Hellbreak Review
Price: $0.99
Version: 1.1
App Reviewed on: iPhone 3GS
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Hellbreak wraps the concept of escaping the fate of the damned in the familiar mechanics of reaction-based platforming. The goal of each level is to reach the portal at the top and move on to the next, carefully timing jumps to coincide with gaps that appear in the constantly moving platforms while avoiding all manner of hazards and biting things. It's the kind of thing one would expect to get very, very difficult as the game progresses, but I must admit I wasn't entirely prepared for it to get so tough so fast.
Hellbreak uses a very likeable artistic style, somewhat akin to a mixture of illustrations from the Middle Ages and the artwork of Terry Gilliam. The animations are just a little rough in that oddly "right" kind of way that makes them look like drawings awkwardly come to life. The controls are also responsive and simple, and include four different options that cater to a wide range of preferences. Although I stuck with the defaults, personally.
By and large though, my problem with Hellbreak is that it's so freaking tough. The difficulty doesn't "ramp up" here, it spikes dramatically. By the fourth level (out of almost 50) I was at my limit. A certain amount of skill (or lack thereof) is most certainly involved, but this felt more than a little excessive.
That's not to say that people won't enjoy Hellbreak, though. It's a well-crafted pick-up-and-play title with plenty of content (45+ levels and 2 different endless modes). It's just that it's also incredibly tough. Something that will undoubtedly appeal to some, but not all.