The Howler

by Antanas Marcelionis
3.4 out of 5 stars189 customer ratings
All Ages
Price: $0.99
Sold by:Amazon.com Services, Inc
Languages Supported: English

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Latest updates

What's new in version 1.0.6
  • Minor bugs fixed.

Product Details

Release Date: 2013
Date first listed on Amazon: April 22, 2013
Developed By: Antanas Marcelionis
ASIN: B00CGK71B8
Customer reviews:
3.4 out of 5 stars189 customer ratings

Product features

  • Play by Voice
  • Play by Touch
  • Hand-drawn graphics
  • Interesting story

Product description

Vilnius, 1905. Free city, roamed by dirigibles, air balloons and steam carriages. Alchemists and mechanics build and operate incredible machines and automatons. Powerful neighbours feel challenged by the innovations of the free city.

The game can be played in a traditional “touch” way or you can do everything by voice – noise will make the balloon to go up, silence will let it down. You can even drop parcels or bombs by making short loud noise or by shaking the device.

There are 16 missions in this game. Each mission is unique - you have to complete the task to go to the next one. This game is a mix of action and adventure and quest and puzzle solving. It does require some strategic thinking. Each level of the game is unique piece of art - all the images were hand-drawn on paper, in an old-fashioned way.

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Technical details

Size: 43.4MB
Version: 1.0.6
Developed By: Antanas Marcelionis
Application Permissions: ( Help me understand what permissions mean )
  • Access information about networks
  • Open network sockets
  • Read only access to device state
  • Record audio
Minimum Operating System: Android 2.2
Approximate Download Time: More than 5 minutes

Customer reviews

3.4 out of 5 stars
189 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the game's visual quality and challenging gameplay. They find the steampunk-style graphics refreshing and the game interesting. Many appreciate the ease of use, sound quality, and voice control. However, some find the difficulty level frustrating at times and the learning curve too steep. Opinions differ on the overall gameplay.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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Visual qualityFun to playChallenge levelEase of useSound qualityVoice controlGameplayDifficulty level
81 customers mention "Visual quality"78 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the visual quality of the mobile application. They find the steampunk-style graphics a refreshing change from other games. The backgrounds are lovely and creative, with a lush, atmospheric soundtrack. Many consider it eye-candy, but some feel the gameplay gets old after a while.

"...used to, which is why the 4 of 5, but this is definitely a unique, beautiful game with good game play, decent replay value and an intriguing concepts..." Read more

"...Beginning with a lush, atmospheric soundtrack and stunning hand-drawn artwork, but extending to such minute details as button control labeling..." Read more

"...I give this game 3 stars because of the devs creativity and obvious hard work that was put into this game, the remaining 2 stars would have been..." Read more

"Backgrounds are lovely and very creative, but the game play quickly subdues that beauty with frustrating controls and no real variety...." Read more

71 customers mention "Fun to play"71 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the game's fun and interesting gameplay. They find it creative and a good way to pass time. The first few levels are enjoyable, but the rest of the game lacks excitement. The art style is enjoyable, but some feel the game is flat. Some mention the voice control is a strange but funny idea, and the morse code hidden message is a refreshing addition.

"...the 4 of 5, but this is definitely a unique, beautiful game with good game play, decent replay value and an intriguing concepts...." Read more

"...by it by any stretch of the word but I would say it is a creative game....HOWEVER, there is a bit of false advertising when looking at the pics......" Read more

"This is a simple and unique game. The illustrations are done in a steampunk style...." Read more

"...The first few levels were fun, but not enough to keep wanting more." Read more

27 customers mention "Challenge level"24 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the challenging levels of the mobile application. They find it engaging and say it keeps their attention. However, some customers have issues with the controls.

"I am really disappointed with this game. The levels I played were very interesting and yes I did beat the game in one sitting..." Read more

"...Definitely challenging and enjoyable." Read more

"...playing about the 4 or 5 missions of this game I found the game to be challenging, but I also found the game play to be already somewhat repetitive...." Read more

"...The art of the levels is different, but could have and should have been done far better...." Read more

23 customers mention "Ease of use"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the game easy to use with intuitive controls and simple settings. They appreciate the hand-drawn graphics and challenging yet do-able gameplay.

"...You control the balloon by tapping on the screen (or by voice, such as speaking/yelling at your device)...." Read more

"...Starts out easy with the first 2 levels but I'm stuck on the 3rd level right now. Definitely challenging and enjoyable." Read more

"...Changing the settings was simple in the menu as I am not a fan of shaking to do things in a game...." Read more

"It is a beautiful game and very easy to play. The icon? You play that level pretty quickly...." Read more

18 customers mention "Sound quality"14 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the sound quality of the mobile application. They say it has great sounds and voice control. They can howl, roar, scream, or sing to play the game. The built-in microphone allows them to raise the balloon by being loud, and lower it by being quiet. They also appreciate the atmospheric soundtrack and hand-drawn artwork.

"...Beginning with a lush, atmospheric soundtrack and stunning hand-drawn artwork, but extending to such minute details as button control labeling..." Read more

"...I'm not sure if it's better on a tablet. Beautiful visuals and audio...." Read more

"...sound option is out for me but the thought of controlling the game by sound is quite interesting...." Read more

"...But I did enjoy the music track." Read more

16 customers mention "Voice control"12 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the voice control feature of the mobile application. They find it relaxing and fun, with well-done voice commands that allow them to move the hot air balloon. The app offers both voice and touch controls, with wonderful artwork and music.

"This was a pretty cool game. I liked how you could use voice to control the hot air balloon, even though I found touch to be much more accurate and..." Read more

"...The voice control was an interesting feature, but it still got boring after a while...." Read more

"...After rapidly abandoning the clunky voice controls, I was then left frustrated by having to manage manual controls that can be described as hair-..." Read more

"This game had such potential. The voice activated control was just so different.... until the sound of the TV and stereo which were on in the same..." Read more

37 customers mention "Gameplay"22 positive15 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the gameplay. Some find it solid and well-developed, with a nice storyline and quality programming. Others say they did not get far in the game, found the gameplay boring, and the missions uninteresting.

"The game is interresting, but I just couldn't get into it. The first few levels were fun, but not enough to keep wanting more." Read more

"...better than the Helidroid 3D game from yesterday but not quite a 5 star quality game nor a complete blow away from the Helidroid 3D game from..." Read more

"I wasn't a fan of this game. It had a neat story line and was well developed with really beautiful steampunk like graphics...." Read more

"...The artwork is nice, but the gameplay is just fantastic. You need to try it to believe it...." Read more

23 customers mention "Difficulty level"0 positive23 negative

Customers find the mobile application's difficulty level frustrating at times. They find it difficult to understand the game processes and find the learning curve too steep. Some say the controls become boring and frustrating quickly, while others mention it's not easy enough for young children. The app is under-explained, with a rapidly escalating difficulty level.

"...The sound is mediocre, and the controls can be difficult to get used to, which is why the 4 of 5, but this is definitely a unique, beautiful game..." Read more

"...the clunky voice controls, I was then left frustrated by having to manage manual controls that can be described as hair-pulling at best...." Read more

"...The fact that it is challenging doesn't make it a bad game. While it is frustrating, it doesn't make me want to stop playing...." Read more

"...third levels, that is just a bit too frustrating for me and too steep a learning curve. The wind direction makes it very difficult...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Fizzle Exmortus
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, to say the least.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    In this game, you control a hot air balloon, using touch or the microphone. If you have a device with a built in microphone, you can raise the balloon by being loud, and lower it by being quiet. I am on a Kindle Fire with no mic, so I will be dealing with the touch feature. Basically, you have a hot air balloon in a small section of town and you have to get it from point a to point b. You can raise it by touching the screen and lower it by letting go. Air currents at different heights push the balloon forward or backward. Sometimes you have to pick up and deliver things by dropping them in areas before landing in your point b. This game has unique and beautiful art, and an amazing sound control concept that I am sorry I didn;t get to try. The sound is mediocre, and the controls can be difficult to get used to, which is why the 4 of 5, but this is definitely a unique, beautiful game with good game play, decent replay value and an intriguing concepts. I recommend it to age 10+ gamers who are fans of the puzzle solver games like angry birds, stupid zombies, etc.
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  • Robert J. Taylor
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superlative Game - Skillfully Executed and 100% Enjoyable!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    When I downloaded The Howler as Amazon's Free App of the Day, I was concerned that the lack of a microphone on my Kindle Fire might cut into the enjoyment factor. Trust me, while sound control may add an amusing dimension to game play, this is superlative app even without this optional feature! If the term "elegant in its simplicity" is cliche, it's nonetheless an apt way to describe this game. It strikes me, too, that each and every choice the designer made was the correct one. Beginning with a lush, atmospheric soundtrack and stunning hand-drawn artwork, but extending to such minute details as button control labeling ("Do Begin," "Play, Please") and choice of font (somehow the spot-on help text renders the screens even more beautiful!), all elements combine to form the single most aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable app I've downloaded to date. For all these reasons, Vilnius - the game's setting - has become my favorite retreat whenever I have a few minutes to burn, and I'm happy to revisit levels I've already conquered just to re-immerse myself in the game's unique steampunk-y feel.

    I understand from reading a recent online interview that the artist who worked on The Howler has produced enough artwork to drive another game. I know, too, that designing game applications is more of a sideline for the developer. Typically I'm all for delayed gratification, yet somehow I can't wait for Howler 2! Develop faster please!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Graham Willis
    3.0 out of 5 stars pretty neat game, BUT.....
    Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I am really disappointed with this game. The levels I played were very interesting and yes I did beat the game in one sitting (really not that difficult) I beat it in about 1 hour and I wasnt mesmerized by it by any stretch of the word but I would say it is a creative game....HOWEVER, there is a bit of false advertising when looking at the pics...the hot air baloon gets REALLY old after having died 20 times on one level but I kept playing because I thought there would be different vehicles for each "chapter". In the pics you see a type of aircraft...a plan of sorts...but the only vehicle that is used in the game is that hot air baloon! I give this game 3 stars because of the devs creativity and obvious hard work that was put into this game, the remaining 2 stars would have been easily added to my rating had there been more vehicles that could have been used in the game!!

    Dev, you did a fantastic job on this game but pleade add chapters or more levels with different vehicles! I want to give you 5 stars but I cant in good conscience because of the fact that a pic of the game showed a vehicle as what I thought would be a usable vehicle! Other than that, I tip my hat to you!!
    16 people found this helpful
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  • Soleil
    1.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous setting tedious play
    Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Backgrounds are lovely and very creative, but the game play quickly subdues that beauty with frustrating controls and no real variety. After rapidly abandoning the clunky voice controls, I was then left frustrated by having to manage manual controls that can be described as hair-pulling at best. No change in vehicle is offered - you are stuck with the hot air balloon - and that is exactly how you begin to feel after having to navigate a level 5-10 times - stuck. Unless you grab it for free as a featured app- this is a pass.
    16 people found this helpful
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  • Betsy True
    4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful graphics, solid gameplay make this one a winner.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is a simple and unique game. The illustrations are done in a steampunk style. The idea is to move your hot air balloon from an initial location to another location, in later levels picking up and dropping off packages. You control the balloon by tapping on the screen (or by voice, such as speaking/yelling at your device). Tapping (or yelling) lifts the balloon, not tapping (or silence) lowers the balloon. When you lift the balloon, it moves it into air currents designated by arrows on the side of the screen. You have to avoid crashing into buildings and spires or letting the balloon go too high, where it will be lost and you'll have to restart the level. There is a time element, too. You can run out of time and have to restart the level. You can restart the level at any time.

    I haven't tried controlling the balloon by voice as hubby is still asleep. ;D Pleasant game that performs exactly as advertised. I've played a few levels so far, and had to re-do a few to get there, but not unreasonably so. I'll be playing this one a lot today.
    15 people found this helpful
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  • Chubby Moneky
    2.0 out of 5 stars The game is interresting
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    The game is interresting, but I just couldn't get into it. The first few levels were fun, but not enough to keep wanting more.
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  • runner tee
    4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful graphics and game in one!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Really neat graphics. Different from other games since this is hand drawn. The game itself is rather unique compared with the other games out there. I play it on my Kindle Fire HD and everyone has written that the "voice control" doesn't work. Well, it does on mine but I found that I had to talk pretty loudly for it to "hear" me and respond so I'd rather do touch control. Starts out easy with the first 2 levels but I'm stuck on the 3rd level right now. Definitely challenging and enjoyable.
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • あまぞんかすたま
    3.0 out of 5 stars 気球を操縦するアプリ
    Reviewed in Japan on August 15, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    アイコンの見た目が予想と違った感じするのですが
    ともあれ
    気球を操作してホームに到着させるクリアといった感じです
    矢印をタップして気球を障害物に注意しながら
    上下左右へ誘導していきます
    ルールと操作は簡単でした

    グラフィックがかなり、渋いというか
    シックな感じのする独特な雰囲気のあるアプリだと思いました。
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