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A Look at 2D Platformer 'Bounce On'

posted December 30th, 2008 10:17 AM EDT by Blake Patterson in $2.99, iPhone games, iPod touch games, Platform, Reviews

The App Store has been online for nearly six months now and there are already over 10,000 applications available for download--most of them games.  And while there's no shortage of match-three, Sudoku, or poker titles for the iPhone and iPod touch, there is a distinct lack of 2D platformers.  Team Phobic's recent iPhone release Bounce On [App Store] helps to fill that void.

In Bounce On, a red ball has accidentally fallen out of someone's pocket and it's the player's job to guide it home while picking up gems and power-ups along the way and avoiding (or squashing) enemies, Mario-style.  The ball is controlled via tilt with a tap to the screen to bounce.  The graphics are simplistic, cartoony and colorful, also evoking a Mario-esque feel.

The game features smooth animation and a comfortable play pace.  The current release features 15 levels and the developer promises more will be avialable via free updates.

We pointed to Team Phobic's preview video earlier this month and weren't quite sure how the gameplay would pan out when we finally got our hands on it.   Now that we've spent some time with it, we're happy to report that Bounce On is an enjoyable iPhone platformer.

Our gameplay video shows the first few levels, which are fairly easy to complete.  Rest assured the game gets more difficult further along, as the aforementioned, lower resolution preview video demonstrates.


[ Full HD version | Low Bandwidth version ]

So, is it the iPhone's Great Giana Sisters?  Well, not quite.  But Bounce On is a fun basic platformer that fans of the genre, lamenting the dearth of such titles in the App Store, may find to be worth a look.

App Store Link: Bounce On, $2.99

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  • defaude

    Is there really no sound in the game? Maybe the video is sound-broken?

  • defaude

    Is there really no sound in the game? Maybe the video is sound-broken?

  • arn

    i hear sound on the video

  • arn

    i hear sound on the video

  • arn

    i hear sound on the video

  • http://www.metroccolis.com your personal robot

    There is sound. Just turn up your volume ;)
    I don't like that it is a ball! Jump 'n Run is all about a cool character!
    Why a stupid ball. The rest looks very polished, so these extra animations
    shouldn't be the problem. At least give him some eyes :)
    Then I'm in!

  • http://www.metroccolis.com your personal robot

    There is sound. Just turn up your volume ;)
    I don't like that it is a ball! Jump 'n Run is all about a cool character!
    Why a stupid ball. The rest looks very polished, so these extra animations
    shouldn't be the problem. At least give him some eyes :)
    Then I'm in!

  • http://www.metroccolis.com your personal robot

    There is sound. Just turn up your volume ;)
    I don't like that it is a ball! Jump 'n Run is all about a cool character!
    Why a stupid ball. The rest looks very polished, so these extra animations
    shouldn't be the problem. At least give him some eyes :)
    Then I'm in!

  • http://obsessedwithapple.blogspot.com brewstermax

    Yes. The first time I played it, I thought that I had finally found Super Mario. The efficient blend of round and retro graphics makes this a fantastic game for platformer and Mario lovers.

  • http://obsessedwithapple.blogspot.com brewstermax

    Yes. The first time I played it, I thought that I had finally found Super Mario. The efficient blend of round and retro graphics makes this a fantastic game for platformer and Mario lovers.

  • http://obsessedwithapple.blogspot.com brewstermax

    Yes. The first time I played it, I thought that I had finally found Super Mario. The efficient blend of round and retro graphics makes this a fantastic game for platformer and Mario lovers.

  • defaude

    Cool it has sound, I'll get it! But my springboard is full, which game/app deleting now... ;)

  • defaude

    Cool it has sound, I'll get it! But my springboard is full, which game/app deleting now... ;)

  • defaude

    Cool it has sound, I'll get it! But my springboard is full, which game/app deleting now... ;)

  • http://www.metroccolis.com your personal robot

    I finished it on normal. I's ok but way unfinished.

  • http://www.metroccolis.com your personal robot

    I finished it on normal. I's ok but way unfinished.

  • http://teamphobic.com Galen

    Comments like this aren't very helpful. If you have a comment about something in particular (such as wanting the ball to have eyes), let us know, but vague statements about the game being "way unfinished" don't give us any information. With that said, we appreciate user feedback, and have already implemented some changes requested on this board. If you have other specific comments, we'd be happy to hear them.

    Galen
    Team Phobic

  • http://teamphobic.com Galen

    Comments like this aren't very helpful. If you have a comment about something in particular (such as wanting the ball to have eyes), let us know, but vague statements about the game being "way unfinished" don't give us any information. With that said, we appreciate user feedback, and have already implemented some changes requested on this board. If you have other specific comments, we'd be happy to hear them.

    Galen
    Team Phobic

  • http://teamphobic.com Galen

    Comments like this aren't very helpful. If you have a comment about something in particular (such as wanting the ball to have eyes), let us know, but vague statements about the game being "way unfinished" don't give us any information. With that said, we appreciate user feedback, and have already implemented some changes requested on this board. If you have other specific comments, we'd be happy to hear them.

    Galen
    Team Phobic

  • Vende

    It looks pretty but I'll probably wait for some more reviews.

  • Vende

    It looks pretty but I'll probably wait for some more reviews.

  • Vende

    It looks pretty but I'll probably wait for some more reviews.

  • arn

    there's a long discussion thread here: http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=2670&highlight=bounce

    for more opinions on it. very positive. people seem to like it.

    arn

  • arn

    there's a long discussion thread here: http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=2670&highlight=bounce

    for more opinions on it. very positive. people seem to like it.

    arn

  • arn

    there's a long discussion thread here: http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=2670&highlight=bounce

    for more opinions on it. very positive. people seem to like it.

    arn

  • http://www.metroccolis.com your personal robot

    @ Galen
    Thanks for stopping by.
    What I have to say about the game besides the lack of character.
    PRO:
    Controls are pretty perfect. You make a platformer playable on this device.
    CONTRA:
    Besides the nice background graphics it has a very unfinished and amateurish
    feel for me. The two music tracks are not really good, all levels of the game (just one world...I was expecting more behind the door and was just playing further to see some other backgrounds) are looking totally the same with nearly any difference in gameplay. You don't seem to like animation, even the canon at the end of each level isn't really animated, just squeezed in a cheap way. And also the story graphics look more like amateurish flash stuff.
    I got the feeling, there was someone responsible for the great background picture and some other guys tried to make a game around. :)

    Sorry, this is just my personal opinion and I will definetly wait for more. The potential is there to make a complete game out of it. Let it grow. At the moment it is more a test lite version than a game worth some money.

  • http://www.metroccolis.com your personal robot

    @ Galen
    Thanks for stopping by.
    What I have to say about the game besides the lack of character.
    PRO:
    Controls are pretty perfect. You make a platformer playable on this device.
    CONTRA:
    Besides the nice background graphics it has a very unfinished and amateurish
    feel for me. The two music tracks are not really good, all levels of the game (just one world...I was expecting more behind the door and was just playing further to see some other backgrounds) are looking totally the same with nearly any difference in gameplay. You don't seem to like animation, even the canon at the end of each level isn't really animated, just squeezed in a cheap way. And also the story graphics look more like amateurish flash stuff.
    I got the feeling, there was someone responsible for the great background picture and some other guys tried to make a game around. :)

    Sorry, this is just my personal opinion and I will definetly wait for more. The potential is there to make a complete game out of it. Let it grow. At the moment it is more a test lite version than a game worth some money.

  • http://www.metroccolis.com your personal robot

    @ Galen
    Thanks for stopping by.
    What I have to say about the game besides the lack of character.
    PRO:
    Controls are pretty perfect. You make a platformer playable on this device.
    CONTRA:
    Besides the nice background graphics it has a very unfinished and amateurish
    feel for me. The two music tracks are not really good, all levels of the game (just one world...I was expecting more behind the door and was just playing further to see some other backgrounds) are looking totally the same with nearly any difference in gameplay. You don't seem to like animation, even the canon at the end of each level isn't really animated, just squeezed in a cheap way. And also the story graphics look more like amateurish flash stuff.
    I got the feeling, there was someone responsible for the great background picture and some other guys tried to make a game around. :)

    Sorry, this is just my personal opinion and I will definetly wait for more. The potential is there to make a complete game out of it. Let it grow. At the moment it is more a test lite version than a game worth some money.

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  • darwiniandude

    I like this, it's the most promising 'classic' new platformer so far IMO. (Roland is a different type of game, Nicky Boom is a (good) port, etc)

    I'd love it if the developers made it a bit more flashy, eg when you pick up stars, and give us a score! There is no desire to kill badies now as it doesn't add to your score?

  • darwiniandude

    I like this, it's the most promising 'classic' new platformer so far IMO. (Roland is a different type of game, Nicky Boom is a (good) port, etc)

    I'd love it if the developers made it a bit more flashy, eg when you pick up stars, and give us a score! There is no desire to kill badies now as it doesn't add to your score?

  • darwiniandude

    I like this, it's the most promising 'classic' new platformer so far IMO. (Roland is a different type of game, Nicky Boom is a (good) port, etc)

    I'd love it if the developers made it a bit more flashy, eg when you pick up stars, and give us a score! There is no desire to kill badies now as it doesn't add to your score?

  • msr

    Here's some criticism: do the graphics over entirely. I can see every photoshop effect you used and they just look awful. There's not artistic style at all. At the very least, please choose better colors. I think you should get an actual artist to work on them because they just look bad. The game looks fun otherwise but even a more classic retro look would fit the game better than these.

  • msr

    Here's some criticism: do the graphics over entirely. I can see every photoshop effect you used and they just look awful. There's not artistic style at all. At the very least, please choose better colors. I think you should get an actual artist to work on them because they just look bad. The game looks fun otherwise but even a more classic retro look would fit the game better than these.

  • msr

    Here's some criticism: do the graphics over entirely. I can see every photoshop effect you used and they just look awful. There's not artistic style at all. At the very least, please choose better colors. I think you should get an actual artist to work on them because they just look bad. The game looks fun otherwise but even a more classic retro look would fit the game better than these.

  • DanM

    @Msr

    What!?!?!? The graphics are awesome.

  • DanM

    @Msr

    What!?!?!? The graphics are awesome.

  • DanM

    @Msr

    What!?!?!? The graphics are awesome.

  • rich_952000

    fun platformer, lots of potential. see the Bounce On thread and Appstore reviews.

  • rich_952000

    fun platformer, lots of potential. see the Bounce On thread and Appstore reviews.

  • rich_952000

    fun platformer, lots of potential. see the Bounce On thread and Appstore reviews.

  • Josh

    Hello everyone,

    I would like to get some more detailed opinions about the soundtrack for Bounce On. Some people seemed to like, some didn't.

    Something more retro, perhaps?

    Josh
    Team Phobic

  • Josh

    Hello everyone,

    I would like to get some more detailed opinions about the soundtrack for Bounce On. Some people seemed to like, some didn't.

    Something more retro, perhaps?

    Josh
    Team Phobic

  • Josh

    Hello everyone,

    I would like to get some more detailed opinions about the soundtrack for Bounce On. Some people seemed to like, some didn't.

    Something more retro, perhaps?

    Josh
    Team Phobic

  • AsianCritic

    The sound is ok. But makes me feel like i'm kind of watching time go by. Music that could be a little more catchy would be better. Lot of nintendo games had basic repetitive music over and over again, but the music would get stuck in your head, in a good way. The music now sounds a bit "artistic", music that is a bit more playful would better suite this game, imo.

    But my kids like the games.. So Cheers!

  • AsianCritic

    The sound is ok. But makes me feel like i'm kind of watching time go by. Music that could be a little more catchy would be better. Lot of nintendo games had basic repetitive music over and over again, but the music would get stuck in your head, in a good way. The music now sounds a bit "artistic", music that is a bit more playful would better suite this game, imo.

    But my kids like the games.. So Cheers!

  • AsianCritic

    The sound is ok. But makes me feel like i'm kind of watching time go by. Music that could be a little more catchy would be better. Lot of nintendo games had basic repetitive music over and over again, but the music would get stuck in your head, in a good way. The music now sounds a bit "artistic", music that is a bit more playful would better suite this game, imo.

    But my kids like the games.. So Cheers!

  • jw

    Oh, man, Great Giana Sisters - on the iPhone? Sign me up. I used to play that game a lot. Along with Blood Money (or any other Psygnosis game), Speedball, Rainbow Islands, Gods, Faery Tale Adventure... heck, most old Amiga games would be sweet on the iPhone.

  • jw

    Oh, man, Great Giana Sisters - on the iPhone? Sign me up. I used to play that game a lot. Along with Blood Money (or any other Psygnosis game), Speedball, Rainbow Islands, Gods, Faery Tale Adventure... heck, most old Amiga games would be sweet on the iPhone.

  • jw

    Oh, man, Great Giana Sisters - on the iPhone? Sign me up. I used to play that game a lot. Along with Blood Money (or any other Psygnosis game), Speedball, Rainbow Islands, Gods, Faery Tale Adventure... heck, most old Amiga games would be sweet on the iPhone.

  • Josh

    JW, I used to write MOD files on the Amiga way back in the day.

    I also have very fond memories of Psygnosis (Armour Geddon, Shadow of the Beast II, Awesome, Lemmings). I wish they'd retained their studio name after they were bought by Sony.

  • Josh

    JW, I used to write MOD files on the Amiga way back in the day.

    I also have very fond memories of Psygnosis (Armour Geddon, Shadow of the Beast II, Awesome, Lemmings). I wish they'd retained their studio name after they were bought by Sony.

  • Josh

    JW, I used to write MOD files on the Amiga way back in the day.

    I also have very fond memories of Psygnosis (Armour Geddon, Shadow of the Beast II, Awesome, Lemmings). I wish they'd retained their studio name after they were bought by Sony.

  • Megan

    WHOOO GO TEAM PHOBIC!!!!!!!!!!!
    This game is fun and simple, and very addicting !!!!!!!!

  • Megan

    WHOOO GO TEAM PHOBIC!!!!!!!!!!!
    This game is fun and simple, and very addicting !!!!!!!!

  • Megan

    WHOOO GO TEAM PHOBIC!!!!!!!!!!!
    This game is fun and simple, and very addicting !!!!!!!!

  • Megan

    WHOO GO TEAM PHOBIC!!!!!!
    LOVE THE GAME !!!!!!!!!
    SIMPLE AND FUN !!!!!

  • Megan

    WHOO GO TEAM PHOBIC!!!!!!
    LOVE THE GAME !!!!!!!!!
    SIMPLE AND FUN !!!!!

  • Megan

    GO TEAM PHOBIC!!!!!!

  • Megan

    GO TEAM PHOBIC!!!!!!

  • Megan

    WHOOO GO TEAM PHOBIC!!!!!!!!!!

  • Megan

    WHOOO GO TEAM PHOBIC!!!!!!!!!!

  • Megan

    WHOO GO TEAM PHOBIC!!!!!!
    LOVE THE GAME !!!!!!!!!
    SIMPLE AND FUN !!!!!

  • Megan

    GO TEAM PHOBIC!!!!!!

  • Megan

    WHOOO GO TEAM PHOBIC!!!!!!!!!!

  • Aled

    This is a COPY of Supertux on Linux:
    http://supertux.lethargik.org/screenshots.html

    The first level on the video is almost IDENTICAL to the first level on Supertux. I was only playing it the other day.

    Even the Level selection screen is stolen.

  • Aled

    This is a COPY of Supertux on Linux:
    http://supertux.lethargik.org/screenshots.html

    The first level on the video is almost IDENTICAL to the first level on Supertux. I was only playing it the other day.

    Even the Level selection screen is stolen.

  • Aled

    Alright, the graphics are different.

    But it's a clone of something current.

  • Aled

    Alright, the graphics are different.

    But it's a clone of something current.

  • Aled

    Alright, the graphics are different.

    But it's a clone of something current.

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