Puffle Launch

There’s perhaps a very sensible argument that a man in his 30s shouldn't be playing a game based on an MMO for Tweenagers. Well, he shouldn’t be enjoying it, anyway.

Yet, despite having never previously heard of the Club Penguin global phenomenon and not daring to open an account for fear of a visit from law enforcement officers, this Android spin-off game is a fun little physics-platformer.

Admittedly, it’s over too quickly and isn’t something I'd want to get caught playing on the bus, but Puffle Launch’s colourful demeanour and bouncy mechanics do raise a secret smile.

There is a story of sorts in Puffle Launch, about a cranky crab stealing the titular critter's snacks. It barely intrudes on the action, though, in much the same way as the plot of early Sonic games.

This connection can also be seen in the fast-paced gameplay, the preponderance for blue skies, and the insane loop-the-loops.

In Puffle Launch, you control the eponymous hero, a Club Penguin pet and miniature daredevil who progresses through the levels by firing himself between floating cannons. Some of these can be aimed, others automatically rotate, while many more simply blast you automatically in a set direction, often along dizzying routes.

In the game’s earlier stages (of which there are 24), simply timing your screen taps to fire the cannons is enough to get you to the giant flaming O at the end, but soon you have to start spinning the Puffle in the air by holding taps on either side of the screen.

This is where the physics come into play, as you need to use gravity to land trickier jumps and become skilled in bouncing between objects like balloons, giant anvils, and grand pianos.

There are couple of decidedly tricky moments, especially when you need to jump onto balloons tucked between cannons desperate to fire you in the wrong direction. Mid-level checkpoints, however, ensure the game stays on the right side of challenging.

If you’re even slightly experienced in platformers, mind, you’ll rattle through the game in under an hour. Replaying levels to get better times unlocks a series of Extreme modes (Time Trials, Turbo Mode, and the chance to replay the levels in Slo-Mo), which will lengthen the experience for dedicated players.

Club Penguin fans will be pleased to read that collecting gold coins in the levels earns credits to spend in the main MMO, too.

Puffle Launch might not be the most original physics-puzzler around, but it’s a pleasant, occasionally taxing diversion that deserves a broader audience than just Club Penguin brand devotees.