Janksy

Janksy is very much a child of its time. It mixes simple slide-and-release gameplay with a sprinkling of physics, bite-sized levels, and a scoring system that awards you three gold objects if you get everything in the level right.

It's not a bad game, and the tweaks it adds mean it's not just another Angry Birds clone, but occasional control problems and an uninspiring look mean it's destined to slob around in mediocrity rather than soar to the heights its planet-hopping setting suggests it will.

The game is all about dragging the intrepid space explorer of the title back to his space ship using an extending gravity claw. You press Janksy and then draw the claw out in the direction you want to leap. The farther the claw goes, the faster you fly.

There are three swirly gold vortices to collect on each level, and grabbing all of them is the only way to get the highest scores. To start with that's a simple task, but soon you're having to contend with asteroid fields, black holes, and planets.

Platforms bob around the levels and landing on them lets you make another shot with your claw, but sometimes you fly straight through them rather than landing, and the animations when your feet do make purchase are jerky and awkward.

The difficulty curve is smooth, but there's never really any challenge. New obstacles are introduced at small enough intervals that things never get stale, but the entertainment they add is never all that astounding or new.

Janksy is entertaining enough in small bursts, but it never quite manages to worm its way into your head. There's never that push to see the next level, and the dull backgrounds and tired-looking sprites only add to that.

If you stick with the game, you'll find a decent amount to enjoy. It's not revolutionary, and nor will it win awards for its looks, but there's a solid design core that, when things go right, ensures you're at least having some fun.

If you're looking for a game that really shows off what your new Windows 8 tablet can do, though, you're better off looking elsewhere.