The Impossible Game Review

By , on April 24, 2010


The Impossible Game
Download on the AppStore
3 out of 5

PROS

  • Platforming in its purist form.
  • Pulsing electronic soundtrack.
  • Practice mode for difficult sections.

CONS

  • More or less an extended exercise in recall than skill.
  • Only one level to complete.

VERDICT

One level may sound like you've been shorted content for The Impossible Game, but until you can manage to finish it without practice mode it'll seem like too much content.


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Originally an XBox 360 Arcade title, The Impossible Game has now made a home for itself on the App Store, bringing whole bags of frustration that will either inspire you to victory or crush your spirit in anger.

The premise for The Impossible Game is simple: Finish the level. There's only one level to complete, but getting to the end will require sharp reflexes and a keen memory to get there intact. When you begin, your block will slide out of control along the level leaving you to tap the screen in order to jump obstacles and gaps in the way, while holding down will keep you jumping up and down until you let go.

To match the game's simple gameplay, the levels are rendered entirely out of solid black lines, blocks and triangles. While playing in the game's normal mode a thumping electronic soundtrack will pulse, providing a handy way to memorize and time your jumps. A 'practice' mode is available, allowing you to drop a flag that you can continue from, giving you a chance to practice particularly tricky sections of the level. Such simplicity is beguiling and quickly punishes players for their complacency with sections of rapid jumping followed by complex timed jumps.

Thanks to the quickly paced gameplay, the impulse to 'beat' the game is initially quite strong, but a string of badly timed jumps can turn a fun session in to a frustrating one. Only one level seems like a small amount of content, but if you can stand the heat it'll keep you occupied for days on end.

Screenshots

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