Propel Man Review
Price: $0.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPod Touch 2nd Generation
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Propel Man is a repetitive, simple game. Players launch a man out of a catapult and try to get him safely to the finish line. The monotonous game play and lack of variety frustrated me and left me wanting more from the game.
The controls are dead simple. All players have to do is first tap to set the power of the catapult by setting how far back the catapult is pulled. Then tap again to set the angle of the catapult at which the man will be launched. Tapping again will release the catapult after a 3 second count down timer, and then finally tapping for a fourth time opens a parachute. The parachute has to be opened before the man hits the ground or else the level is automatically failed. The distance the man must travel increases with each level.
Some of the gameplay mechanics are don't seem fully baked. Half of the angles for the catapult don’t make sense and why anyone would not choose full power for a launch is questionable. I really wanted to be able to adjust more aspects of the catapult or to do something besides making miniscule adjustments. The countdown timer gets annoying and the only difference from one level to the next is the requirement for how far the man must be launched.
On the positive side, in the options menu players can view stats, challenges, and leader boards which are integrated with Game Center. Also, the graphics look decent. In addition there is an in-game store with 12 items, such as a suit that increases the length the man will be propelled, and parachute and catapult upgrades. The items can be upgraded for a total of 48 items.Propel Man is the start of a potentially good game, but currently it’s repetitive and lacks variety. If the developers added additional game play elements and more items to buy in the in-game store, it could make the game much more fun.