So far there appears to be quite a big misunderstanding in Reptile roundup when eating the snail that slows you down is being attributed to lag, or the game being coded poorly. But it's still cumbersome how you can't avoid eating the snail, and it doesen't really indicate to you when the slowed down speed (albeit useful) ends and the snake begins to rapidly move again.

Nor does Help indicate anything about the snails. What not to eat? well obstacles obviously and yourself. But it doesent mention any distinction about the snails and the rest of the foods. It however does hint that there are bad foods to eat?? Thats how I understood it, that there are some foods that pop up that are unsafe to eat and you have to avoid.


So my suggestion?
Split the snail from the food and have it individually spawn.

The food items would spawn as before, when one is eaten another spawns.


While the snail could be in another category, called 'boost foods' which appear only every so often on the map, and when, they only stay for a limited time so when they begin to dissapear they 'blink'. (also they should spawn somwhere away from the snake's head)( And of course none net you points)

Those items could also hold extra features like the snail;
-an item that speeds you up for a short while
-obviously poisonous spiders that kill you, (pose a new threat to avoid as they appear and disapeat)
-an item that doubles the score as well as an item that halves the score you get from new foods eaten for a short while.
-an item that wins you a small amount of SB after sending score.
-an item that makes you invincible to colission damadge for a short while.
-maybe a rare popup that grants you an item after sending score that you can't get normally in the game and is exclusive to this boost?
-more??

Also when eating a snake physics altering food, your snake begins to blink when the affect is beginning to wear! (this would make using snails more useful as you'll know when the effect wears and you are better prepared for it)
This might give players a bit more thought to playing than just avoid everything/eat everything that spawns. It would introduce new elements that you may choose to eat, absolutely have to avoid or spice up the map's layout with a new danger to avoid or toss in a small reward that you have to quickly grab before it disapears!


So what are your thoughts?