The Impossible Line Review
PROS
- The miner's hat is a clever power-up idea.
CONS
- Iffy collision detection.
- Horrendous user interface.
- Constant and intrusive advertising.
VERDICT
Aggressive advertising and pop-ups render this so-so pathfinder a dud.
- Full Review
- App Store Info
The Impossible Line features a concept that we've seen before on iOS. The aim of the game is to draw a line from point to point, avoiding all the hazards in-between. The catch is that once you start drawing said line, the obstacles disappear, leaving you to rely on your memory.
For this incarnation of the concept, a radar has been added, as well as a few power-ups. But as is the case with many free to play games these days, The Impossible Line is rendered almost impossible to enjoy thanks to intrusive advertising messaging.
Without using any power-ups, you have to rely on the beeping of your radar. It doesn't register direction, only your proximity to a wall. Use the miner's hat power-up, however, and you'll be able to identify nearby walls and corners by shining a light and casting shadows. While you can take as long as you like to draw your line, the glow of the hat wears off within ten seconds or so.
However, the miner's hat power-up and reveal power-up (which freezes the game, revealing the maze for a few seconds) cost coins. You can either aquire them slowly by completing the game's massive collection of levels, or pay real money. They aren't required to complete the game, and, at least for us, using them sucks any satisfaction out of beating the level.
Though we could flag up some occasionaly questionable collision detection, the main issue with The Impossible Line is its obnoxious use of advertising. The large bubbles promoting other games are intrusive, and every couple of restarts the game will pause to display a message about removing ads, or using power-ups (in the hope you'll spend more cash. Advertising is par for the course in free-to-play titles, but here it actually spoils the game, constantly break flow and pulling you out of the experience.
Without the spam, The Impossible Line would be pretty average pathfinder. As it is, the constant barrage of advertising renders it downright irritating. Even without the ads, there's not enough innovation here to keep you interested for long. Avoid if possible.
Screenshots
