Crazy Hedgy Review
PROS
- Constant clever additions to the level design bring many fun situations.
- Once you start to get rolling, things can flow well.
- The enemy behavior is a highlight.
CONS
- The controls while competent don't carry the feel one would expect from a rolling game.
- The punch attack has a marginal success rate.
VERDICT
A fun rolling platform with a lot to offer, that is somewhat marred by its control scheme.
- Full Review
- App Store Info
A game based on rolling movement in which you play a hedgehog collecting shiny objects. Hmm. At least the hedgehog's not blue right? It's been a while since we here at AppSpy have played a rolling game controlled by tilting your iPhone. There's a tad more to it than just rolling however.
The goal of each level is to reach the end, with bonuses if you satisfy a gem quota. The gems themselves, which are strewn around the level, are hidden in boxes and are held by enemies. They are the game's currency and of course there is a store where they can be bartered for upgrades to Hedgy's abilities. Some of these upgrades have to be unlocked by collecting enough of the three coins also hidden in each level so there is an element of searching and hoarding at the heart of the game, although it never feels like it goes into full collect-a-thon mode.
Hedgy spends the levels rolling around with a tilt of your phone. The screen is cut in half with tapping one side allowing Hedgy to jump and the other having him punch. Further abilities like picking up boxes can be accomplished with a swipe downwards, and some abilities such as hovering on your bubble gum are context sensitive. Some of the controls work better than others. The punching feels like it's linked to a dice roll for the hit to connect, and the rolling while nuanced doesn't quite feel like it should. There seems to be no real sense of acceleration or deceleration, more like you're able to stop on a dime, and when you do get rolling in those stretches of the level that allow it, while it's fun rolling along thin ledges unhindered, an element of increasing speed would make the experience more enjoyable (but perhaps we're too used to rolling games like Super Monkey Ball).
Despite these issues, the game does feature some well designed levels. There are quick time events that keep you on your toes, sections with trampolines hurtling you through the air, and a lot of the fights take place around plenty of traps, so dispatching your enemies is always amusing. There's always something new to do, and this should amuse younger players and fans of 3d platformers. It just feels like this could have been more.
Screenshots
$2.99
