Review: Jump Wheel
Score:
68%
Jump Wheel is not a brand new game genre. While it mixes in a bit of a platform game, it still has most of its roots in the single key jumping game where the lead character cannot stop running. But with some smart level design and industrial graphics, Jump Wheel is a great time-waster of a game.
Version Reviewed: 1.0.3.2
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The goal on each level is simple - reach the end. That's it. Sure, you can collect extra points along the way to try and get the three stars for a perfect competition at the end of a level, but that's not the simplest of tasks. Once you get past the first level or two, the goal of reaching the end will be difficult enough.
This is all rather familiar - a level based game, limited controls, a three star skill rating, yes, Jump Wheel hits all the expected norms. That makes it a very comfortable game to understand what is expected of you. Creating this instant appreciation of the game's mechanics is important and gives Jump Wheel a good first impression.
That good impression continues as you start to play the game. While Jump Wheel's action takes place in a flat vertical plane, your view of the action gives you enough of a 3D effect to give each level a solid feel, but not too much of a distorted viewing angle that you lose the benefits of a 2D platforming world.
You'll also find that the controls are easy to understand, although you might find it a bit of a shock to realise there are two controls available to you. While the Wheel will always be moving, you have virtual keys to either jump up (and you can press it twice to do a double jump for extra height), or to push yourself down and crash to the ground (but you are going to need to be really accurate with that one).
What I like is that these controls are easy to understand, but at the same time you are going to need to be accurate and get into the rhythm of the game. Jump Wheel is fast, and you'll need to be pressing these keys at the right moment to reach the bonus points that are higher up, platforms you'll need to navigate in order to reach the end of the level, and to reach the booster arrows.
These arrows give Jump Wheel its charm, and kinetic energy. Touch one of these arrows and you'll be thrown in that direction, more than likely towards an extra points token, and then another arrow which will throw you to another points token, and you'll bounce around the screen in a rather violent manner. Assuming you managed to enter the collection of arrows in the right place, you'll be sent on your merry way with all the points and on the right platform.
And here's where Jump Wheel falls down very slightly. You need to get your jumps just right throughout the level. Essentially you have to memorise each level just to get through it in one run - any death and you go straight back to the start, albeit there are no lives in play, you can keep attempting each level as many times as you need. That's not an easy task, and you will need to play through each level far more times than feels right to understand the layout - especially if you are going for a three star 'perfect' rating to pass each level.
To be fair, that is the design that has been given to the game, so it's not a flaw as such, it's just how Jump Wheel is played. How you get on with that is going to determine how much you enjoy the game. For me it requires just a bit too much grinding through the level to be a really good arcade game, but it's certainly a cut above the average title, so it's one I would recommend you look at.
Reviewed by Ewan Spence at