Action Agent! Review

In Action Agent!, a suave secret agent attempts to eliminate numerous threats to Metrocity - seemingly a dastardly villain's dream come true. How? By running head-on towards danger, obviously.

With gun-toting thugs to stop, helpless kids to save, and dastardly devices to avoid along the way, there's lots to keep our agent busy. Players will have to think fast if they want to jump (swipe up), double-jump (swipe up twice), slide (swipe down), dash (swipe right) and shoot (tap) their way out of trouble. The controls are responsive, and chaining two actions together (a Jack Bauer-esque sliding shot for example) always feels cool. Accidentally dashing by swiping up at a slight angle is a common and frustrating occurrence however, and for practical reasons I would have also liked to have been able to zip-line and shoot simultaneously. Nevertheless, gameplay is chaotic and fun in that addictive, please-let-me-get-to-the-end-this-time kind of way.

There are currently 25 levels (with more to come) and a wealth of customization options available, including multiple outfits and weapons to reinvigorate gameplay (though not majorly). The difficulty increases and the hazards multiply nicely as the game progresses, with new dangers introduced as each short cutscene comes to a close. To clear most levels, players will need either an intimate knowledge of their layout or extremely good reflexes. Fortunately they'll get to know each level well, because they'll be replaying them a lot. Still, it didn't stop me from hitting that retry button again and again.

Action Agent! is a great little runner that presents an enjoyable challenge right from the start. It will keeps players on their toes while chucking all manner of new dangers their way. As a result, no level feels too long or too short, but each is the perfect length to provide both a sense of achievement and a greater sense of relief.