If you've ever dreamed of going hang gliding but have not gotten around to it, Glyder lets you soar through a world built for flying with an unlimited number of lives and no enemies to hinder you.
Glyder is a simple game, with a simple backstory. The main character, Eryn, somehow got lost and ended up in a different dimension with her handy-dandy "glyder," which is a bat-wing-like hang glider, and now you must guide her home. Luckily, this dimension is different from most fantasy worlds in that it's not brimming with monsters. The world is quiet and beautiful, full of waterfalls, soaring heights, endless oceans, and endless skies--all good reasons to strap on your glider and take in the sights.
Your goals are defined right at the beginning: collect crystals, land on platforms, use thermal vents to climb, and fly using your iDevice's accelerometer. While not all accelerometer-based games successfully make the best use of this hardware feature, developer Glu seems to have gotten this one right. Eryn and her glyder respond seamlessly to every movement, and the handling is easy and smooth.
Eryn begins in Rift Valley, which is surrounded by five other locations. The goal is to collect the three types of crystals scattered throughout the world, using only the thermal vents and boost tokens to aid you. You can also earn Xbox 360-style achievements, and if you have the patience for them, you may find yourself doing some crazy things to add to your awards, such as flying for 12 minutes straight without landing or making it from one platform to another in a limited time. The range of achievements definitely adds some enjoyable variety to the gameplay.
Glyder is a beautiful game that makes excellent use of the iDevice accelerometer. Despite the game's thin story and setup, its graphics and soothing flight make for a fantastic ride.
This review was provided by GameSpot mobile content partner SlideToPlay.com.
