Fall Hard is the latest in a very, very long line of easy to play, hard to master arcade games that have sprung up on the App Store.
This one's about collecting green squares and avoiding red triangles. And it works pretty well. Once you get to grips with it you'll find a challenging, sharp-edged game with a neat and tidy compulsion loop.
It's not going to change the world, it's not going to make you rethink aspects of your life, but it's a simple diversion that might distract you for a few hours.
Live free or Fall HardYou control a bouncing ball that's tumbling down a hole. Tap the left of the screen to move left, tap the right of the screen to move right.
You score points by hitting the green squares that are littered through the endless levels. Hit a red triangle, of which there are many, and you'll die and have to start all over again.
There's a Crossy Road-style character collection system that sees you getting coins for watching videos and completing challenges.
The challenges add a bit of interest to proceedings, giving you a reason to keep diving back into the game. Sometimes you need to get a certain number of points, beat your high score, or complete an objective.
The different characters don't change the way the game plays, but it's nice to see what you unlock. I've got Rambo ball, Ninja ball, and Pirate ball, to name just three.
A good day to Fall Hard
The whole thing squidges together to make a reasonably pleasant, often very difficult experience. It's not up there with the best in the genre, but it's an interesting time-sink all the same.
Sometimes all you want from a game is a few shiny gewgaws and a sense of progression, and that's exactly what Fall Hard offers.