Jumper Jape

Even if platformers look pretty simple, they are anything but easy to develop properly. This is especially true for the games that target hardcore players, because everything must run as smoothly as possible, gameplay-wise. People get frustrated if the mechanics work against them, and especially if the controls are not precise enough to keep up with the input.

Jumper Jape gives its main idea away right in the name, because that’s what you’ll be doing most of the time: jumping. Each level is built in such a way as to require accurate jumps and leaps, and there are plenty of other gimmicks that come into play later on. You only need to touch the spikes once to die and restart the entire level, so each mistake is punished drastically.

The game is a bit slower at first, to provide the players with a chance to get familiar with the gameplay and the controls. You can also find out how to perform certain simple tricks by reading the in-game tutorials, which are short and to the point. As always, double jumping is your bread and butter, and it’s mandatory that you learn to use the trick as efficiently as possible in all sorts of situations.

As mentioned before, there are other special gimmicks that come into play along the way. Temporary power-ups allow you to perform extra jumps mid-air, while others reverse the gravity. In the later stages of the game, you’ll have to juggle with all of them in order to survive the levels, which is obviously quite the challenge. Thankfully, it’s a fun journey to undertake, despite the difficulty.

The pixel graphics are very pleasant and detailed, while the level design is top notch as well. You can even run the game at high resolutions and still enjoy the visual quality, at least as long as you are comfortable with 2D graphics. Moreover, the controls are snappy and responsive, which means that the only way you can die is because of your own mistakes.

Jumper Jape might cause you to set a few curse words loose, but that’s a good thing in this case. As long as you are not discouraged by seemingly impossible levels, the game has the potential to show you a very nice time.