Growing Pains is a collection of mini-games for your mobile, based upon girls of different ages. Naturally, it's a games that's marketed for and aimed at girls, but given that I'm not one myself (and unwilling to undergo a year of therapy and expensive surgery for the sake of one review), how does it hold up as a game in itself?
The reality is that the game is actually quite good, with a neat variety of games that can actually be quite challenging in places, coupled with others that you can simply sit down and play through without any trouble, though some might argue that the subject matter of a few of the games is a little patronising.
GP features five games, each one related to a different female character of varying ages. Isobel, the youngest girl has to catch her favourite item before it falls to the ground. Other items must be ignored, or else a life will be lost. The same goes for letting your favourite item hit the ground. Grabbing the item on your tray will score you points.
The next girl is Becky, the youthful swot who's always willing to help out classmates struggling with their maths work. Of course, she's got to do it while the teacher isn't looking. Using the directional arrows, you pass the note up, down, left or right until it gets to Becky, and then pass it back to the required recipient afterwards. Getting caught costs you one of your three lives.
Amy is a tomboy, who likes her football. You control the budding goalkeeper, moving her around the goal to catch any balls that fly in her direction. The more you save, the more points you'll earn, but let three goals in, and it'll be game over.
Following on, Victoria is a teen who wants to earn money to see her favourite band. Therefore, she takes on a job as waitress. Your aim is to grab the orders, and take them to the required table as quickly as possible. Failure to reach the table in time will see the customer walk out, and once three have gone, you'll be fired! This is perhaps the toughest of the games, as it's easy to accidentally walk into a table and get stuck briefly, or pick up a different order to the one that's most urgent.
The final game unites you with Helena, who needs to get her outfits ready for her dates. It's a simple memory game, as you have to remember what she's wearing, and then match up the correct outfit afterwards. You have plenty of time to memorise the outfit, so there aren't really any excuse for getting things wrong.
All five games are fairly simple to get to grips with, and provide entertaining, short bursts of game play. The Isobel game may seem a little confusing at first, as you find yourself losing lives for catching what you presumed to be important, but eventually you'll start to work things out. Meanwhile, the Victoria game flicks between challenging and frustrating. It would have been nice to have a button that you could press to confirm which order you want to pick up, rather than just grabbing the first one you touch, mind you. All it means is that you have to be careful how you approach them
Naturally, as a guy, it's not something that I would put on the top of my wish list, but by looking beyond the imagery and subject matter at the actual game-play involved, you can see that there are some neat little distractions on offer. Couple in high-score tables that can keep you coming back for more, and you've got a decent slice of cheap, casual action on your hands here.
Please ensure you've read all instructions carefully. Your mobile phone must be Java capable. Delivery requires a short WAP connection for which your mobile operator may charge at your normal rate (your network provider can set up WAP if it isn't activated). At peak times there may be a delay in delivery. Screen shots may be from a different handset. Please check compatibility before ordering. *Replacement mobile game guarantee only covers compatibility.
Growing Pains is compatible with all of the following Benq-siemens Mobile Phones
Elf1
Growing Pains is compatible with all of the following Blackberry Mobile Phones
8700c, 8700f, 8700g, 8700r, 8700v, 8703e, 8705g, 8707g, 8800, 8820, Curve 8300, Curve 8310, Curve 8320, Curve 8830, Pearl 8100, Pearl 8100v, Pearl 8110, Pearl 8120, Pearl 8130, Pearl 8220, Pearl Flip
Growing Pains is compatible with all of the following Fly Mobile Phones
2050, 2080, B400, B700 Duo, Ds420, Ds500, E105, E115, E120, E300, E310, Hummer Ht1, Hummer Ht2, Lx500, Lx600 Mega, Lx610 Mega, Mc100, Mx200, Mx200i, Mx230, Mx300, Mx330, Sdp100, Sl300m, Sl500i, Sl500m, Sl600, Slt100, St100, Sx210, Sx220, Sx225, Sx240, Sx300, Sx305, Sx310, Sx315, Sx330, V100
Growing Pains is compatible with all of the following Lg Mobile Phones
8600, Cu320, Cu400, Cu405, Cu500, Cu500v, Cu515, Cu575, Cu720 Shine, Cu915, Cu920, Cu970, G262, K320s, Kc550, Kc780, Kc910 Renoir, Ke260, Ke500 Shine, Ke520, Ke600, Ke770 Shine, Ke800 Chocolate Platinum, Ke850 Prada, Ke970 Shine, Ke990 Viewty, Kf300, Kf310, Kf311, Kf350, Kf390, Kf510, Kf600 Venus, Kf600c, Kf700, Kf750 Secret, Kg300, Kg320, Kg320s, Kg330, Kg70, Kg800 Chocolate, Kg810 Chocolate, Km380, Km500, Km710, Kp500 Cookie, Ks10, Kt520, Ku250, Ku311, Ku380, Ku385, Ku450, Ku730, Ku800 Chocolate, Ku830, Ku950, Ku970 Shine, Ku990 Viewty, Kv4200, L600, L600v, 535, Lv4200, M4410, Me500c, Me540, Me540c, Me550, Me770, Me970, Mg320, Mg320c, Mg320d, Mg800, Mg810, Mg810c, Mg810d, P7200, S5300, Sv4200, Tu500, Tu550, Tu720, U250, U300, U310, U370, U400, U450, U8110, U8120, U8120c, U8130, U8138, U8150, U8180, U8200, U8210, U8290, U830, U8330, U8360, U8380, U8500, U8550, U880, U890, U900, U970 Shine, U990 Viewty
Growing Pains is compatible with all of the following Motorola Mobile Phones
A1000, A910, A910i, C168i, C257, C261, C360, C380, C381, C384, C385, C386, C390, C391, C650, C651, C698p, C975 Tyax, C980, E1000, E1060, E1070, E1120, E365, E375, E378i, E398, E550, E770, E770v, E790 Rokr, E798, E895, K1 Krzr, K3 Krzr, Krzr K1m, Krzr K1v, Krzr K3m, L2 (v270), L6 (v280), L6g, L7 Imode, L7v, Pebl U6, Razr Maxx V6, Razr V3 Black, Razr V3e, Razr V3r, Razr V3re, Razr V3s, Razr V3t, Razr V3v, Razr V3x, Razr V3xv, Razr V3xx, Razr V3xxv, Razr2 V8, Rizr Z3, Rizr Z6, Rizr Z6w, Rizr Z8, Rokr E1, Rokr E2, Rokr U9, Rokr Z6, Slvr L6i, Slvr L7, Slvr L71, Slvr L72, Slvr L7e, Slvr L8, Slvr L9, Slvr V8, U3 Pebl, V1000, V1050, V1075, V1100, V1150, V175, V176, V177, V180, V185, V186, V188, V190, V191, V195, V196, V197, V220, V220i, V226, V230, V235, V237, V3 Maxx, V3 Razr, V300, V303, V330, V360, V360v, V361, V365, V398, V3i Razr, V3xx 08 Izar, V400, V400p, V500, V501, V505, V525, V535, V536, V540, V545, V547, V550, V551, V555, V557, V560, V6 Pebl, V6 Volans, V600, V620, V635, V650, V690, V80, V870, V872, V878, V9 Razr2, V975, V980, V980m, Z10, Z9 Corsica, Zine Zn5
Growing Pains is compatible with all of the following Nokia Mobile Phones
1680, 2600 Classic, 2610, 2626, 2630, 2660, 2680 Slide, 2760, 2850, 2855, 2865, 2865i, 3109 Classic, 3110 Classic, 3110 Evolve, 3120 Classic, 3152, 3155, 3155i, 3220, 3230, 3250 Xpressmusic, 3500 Classic, 3555, 3600 Slide, 3610 Fold, 3620, 3660, 5000, 5070, 5140, 5140i, 5200, 5220 Xpressmusic, 5300 Xpress Music, 5310 Xpressmusic, 5320 Xpressmusic, 5500 Sport, 5610 Xpressmusic, 5700 Xpressmusic, 6020, 6021, 6030, 6060, 6060v, 6061, 6068, 6070, 6080, 6085, 6086, 6101, 6102, 6102i, 6103, 6110, 6111, 6120, 6121 Classic, 6124 Classic, 6125, 6126, 6131, 6131 Nfc, 6133, 6136, 6151, 6152, 6155, 6155i, 6165, 6170, 6210 Classic, 6210 Navigator, 6212 Classic, 6220 Classic, 6230, 6230i, 6233, 6234, 6235, 6235i, 6255, 6260, 6263, 6265, 6265i, 6267, 6268, 6270, 6275, 6275i, 6276, 6280, 6282, 6288, 6290, 6300, 6300i, 6301, 6500 Classic, 6500 Slide, 6555, 6600, 6600 Fold, 6600 Slide, 6620, 6630, 6670, 6680, 6681, 6682, 6822, 7070 Prism, 7210 Supernova, 7260, 7270, 7310 Supernova, 7360, 7370, 7373, 7390, 7500 Prism, 7510 Supernova, 7610, 7610 Supernova, 7900 Prism, 8600 Luna, 8800 Arte, 8800 Carbon Arte, 8800 Sirocco Edition, E50, E51, E60, E61, E61i, E62, E65, E66, E70, E71, N-gage, N-gage Qd, N70, N71, N72, N73, N75, N76, N77, N78, N79, N80, N81, N81 8gb, N82, N85, N90, N91 8gb, N91 Music, N92, N93, N93i, N95, N95 8gb, N95-3 Nam, N96, N96-3
Growing Pains is compatible with all of the following Panasonic Mobile Phones
Mx6, Mx7, Sa6, Sa7, Vs2, Vs3, Vs6, Vs7
Growing Pains is compatible with all of the following Sagem Mobile Phones
My312x, My332v, My400, My400v, My400x, My401c, My401l, My401v, My401x, My401z, My405x, My411c, My411cv, My411v, My411x, My419x, My501c, My511x, My519x, My600v, My600x, My700v, My700x, My721x, My730c, My750c, My750x, My800v, My800x, My810x, My850c, My850v, My901c, Myc5-2, Myc5-2m, Myc5-2t, Myc5-2v, Myc5-3, Myc5-3v, Myv-55, Myv-56, Myv-65, Myv-75, Myw-7, Myw8, Myx-4, Myx-4t, Myx-7, Myx-7a, Myx5-2, Myx5-2m, Myx5-2t, Myx5-2v, Myz-5
Growing Pains is compatible with all of the following Samsung Mobile Phones
A437, A501, A517, A701, A706, A707, A717, A727, A737, A801, A900, A920, A940, A960, D500, D500c, D500e, D508, D510, D520, D528, D550, D600, D600e, D608, D720, D728, D730, D780 Duos, D800, D806, D807, D808, D810, D820, D830, D836, D838, D840, D848, D870, D880, D888, D900, D900i, D908, D908i, E200, E200b, E208, E210, E218, E250, E250v, E256, E340, E348, E350 / E350e, E350v, E351, E356, E358, E360 / E360e, E368, E370, E376, E380, E388, E390, E398, E420, E428, E490, E496, E498, E500, E530, E538, E570, E570v, E576, E578, E590, E620, E628, E640, E648, E720, E728, E730, E736, E738, E740, E746, E750, E758, E760, E768, E770, E778, E780, E788, E790, E830, E838, E840, E848, E860, E860v, E870, E880, E890, E898, E900, E908, E950, E958, F110, F118, F250, F330, F400, F480 Tocco, F480v, F500, F510, G600, G608, G800, G810, J150, J210, J218, J400, J600, J600e, J600v, J608, J610, J618, J630, J700, J700v, J750, L170, L310, L320, L600, L608, L700v, L760, L760v, L768, L770, L770v, L810v, M618, Mm-a920, Mm-a940, Mm-a960, P110, P110v, P180, P200, P220, P260, P520 Giorgio Armani, P850, P858, P900, P906, P908, P910, P920, P930, P940, P960, Scha950, Sgh-d828, Sgh-e258, Sgh-e878, Sgh-m610, Sgh-u900 Soul, Sgh-x828, Sph-m610, T209, T219, T309, T319, T329, T509, T519, T539, T609, T619, T629, T709, T719, T729, T809, U100, U108, U300, U308, U600, U608, U700, U700v, U708, U800 Soul, U900v, X507, X700, X708, X800, X808, X820, Z110, Z110v, Z130, Z140, Z140v, Z150, Z170, Z20, Z220, Z230, Z240, Z240e, Z300, Z308, Z310, Z330, Z360, Z368, Z370, Z400, Z400v, Z500, Z500v, Z508, Z510, Z520, Z520v, Z540, Z540v, Z548, Z550, Z560, Z560v, Z600, Z620, Z630, Z700, Z710, Z720, Z720v, Z728, Zm60, Zv10, Zv30, Zv40, Zv50, Zv60, Zv60v, Zx10, Zx20
Growing Pains is compatible with all of the following Sharp Mobile Phones
Gx25, Gx29, Gx30
Growing Pains is compatible with all of the following Siemens Mobile Phones
C65, C65v, C66, C70, C75, C75v, C81, Ct65, Ct66, Cv65, Cv66, Cx65, Cx65-vodafone, Cx66, Cx70, Cx70 Emoty, Cx70-vodafone, Cx75, Cx75v, Cxt65, Cxt70, Cxv65, Cxv70, Cxv75, E71, Ef81, Ef91, El71, M65, M75, M81, Me75, P51, S65, S66, S68, S75, Sk65, Sl65, Sl75, Sl80, Sl91, Sp65, Sxg75
Growing Pains is compatible with all of the following Sony Ericsson Mobile Phones
C702, C902, C905, D750i, F305, F500, G502, G700, G900, J300i, K300i, K310, K320, K330, K500i, K506i, K508, K510, K530, K550, K600i, K608i, K610i, K618i, K630, K660i, K700/k700i, K750i, K758, K770, K790i, K800i, K810, K818c, K850, K858c, M600, M608, P1, P900, P908, P910, P990, R300 Radio, R306 Radio, S302, S500, S600i, S700i, S710i, T270, T280, T303, T650, T658, V600/v600i, V630i, V640i, V800, V802, W200, W300i, W302, W350, W380i, W500, W550i, W580, W595, W600/w600i, W610, W660i, W700i, W710, W712, W760i, W800i, W810, W820, W830, W850i, W880, W888c, W890, W900i, W902, W908c, W910, W950, W958c, W960, W980i, Z1010, Z250, Z310i, Z320, Z500, Z520i, Z525, Z530i, Z550, Z555, Z558, Z610, Z710, Z712, Z750, Z770i, Z780, Z800i
Growing Pains is a collection of mini-games for your mobile, based upon girls of different ages. Naturally, it's a games that's marketed for and aimed at girls, but given that I'm not one myself (and unwilling to undergo a year of therapy and expensive surgery for the sake of one review), how does it hold up as a game in itself?
Amy is a tomboy, who likes her football. You control the budding goalkeeper, moving her around the goal to catch any balls that fly in her direction. The more you save, the more points you'll earn, but let three goals in, and it'll be game over.
