This fun app game jumps past its expectations
The rules of this game are quite simple. All you have to do is control Sonic by tilting your iphone or ipad left and right and get him to the top of the stage. Each stage is vertical with several platforms leading up to the top as well as enemies and spikes to get in your way. Each platform is like a trampoline as it will propel you higher into the stage. To help you even further, tapping the screen will activate a much needed double jump, which you will need on most occasions. It's a little repetitive at first but you'll be sucked in before you know it. I found it to be a weird use of the character at first (since he's known for running, not jumping) but it grows on you quickly.
Much like other Sonic titles, you can collect rings throughout the stages that act as "health" and you can take hits from badniks as long as you have them. This time, finishing a stage with a certain amount of rings will add them to your total and you can use them for currency. You will need them to unlock characters (like Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Rouge, Silver, Blaze and apparently more to come), items or even backgrounds for your device. You'll have a choice of items such as blast off (gives you a boost start), shield (gives you an extra hit), ring time (turns enemies into rings), bomb (kills all enemies on screen) and bounce back (gives you another chance if you fall of the screen). However, trying to save up rings can be kind of frustrating and takes patience since the most you are more than likely earn per level is around 100, even with the bank vaults helping you along the way. Of course, you could spend real money if you get impatient enough.
How are you able to unlock new characters and upgrades? By leveling up of course. This requires you to complete a limited amount of challenges. Completing challenges will give you an emblem or two (or three). Collect enough and you level up. Most of these challenges are just your typical "beat X level in X time" as well as "beat X amount of enemies" or "collect X amount of rings" but there are also challenges that actually require you to land on spikes or even kill yourself. One annoying thing about these challenges is you are pretty much forced to do every single one since there are only 30 levels. You can pay rings to skip them but that's just a waste since you will have to do them later anyway. Which means you're stuck with spending rings on upgrades (which you will definitely have to do if you want to beat those time challenges) and power ups.
For only $2 on the app store, any Sonic fan owes it to themselves to pick up this little jumping game. Don't let its premise and bland design fool you, Sonic Jump, although a bit heavy on the in-app purchases, is full of addictive jumping fun for such a small price. It may be a weird concept for the character, but it's worth every cent.