Snake Galaxy HD iPad Review

It doesn’t happen often, but every now and then a new bar will be set for a genre by an indie gem, and Snake Galaxy HD fits the bill. We can’t remember any other version of Snake that has left our jaws dropped like this game has.

Instead of slithering around a grid-based 2D level, each level of Snake Galaxy has you wrapping the snake around stylized 3D worlds. In order to rack up high scores, you’ll want to eat the floating crystals as quickly as possible to keep your combo meter rising.

Each planet has a distinct theme, such as a paper mache city, an ocean mine, a cheeseburger, and even a replica of landmarks across Paris. The visuals are stunning and lag-free, allowing you to become fully immersed in the spinning environments. Each planet is backed by its own original tunes, which range from fast-paced techno to offbeat percussion.

The speed, turning radius, and size of the snake are tuned to each planet. This can make it easier to maneuver around and through tight spaces. Excellent drag controls help you wiggle out of any dangerous situation. After eating a diamond, you can double-tap the screen for a short speed boost, or touch the screen with two fingers simultaneously to slow the snake down.

In order to unlock new levels, you’ll need to beat the top preset local high score. This is pretty easy to do, but the real fun is in the online leaderboards for each individual planet. You’ll have 13 unique environments to score big on, offering a lot of lasting value.

If we had to pick out a downside, it would be that you aren’t getting any new content exclusive to the iPad version of the game, even though it costs a good bit more than the iPhone version. However, the game does play even smoother on the iPad, so we aren’t complaining.

Not a fan of Snake or simply tired of the onslaught of similar clones? Put those thoughts aside and go download Snake Galaxy HD. We’d be hard-pressed to find a more unique, enjoyable Snake game.