Pocket Climber Review

Developer: Punchbox Studios
Price: $0.99
Version Reviewed: 1.01
Device Reviewed On: iPhone 5

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Overall Rating:

Pocket Climber is an endless runner game that has players control a character that is constantly climbing the side of a building. This game is trying to emulate a famous Japanese arcade game from the 1980s called Crazy Climber, and it does a great job. Pocket Climber really stands out for its simple controls, easy to learn game play, and many interesting obstacles.

The game controls are super simple and intuitive. The character is always pulling himself/herself up one floor at a time and swiping controls movement. Swiping left and right moves the character in that direction and swiping up causes the character to fly up multiple floors and go over obstacles.

The game environment is littered with gold coins, which are essential to collect. One of the coins’ uses is that they can be redeemed in the store for power ups, like enabling jumbo coins, a coin magnet, and a jet pack. Players can also use coins to purchase the option to customize the character’s helmet. The store even has two additional characters available.

There are many interesting obstacles in this game, a few of which are very unique and memorable. My favorite is a giant angry ape. Other obstacles include old ladies sticking their heads out windows, blinds that close and open, boxes, opened windows, and numerous other obstacles. The in-game obstacles are randomly generated, so the levels won’t be the same.

Hitting an obstacle brings up a continue screen where players can spend some of their coins to continue from the same height. However, the fee increases as the height gets higher and higher.

From the main menu players can see their stats, such the highest floor ever reached or the highest number of coins collected. From the stats menu, players can see achievements.

The graphics are 3-D with an anime style that is easily scene in the character design. The sound track is also very good and contributes to the game’s arcade-like feel. The level designs do vary, which helps break the monotony that endless runner games can get into. Also, the many different obstacles keep the game interesting.

Pocket Climber is a really fun, simple, and entertaining game. It takes a concept that has been done many times before, but executes it very well. The graphics and unique obstacles contribute to the fun game play to make a solid overall game.