Parachute Panic

This is one of those games that already had news surrounding it before it was released. This can often lead to folks being hyped up about a game and then being disappointed when they get it. Expectations for this hand drawn style game were high as some hailed it as a possible replacement for our well documented FlightControl addictions.

There are similarities to the two games as they both came to us with alternative ideas to what we are usually presented with. I love when a game comes to us and it is so brilliantly simple that it is impossible not to play. That being said, Parachute Panic is good but its still won't replace my addiction to the newly updated FlightControl.

This game is a great casual play style game where your goal is to land all the lil guys jumping from the planes. You launch their parachutes (most of them, some are parachute ready) and then swipe the screen to guide them into the boats below.

Good things about this game include - wait a minute, this really should be *holy moley amazing things about this game* .... cause the music is just about the most inventive I have come across in an app to date. I almost feel the music / sound aspect of it is worth the price alone. If you put it in terms of it's pocket change, then I would donate to the music man. The scribble sounds, the opening music to the game play, the alert arrow noise when some danger is approaching.. the list goes on. I ask you to try to not sing along with their little theme tune, it is simply brilliant! Then when you enter the game there is an equally engaging tune, and when the game is over, you get a little song - I love it!

The style of the game interface, being drawn out is really charming. You have an airplane which drops out the little men some with parachutes opened others are closed. If it's closed you just tap the lil' man and it opens his chute for him. Then you need to make sure he is on course to land on the boat / boats below.

On his way to the boats there are a few obstacles in his way, this could be a storm cloud - which will electrocute him if he lands in it, UFOs, which will beam him, and helicopters which will totally chop him up into a lot of pieces. The helicopters and UFOs can be blown up if you click them 5 times.

This is where it all gets a bit tricky. At some points in the game you have chutes to open, helicopters to blow up, clouds to avoid and then wind to blow to be sure he actually lands on a boat. If you miss the boat, he becomes food for the sharks below. Remember all this in a few inches of space, it can be pretty difficult.

You do get 5 lives before the game ends which helps.

For me, there was a little too much going on too soon. My current high score remains at a paltry 56, and I tried!!!

Some things maybe to consider would be to let us have a few different levels of game play, I quite like the repetitive nature of just trying to land the men, and it got so difficult so fast it was a bit disappointing.

The song held my interest longer than the game did and I found myself humming to the tune far longer than I played the game for. I'm STILL humming it now!

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Overall, at this price there is no risk involved, the music is a real treat and demonstrates how much these developers have considered their game. The graphics are nicely done, and the game play - although a bit too hard for my liking, is fun for a pick up and put down game. (Got to get it for that theme tune! I want my own theme tune from these chaps!)