One Tap Hero™ review (iOS / Universal)

♫ “I’ve got the key, I’ve got the secret”

10 word description: 2D platformer. Single tap control. 100 different levels. Game Center.

10 word review: Great graphics and music, innovative controls, diverse and challenging levels.

You will like this if you enjoy: Platforming with a bit of timing/reflex puzzling thrown in. Innovative touch-screen controls that actually work very well!

The good news: The one-tap control method is not a gimmick – it works, and it works really well. The game is visually appealing and not obviously derivative. Different hazards and puzzle elements are introduced as you progress. Bonus items, such as keys to unlock secret levels, are well implemented as additional level goals. IAPs (for coins to buy costumes and extra bonus keys) are entirely optional.

The bad news: Bonus level progress (and keys) do not appear to be included in the iCloud save. Hopefully this will be picked up and fixed. At one point, when leaving the shop to go back to the main menu, the menu backdrop appeared but there were no menu icons at all so I couldn’t do anything – I had to shut the app down and restart it.

Arcadelife verdict: I was dubious about the whole “one tap” control system for a platform game, but I was wrong and that’s a good thing. Beyond the excellent “no buttons” control system, the level design, interesting puzzle elements and hazards, great visuals and cool music, all combine to make a fun and compelling game. I like the way the keys for the bonus levels are included as particularly hard to reach items in certain levels; they could have been left as shop items (which they also are), but that would have felt very cheap.

Overall, this is a very well designed and presented game. There are a couple of weird issues, as mentioned above, but they don’t affect the gameplay.

Arcadelife rating

Visuals – 9/10
Audio – 9/10
Controls – 9/10
Content – 9/10
Fun – 8.5/10
Final rating – 89/100

Rating categories explained here.

Version reviewed by Arcadelife is 1.0

Chillingo / One Tap Hero website link

Arcadelife played and reviewed this game on:
4th gen iPod Touch (iOS 5.1.1)
iPad (iOS 5.1.1)