Jet Ball Review
Intro
Jet Ball comprises of the casual ball breaking game where you try and destroy all blocks on the screen by reflecting a ball using a paddle and getting it to hit the blocks. Unlike the casual ball breaking game Jet Ball includes loads of power-ups, blocks and unique levels that makes this game unique.
Gameplay 10/10
Creative level design
The gameplay is simple, and just involves you dragging the paddle at the bottom to hit the ball. At first I found the movement hard, especially when there are lots of blocks near the bottom, however, by the end I felt confident and could easily manage the paddle. There are three types of difficulty levels: Easy, Norm and Hard. Whereas easy made the game quite unchallenging, hard made the ball move extremely fast meaning you need quick reflexes to rebound the ball. This makes it suitable for those looking for a casual game to play on the Tube, to those looking for an intense thrill.
65 levels are included in Jet Ball (with more being added) which is phenomenal. One drawback is that the levels are split into packs, meaning that you have to start a pack from the beginning to get to the later levels. The levels themselves are extremely unique and dynamic with moving objects and blocks.
There are more than 60 different bricks, from exploding ones, to metal ones, to Plasma Star ones. This keeps the gameplay varied and colourful. This also improves the level design as it looks more stunning.
There are loads of power-ups in Jet Ball. Not all of them are good (with one being a loss of a life) and keeps the player on their toes and always watching for the next power-up. You get power-ups by hitting a glowing block. My personal favourite is Acid Ball which makes the ball invincible meaning it goes through everything (even metal blocks). Most power-ups are timed meaning you won’t be at a disadvantage or advantage for long. On Easy Mode I found some of the power-ups to be a bit useless (such as the magnet paddle) however, when you play on harder levels they become extremely important.
Graphics 10/10
The graphics are really nice. There is nice detail on the rock ball and the different types of block. The game is also very smooth and I only encountered lag in intense levels where loads was going on.
65 levels, 20 power-ups and 60 different bricks packs a massive punch
Controls 9/10
The dragging of the paddle is responsive and easy to use. One bad thing is that to start you have to tap on the ball on the paddle. You then have to quickly revert back to the paddle position to move it. This sometimes ended in me being too slow and the ball careering past me. However, overall the controls were very good.
Sound 9/10
The sounds are good, but sometimes the explosion and brick-breaking can sound a bit tinny. The music is nice and keeps the game interesting.
Menus 9/10
The menus are simple and are responsive. However, when I am selecting a level pack, the scrolling moves quite slow and you have to swipe a lot to get to the last level pack.
Longevity 8/10
With built in OpenFeint, Achievements and Leader-boards, Jet Ball makes you want to play more. The achievements are plentiful and unique (such as ball destroying 7 blocks in one flight). As mentioned before, Jet Ball has 65 levels which will keep the average player occupied for a long time. After all, this is the sort of game you pick up and play when you have a spare moment.
Price 9/10
$1.99/£1.19 is worth it for the amount of gameplay in this game. And with updates to come, the price is set just right.
Conclusion 64/70 – 4.5/5
Jet Ball is perfect for any casual gamer out there, and with so much jammed into one game, there is no reason why you should not pick it up today. If you are still unsure, why not try the lite version?
