Price: $1.99 Score: 8.5/10 Category: Games
Jake Escapes HD, developed by Just Funny Games S.r.l., offers a cool blend of arcade-style action and comic-style cut-scenes. Jake Escapes HD delivers a challenging, addictive and ultimately fun gaming experience.
Unlike a lot of other games on the App Store that are just variations on a theme, Jake Escapes HD definitely creates a niche for itself. It’s a unique combination of gaming elements, making it one of the more creative games we’ve played in a while.
You play as Jake, the most talented thief in the entire world. But since you’re so talented, you’re pretty darn bored. Thankfully your friend Doc has a new mission for you: steal an alien artifact from Area 51. But you’re not the only ones looking for the artifact: there’s a shadowy group of ne’er-do-wells called the Crime Lords who want it, too.
Jake Escapes HD does have some flaws. On the iPhone, the on-screen instructions and some of the cut scene dialogue is pretty tough to read. Complicating matters is the fact that those little on-screen directions are dismissed a tad too easily.
One wrong move of the finger, and you lose a vital control instruction before you’ve had the chance to read it over. On the plus side, the controls are pretty easy to get your head around (if a little counter-intuitive.)
One nice thing is that you have some degree of control in terms of which missions you take on, and in which order. After your trip to Area 51, you’ll be doing a lot of globe-trotting.
All in all, I’m not sure it’s worth $2 (though it’s definitely worth 99 cents.) While Jake Escapes HD is a fun and entertaining iPhone game with some truly unusual and unique elements, the whole package is still a few points short of perfect.
Jake Escapes HD is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.