Halfbrick has been responsible for some of the more memorable iOS hits to date -- notably Fruit Ninja and Age of Zombies -- and their latest, Jetpack Joyride, looks to make another strong impression on iPhone and iPad gamers when it launches this Thursday. I had a chance to play the universal app this weekend at the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) in Seattle, and while the speedy side-scroller is based in the self-propelled running genre popularized by Canabalt and Halfbrick's own Monster Dash, the addition of the titular object really gives this high-strung adventure a fresh new feel of its own.
Jetpack Joyride again stars Barry Steakfries, hero of both Monster Dash and Age of Zombies, as he attempts to break free from a lab after stealing a jetpack that fires machine gun bullets towards the ground (hence the original title, Machine Gun Jetpack). What results is a seemingly endless sprint towards the right side of the screen, in which your goal is to stay alive -- and maybe collect some shiny coins along the way -- amidst hazards like energy fields and rockets. Since Steakfries runs on his own volition, your only task is to touch and hold the screen to fire the jetpack, bobbing and weaving around the various obstacles in an effort to survive.
Adding to the mayhem are various vehicles and suits, which can be picked up along the way and even upgraded as you collect coins and log accumulate time within the app. Included in the bunch are the Stomper mech, a Gravity Suit that lets you run across the ceiling, and a Teleporter that can beam you around the screen and safely through hazards, provided you know how to use it properly. And it's difficult to ignore the pointed humor of the Profit Bird, a robotic flight suit that sheds dollar bills as it glides through the air -- and amusingly pokes fun at one of Halfbrick's biggest App Store competitors.
Each new run varies thanks to randomly generated stage segments, but Jetpack Joyride also attempts to keep players constantly engaged with three active missions available at any given time -- such as notching a certain amount of coins in an attempt or high-fiving the running scientists as you spin through the levels. Plus, numerous jetpack variations (some of which affect gameplay) are available for purchase using in-game coins, along with vehicle/suit upgrades and other cosmetic enhancements. And if you happen to collect tokens during your attempt, you'll toss them into a slot machine upon death, giving you an opportunity to earn a huge coin bounty or possibly even be revived within your just-ended game.
Jetpack Joyride's slick hand-drawn animations are the best Halfbrick has produced to date, and the play experience is livelier and sillier than any side-scrolling running game on the market, which makes for a thoroughly riotous time. It feels like the kind of polished and constantly compelling game that players will sink hours into, and I came away from the demo thinking I'd seen what will likely be one of the top iOS games of the year. Jetpack Joyride is due out this Thursday as a universal app on iPhone and iPad for $0.99.
