The Incident Review: Climbing High

App Name:	The Incident
Platforms:	iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Publisher(s):	Big Bucket Software
Version Reviewed:	1.0
Genre(s):	Action
Price:	$1.99
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You are a mild-mannered man, just trying to hail a taxi cab. And suddenly, one appears … right above you, plummeting to the ground. You dodge the falling car, but it’s followed by a parade of endless projectiles: furniture, vehicles, signs, and even precious art. What’s going on? And why is someone trying to crush you? Your only choice is to climb on top of the junk, higher and higher, until you find answers.

That, in a nutshell, is the premise of The Incident from Big Bucket Software. And boy, do they make the most of it. The Incident is one of those little games that comes along that surprises you with how fun it is. The game itself is dirt simple, but its simplicity and fast pace combine to create a compelling challenge. As the game progresses, you begin on the street, climb up past buildings and mountains, and eventually into space. It’s only 8 levels, but those levels pack a lot of challenge; and since the falling junk is random, there’s definite replayability value (though there would be more with some online leaderboards or Open Feint achievements).

The game controls via tilting the device, moving the hero side to side, and tapping to jump; there’s also the occasional shake (to free you if you get buried). That’s about it for controls. It’s enough to get you dodging, jumping, and ducking, which is all you need to do once the items start dropping. It’s well done for its simplicity.

A key part of the game are the objects, of course. They come in all shapes and sizes, with sufficient variety and a good dollop of humor tossed in. There are taxis, vans, and Smart cars; guitars, tubas, and upright pianos; vases, busts, and even the Mona Lisa. All of these things and more pile up beneath you, creating unpredictable and shifting topography that you must scramble up. Any object that falls on you hurts you; get hit enough times and you lose a life, accompanied by a golden memento of the object that killed you. The objects are really the co-stars here, and Big Bucket did well to make them quirky and memorable.

The other real star of this game is the 8-bit retro design. This game looks great in its old-school styling, and the soundtrack hearkens back to some classic chipset themes. The objects are all clean and colorful and immediately identifiable in their pixelated details. Add to that the game play itself, which feels very much like a retro action game, and the whole thing seems designed to stoke those childhood memories of NES and the Sega Master System.

In the realm of problems with this game, there are few, and they are small. More levels, some achievements, and online leaderboards are perhaps the biggest things, each of which would improve the game’s replayability. Imagine achievements for height, others for speed, and maybe even ones for getting killed by certain sets of objects (“You have achieved the Death By Camping Equipment Achievement”).

Some might be quick to compare The Incident to another popular jumping game, Doodle Jump. But to me, the game’s appeal is closer to that of another fast-paced gem: Hook Champ. Both feature 8-bit charm, fast-paced game play, and simple but clever challenges. If you liked Hook Champ, you’re almost certain to like The Incident. And even if you’ve never played that other game, then you still want to give The Incident a try. It’s worth it.

Our Score: 4.5/5

The Incident was available for $1.99 at the time of this review.

About the Author

Writer@Large Brian P. Hudson is an educator and freelance writer currently living in Dearborn, MI.

 

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