Jetpack Joyride is a joy to a play and I’m surprised at how addictive it is. Once downloaded and first loaded you are presented with the no nonsense home screen which gamers come to expect with Halfbrick Studios and the simplicity of an effective casual game. You’ll find the controls couldn’t get much simpler too, as you play as Barry Steakfries (Halfbrick’s hero throughout their titles), who is testing a new jetpack and must navigate successfully through the assault course. You simply tap anywhere on the screen to power your jetpack and lift your finger off to decelerate and as a result go down. You are automatically moving from left to right so no need to control movement on the x-axis, just be weary of the lasers and missiles positioned to end your testing early.

The objective of the game is to clock longest distance you can reach all on the one level (course) before crashing out, but to spice things up a little and make Jetpack Joyride not just another “endless casual” game. Halfbrick have added mini missions which you need to complete to progress through the ranks. Now this is a clever and perhaps obvious answer to the question, “how do I add extra longevity to my game?”, and a much needed result for all games of this genre; and I can say, for me, this really works. After the first couple of days of playing Jetpack Joyride I was ready to move on to the next game but the drive to complete the missions hooked me in and I’ve been playing it daily ever since.

What about the graphics I hear you cry? Watch the trailer and witness Halfbrick’s answer to pixel and retro style.

Before I forget, there are tons of in-game upgrades such as different vehicles which look really polished and help Barry achieve a greater distance and gain more coins.

The only real negative, is that Jetpack Joyride does have a fairly limited shelf life it it’s current state (as most games do), due to it’s repetitiveness of only one level. I can’t see myself playing it in 2012 unless they [Halfbrick] introduce a new level and not just a re-skin of the main level. But for 69p this is one of the better casual games and you can progress without having to make an IAP, like I have done – check out my progress as APPZILLA on Game Center.

Jetpack Joyride, v1.1
Developer: Halfbrick. (9+)
Price: 69p