Game Reviews

Paper Jumper

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iOS
| Paper Jumper
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Paper Jumper
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iOS
| Paper Jumper

Playing Paper Jumper feels like invading somebody else's dream.

It's got weird spartan landscapes and odd discordant sound effects. There are water melons everywhere and when a red monster opens his mouth he makes the sound of a helicopter's rotors.

You jump with loony moon gravity, float about indefinitely, and sort of slip in and out of concentration until you are engulfed by a black void and wake up. Or close the app, I guess.

The game's got a kitschy Art Attack aesthetic, where everything is fashioned from paper and plasticine and tin foil. And sound effects form a barmy collage of random sounds, including warbling frog calls, and some guy making silly noises with his mouth.

Paper Jumper
Those are either watermelons or tiny sunburnt ninjas

It's not exactly pretty and it's not going to win any awards for audio design. And that scrappy DIY presentation does little to hold up a largely unenjoyable platformer.

The game plays a bit like Doodle Jump, as you have to bounce between floating platforms. And a bit like Mr. Crab, as you're always moving sideways and can bounce off walls to change direction.

Once you're in mid-air you can float horizontally for an indefinite period to line up your next jump.

This can make the game astoundingly easy, as though you've discovered a debug cheat that the programmer forgot to turn off. You don't have to worry about reacting to obstacles, as you can just float about and consider your next move.

Paper Jumper
This game makes a great argument for recycling

It's so slow, easy, and free from danger that an average game session lasts forever and the impetus to quickly start another session and try to get higher or collect more watermelons is pretty much nonexistent.

I can appreciate a game with a bold and original art style. And at least it's not the ten thousandth identical Doodle Jump clone. But Paper Jumper is sadly not much fun, not very pretty, and has the staying power of an empty crisp packet in a hurricane.

Paper Jumper

Paper Jumper certainly has a weird, quirky charm, but doesn't have the gameplay or the longevity to back it up
Score
Mark Brown
Mark Brown
Mark Brown is editor at large of Pocket Gamer