iStunt 2 Review: Hit the Slopes in Style

App Name:	iStunt 2
Platforms:	iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad
Version Reviewed:	1.0
Genre(s):	physics
Release Date:	March 9, 2011
Price:	$0.99
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Though developers continue to make progress with realistic, console-style games for iPhone, there is still a home for games that deliver quick, over-the top action that can be enjoyed when you have just a few seconds to kill. In fact, some would argue that this arena of gaming is where iOS shines brightest—and iStunt 2 serves as excellent proof for that argument. Developer Miniclip has taken an idea that worked well in its first iteration, and ramped it up with the sequel—delivering an app that just about everyone will enjoy. The graphics are slick, the gameplay is a joy, and the price is low . . . Add it all together and you’ve got an app that deserves a spot toward the top of the charts.

Before you even hit the slopes, you’ll first be struck by the gorgeous colors and graphic style of iStunt 2. The developers truly took advantage of the iPhone 4 Retina Display, as the ice and snow shimmer and the vivid colors really pop. It’s the perfect setting for the wildness that is about to unfold.

Players are given the choice of competing for points or time. The game is divided into two landscapes containing 21 levels each. The first location—where you’ll learn the ropes—is an outdoor, mountainous region. And once you graduate from here, you’ll unlock an indoor arena, where things get even more outlandish. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves . . .

iStunt 2 is best described as a physics game that takes place on a snowboard only as a matter of a convenience. Your rider will move left, right, up, and down, and your job in controlling him has many facets. When he launches into the air (which is 80 percent of the time), the task is to tilt the device so that the board will be flush with the snow when he lands. It might sound simple, but when you get a look at how these courses are designed—and consider that gravity is a term used very loosely by the developer—you begin to see where the difficulty enters in. This gutsy snowboarder will be cruising around upside down, sideways, and every which way before you know it, and your job in keeping him from crashing takes anticipation and quick reaction times.

And when he’s not in the air, you don’t exactly get to relax. Stars are scattered throughout the stages, and they need to be collected in order to get high scores. Getting to these stars often requires jumping, which is accomplished by swiping up when you approach a ramp. You’ll also have to duck frequently, which you can do by swiping down and holding . . . Another way to rack up big points is to flip as many times as possible when you find yourself launched into the air, and try throwing in some grabs whenever possible (icons for tail grabs and nose grabs are tucked in the corners of the screen, and activate when you go airborne).

Understanding all of the above is just the beginning. Miniclip takes this awesome formula, and tweaks it endlessly from stage to stage—throwing in spinning blades, accelerators, and anti-gravity zones just for good measure. The ragdoll physics engine works very well, and makes watching the disastrous wrecks quite irresistible. It’s never been more entertaining to see a little snowboarder dude get impaled on icicles . . . One of my only complaints is an infrequent lag that sometimes prevents the camera from keeping up with the boarder. Occasionally, he’ll go flying off the edge of the screen, and the the camera will zoom over to catch up, making you readjust on the fly (and let’s face it, probably crash in the process). It’s a minor glitch, but one that should be addressed.

Following in the footsteps of games like Ragdoll Blaster and Angry Birds, iStunt 2 proves that the iPhone is undeniably well-suited to physics gaming. By breaking things down into short stages and level packs, these developers also put themselves in a great position to satisfy customers with frequent updates and expansions . . . In the case of iStunt 2, we’ll be anxiously awaiting those updates. It’s not just snowboarding—it’s a futuristic, irresponsible, endlessly entertaining way to pass some time, and you shouldn’t expect to be able to put it down easily.

Our Score: 4.5 Out of 5

About the Author

Devin Wieland

 

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