You know, I`d think you mad, that in the age of modern day gaming, and with all the titles, both mainstream and ID flying around, that if you said to me, I`d be playing as a dinasour, in boots, jumping around collecting rings and coin like objects, I`d think you mad. But, I can`t think you mad. Because, this week, that has become a reality this week, as JumpJet Rex, makes its way to Xbox One. Is it a game that will make you want to join the Rex crusade in gathering rings and coins and bouncing your way around to glory? Or will it want you to bounce your way straight out of the game and back to the dashboard?
JumpJet Rex is a game developed by Tree Fortress, and this week makes it way to Xbox One. The successful Steam title, is one of many titles recently, to make that jump from the PC, to the next-generation of consoles, and Xbox One. One for me makes it quite fascinating, is how developers, in particular this year ID developers, make the adaptations and how they handle the switch from going from one console to another. Some games are designed for a particular console, and in my opinion, when they have made the switch, should stay on that console, as moving to another console hasn’t really done them justice. But with JumpJet Rex, it offers something a bit unusual and different and is a game that is going to attract players for me in a variety of ways.
The game itself, doesn’t take too much to master in terms of the controls. Tree Fortress use a very basic controller configuration for JumpJet, and similar to other ID games where you don’t tend to see too much in terms of compelling and extravagant controller configs, and you`ll get away with 2 easy buttons/sticks for the whole of the game nearly. Your left stick controls the Rex, and mashing the A button throughout will jump you into the air. Pretty cool and sweet. For me, one of the simplest games that you`ll ever play, and that`s because it doesn’t challenge you in terms of learning the controls, or having to learn something completely new and complex. It offers simplicity. I see some people sometimes have a go at ID games that criticise and challenge why they`ve chosen to go for something simple over something complex. But for me, I find ID games that are more intrigued and compelled into creating a story within their game, that most ID games you find today that are released, use a basic configuration. Which, is good for most people that like a pick up and play game, but for those gamers that like to be challenged, this isn’t one you can add to that list.
So, you have to collect stars on a variety of levels, that you can gather for completing objectives. These will include things such as collecting all the rings, and completing the level in a certain time. You`re awarded anywhere between 1 and 3 stars, and the more stars you collect, the more you`ll unlock in terms of level and the quicker you`ll get through the game. The game in itself though, as you play through it, you won`t find extremely challenging. I personally found myself struggling on some of the missions to get them done in the quickest time, or to do not die during a level, but that adds to the fun and enjoyment of trying to complete and get through the game. You`ll find yourself being able to collect coins that you will be able to use in the shop, and in hindsight, this will enable you to buy costume pieces to make your Rex the coolest looking Rex out there.
Something I quite like throughout the game, and I like the way that Tree Fortress have designed this, is the way the levels are laid out throughout the game. Some levels you will find will not require much exploration and will involve you working your way through an easy route, and some will require you to explore how you`re going to get and unlock a certain area. I like the way it`s been designed, as for me, every level seemed a little bit different in a way. Too many times before have I seen levels and missions follow the same sort of routing and pattern, and something Tree Fortress offer is variety in terms of exploration and easy completion.
I also love the way the game looks and feel. Obviously, it`s a ID game, so you can’t expect much in terms of graphic, but it will throw you back to some of the retro days in terms of its graphics and it`s 8 bit-like soundtrack. Graphically, I like it, and it sounds fantastic. I feel like the developers have taken the Retro route too mind when developing JumpJet Rex, especially in terms of its soundtrack.
JumpJet Rex is a game that isn’t going to give you longetivitiy. You could easily complete it in a few hours. But, what it will give you is a fun, enigmatic game that offers something unusual, and a great game to pick up and play either on your own, or with your friends. It`s a game though that I`ve no doubt, will be popular with a lot of people.
Thank you to Loot Interactive, for supplying us with a Review code of JumpJet Rex.
