Snail Mail

I will admit that my expectations for Snail Mail could not have been any lower, but I was kind of surprised by this game. I would wager that this is a game not too many people have heard of, but I do feel it is worth checking out. The game originally was released on the PC for a while. It would eventually see a release on the Nintendo Wii and the iPhone as well.

My Name Is Turbo

Ok, so the name of the snail that you play as is Turbo…. This is kind of weird as my son was addicted to this movie called Turbo which was about a racing snail called Turbo, but that movie and the series and even the game has nothing to do with this game which also features a snail called Turbo. That is freaking weird that Snail Mail and a movie both feature a snail that can go fast called Turbo, but they are not related.

Cell-Shaded Snails

The visuals of the game are pretty sharp. I love it when games go for a cell-shaded style. It not only makes them look like a cartoon, but I always feel that this art style ages very well. This is a game that moves at a pretty fast-paced, but when you pause it you notice that Turbo is pretty well detailed as are the tracks in general. The soundtrack is about what you would expect. While it is not amazing, it is not bad either. I do feel that it fits the style of the game well. You just will not be humming these tunes after you have played the game.

The Fastest Snail In Space

That is right, our boy Turbo is actually living in space. The idea of the game is that you need to deliver mail. Each race/level has you hauling your snail ass through a twisty and turn filled track. One interesting thing about Snail Mail is that Turbo is always moving forward by himself. You just have to focus on steering and attacking. There are things that will get in the way such as thug slugs and salt. You can shoot and get powerups so you are not defenseless. The core gameplay that is on offer here is a lot of fun and it feels great. The problem is there is not much to the game at all. Each level feels very similar to the last and while they have included a few different game modes. None of them feel all that different from each other. It has a very “budget” kind of feel to it in regards to the content.

I know that Snail Mail is a game that most people will ignore and not bother with, but there is a certain amount of charm here. The gameplay is pretty tight and it is fun to actually play. Turbo is a cool character and he has a lot of personality. I just wish that there was more to the overall game than what is here. They have included some different game modes, but none feel all that different. If you want a fun, but basic racing experience I say give this one a try as it will probably surprise you.

Pros:

• I like the cell-shaded look of the game
• It is very easy to get into
• Turbo moves really fast
• The game looks pretty solid The controls are far better than you would think

Cons:

• The game is rather simple
• I hate the way the camera changes angle when you go over a jump