A Review of the ``Slitherio'' Video Game

Under review is a fun video game, playable in WWW browsers, available at this URL: http://slither.io

Unlike the similar Agario game, the URL lacks worthless mandatory encryption and any advertisements.

I've been aware of Slitherio for a while, but could never bring myself to play it over Agario, which
has a nicer presentation and seemingly more complexity; however, I started playing after many nights
where Agario had either no players, or so few players as to be unbearable, and now believe Slitherio
to be the superior game for wasting time on the Internet.  The game is more challenging yet simpler.

The different presentation isn't so different, but it takes some adjustment from the sleeker Agario.

The core idea of the game is even simpler than Agario: All players act as a snake growing as it eats
food pellets; a player running headfirst into the side of another kills the former, and leaving food
pellets for the latter.  Players change direction gradually, so a tiny amount of foresight is needed
to avoid mistakes.  The only other option a player has is holding down the first mouse button to get
the faster speed at the cost of his length, which melts off and even leaves a trail of food pellets.

Like Agario, this is a game no one truly wins; unlike Agario, death is a constant threat even to the
largest players from the smallest.  Games last from seconds to minutes, and usually not much longer.

I've noticed very few machines playing the game with me, and those I've noticed were very simplistic
in their strategy, seemingly intended only to approach and feed another player; I wouldn't doubt the
existence of more machines playing I've merely not noticed, however, and these strategies are easier
to devise convincingly than for Agario.  One's interactions with other players are much more limited
in Slitherio, to the point that I bother not with naming myself even, as paying them mind is deadly.

The network implementation of this game also seems less flawed and less hindered by the evil designs
of WWW browsers, although I've noticed slowdown with catch up at least twice in my games, although I
know not what in particular would lead to such better performance except greatly reducing data sent.

I wonder if I'll grow bored with Slitherio and find yet another, even better game, for wasting time.
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