Tic Toc Body Pop

There's a ton of ragdoll physics games on the iPhone and iPad. But ragdoll posing games? Not so much. Tic Toc Body Pop is definitely geared towards the younger or more casual set, but it is a simple and charming diversion.

Our hero is a robot dreaming about being on a toy factory. You have to contort its body while it stands on a conveyer belt, guiding it through the cutouts in the walls. It’s like the game show Hole in the Wall, but less masochistic.

Tic Toc Body Pop’s gameplay is like playing with marionettes. Your robot has eight movable parts: the forearm, the upper arm, and the thigh and calf on either side. Touch a section and you can slide that part into the right place.

The game gives you a helping hand in a couple of different ways. Firstly, body parts change colour when they're in the right position. Secondly, two speed icons let you make the conveyer belt move faster, for more points, or slower, for more time.

The visuals are appropriately kid-like, with bright colours and spacey backgrounds. They aren’t the best the iPad has to offer, but the graphics and animation are smooth.

Offering dozens of levels, Tic Toc Body Pop would be much more difficult without all the help. As it is, the game is less a frantic puzzler and more a mellow brainteaser.

The good news is that kids of all ages will feel comfortable diving in and helping the robot get a good night’s sleep. The wholesome Tic Toc Body Pop does exactly what it’s supposed to do: provide a fun gently challenging experience.