Are you skilled enough to survive when it's Almost Impossible?

Almost Impossible! ($1.99) by Daniel Counsell of Realmac Software is a challenging platformer that will truly test your reflexes. If you liked titles like The Impossible Game and Geometry Dash, then you will love Almost Impossible.

When it comes to my mobile gaming, I love a good platformer, though it can be hard to find one with the perfect controls. Still, I practice and practice until I can make some progress, even if the controls aren’t spot-on like in the Mikey Shorts series of games. Platformers are one of my favorite genres because they test my skill, however good or bad that may be. Plus, it’s always a satisfying feeling once you finally make it through a tough level or best your previous time in speedruns. When I got an email from Counsell about a new game he was releasing, I was eager to check it out because Realmac has some gorgeously designed stuff from the past. Needless to say, Almost Impossible does not disappoint.

The design of Almost Impossible is beautiful, and definitely one of the better looking games of the genre out there. The game has a unique visual style with the retro future graphics, so it is like a modernized 8-bit look. While your character is a simplistic white ball of light, the colors that make up the obstacles and backgrounds are rich and vibrant, with the hues changing the further you get. There is also a fantastic dynamic lighting system with realistic shadow effects, and the real-time physics engine is a great addition. To top things off, the game has an awesome chiptune-inspired soundtrack that will appeal to fans of all ages, and the sound effects are fun as well.

In Almost Impossible, players must make their way through over 50 levels of platforming action in linear order. Each stage flows seamlessly into the next, and the only indication that you’ve made it to the next area is the particle marker line that serves as a kind of checkpoint. While the levels are all fairly short, surviving them is easier said than done.

The controls in the game are simple and intuitive, making movement a breeze in the game. To make your light ball go left, tap on the left side of the screen. For going right, tap the right side of your device. I’m happy with the control scheme here, because when I first downloaded the game I was afraid that it would be one of those “you can only go forward” types of games (it is called Almost Impossible, after all), like 1-Bit Ninja Remix Rush, but fortunately that is not the case. Even though you can go forward and backward as you please in the game, you still have to be careful and time your movements correctly to safely get past dangerous obstacles. Because even one touch of the wrong object will kill you, and then you have to start from the beginning of that level.

Games like this will naturally take some time to complete, but the replay value is still pretty high. There is Game Center support for competing with your friends for high scores, and the developer already has more levels coming in the future.

I’m still early on in the game because things get tricky, but so far I’m enjoying every minute of Almost Impossible. The game itself looks stunning, the music is upbeat and catchy, controls are simple to learn, and the gameplay is challenging and addictive. If you’re a fan of difficult platformers, then I highly recommend picking this one up and giving it a spin for yourself.

Almost Impossible is a universal download on the App Store for just $1.99. There are in-app purchases to skip levels if you are stuck.