'Soosiz' – A Pretty Amazing 2D Platformer
posted by arn on October 11th, 2009 8:35 PM EDT in $1.99, 5 stars, Platform, Reviews, iPhone games, iPod touch games
A few weeks ago, TouchFoo teased us with a gravity defying trailer promising a fun, innovative, and action-packed platformer game for the iPhone. They have since fully delivered on that promise with the release of Soosiz [App Store].
The basic gameplay found in Soosiz is that of a traditional platformer, where you run and jump your way past obstacles and enemies while collecting coins and rescuing your buddies along the way. Some enemies can be dispatched by simply jumping on their heads, while others need to be avoided completely. As is typical in platformers, timing and dodging become important skills in later levels. Rescuing buddies can give you additional powers (jumping higher, running faster) and once you have 100 coins, you can trigger a brief indestructible power-up allowing you to easily plow through enemies. Soosiz is very easily controlled with simple left/right virtual buttons and a jump button. Holding the jump button longer makes you jump higher.
The big twist to the game is its gravity-changing mechanic. When jumping to a platform above you, the entire world spins around and up becomes down. While this all seems like it might just be a novel gimmick, Touch Foo manages to utilize it fully across Soosiz's 7 worlds and 65 levels. The gravity experience is truly an integral part of the game, and not simply a tacked on afterthought. Triggering this gravity manipulation simply requires you to jump onto another platform, and becomes second nature very quickly.
The game was in development for 6 months, and it really shows in Soosiz's excellent level designs. Soosiz manages to constantly introduce new elements and obstacles to keep the game fresh and interesting across its 7 worlds. Each world carries its own themes (space, underwater, snow, etc…) as well as unique elements. Boss battles at the end of each world are also varied throughout.
You are given 3 lives at the beginning of each level, and can replay any level you've already unlocked. For me, the game managed to be stay progressively challenging, interesting, and fun without being frustrating, even though many of the levels took multiple attempts. Fortunately, your running coin count is not lost when you die, allowing you to continue to build up coins for the indestructible power-up if you find yourself struggling with a particular level. Meanwhile, gold, silver and bronze achievements per level, as well as the many secret areas should offer plenty of challenge for overachievers.
Graphically, the game carries a rather simple cartoon style but still retains its own charm. The game's music, however, feels strangely out of place throughout (additional music in this video). There's also an inexplicable use of the Up on the Housetop Christmas carol for the level win screens. While the music certainly isn't a deal breaker, it does reduce some of the game's immersion.
Regardless, the game is incredibly well executed with excellent controls, has a ton of content and is a lot of fun. We highly recommend it.
App Store Link: Soosiz, $1.99 (Intro sale, Ends Monday)
TouchArcade Rating:
I'm loving this game so far. Highly recommended.
this game is good
This is an amazing game. I've bought over $200 apps and this is the best game I've played, hands down (and I usually buy the expensive premium titles). It starts slow but gradually builds up to something more challenging and consistently fun. Everything is great, and despite what the review says, I actually loved the music and always turned the volume of the game way up. Recommended to everyone!
wow, do you have a corner office or quad-cube at touchfoo's offices?
I'm digging it. I'd love to see Open Feint etc. intergrated eventually, but at a buck ninety-nine it's already a fine bargain
Another fine recommendation, thanks! Tight controls, the levels get hard without being impossible, and are just long enough.
This game will obviously draw comparisons to Mario (old school 2d as well as the new mario galaxy) and Rolando. I am a fan of both Rolandos, but for my money, Soosiz nails the fun factor. Rolando was more of a slower paced puzzle like platformer, where Soosiz takes more that a lot of pages out of what makes the Mario run and jumps fun and runs with them.
I hate virtual buttons, but these work great. It was the right choice to make. There are a few "special" levels where you inexplicably loose your feet and the game adopts the tilt to roll Rolando mechanic. While well done, I find myself wanting to pick up the pace again with the virtual buttons.
The article hinted that the gravity mechanic is not just a novel gimmick. This is entirely true and it becomes the main fun factor for me. You will "stick" to rounded edges if you simply run around to the underside. The camera follows appropriately. You can't do this on harsh edges (you will fall). However if you try to jump around a rounded edge, gravity takes effect from the point of take off (until you get close enough to another planetoids gravity). This allows for some crazy stunts as you can purposefully "fall" across the board by angling your gravitational drop just right. It's hard to explain but a blast to do. It allows for unique solutions to the typical run and jump problems of not be able to breach a large gap.
I never feel that my death is the game's fault. It runs as smooth as glass. It takes the fun of the old school 2d platformers and infuses it with a brilliant gravitational mechanic. This coupled with wonderful level design make it the best platformer to date on the platform in my opinion.
Great review. Very helpful.
I actually really enjoy the music and I usually do not play games with the sound on! The Xmas carol is odd though. I am thoroughly enjoying the game!!!! It is a steal!
waiting till this goes 0.99 cents..
they ALWAYS end up being on a 0.99 cents sale..
i got fooled twice buying it at 1.99 so far..
looks like a game i can wait for
Fooled? Give me a break.
Man, there are some tight-asses around here, alway expecting things for free/ridiculous price. How much would you pay for this game on the DS?
Really? Come on that's just cheap!! This is a great game that I would gladly pay $5 for. That's how good it is. Yes some games aren't worth the price but this is.
wait till monday when intro sale will end and buy then
I feel the opposite. Almost guilty that I spent $20 on the Rolandos, when I am enjoying this one even more. I will buy it again from a different account after it goes off sale to support these guys. They deserve more than my $2.
Dude just buy the freaking game. You can spare the extra soda and candy.
I'm liking this one, too. I haven't played it too much –no time!– but it was immediately accessible and very responsive to controls.
The music seems like it was bought from some generic warehouse of license-free stuff.
It's all in a similar style and mood so the dev took some time picking it. He/she probably didn't recognize the Santa song, but to those who recognize it, sure is odd. lol.
@hapz Why wait for 99 cents? Reward this dev for the great game. Those who buy it later at 99 cents won't appreciate it like you would anyway.
Unbelievable fun and stylish game with a lot content to play with. Awesome idea and perfect execution. One of the better buys lately. And it plays sooo smooth… Awesome work! Thank you developers!
Incredibly awesome game. I bought about ten games for my ipod so far, and this is the one that I'd recommend to everyone.
LOVING this game. Thanks TA for the heads up. Was an instant purchase, and for $2.49AUD, you can't go wrong!
Great game – makes a lot of fun. Graphics are nice (except for home screen and loading screen) and the music could be a bit more catchy, but the gameplay is amazing.
its funny, i really fell like ive seen this game before…… OOOOH YEAH thats right GOMI FOR CHRIST SAKE!!!!!!
Except that it's not Gomi. It's based off an old prototype of the devs from 2007. Try again.
it´s a very nice game.
simple and funny.
Purchase it!
can anyone find the hidden area in the last level of the flower world?
J'ai découvert ce jeu sur toucharcade et le design ainsi que le gameplay articulé autour de la gravité m'ont plus tout de suite, ça rappelle Mario Galaxy quelque part, parfois on perd le sens de l'orientation, quand on est sans dessus dessous. J'ai acheté le jeu, la maniabilité est etonnante de précision pour un paddle virtuel et le design est certes simpliste mais colle bien à l'univers (un melange entre Loco Roco et Rolando). Je suis juste déçu par les musiques ringardes et qui n'ont pas toujours de rapport avec le niveau joué. Soosiz is Good
I've bought a number of Apps over the last year [*checking out the competition you know
] and this has joined my top list (of about five).
Brilliant game play, fun, quick to dip in and out of in a spare moment. The graphics are excellent, the music fits the game very well and I love the amount of content/levels that have been included.
I hardly ever comment on the reviews, but this one is worth my time. The review is spot on. This is the best platformer I've played, and one of the best games that I've played on my device period. We need more games of this quality and magnitude. The development time really paid off.
Uhhhh, this is the best game available for the iphone right now. It's like rolando meets super mario galaxy and they had a baby.
hehe.. That's a great description of it. Very apt. ..Am I the only one getting a bit of motion sickness from the camera though? Normally I don't have that problem with any game (and I game a lot), but this one had me feeling distinctly queesy. Maybe a more 'relaxed' camera tilt could be implemented?
But that's my only criticism. Brilliant brilliant game. Can't recommend it highly enough. 11 out of 10.
I really like this … thanks to the Touch Arcade podcast for making me find this! The screenshots don't do this justice, you need to see it in motion. Artful.
Great art! Nice game play!!!
I love Soosiz! But now i am stuck. In WORLD seven/three. IS theres not a way to make an easier way. Help me!
Still the best game for iPhone.