Miles & Kilo review
:: YOUR MILEAGE WON'T VARYPrice: $2.99
Version: 1.0
App Reviewed on: iPad Air 2
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Miles and Kilo is the follow up platformer to Kid Tripp, a game that was beloved for being a loving tribute to games like Wonder Boy for the Sega Master System. If you have no experience with this legacy, don't worry. The only thing you really need to know about Miles and Kilo is that it's an amazingly tight platformer that that's equal parts creative and challenging.
Jumping for miles
In Miles and Kilo, you play as a boy and his dog that just happen to crash land their plane on an island. In the crash, pieces of the plane scatter all across the land and your quest is to gather them all up so you can leave again.
This sounds a lot like the premise of ToeJam and Earl, but Miles and Kilo is actually a lot more like Super Mario Bros. 3 in structure. You'll find yourself running and jumping through 2D environments across five worlds, either as Miles or Kilo, much like a classic platformer.
Island time
Something to note about Miles and Kilo is that makes it relatively unique is that it's a game that's heavily time-based. On every level, a timer is constantly running to judge your ability to get through levels swiftly, and even certain obstacles and enemies can be overcome only by having a precisely-timed approach.
The game is actually so reliant on timing that your characters auto-run when playing without a controller, and playing with a controller makes some higher demands regarding controlling timing yourself (both control schemes feel great, by the way). These timing windows start out pretty generous, but get hellishly tight toward the end of the game.
Jump back in
As difficult as Miles and Kilo can be, the game avoids being overly frustrating by instantly restarting levels if you happen to die. It also helps that the platforming action in the game feels so good that when you finally train yourself to sail smoothly through levels that you can't wait to take on the next crazy level.
Miles and Kilo's brand of platforming may not be for everyone. This isn't one of those games where you can react to everything as soon as you see it. Some of the later levels in Miles and Kilo depend heavily on memorization and execution for success.
The bottom line
Miles and Kilo is simply a great platfomer with old school roots. Because of this, it's pretty unforgiving. With the help of some amazing controls and an instant restart mechanic though, Miles and Kilo's difficulty ends up feeling immensley rewarding instead of unfair.