Bumpy Road Review
PROS
- Unique controls; shift the world to move the vehicle.
- Breadcrumb story; keeps you coming back for more.
- Alternate 'Sunday Drive' mode; mixes things up with a short timed game.
- Gorgeous aesthetics; carefully chosen sound-effects really add to the experience.
CONS
- Challenging to master; sensitive controls make minor adjustments difficult without practice.
VERDICT
While some developers explore how to bring a console experience to the App Store, Bumpy Road by Simogo explores the short arcade-like experience to make something engaging and engrossing.
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Developer Simogo is no stranger to creating addictive high-score titles, having already captured people's attention with the charming Kosmo Spin and their latest release Bumpy Road shows no signs of letting up on this trend. A unique control system isn't the only thing that makes this game worth picking up as players are treated to a rich world of sights and sounds with story breadcrumbs to keep you coming back for more.
At its core, Bumpy Road is another endless platformer, but players control the world itself instead of the vehicle and its passengers. Touching the screen will push up the blocks, allowing you to push the little car around as though surfing on a wave. It's not an easy mechanic to master, but there-in lies part of the fun as you attempt to push and punt the car around the screen, jumping rivers; flipping switches; and avoiding traps in order to survive. Various 'gizmos' also need to be collected in order to fuel the vehicle under your care, with a bonus mode being activated if you manage to fill up the tank in the process.
The overall aesthetic of Bumpy Road is nothing short of fantastic, with simple touches like a tinkling sound-effect as you swipe across the screen helping to highlight the game's fun, casual style. Collectable images also act as an incentive to dive further and further, contributing to a mini-narrative surrounding the couple you're protecting.
For those after something a little less stressful (if you can even call the game stressful at all!) a 'Sunday Drive' mode removes all the traps in favor of a short timed run filled with speed boosts to test your ability to control the car with precision.
While some may balk at 'yet another' endless platformer, Bumpy Road shows there's a lot of space left to explore in the genre. It's worth grabbing Bumpy Road for the gameplay alone, but its charm will keep you coming back for more.