Apple Arcade review #86: Jumper Jon
Jumper Jon is a Metroidvania-style platform game that’s quite unforgiving. You die every thirty seconds, unless you pick up feathers to extend your life for another thirty seconds. The feathers also function as save points. This allows you to make incremental progress through the world. You unlock new powers and find keys to unlock new areas.
This game has massive virtual buttons. On the one hand, it means you won’t have any trouble hitting the buttons. On the other, virtual buttons are hideous and I wish developers would find ways around it. I’m not sure attempting to replicate a control scheme that’s not native to touch makes a lot of sense. The game is missing the tactile feel of actual buttons, and would work a lot better on the Nintendo Switch. (Or with a controller connected.)
Aside from the awkward controls, the art style is very simplistic and, while somewhat charming, lacks the details necessary to bring the world and characters to life. The story is told through still images which, again, are very plain. And while the music is good, the sound effects soon begin to grate. It all feels a bit bland and boring.
I didn’t hate Jumper Jon but I found little here to make me want to return to it.