Jetpack Joyride, an auto-runner type iOS game from Halfbrick Studios, is hands down one of the most addictive games I've ever played. The "just one more" urge every time a round ends, the large assortment of goofy items unlockable through coin collection – it took every ounce of my feeble willpower to pull myself away and play other worthy titles. But thanks to a massive update, the addiction is back in a big way.
As announced back in March, during the annual Game Developer's Conference, the 1.3 update to Jetpack Joyride is more than just bug fixes and performance improvements. A whopping 15 gadgets are added to high-flying protagonist Barry Steakfries' arsenal, changing the game drastically, for better or worse.
Gadgets are purchased through the game's store, the Stash. Spending some collected coins – or buying a handful of coins through in-app purchases – allows you to buy any of the 15 available upgrades. Gadgets are organized into a tier system, with a particular number of purchases required to unlock the next level. Regardless of the number of gadgets in your inventory, you can only equip two at the beginning of any run.
The gadgets themselves vary in use, but they're all designed in the typically cartoonish manner of Halfbrick. The Freeze-O-Matic, for example, places Barry in a block of ice immediately following a death, allowing him to slide along floor for those precious extra meters. Free Ride, one of the highest-tier gadgets, gives Barry a vehicle right at the start of the run. Combining certain gadgets offers a clear advantage, with some pairings – like the Gravity Belt and Air Barrys – noted in the game's menu as "high mobility," for example.
When the update was announced during GDC, Andrew Hayward made the accurate assumption that these purchasable devices could actually irritate some hardcore Jetpack Joyride players. A big part of the game's draw is the competition on the leaderboard, and frankly, the gadgets do provide an edge; and edge that's easily obtained through in-app purchases. All that said, I'm actually enjoying the new additions. Games like Jetpack Joyride are immensely addicting, but the repeated task of flying through static levels can grow monotonous. A new twist is exactly what this app needed.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to crush everyone's score with my Ezy-Dodge Missiles.
No comments:
Post a Comment