. And when you’re making a game aimed at kids, that’s an admirable trait.
Kids likely will already be familiar with the character, given the popularity of the Cut the Rope games, which will make them more interested in caring for Om Nom. The interaction with the character is fun, and, although the game doesn’t have quite the same level of charm as the main series, there’s plenty here to keep younger kids happy.
RATING AND CONTENT
Recommended for ages 6 and older
Quality: 4 out of 5
Ease of play: 4 out of 5
Violence and scariness: 1 out of 5
Sexy stuff: 0 out of 5
Language: 0 out of 5
Drinking, drugs, and smoking: 0 out of 5
Privacy and safety: 3 out of 5
Consumerism: 0 out of 5 (Are products/advertisements embedded? Is the title part of a broader marketing initiative/empire? Is the intent to sell things to kids?)
APP DETAILS
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Price: $4.99
Release date: March 12, 2015
Category: Simulation Games
Size: 88.60 MB
Publisher: ZeptoLab UK Limited
Minimum software requirements: iOS 6.0 or later
