Ready Action! Review
PROS
- Vibrant cartoonish parodies.
- Smooth, fast-paced platforming challenge.
- Unlockable characters with unique abilities to exploit.
CONS
- Odd acceleration on some characters; makes jumping inconsistent.
- Poor English translation.
VERDICT
Ready Action! is a fun platformer with a quirky sense of humor, but ultimately lacking in variety over each short level.
- Full Review
- App Store Info
For the developers at HOTDOG Studios, poor translation issues for English speaking audiences don't seem to be much of a concern, but it's an easy thing to forgive as the gameplay in their latest title 'Ready Action!' manages to shine through despite this amusing flaw. Your character has decided to become a movie star and you'll need to help him to survive rapid-fire levels in an attempt to prove he's the best actor out there.
To do this you'll need to invest in new costumes purchased with money earned at the end of each level. Unfortunately, coins picked up during the course of a particular scene will need to be used to pad out your available time as you're only given 30 seconds to complete them and coins are exchanged on a one to one basis at checkpoints for more time. Should you manage to complete a scene with some coins left over you can pick up various 'inspired' costumes that can be used while filming. Each one provides basic benefits such as speed, attack damage and added health, but unique traits are also available such as the ability to double-jump, fly or attack with different weapons. Players can take up to three costumes in to each level, swapping them with a simple tap while maneuvering around the level with an easy to use four button system for moving left and right, jumping and attacking.
Subtle (and not so subtle) film reference make up the bulk of Ready Action!'s visuals, however at points this level of parody can feel a bit over the top as franchises that have little in common are forcibly mashed together. With that said, the cartoonish designs are fantastic and the animations remain smooth throughout, though there are some issues with enemies popping in without warning, causing unnecessary hits to occur.
Ready Action! doesn't go so far as to break the mold for platformers, but outside of its translation problems the gameplay remains frantic and challenging enough to enjoy right to the end. A great grab for those after something lighthearted.
Screenshots
$0.99
