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Time Surfer
Chronopi the time surfer is in for the ride of his life as he is chased across the galaxy by the end of the universe. Aliens, asteroids, spike traps and bottomless pits further complicate things but Chronopi has the power to rewind time which evens the odds a bit. He has also brought some handy pets along for the ride and these cute critters each come with their own enhancements.
The endless runner genre is pretty well represented on mobile devices but if done correctly can be a lot of fun. Time Surfer is a title that sticks to the basics but tacks on so many cool features that you can't help but become hooked. Your character is propelled from left to right while you use the "Dive" key to gain momentum on downward slopes or to avoid enemies. Release the dive key to perform a jump which hopefully propels you further or over a gap while avoiding any dangerous hazards. Also at your disposal is a "Rewind" button that enables you to rewind time al a Braid. A time meter is depleted when using this feature but it is handy for getting out of tricky situations or nabbing that power-up that you just missed. The time meter can be refilled by collecting purple gems scattered across the levels but if your meter is empty when you die there is no coming back. The goal of each level is to surf as far as possible before the end of the galaxy inevitably catches up with you or you succumb to one of the hazards that get in your way. To make things interesting you are given three challenges at all times which can range from touching the top of a level with your surfer a set amount of times, collecting a certain amount of power-ups or nailing a sequence of perfect curves. Completing the challenges unlocks new pets which add another interesting twist to the game. The pets all come with abilities such as the rubber ducky that can save you from one pit, the dragon that grants a huge initial speed boost or the jellyfish that makes you bounce off hills. The challenges mean that each time you play there is something to aim for instead of just putting up a new high score and unlocking new pets is quite cool. Apart from power-ups that grants temporary speed boost or a gem attracting magnetic field you can also collect space cake which is used to unlock special surfers. These are worth collecting if you want to see wacky surfers such as a tuxedo wearing alien, "future assassin" that bears an uncanny resemblance to a certain Terminator and even a Delorian. These unlocks were humorous enough that I played the game until I had every single pet and costume which was no easy task. The gameplay is smooth with plenty of speed and the randomized levels mean that you never know what is coming at you. Each level is a rollercoaster ride of bouncing off aliens and asteroids while surfing planetary rings and aiming for speed strips. Hit one of the hills or obstacles at the wrong angle and you lose all momentum which is fatal thanks to the ever approaching end of the universe but with enough juice left in your time meter you can bounce back from minor mishaps. If you find the main mode too easy you can try your luck with two additional modes that offer some new challenges. The "Kepler Run" has levels filled with vortexes that shift your direction mid-air while the "Hell Zone" lives up to its name in every conceivable way. The psychedelic visuals are quite charming with plenty of unique costumes, pets and some nice backgrounds. Most of the time the game is moving so fast you won't really have time to appreciate everything that is flying past your screen but the attention to detail is really cool. The chiptune soundtrack is nice and features a horribly catchy track that reminded me a lot of a Castlevania song. I also found the controls to be responsive enough that I never had to worry about input lag. Android users are spoiled for choice when it comes to endless runners but Time Surfer definitely warrants a closer look. It is simple enough that anyone can grasp the basics within a minute or two but addictive enough that those few minutes you planned on playing can quickly turn into hours. |
TAGS: Time Surfer, Chronopi, End of Universe, Pets, Space Cake,
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