Jetpack Joyride Review (iOS): A dangerous, well-oiled machine

Brisbane-based developer Halfbrick Studios have a reputation for creating addictive, if not shallow, gaming experiences for smartphones and tablet devices. Fruit Ninja has already stolen hours from me already, and the Kinect-controlled port also gifted me with a surprise back injury. Age of Zombies was easily the best PlayStation Mini that I've ever played and looks wonderful when blown-up on an iPad. That game's protagonist, Barry Steakfries makes his return in Jetpack Joyride; which abandons the gratuitous Simpsons quotes in favour of the developer's own brand of machine gun-themed slapstick humour. Are Halfbrick's comic chops enough to literally carry Steakfries' latest adventure?

The Good

Just one more - Jetpack Joyride is score attack gaming at its finest. There's no pretence or story holding players back from the action. Simply touch the screen and Barry breaks through a laboratory wall to steal away to - what hopefully is - a new high score. Your score is measured in metres travelled, but there are other peripheral indicators of success. You can collect coins to unlock cosmetic upgrades and single-use power-ups, and you're also issued with sets of three "missions" which task you with anything from high fiving scientists to travelling a certain distance with any of the game's six vehicles. You may be confined to a singular, oft-recycled environment, but you'll often go back for "just one more" attempt.

Violent, vehicular whimsy - As you're avoiding obstacles in the titular jetpack - or any of the aforementioned vehicles - I'd challenge you to do so without a sadistic grin on your face. Raining bullets on hapless scientists, trampling them with the Lil' Stomper, or burning them with Mr Cuddles (a robotic dragon) is nothing short of a responsive joy. The retro-flavoured visuals were also cause for delight and - despite the lack of variety - only added to the game's charm. 

Deeper than your dollar's worth - Jetpack Joyride costs less than a dollar, and the many variables presented in any given playthrough is sure to give you more enjoyment than you deserve; given the asking price. The "Final Spin" also adds value to your current run or sets you up for the next one, with the macabre slot machine offering the ability (luck and spin tokens permitting) to be revived, earn extra coins, or cause a blast of varying intensity to carry your corpse a little bit further (thus adding to your score). When you run out of Spin Tokens and you're life comes to an end, you're presented with a happy snap from your latest adventure and statistics - both run-specific and lifetime - to chart your performance. There's also leaderboards for you to compare scores amongst friends and the community at large. That's a respectable amount of content and functionality given the asking price.

The Bad

Wretched score - The singular piece of original music in Jetpack Joyride is more exhausting than elevator music and doesn't really match the black comic sensibility of the action on screen. This can be made a null point by simply playing your own music while running the game, but still, fairly underwhelming considering the addictive qualities of the play and presentation.

The Ugly

Coursework - While the obstacle course you face on each attempt is dynamic, the lab facility motif is a constant, and I imagine that could grow tiresome in time. There is the potential for the developer to add new settings in the future, but you'll need to be happy with the subterranean lair for now.  

Get used to seeing the lab... a lot

The Verdict

Jetpack Joyride is another strong effort from Halfbrick, and even if you aren't sucked in by the addictive action and charming visuals, it costs less than a buck. Give it a go, people!

Mobile Mayhem

Previously I’ve bagged mobile phone gaming, questioning its validity and relevance especially when compared to console or PC games. With an impending work conference to attended (with guaranteed downtime) as well as a two year old who knows how to open my iPhone and find the games, I thought it was time to give it a crack and find some bargains.

While Dutch was busy scouring the Steam Summer Sale, I happened to come across the Activistion sale on iTunes. Nowhere near as exciting but still satisfying, Activision classics such as Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 were half price.

Anyway, like I said, it was nowhere near as exciting as the Steam sale but since THPS 4 was the first game I ever bought for my PS2, the series holds a special place in my heart (especially the numbered games because the Wasteland/Bam games were crap).

The mobile version is true to the original in terms of graphics and game play, with the only difference being the way the game feels. I’m still getting used to the grind/flip/ollie/grab buttons on the touch screen but I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it soon.

With years of experience on the console, the touch screen is still quite foreign. I’m finding the fact that I can’t physically feel the buttons under my thumbs distracting and I feel lost when holding the phone. Have you felt the same?

To help my daughter have a little more fun, I picked up Halfbrick’s Fruit Ninja. Whilst this isn’t the newest of releases, it’s a game that’s fun to play. Essentially you need to slice up fruit as it launches from the bottom of the screen, using your finger as a knife. Based on the simplicity, my daughter is ableto understand it, but keeps missing fruit and cutting her game time short.

Thankfully there is a timed practice area that we can play in so that she can miss as many pieces of fruit as she likes without cutting her time short. Best of all, not only does it entertain her, but me too.

Something I’ve found a little more addictive is Fragger. You can pick this up for free and the aim is to throw grenades at the enemy and blow up them up. It’s essentially Worms without the cuteness or ability to move, with the cartoon graphics providing an inexplicable appeal.

Further searching for time fillers pointed me in the direction of Street Fighter IV. Had I picked this up last month, I would’ve only paid $1.99, however I was a bit slow and grabbed it at the full price of $5.99. I’m yet to play it but I can assure you it will get a good run in on Sunday.

Have you bought any games for your phone that you can’t get enough of?