Tamagotchi L.i.f.e. Tap and Hatch was a mobile puzzle game developed by Bandai Namco Games for Apple and Android devices, and released on March 25, 2014. The game was free of charge, but offered in-app purchases for power-ups, extended time, and extra lives.
On September 1, 2014, six months after the game was launched, the game's in-app purchases were disabled. Its service ended on October 1, 2014, and has been removed from the iTunes store and Android market.
Gameplay[]
Each of the 125 levels presented the player with a board featuring several different color blocks. Any group of three or more blocks of the same color could be cleared by touching one block, and drawing a line from it through the other identical blocks.
Blocks could be connected vertically, horizontally, and diagonally, and more points would be awarded for longer connections. If there were no possible moves left, the game would automatically shuffle the pieces around.
The objective was to connect the blocks while clearing stated objectives, which varied between levels. In most cases, the player had to complete the challenge in a limited number of "moves". Each level began with an egg, and as the score went up, the egg hatched. Each tier of Tamagotchi growth rewarded the player with a star (up to three stars per level), and stars were required to continue onward to later areas.
If there were leftover moves, time, or Potty Bombs when the player completes a challenge, they were factored in as bonus points. Upon completing a challenge, the player was permitted to move on to the next level, regardless of how many stars they earned.
Hearts[]
Hearts were necessary in order to play any of the levels. Hearts were lost if the player lost or forfeited a game. The game automatically restored a Heart (for a maximum of five) every thirty minutes. Before September 1, 2014, the player could also purchase Hearts in bundles. Hearts were not consumed when playing any of the Generation 1 levels.
Achievements[]
Achievements were earned when completing specific objectives. Each achievement also gave the player one of the premium Boost Items to use. Achievements included:
- LEVEL 5 Cleared (1x Color Splash Pack)
- LEVEL 15 Cleared (2x Gold Potty Bombs)
- 1st Gate Unlock (2x Color Splash Packs)
- 2nd Gate Unlock (1x +5 Moves)
- 3rd Gate Unlock (1x Cleaner)
- Get 50 Stars (1x Gold Potty Bomb)
- Get 100 Stars (1x Gold Potty Bomb)
Blocks and Obstacles[]
Blocks that appeared during levels included the following:
- Colored Blocks: The primary blocks came in six colors: yellow, red, blue, green, orange, and purple.
- Potty Bombs: Potty Bombs would sometimes appear at the start of a level, though the player could generate them by connecting between five and seven colored blocks. Potty Bombs cleared all the blocks in one direction (horizontally, vertically or diagonally), depending on the angle in which the player connected it. Potty Bombs acted as wild cards, and could be combined with any colored block.
- Silver Potty Bombs: Potty Bombs that were silver in color. The player could generate one by connecting between eight and eleven colored blocks. They cleared all blocks in two directions when activated (either both vertically and horizontally, or in both diagonal directions).
- Gold Potty Bombs: Potty Bombs that were gold in color. The player could either purchase a pack of them prior to the start of a level, or generate one by connecting twelve or more blocks. They cleared all blocks in eight directions when activated.
- Stone Tiles: A gray tile on the board. Normal colored blocks can pass through them. The player can clear these by clearing any block that sits inside the tile.
- Hard Stone Tiles: A black tile on the board. They functioned the same as stone tiles, except blocks needed to be cleared twice within the panels to destroy them.
- Poop Blocks: A black poop that occupied a tile. They could not be used with any colored blocks, instead acting as obstacles. The player could clear them either by clearing a colored block touching the Poop Block horizontally or vertically, or use a Potty Bomb.
- Snack Blocks: A block that resembled a pink cupcake. Like the Poop Blocks, the Snack Blocks could not be used with color blocks, but move with the rest of the blocks. Snack Blocks could not be destroyed by the Potty Bombs. Instead, the player had to clear blocks beneath the Snack Block to get it to the bottom of the board. Once at the bottom, the Snack Block would disappear.
Challenges[]
Each level had its own unique set of challenges for the player. For the challenges, the player would either be limited to the number of moves they may made, or have an unlimited number of moves but had to complete the challenge within 60 seconds.
- Block Clearing: The player had to clear out a specific number of one or more colored blocks.
- Obstacle Clearing: Similar to above, but the player had to instead remove Stone Tiles and/or Poop Blocks.
- Snack Removal: The player had to move a set number of Snack Blocks from the top of the screen to the bottom.
- Score: The player had to obtain a certain presented score.
In-App Purchases[]
While the game was free, the game provided purchases that could assist the player in winning the game. They were introduced at level 6. On September 1, 2014, all purchases were disabled. The purchases included:
- Potty Bomb Pack - $0.99. The level would start with one Gold Potty Bomb replacing one of the game tiles. One purchase would yield three Gold Potty Bombs. Purchased and applied before the level begins.
- Color Splash Pack - $0.99. At the start of the level, one group of colored blocks would be changed into a different color. One purchase would yield three Color Splashes. Purchased and applied before the level begins.
- +5 Moves - $0.99. The user is granted an additional 5 moves to play. Purchased and applied during the game.
- Cleaner Pack - $0.99. The user could select one tile and clear out its contents without consuming a move. Purchased and applied during the game.
- +3 Moves - $0.99. Would only be offered if the player ran out of moves before completing the level objectives.
- +5 Seconds - $0.99. Would only be offered if the player ran out of time before completing the level objectives.
- Hearts: Hearts were purchased on the map field, but were only offered if the player had run out of hearts.
- x1 heart: $0.99
- x6 hearts: $4.99
- x13 hearts: $9.99
- x30 hearts: $19.99
Level Themes[]
Tap and Hatch included characters and locations based on the following themes and releases:
- 1 - 8: Tamagotchi (Generation 1)
- 9 - 18: Tamagotchi (Generation 2)
- 19 - 27: Tamagotchi Angel (does not include Smiling Angel)
- 28 - 59: Mesutchi and Osutchi (does not include Debutchi)
- 60 - 69: Tamagotchi Garden
- 70 - 77: Tamagotchi Ocean
- 78 - 84: Yasashii Tamagotchi
- 85 - 91: Devilgotchi
- 92 - 105: Santagotchi
- 106 - 115: Tamagotchi Circus: Includes a variety of characters in circus-themed costumes.
- 116 - 125: Ninja: Includes a variety of characters in ninja-themed costumes.
Gallery[]
- For character and background artwork, see Tamagotchi L.i.f.e. Tap and Hatch/Gallery.
