Help The Spunky And Optimistic Bit Avoid Doom In BlockHopper
BlockHopper ($1.99) by Green Pixel is an awesome 2-D puzzle platformer game that should be on every iPhone.
When it comes to iPhone games, it just seems like nothing is as great as the puzzle and platform games, right? I mean, it just seems like the iPhone was just made for these types of games. Especially for the 8-bit graphics – who doesn’t like these graphics? It just brings back so many memories.
BlockHopper fully caught my attention mostly with the 8-bit graphics, so I decided to check it out. I was pleasantly surprised with what the entire package contained. In addition to awesome retro graphics, BlockHopper features a great chiptune soundtrack (made by Starship Amazing) and sound effects, so the nostalgia is in full effect here.
The objective of the game is to help Bit the Robot get to the goal. Sounds simple enough, right? Wrong! Along the way, you’ll encounter spikes, conveyor belts, switches, disappearing blocks, moving platforms, and more. You must use all of these strategically in order to get to the goal at the end of the level.
There’s another element of the game that separates it from other platformers: blocks. For each level (except the beginning), you will be given a certain number of blocks that you can place anywhere (given that there is space for them); this adds the puzzle part of the game. The blocks given can vary from level to level. You will need to learn how to use the blocks efficiently, because it is normal to only have just enough for that level.
To use the blocks, you will have to go into the Block mode, which is accessed with two buttons (with a box on them). Place a block by simply tapping on the space where you want to put it. When you’re done, return to the game by tapping on the button again.
The controls of the game are simple enough – the bottom left has buttons to move Bit left and right. The bottom right has a down and up arrow – up is for jumping, but the down arrow is used once you reach the goal. I found the controls to be fairly responsive and accurate. I didn’t have any problems during my game. If you need to restart, just tap on the button in the top right to make Bit self-destruct (and see cute and funny messages, although this is whenever Bit dies).
There are three stars to earn (typical, right?) on each level. You get the stars depending on how fast you complete each level, which you will see before you start. Due to this, I found myself replaying several levels a few times in order to get the best time – this is replay value!
Now, the game itself only comes with 35 levels from the developers. This may not seem like a lot, right? But there's a reason behind this; there are user-created levels! You can access these whenever you want, and if you are up for it, you can create your own levels as well, using the built-in level creator. I love this, because there are tons of creative people out there, and I'm sure that they can create some amazing levels (like people do with the LittleBigPlanet games, and even my favorite, inFAMOUS 2).
BlockHopper features Game Center integration for nine achievements. I appreciate the fact that there are achievements at all, but I hope that the developers can add more in the future – nine just isn’t enough for some people (plus, I like those points on my Game Center name!).
Perhaps the developers can add more levels in the future, in case someone beats the 35 that it comes with as well as a lot of user generated content. Besides that, the game is a solid puzzle platform game that seems to have been buried among other games lately.
This game is a great buy for the price of $1.99. There is even a Lite version for people to try, which will feature 12 of the 35 original levels for free, but no level editor or user-created levels. If you are a fan of puzzles and platforms, be sure to check this one out!
