Trace 2 Review

Developer: Kevin Calderone
Price: $2.99
Version: 1.0
App Reviewed on: iPad 2

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For those of us that remember, Trace, a free app created by developer Kevin Calderon way back in 2008 was a huge hit, and it's unbelievable to see how far technology has come since those days. The gaming industry is one of those aspects that moves fast, and worryingly so. Trace 2 is a game that has a lot to live up to... does it succeed it's predecessor and will fans of the original find more here to love?

At first glance, Trace 2 looks better, and feels fresh. Taking all of its core mechanics from the original game, and expanding it in every way possible, this sequel is packed with 160 levels spread over eight fantastic new worlds. Trace is a game all about old-school platforming, with a unique twist; the player is given the ability to draw their own pathways in order to beat the level. This gives the game a whole load of scope to work with, and even better is the fun in trying to work out every solution to every level.

After the game has eased the player in, it throws a whole plethora of different obstacles to overcome, including the introduction to a whole variety of enemy types, along with being given the ability to draw from a number of solutions in order to reach the goal, specifically; drawing barriers to block enemies, having to draw and remove platforms and blocks along the way. Throughout each level, there are a set number of paths already laid out from which players can use as a base to navigate around the level. The player can then hand-draw pathways that depend on the position of enemies and the various ways they move around the level. To add to the re-playability factor, there is a three star system based on the amount of time taken, but in all honesty, although the design is somewhat varied, the game itself can get a bit dull at times, and gameplay can be slightly lacking.

Trace 2 has all the beauty of a hand-drawn art style which goes along a treat with the whole theme. It's charming, and though still drawing from the simplicity of the original, is a lot more fleshed out and stylistic. The only negative which really draws from the game's overall fun factor is the fact that the levels are not very memorable, and the controls can be unresponsive at times. This is not a huge deal, but it slightly sucks the enjoyment away from what could have been an exciting sequel to a well-loved game.

However, it's not enough to really deter fans of the original, nor those who are dying to try out something new and different to the many modern games on the App Store today. For the worthy price of $2.99, Trace 2 is definitely one to pick up.