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Allen Gall
Games Editor
Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine
 allen@pocketpcmag.com

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The game I played most this week: Line Rider

 

Puzzle: Line Rider

Much like Sand or Girders, both of which which I reviewed a while back, Line Rider is really more of a novelty/toy type of program than what I would call a game. That's not really a problem, though: sometimes simple novelties can be much more enjoyable than applications that try too hard to be full-sized games. Line Rider is one of those Big Internet Sensations (tm) that has finally worked its way down to the Pocket PC.

The game features a stick-figure character in a blocky, flowing red scarf that sleds down lines drawn by the player. Although the game play really doesn't have any technical aspects (like different surfaces to play with, gravity adjustments, wind, etc.) However, the game does give you different sections of track which will accelerate, decelerate, or even destruct as the sled goes over them.  

The game's primary mode allows you to create a track drawing three basic types of lines: a straight line (you set the angle), a curved line, and a freehand line, which you can shape anyway you like. After you've drawn your "track," hitting the "play" button will send the character reeling along (hopefully) to the finish line. If the incline is too steep, he hits a bump, or goes too fast, he'll crash.

The idea is to design a track that'll keep him going from beginning to end without wrecking. In addition to creating your own track, the game features several "puzzle" levels which are pre-drawn tracks requiring editing. The game also has a "shared tracks" feature, allowing you to exchange custom tracks with other users.

Line Rider is neat as a sort of interactive doodling tool and makeshift puzzle game, but its features are fairly limited, and its stick-figure visuals are incredibly crude. I'm a fan of these Internet-spawned, gimmicky little toy-games. While usually a bit childish, they nevertheless are innovative in their own way since they're usually built solely on interesting ideas rather than commercial value.

While Line Rider isn't bad, it's fairly limited options make the $19.95 price tag a bit much in my opinion. This type of game, while fun, is best kept in the $10 or less category. The appeal of a game like this is that while unpolished, lean, and rough around the edges and no frills, the underlying idea is so cool that you just can't put it down.
 
Title: Line Rider Mobile Developer: InXile/In-Fusio
Genre: Novelty Demo: Y
Platform: Windows Mobile 2003+ Price: $19.95
Discuss this game Rating (of 4): 3.1/4.0

 


 

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Allen Gall's The Week in Games is a free service of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine and Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine ONLINE: in-depth articles, tips, an Encyclopedia of Software and Accessories, and links to the best Windows Mobile PDA and Smartphone Web sites. It is edited by Michelle Talley.

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Allen Gall's The Week in Games  Copyright © 2007 by Thaddeus Computing Inc.