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Released: 02 Feb, 2012

Reviewer: Andrew Nesvadba

Version: 1.0.2 Size: 19.9 MB

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Off the Leash

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Save: 80% Was: $0.99Arcade Games1.0.2Big Pixel Studios

PROS

Pick-up and play simplicity; great for all ages and skill levels.
Obscenely smooth and cheery visuals; sticker-art-meets-pixel-art.

CONS

Bonus levels feel like the only thing that add variety to the gameplay.

VERDICT

For a game that doesn't ask for a payment up-front, Off The Leash remains rock solid thanks to its simple, yet fun mix of endless runner gameplay with harsh time-limits that push you to the edge of your skill.

Video Review

Full Review

I've never really held to the belief that you're either a dog or a cat person - for one I love the heck out of both dogs and cats and just about anything else that's super cute. So it's always good news when Big Pixel Studios, the developers behind games such as Meow Meow Happy Fight and Land-a Panda, drop something new on the App Store.

Off The Leash places you in control of a dog who is attempting to break out of a city that has just banned canines and you only have a limited amount of time to do it in. Part endless-runner, part arcade racing game, your job is to avoid hazards such as walls, bushes, and pools while picking up additional canine buddies to boost your speed. Your bonus will take a nose-dive if you hit anythings, but power-ups including time bonuses, speed-increasing hot peppers and dog-multipliers help to even things out.

Coins act as a way of keeping score (along with distance traveled), with players being able to purchase new dogs with higher speed and agility as well as cute 'hats' to decorate them with. Should you manage to manage to keep your bonus high enough you'll reach a new 'level', increasing your speed and gaining access to a fun bonus stage filled with these coins, making it easy to unlock all the available content given enough time and patience.

Off The Leash is good clean fun - simple in execution and utterly gorgeous in its presentation thanks to Big Pixel Studio's usual hyper-cute sticker-art inspired artwork. Dogs you haven't unlocked whimper and stare with soulful eyes, just waiting to be broken out of jail - it's all the motivation you need to jump right back in to the fray and earn as many coins as you can.

Whether you're a dog lover or not, this is a hard game to pass up to while-away your spare time.

App Store Info

Download the FAADChat App by @FreeAppADay.com, make new friends and vote together to feature the best apps like "Off The Leash"Off The Leash is OpenFeint’s Free Game of the Day! Download the Game Channel app to get a FREE game every day!PRESS REVIEWS• TouchArcade [4.5/5]• iPhone Alley [5/5]• App-Score [9/10]From the creators of the smash hit Land-a Panda!There’s a new Chief of Police in town, and he’s put a ban on dogs, ordering them all to be captured! It’s your task to outrun those pesky cops and evade capture, whilst trying to rescue as many of your doggy pals as you can. Along the way you’ll need to eat food, collect coins, complete missions, and do all you can to avoid capture!You’ll begin playing as Steve the Golden Retriever, collecting coins as you go which can later be spent on various items in the store. Unlock new dogs, collect custom clothing, unleash super power-ups, and call on the mysterious Big Dog for help!KEY FEATURES• Simple one-handed tilt-based controls• 7 different dogs to unlock and customise• Unlock additional bonus levels, power-ups, and Big Dog attacks by completing missions• 90 unique missions• Stunning HD graphics• Game Center + OpenFeint leaderboards and achievements to compete with your friends• Easy to learn but difficult to master, you’ll be coming back again and again!UPDATE SUBMITTEDWe have submitted an update which fixes the auto-dimming screen issue. While we wait for the update to be approved, you can stop the screen from auto-dimming by editing your device settings by going to:• SETTINGS -> GENERAL -> AUTO-LOCK and increasing the time, or setting it to "never"

Updates

This update fixes a few minor issues:• Auto-dimming screen disabled - if your device has the auto-lock setting on, the game will not automatically dim the screen when you are playing• The "number of dogs to unlock" signpost on the main menu will now display the correct number when the game first loads.• Optimisation for users of iPod touch 4th generationThanks for playing Off The Leash, and please leave us your feedback on the App Store and on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear what you think, and what you’d like to see in future updates!http://www.facebook.com/OffTheLeashGameThanksThe Big Pixel Team