Genre: Platformer
Developer: Arkedo
Publisher: Arkedo
Players: 1
Retail Price: 240 Microsoft points ($3)
Availability: Xbox Live Arcade Indie Games
If someone fell into a coma during the late 80s and woke up today, Arkedo Series – 01 JUMP! is probably how they would have imagined games would look in the future. The game’s crisp presentation and simple gameplay recall a time when a bomb-dropping crab made of iron appearing randomly was the only motivation you needed to venture forth into the unknown.
The game puts players into the shoes of the aptly named Jumpboy, who may or may not visit the same tailor as Pitfall Harry. The object in each level is to disarm all of the bombs and make it to the exit. It will cost you a life if any of them detonate, so getting to them as quickly as possible is the best course of action. The game rarely makes use of this in a sinister way, giving players a decent amount of time to navigate the level comfortably. That’s not to say, however, that the game is a cake walk.
Knives are limited in quantity and use
As with any platformer worth its salt, JUMP! smoothly ramps the difficulty from easy to ‘how the hell?’ over the course of its 30 levels. There are a few levels that stand out as being particularly troublesome, but its never due to unfair design. It’s just that jumping from narrow platform to narrow platform while avoiding a stuttering column of flame happens to be something of a challenge.
JUMP! makes use of several gameplay features besides its titular action. Enemies will try to take you out with their basic and predictable patterns and are usually placed in areas which present strategic challenges. Skeletons that throw bones into you from below platforms are the standout stressor; everything else is pretty simple to overcome. There are also places where the game requires you to grab a certain amount of money before the bombs can be diffused, sometimes requiring you to backtrack before continuing on. There is also an attack option — a throwing knife — but they’re rare to find and can only be used once. The game can be completed without them, however, so it’s uselessness is really no big deal.
The charming neo-throwback graphics and catchy soundtrack only help make JUMP! a compelling title to experience, especially those who grew up playing Donkey Kong or even the original Mario Bros. Jumpboy may never reach mascot status or his game mainstream success, but they still represent a fantastic reimagination of one of gaming’s earliest styles of play.
