The APPera

The iPhone is home to simple pick and play games. Today we happily welcome a new addition.

Run! ($0.99)

Probably the best example of the genre’s power is its flagship leader: Doodle Jump. Run! takes the same ingredients that makes everyone love the green doodle while at the same time adding completely new elements. Yes folks, if Lima Sky creates a “Doodle Run” game, THIS will be it.

Presentation

Run is a simple game. In fact, the name sums it up. None the less, it’s simple and clean, and lots of fun. I mean, who doesn’t want to blow up brick walls and attack zombies?

The graphical approach is bright and colorful as opposed to Doodle Jump’s, well, doodle theme. The soundtrack (though looped) to Run! is soo infectious and just indirectly dares you to beat your own score everytime.

Controls

The controls are kept simple and easy. Swipe down to duck/slide, up to jump. Tap the brick walls (and other destructible obstacles) to fire a bazooka at them! And of course, the attack button to defend yourself of the zombies and much more. In case you need help, here’s a pro-tip from the developer himself.

Hold your iPhone/iPod Touch as if it was a game controller. Let the left thumb control movement and the right thumb control attacks and missile firing”.

Gameplay

As I said above the gameplay is simple. You have the incredible urge to run, and no one shall stop you. The game starts off easy with just metal and brick walls, and purple zombies (yes Arthur is a Lakers fan!). You either jump, slide, punch or flying kick the zombies and walls.

A killed zombie OR blasted brick wall get you 2 points. Steel walls or unblasted brick walls get you a point. As you get further and accumulate 100 points, a new obstacle appears.

The new obstacles appear in the form of increased speed, seals, sharks, springs, chainsaw, and boulders. After the first 100 points, increase speed alternates per ever 100 you get. YOUR job to avoid/destroy these objects to keep running. The further you get, the more obstacles you will unlock, and the faster the speed will be.

As you run you can grab medallions in the way to collect. You can use these to unlock even more obstacles. The game also features a online scoreboard and the ability to tweet your scores (the tweets will also say what obstacle stopped you). It also has a detailed stats page telling you how many obstacles you have terminated.

Suggestions

As with Doodle Jump, the game is open to an infinite update possibilities. For one, we can get extra live power ups, new ammo pickups, different colored zombies. Speaking of, we can totally create a new game mode where a specific colored zombie is asked to get shot. Of course, a pygmy can replace stickman or the zombies to make it more fun.

The only thing I’d really suggest is to change the way the levels end. Instead of pulling the global scores list right away, why not put a simple page stating: FAILED > retry, submit global, submit tweet button? It’s sort of a pain that you have to close the submit score button and hit play again. This way we’re eliminating one extra tap.

Lastly, I’d like the ability to choose ONE background instead of rotating through different times of day.

Conclusion

Essentially, Run! is a simon says type of game. Flick up, down, taps and combos. However, the game does a FANTASTIC job of making you forget the simplicity of this game. The minimalist control method and smooth gameplay alone should make you buy the game.

Run! is good clean cheap fun. At 99 cents there’s no excuse not to get it. It’s simple yet addicting. And who doesn’t need a good pick-up and play game for when waiting for a bus or something. Still not convinced? Try out the free lite version and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Related posts:

1. Doodle Jump Christmas: A Snowy Doodle Jump Easter Egg Avalanches
2. Doodle Jump, Zombie Attack! Second Wave: Winners List
3. Doodle Jump Halloween: New Doodle Jump Easter Eggs Arrive!
4. Halloween #Giveaway: LAST DAY To Join Doodle Jump, Zombie Attack! 2, ‘Eyeblast #Promocodes!
5. Doodle Jump Review: Intensified With A Certain iPhone Creature