I used toplay this game religiously as a kid, and that made me skeptical when I recently re-downloaded it on my phone. Nostalgia tends to make you fondly remember games that were actually kinda shit, especially mobile games due to their tendency to become ruined in order to serve the over-monetized slop market that proliferates on the platform today.

But, as it turns out, this game still kicks ass. It's a simple but extremely fun and well-designed arcade-like experience. The game design just has a perfection to it, similar to games like Tetris or Minesweeper or Downwell, where the core gameplay is just so expertly thought out and...fun.

An excellent example of how to do a simple game and a mobile game right.

I’ve just given this a try and I’m sad to say that I’m disappointed after Jetpack Joyride 2 and having played this on the PSP a long time ago. I thought the fact the game is still getting updates on iOS indicates they’re putting a lot of work in remastering it or making it feel fresh. Firstly, the resolution is very blurry on an iPad Pro 12.9 inch. The content seems largely the same if my memory serves me right. Jetpack Joyride 2 is simply a much better game in almost every way but I respect the first one being the foundation for many elements. What I also like about 2 is how it’s better at offering progression in terms of having actual stages instead of being a typical runner game like 1 where the only progress is your power ups, gadgets and vehicles.

Look, it’s not a bad game at all but I don’t feel like you need to play this when you have 2 or you’re too nostalgic for the good old times.