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Niantic’s new mobile app, Peridot, promises a blend of Y2K-era nostalgia with cutting-edge technology, like a Tamagotchi for the modern age. If anyone could make this work, it’s Niantic, the same folks who revolutionized mobile gaming with Pokémon GO back in 2016. In Peridot, you get to care for a mystical creature called a “dot” through augmented reality, without the hassle of cleaning up after them or the risk of them dying. Your dot lives eternally in the digital realm, so you can finally let go of the guilt from neglecting your Tamagotchi as a kid.
### Starting off strong (and adorable)
Playing Peridot is straightforward: hatch a dot and help it grow from a baby to a teen to an adult by feeding and playing with it. Your dot will have hunger and boredom bars that you must fill as its Keeper. To get food and toys, draw a circle on your screen to guide your dot to forage in different types of real-life surfaces like grass, sand, water, and more. Each surface yields different items, like patterned tennis balls, to keep your dot happy and growing. Fulfilling their desires, from looking at a person to eating a spring onion, earns you points towards their growth.
The baby dots are irresistibly cute, floating around with big eyes and short legs, leaving a trail of stars as they move. As they grow into adults, they can breed with other dots nearby, leading to the hatching of new baby dots with unique features. However, the breeding process can be clunky and takes you out of the gaming experience, which can be frustrating at times.
### Underdeveloped and overly complicated
Despite the initial charm, Peridot’s novelty wears thin quickly. While the concept of caring for virtual pets in augmented reality is intriguing, the execution feels underwhelming and overly complex. The promise of unique dot combinations falls short, with many dots looking similar and lacking distinct attributes. As a player, it’s disheartening to see your dots not living up to the game’s supposed variety and uniqueness, leaving you wondering if your efforts are truly special in the virtual pet world.
Overall, Peridot has the potential to be a magical and less bothersome alternative to classic virtual pet games, but it falls short in delivering a truly captivating and engaging experience. The game’s mechanics and features leave much to be desired, making it a fleeting source of entertainment rather than a lasting obsession for players.
So, you download this new app, super excited to start hatching your own dots and diving into a world of virtual pet ownership. But hold your horses, because once the initial hype wears off, you’re left scratching your head at the chaos that ensues.
Confusing Gameplay and Layout
Let’s talk about the gameplay. At times, it’s mind-numbingly simple, which can be a good thing if you’re looking to relax. However, the layout of the app is a whole different story. It’s cluttered to the point of frustration, with interfaces and features that could definitely use a makeover. For example, figuring out how to make your dot visible to others can be a head-scratching ordeal that should not be part of the pet-owning experience.
Hidden Costs and Frustrations
And don’t even get me started on the in-game currencies. Gemstones, sundrops, buying nests – it’s enough to make your head spin. Plus, the augmented reality feature is more glitch than glam, with dots walking in midair and food disappearing into thin air. It’s enough to make you want to throw your phone out the window.
Overall, the promise of owning a pet without the mess quickly fades as you realize the app is more like a headache in digital form. And the cherry on top? Once your dot reaches adulthood, the only way to keep the game going is by shelling out real cash for breeding. What started as a fun distraction turns into a money pit that leaves players feeling less whimsy and more wallet-drained.
