Review: JellyCar 3 - Bouncing Back For A Third Time
by Staff Writer
February 11, 2011
The squishy little car that could is back in the third installment of the Jelly Car series. The game goes back to its roots giving you the puzzle platformer style while dealing with the odd physics engine of a jelly car and jelly platforms. JellyCar 2 seemed to go in all kinds of directions offer many good things, but nothing that was truly great.
JellyCar 3 feels more like the original as it gives you 50 levels in a straightforward sequence rather than the more random feel of number two. The game also expands the scope of Jelly Car giving you larger and much more imaginative levels. Every level is scored based on time, and there is a three star scale to show your performance.
You use the stars to unlock later level packs, and one really great feature that may go unnoticed is that once in a level pack you can play any of the group. It's so much better to bounce around the levels rather than going in sequence, and without having to be stuck on a particular level with no way to advance. There are also new mechanics with switches, doors, and launch pads that enhance the gameplay greatly.
Every level plays differently, and there isn't much relation to the other two games in the series offering a lot of variability. Making it through all the levels is a worthwhile investment, and you can save replays, re-race against a ghost of your best time, and race against ghosts on top of the leaderboards. You can also customize your car with tons of options, and shrink/grow, sticky tires, and balloon ability are back for your Jelly Car.
All three abilities are essential in particular levels, and the game makes good use of them. Your goal in each level is to reach the stop sign, but there is also a hidden exit in each level further enhancing replayability. Game Center is included for online high scores and achievements on top of just replaying to beat your own time, and warn more stars.
Maybe the best aspect of Jelly Car is that there is so much wiggle room around the right way to complete a level. You can make mistakes, bounce all around instead of driving smoothly forward, and still complete the level in a good time. There is a new rewind feature which allows you to go back in time after a crucial mistake, or let you make up for one small mistake that has you miss the target time.
The squishiness of everything in the game really makes it a gaming experience unlike any other, and makes it fun to watch and play. The visuals are finely polished, and the game is just oozing with personality with its goofy cartoon style. The great Jelly Car soundtrack with multiple enjoyable tunes is back again.
JellyCar 3 (Universal, $0.99) offers amazing value, and is just so much fun especially by going back to the game's roots and simply enhancing it in a few key ways. JellyCar 3 is a must buy for only $1 that will bounce right into your heart.
A neat little video below of an interview with the creator of the original JellyCar.
