Miner Problem

Sometimes it feels like the App Store operates an 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' policy when it comes to endless-runners.

So many follow the same template, barely deviating from a set of rules that have been in place since the genre's inception.

Miner Problem is a fine example of this. It has everything you'd expect from a side-on runner. There are gold coins to collect, power-ups to push you further along your run, and a catastrophe happening just off screen that you need to escape from.

This is about as by-the-book as runners get, and while it's well put-together it lacks anything to set it apart from every other generic runner you've ever played.

You're sprinting along rickety-looking platforms, trying to escape a cave-in at the mine. Of course you need to grab the gems and coins left in the caves, dodging the strange creatures and leaping over gaps as you go.

There are power-ups littered throughout the levels to aid you. Jet packs, hover boards, and helmets let you smash, crash, and speed your way through blocks, mines, and a handful of other obstacles standing between you and the hypothetical exit.

Tapping on the left of the screen performs a jump, and tapping on the right uses whatever contraption you've got equipped. You have a set amount of energy for each power, but you can top it up by grabbing fuel cans or energy drinks.

You can spend the coins you earn each run on boosts and other bonuses at the start of your next run. These give you an extra edge, but they do little to change the way the game actually plays.

There's nothing wrong with Miner Problem - or not mechanically at any rate. Its jumps and jet boosts all work the way you'd expect them to, mainly because you've performed them a thousand times in a thousand other games.

If you're desperate for another endless-runner then Miner Problem will scratch that itch, but it's unlikely you'll remember for long afterwards.