Jog Session

While it’s certainly not easy to make a video game, some are simpler to design and code than others. For instance, platformers are obviously easier to put together than a triple-A first-person shooter, but that still doesn’t mean everyone can do it. Certain tools help a lot with the process, but originality and a strong concept must be the foundation for every great game.

Jog Session is a 2D platformer that has nothing to do with originality, although it looks pretty sleek at a first glance. However, the game is basically a Super Mario clone with different assets and a non-Italian main character. Your main goal is to run from one end of the level to the other while avoiding obstacles and enemies, with no actual story or a plot to explain why.

Just like in Super Mario, you can hit boxes and pick up mushrooms, which help your character grow in size. Obviously, this makes him able to resist one hit from an enemy, although it makes no difference if you fall into a pit instead. Picking up two mushrooms enables you to shoot projectiles and hit enemies from a distance, which is a lot safer than jumping on them.

The platforming element is not as strong as it could be, given the fact that there are no difficult jumps to make, nor tricky sections that require good coordination. In fact, if you have ever played a platformer before, it should be entirely possible to finish the entire game from the first go. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but a bit of challenge always make the players enjoy the experience more.

As far as the graphics are concerned, the assets are taken from other sources, so not much is original in this regard either. Granted, the environments look smooth and clean, but they are too empty sometimes, which adds to the boredom factor. It should be noted, on the other hand, that this the developer’s first game. It may not be original, and it may be disarmingly simple, but it’s still a pretty good start because it works.

In the end, Jog Session fails to make you feel anything other than boredom most of the time. However, the game is pretty clean and smooth when it comes to gameplay, so as long as the developer manages to come up with an original concept, things could turn out great in future projects.