If you've ever dreamed of achieving superstardom through self-injurious behavior, you can now live that dream to its creamy extreme on mobile. As Johnny Crash, you'll shoot yourself out of a cannon, and then careen into lightning bolts, birds, helicopters and kites--all through the use of only one button. Johnny Crash's unique concept and its simple, enjoyable gameplay are exactly what mobile needs.
Finally--a cannon stunt for our generation
You start the game as a nobody in the competitive world of sky surfing. Spurred on by a rocking background music track, you launch yourself heavenward, your hopes resting on a wing and a prayer...minus the wing (Johnny uses nary a prop). The reaction of your crowd is contingent on the distance you travel, and on what you collide with in between. In each flight, you'll also have to perform a specific trick, such as using a helicopter to give yourself a haircut. Although every flight takes place in the same level, obstacles are always added and rearranged to keep things fresh.
Controlling Johnny is a breeze and only requires the use of your phone's OK button, which is pressed once to launch Johnny, then repeatedly to keep him aloft. With each press, Johnny gains altitude, but loses power. If Johnny collides with a kite, he will accelerate and gain altitude without losing any power, so these must be used strategically to achieve high scores.
When Johnny finally loses all power, he'll begin a rapid descent. Depending on what you land on, you'll be given additional points toward your crowd score. For example, falling into a shopping cart will extend your voyage by several yards, earning you a neat sum of bonus points.
Suffice it to say, Johnny Crash's gameplay is immediately enjoyable to just about anyone. While some will eventually tire of its extreme simplicity, Johnny Crash's appeal will outlast many a 20-minute mobile gaming session. Furthermore, the game's later levels are downright challenging--just as they should be. Also, if you've got friends, the game provides a hot seat multiplayer high-score mode for up to four people, played by passing around one Motorola N400.
Johnny's visuals are quick, clean, and serve the game well. During flights you'll encounter myriad animated obstacles, including flocks of seagulls. When you collide with one of these, a mug shot of Johnny will appear, showcasing his enjoyment of that particular collision. These mug shots look good and they're often hilarious. Most importantly, Johnny Crash manages a frame rate zippy enough to give you a real sense of speed. When it comes to extreme sports, slow motion is only desirable in instant replays. |
