Jetpack Joyride
Score: 95% ESRB: 9+ Publisher: Halfbrick Developer: Halfbrick Media: Download/1 Players: 1 Genre: Action/ Arcade/ Platformer
Graphics & Sound: In the time it takes to write this review, I could play about 50 rounds of Jetpack Joyride. More importantly, I would play 50 rounds of Jetpack Joyride, because the game is so addictive. If you were expecting something like Age of Zombies, where we last saw Barry Steakfries in action, Jetpack Joyride will come as a surprise. It's a side-scrolling action game, much like the running games that have sprung up on mobile platforms. Barry's distinctive look is still very much in evidence, as is his humor. There's only so much variety in the game, but it's used to maximum advantage. A big part of the extended game is dressing up Barry and accessorizing with jetpacks ranging from Traditional to Bubble to Rainbow, purchased with coins gathered in the game. It's a fun touch and there are some special achievements earned simply by playing the game while dressed up in funny outfits. The music is rousing, and there are lots of good sound effects associated with vehicles you use during the game, not to mention all the obstacles that crop up along the way. Jetpack Joyride is full of character, with lots of little touches that show how much fun the developers had bringing Barry Steakfries back.
Gameplay: The similarity to running games like Canabalt is obvious at first, but Jetpack Joyride has its own unique spin. The physics of blasting off in a jetpack are actually modeled pretty well, and you'll find it challenging to time both your drops and your blast-offs. Off the starting line, things are relatively slow, or at least you'll realize how slow they are once you progress further. Barry either runs or flys, and the idea is to rack up more distance each time you play, as measured in meters. Distance isn't everything, though. Coins can be collected throughout the level, and used to buy special upgrades for Barry. These aren't performance upgrades, although there are some so-called "utilities" that can improve your chance for a high score. The extra dimension to gameplay that keeps you engaged with Jetpack Joyride is missions. You always have a bank of three missions to complete, which can be something as simple as "Collect x coins" or something as obscure as "High-five x scientists." Each time you complete a mission, you earn stars. Earning stars confers rank, and there are many levels you can earn before you "beat" the game. Beyond missions are Achievements, several of which are counter-intuitive, such as Germaphobe that rewards you for flying 2,000 meters without touching any of the objects that are associated with rewards in the game. The missions add a layer, and achievements will keep you playing for a good long while. There's even an achievement for finishing all missions and starting the game over. As a testament to the high replay value of Jetpack Joyride, a recent update added another vehicle and some additional goodies, in case you had actually exhausted everything.
Difficulty: There's no denying that Jetpack Joyride is a tough game to master, if mastery is even possible when there are a random sequence of infinite obstacles... Finishing all the missions should be realistic for even moderately skilled twitch-gamers. None of them require you to really endure at super high speeds, and few of them aren't things you'll end up doing eventually in the normal course of play. Nailing all the achievements and collecting all the equipment can be handled in one of two ways. If you don't want to do in-game purchases, you'll be seriously challenged when tasked with some of the more expensive purchases and distance goals. You can't really do anything about the distance goals with in-game cash, but a little bit of real-world money goes a long way toward dressing up Barry. If you are willing to spend some real-world money, it's possible to get things moving considerably faster. We like that Jetpack Joyride offers a range of in-game purchase options, from virtual lottery-winner status to a simple tool that makes one game-coin count as two. This lets you spend a little money to make things easier, without feeling like you completely sold out.
Game Mechanics: As with most running games, Jetpack Joyride is the picture of simplicity from a control standpoint. You touch the screen anywhere to fire the jetpack and send Barry skyward. Taking your finger off the screen stops firing the jets and sends you back to land. Gravity takes over at this point, so you can imagine it's a bit of a learned skill to time the drops. We couldn't really tell the difference between any of the jetpacks, other than their appearance and side-effects. Barry runs when on the group, and you can do small jumps by tapping to use the pack briefly. As you move around the screen you'll collect items, including special vehicles that control very differently than your jetpack. It's still about tapping the screen, but some vehicles require constant tapping in order to stay elevated. Others have unconventional movement patterns, like the Crazy Freaking Teleporter or Mr. Cuddles. Yes, there really are vehicles with these names... The best thing about Jetpack Joyride is its ease of use. Rarely can you play 400 games and still feel motivated to come back for more. Part of it is the reward system that constantly keeps you on an IV drip of positive feedback and accomplishment. Just don't look at the leaderboards and see how far people have successfully taken Barry. There are some talented jetpack pilots out there! There's something meaningful for a player of any ability here, but it is accomplished through design, not dumbing things down. In the end, Jetpack Joyride manages to be exactly what you'd want in a mobile game: Fast, furious, and flexible fun.
-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications AKA Matt Paddock
Related Links: Jetpack Joyride| iTunes App Store
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