Pyro Jump Review
PROS
- Cute premise
- Tight controls
CONS
- Concealed routes lead to frustration rather than mystery
- Memorising paths is no fun
VERDICT
Though it has a charming story and an entertaining premise, Pyro Jump's path-finding frustations prevent the game from truly catching fire.
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- App Store Info
It's hard not to be instantly attracted to Pyro Jump's premise. The story of a small flame that has fallen in love with an origami princess is an unusual romantic tale, one that can only end in tragedy. But, while Pinpin Team's pinpoint-platformer is endearing, it struggles to live up to its promise.
You control all of Pyro Jump's action with a single tap. Touching the screen launches the little flame into the air, propelling him outwards from his current position. Holding the screen that produces a longer jump, giving you an influence over the distance the little guy travels.
However, the speed and trajectory of your jumps are more difficult to manage. Moments after you leap, you'll find yourself sliding down ramps and spinning around rotating blocks, with your only option being to spring away and attach to another surface. This makes timing key. ot only do you have to factor in distance and power, but also the momentum caused by the platform you're occupying.
Unfortunately, this is where things start to fall apart. You see, Pyro Jump's implementation of its simple mechanics swing between overly simplistic, and punishingly exacting.
The source of the problem is that, all too frequently, you can't see where to go next. As a result, you'll often you find yourself leaping blindly onwards, hoping that the next platfrom will hove into view while you're sailing through the air.
Collectible flames you discover en route do help to guide you in the right direction. But they can also prove be misleading, forcing you to attempt, fail, and memorise entire levels in a way that just isn’t much fun.
Pyro Jump could have been a solid little platform game. But, despite its cute appearance and premise, its obtuse jump puzzles end up being exasperating.