Doodle Jump ($.99)

Version 1.9

REVIEW – “There may not be much too this game but it is certainly addictive!”

Simple. That is probably the easiest way to describe this game and yet it has gained massive popularity. I have heard many things about this game and even the title will usually be followed by “BE WARNED: Insanely Addictive!” now I was skeptical. This isn’t because I do not find games addictive there are certain versions of time management games that can hold my attention for an unnaturally long time. But normally games that claim they are addictive are really not. This game on the other hand…is one very big exception.

Now when you first open up the game it really does not look like much. A few pictures seemingly drawn on grid paper, but then you get to see your little doodle jumping. This is the whole point of the game, but the competitive nature of it’s design and the ability to see all the place you have fallen before really make you want to keep going higher. But I am getting ahead of myself here. To start the game just click play.

Now the point is to get your little doodle to jump higher and higher from platform to platform. Now the way to do this is to tilt the screen back and forth that will allow your doodle to move left or right in order to land safely on a platform. But beware if you miss a platform you are going to fall the wall to the bottom because once a platform passes the bottom edge of your screen it is gone forever and will not be able to catch you when you fall.

There are a few things that you should know about the platforms. They are not all the same. For example the brown ones will break if you land on them, causing you to fall. The blue ones move either side to side or up and down. And the yellow ones will eventually turn to red and the red ones will blow up so jump quickly through those.

But breaking platforms are not the only things you have to worry about, there are also monsters that will knock you out and cause you to fall. You can deal with these one of two ways. You can either try to avoid them or you can tape the screen and fire a gun. Now the gun will only shoot directly above your doodle’s head so you are going to have to line your doodle up with the monster as best you can.

If you are starting to get a little worried, don’t panic there are a few things set out that will help you too. Some platforms have little gray springs on them, you jump on these and your little doodle will jump much higher than normal. There are also little beanie hats with the helicopter blades that will quickly fly you upwards and you will pass platforms and monsters like crazy. But that’s not all there is also a jetpack, this will shoot you higher than the beanie and will really rack up your points. So keep and eye out for these when you are jumping from platform to platform.

As you get higher and higher the boosts get better and the problems get worse keep an eye out for spaceships and holes in the paper!

While playing you may also notice another feature on the game. If you look to the side you will see red lines with names written above them. This allows you to see where other people have fallen, which can boost your ego as you climb higher and higher. But there are always more red lines above you. You may also see blue lines, if you entered your name you will be able to see all the places where you have fallen before and know you are improving when you pass them by.

Once you have fallen you can easily submit your scores to facebook or twitter to immediately let all your friends know how well you have done. From the main screen you can also send an email challenge to a friend letting them know your high school and daring them to try and beat it. They will of course need to have the game to try.

In the end this is a fun game and easily justifiable at $.99. But don’t expect any great graphics or any sort of plot or really interactive gameplay. This is simple, fast fun that can keep you amused while waiting in line or taking the bus ride home. It also does a really great job of using the tilt to control the doodle becasue it is pretty sensitive and fluidly picks up on the motions. This is definitely not the coolest or the most impressive game on the iPhone but it truly can be addictive and provide almost as much fun as those large fancy games.

-Stephanie S.

Download Now!

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Developer -Lima Sky

URL:http://www.limasky.com/

DEVELOPER NOTES

#1 Top Paid Arcade Game in the US in April
#1 Top Paid Arcade Game in France in May
#1 Top Paid App in Austria in June and July!
#1 Top Paid Game in Germany & Spain in August
#1 Top Paid Game in Australia in September

Recently featured by Apple in “New and Noteworthy” and “What’s Hot”!

Touch Arcade designated Doodle Jump as “Required Reading” calling it “Dead simple and crazy addictive.” You simply must own Doodle Jump on your iPhone/Touch! It’s that good! Get it NOW!

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NEW in this update: Classic mode and The Creeps! secret easter egg!

Also, Tweet your score, try the super-cool JET PACK and PROPELLER HAT, and jump on monsters to take them down MARIO-style!
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Twitter tweets:
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“Two most played games on flight: flight control and doodle jump.”

“If you value your life, never download the Doodle Jump app…so addicted.”

iPhone games forum comments:
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“Here in California it’s illegal to text while driving, but there’s no law about playing Doodle Jump!* At least that’s what I thought till I got pulled over, but the good news is that I showed the cop the game and he didn’t write me a ticket cause he wanted to go download it right away.”

iTunes reviews (US)
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“I just got dumped cuz I wouldn’t put this game down! And I just kept playing while she walked away… ITS THAT GOOD!”

“Somehow it’s better than sleep for me. I am sick, sleep deprived, and achy, and yet I cannot put it down”

“Coming from someone who owns a PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360, I play this game more!! This game is amazing!!”

“Get it now before dev realizes that he can sell it for way more!”

Media reviews:
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“Doodle Jump is a perfect micro-game, insanely addictive, and deliciously replayable. Go get it.” – MacWorld.com

“the most addicting iPhone game yet?” -GIZMODO

“Doodle Jump epitomizes the microgame ideal” -Slide To Play

“(DoodleJump) is the best game of its type. I have seen a lot of other versions, but this would take the gold. …be warned, this game is highly addictive” -App Beacon

So, what is it?
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In Doodle Jump, you guide The Doodler—using some of the most subtle and accurate tilt controls in existence—on a springy journey up, up, up a sheet of graph paper, picking up jet packs, avoiding black holes, and blasting baddies with nose balls along the way.

Laugh with delight as you blow past other players’ actual score markers scribbled in the margins. And be warned: this game is insanely addictive.

FEATURES:
- broken, moving, disappearing, moveable, and EXPLODING platforms
- JET PACKs, PROPELLER HATS, and springs that fly you higher
- UFOs, black holes, monsters!
- jump on monsters to bring them down MARIO-style
- global and local leaderboard
- in-game score markers
- Submit score to Facebook & Twitter
- challenge friends
- SECRET easter egg created in collaboration with POCKET GOD.

How to play:
Tilt to move left or right, tap the screen to shoot.

*Please don’t drive and play Doodle Jump!

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