Sonic Jump (iOS) Review

Sonic has always been about rings, shiny golden loops of joy that act as his health, losing everything when colliding with certain obstacles or enemies, and then parting with a life upon a second subsequent strike. Nothing has changed for Sonic Jump, with the spiky protagonist clamouring up all manner of platforms to reach the summit and foil the plans of the nefarious Dr. Eggman (how we miss the 'Robotnik' name). The more rings garnered, the more goodies can be grabbed, in the form of new characters to play as, extra power-ups, and more. With 36 levels to work though in the 'Story' mode and an 'Arcade' element where it is a case of keep jumping and jumping until a mistake is made, the basic theme could start to wear thin very quickly. However, the amount of twists and turns mixed into the gameplay formula make this one of those basic, but insanely addictive, end products.

The best Sonics are admittedly those that resist the urge to overcomplicate matters, and Sonic Jump definitely holds back from throwing too many ideas at the board to see what sticks. However, saying that, it does not lack for inventiveness, with numerous collectibles strewn around the stages that prove to be extremely awkward to obtain as players tilt the mobile handset left and right to alter the tangent at which Sonic automatically jumps. His flight can be aided by a secondary tap on the screen to launch him upwards once more to reach higher than normal platforms, but this also acts as a useful way of dodging the many hazards along the way. Sonic Jump is deemed an example of the Vertical Platform genre, in which games such as Heights, Chimpact, and Doodle Jump feature, but does not rush the player to the top of the stages and is not as chaotic as the slightly similar-veined Vertical Shooter category. Sure, being against the clock does add some urgency, but there are more rewards for being meticulous in the collection of paraphernalia dotted around.

When jumping upwards, should Sonic drop back down onto a platform everything is fine as he continuously bounces up and down until progress is made when landing on an alternative route, yet should the camera move far enough up to move any previous platforms out of sight at the bottom of the screen, Sonic merely falls to his doom and the level must be restarted. More often than not this happens as a result of bashing into robotic enemies crawling around on other ledges, nudging into wasps floating about, platforms that disappear after one touch, or merely catching poor Sonic on some protruding spikes and getting clobbered by falling boulders. Timing and patience are everything, with it actually sometimes proving better to just remain in one spot for a short time before making further headway north through the likes of popular zones like Green Hill, Mountain, and Jungle. It is the virtues of perseverance and resolve that lead to achievements being successfully obtained, and Sonic being levelled up to open up more of the game. With heaps of difficulty to ensure this is not breezed through in a couple of hours or less, Sonic Jump is definitely a great addition to anyone's library.