Halfbrick Studios quickly became my favourite iPhone game developer in 2010 when they burst onto the iOS scene with Fruit Ninja and Monster Dash. Monster Dash, a great endless-runner in its own right, saw the arrival of Halfbrick’s hero, Barry Steakfries, and his trademark weapon, the machine-gun jetpack.
One year on, Steakfries is back, and in this endless runner we see just how he managed to get his hands on his favourite toy. (Yeah, he stole it.)
Jetpack Joyride has Halfbrick written all over it. It’s an elegantly simple concept, with the depth and design to keep you coming back for more. Like all floating/flying endless games, the controls couldn’t be simpler. Touch the screen to fly, stop to fall. But the game is far from easy. You will have to manoeuvre around floating electric zappers, rockets that are fired at you from off screen, and horizontal laser contraptions, all building in speed and complexity as you advance.
Like Monster Dash, the addition of usable items spices up the action, with 5 different vehicles to be found along the way. Each of these vehicles acts like an extra life, being destroyed in your place after taking a hit, and each is unique in the way it acts and controls. You probably won’t have the same favourite as the person next to you, and all can result in some serious yardage if you can get the hang of them. The best part is as you use each vehicle, you’ll notice the obstacles adapting to suit the strengths and weaknesses of the vehicle you’re using, forcing you to stay on your toes with a constant challenge.
The game is well designed, with an addictive soundtrack, pleasant sound effects and a colourful, playful display. The detail in the world is especially striking when you reach areas such as the aquarium. It also supports Openfeint and Game Centre to let you compare scores with your friends, as well as coin collection and an in-game store to purchase new outfits, jetpacks, upgrades for your vehicles and single-use items to give you a boost. You’ll also find a slot machine mini-game at the end of each run that might grant you a coin bonus, blast you a little further or even grant you an extra life.
But what I’ve found separates Jetpack Joyride from other endless runners, including Monster Dash, is the in-game goals and level system. You are given 3 missions, ranging from collecting coins to travelling a certain distance in a particular way and tagging various objects in the world. Each of these objectives has a star value, which you collect as you progress. Once you reach a certain number of stars, you level up and receive a coin bonus which increases with each level. Oh, and once you complete a mission, you’re instantly given a new one, so there are always 3 in-game goals for you to be completing as you collect coins and keep yourself alive. It’s this constant sense of progression and achievement which gives Jetpack Joyride an extra kick of life and keeps it interesting where other endless games would get monotonous.
Jetpack Joyride is available on the App Store today for £0.69/$0.99, and is worth grabbing for anyone who is a fan of the endless-runner genre.
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