Vastly amusing gameplay will suck you in, though there's not enough content to make this a true winner. But it's FREE!
Basic Gameplay is vastly Amusing: Pushing the Ragdoll down stairs for points is simple yet elegantly done
Simple Controls and Interface: Select where you push and amount of force, interface is clean and intuitive as well
Clean Aesthetics: visuals are simple yet palatable, and sound of crunching bones doesn't ever get old
Decent Variety of Stair-structures to fall from: different kinds of staircases and a few towers for good measure, but could use more
Camera doesn't always follow ragdoll well: especially when falling to the side or back.
Free to Play BUT extra Ragdolls are $1.99: only starter ragdoll included in free app, others are rather expensive
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Secret Exit, the creator of the accoladed Zen Bound, has followed up their innovative game with another clean and simple iphone game: Stair Dismount. While you can see the similarities between the two, namely the fresh presentation, and easy controls, Stair Dismount can't quite duplicate the magic, despite winning IGF's 2010 award for Technical Achievement. Is it fun? Yes. Is it memorable? Probably not.
The core gameplay is quite amusing for sure. In Stair Dismount, the object is to push a ragdoll down a variety of steps in order to score the most points, which are earned for distance, crazy falls, and the number of bodily injuries. Broken ribs, cracked skulls, and fractured limbs are the goal here, and it's delicious to hear your doll break its body over and over. You can place a face/picture from any iphone or online image onto your doll as well, so if you have enemies you might consider forgetting the darts. The strategy involves two simple elements, being where you push on the doll and which what degree of force. Playing around with these two elements allows you to achieve surprisingly gruesome results for maximum points. As there are a variety of levels to try out and universal standings through Open Feint, it's a fun combination that's sure to please in short doses.
Beyond the simple presentation and amusing play, however, there's not a lot to keep you invested. While there are multiple ragdolls at your disposal, all except the starter doll cost money, which is unfortunate. I know Secret Exit needs to make a buck or two from their game, but $1.99 for 3 dolls doesn't seem a great investment when you got the game for free, although the highest scores available are surely easier to achieve from unlocking them. Furthermore, the camera doesn't always follow the doll well, especially when you go over or behind the stairs. And while there are a variety of stairs to fall down here, I can't help but feel an even wider variety would've helped keep the game fresh.
But of course, it's hard to complain too much about a free game that's fun to play and is presented so simply. Stair Dismount won't blow you away, but it's intriguing strategy and universal standings are enough to pull you in for a bit. That and the crunch of bones!
7/10