At this point, who doesn’t know what Peggle is?  It’s only been released on practically every device imaginable, from the PC/Mac to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, iPhone, and now the iPad.  However, instead of feeling like a whorish cash-grab, every incarnation of Peggle is just as addicting and fun as the last.  Peggle HD for the iPad is no exception.

Developed by PopCap Games (a formerly-indie developer that was recently purchased by EA for over one billion dollars,) Peggle HD is a simple game with deceptively entertaining hooks.  The objective in each level is to clear all of the orange pegs from the screen, which are interspersed with many more blue ones.  This is accomplished by launched a ball out of a cannon placed at the top of the screen.  All you need to do is aim, fire, and watch as your metallic orb bounces all over the map, hopefully clearing pegs along the way.

Each stage has an associated character that you represent, all with their own variant power-ups.  Bjorn the Unicorn, for instance, grants players the Super Guide upon hitting a green peg.  This power effectively doubles the range of the on-screen targeting arrow, giving you a clearer vision of where your ball is going to ultimately fly and allowing stylish ricochets from multiple pegs.  Jimmy Lightning the Beaver creates a second ball that appears upon contact with the green power-up peg.  There are almost a dozen different animals to play as, each with their own ability.

The best part of Peggle, though, is “Ode to Joy.” At the end of each stage, the game enters Fever Mode, complete with the before-mentioned classical song and fireworks. The absolute thrill of the music and colors while watching your pinball bounce around the stage, hoping it falls in the bucket worth the most points, is possibly the greatest and most satisfying conclusion for completing a level in any video game.

There is enough content within Peggle to keep one entertained for many hours. And that’s not even considering the amazing multiplayer modes included in the game. There’s also the game’s expansion, Peggle Nights, available to further satiate one’s colored peg addiction. This one comes highly recommended.