Canabalt: to go!

Let’s just get this out of the way: the iPhone has changed the way I poop. And lately, I owe some of that to the recent port of Canabalt to the platform, because the game is just that hard to put down.

If you’re not familiar with Canabalt, don’t worry. If you’re reading this review on your PC or Mac, you can play it for free. Seriously. Just click here. Fortunately, this makes my review even easier, since you can get what is essentially the full effect of the game for free, then either nod or disagree with me from there on out. So head on over to that link, play some Canabalt, and then come back behind the jump so we can talk about why Canabalt is perfect for the iPhone.

Welcome back. As you can tell from your time with the game, it’s very simple and distilled: You run constantly from left to right, trying to get as far as you can before missing a jump, hitting a building, or running into debris dropped in front of you. Canabalt is old school: There’s no powerups, no levels, no boss battles, just good ol “High Score”. And since a game can last from 15 seconds to a few minutes, it’s perfect for a pick up and go platform.

So why should you buy this if you can enjoy it for free? I’ll tell ya! The iPhone version features a high resolution and a panned out view. This makes timing your jumps a lot easier. Also, the graphics look sharp on the small screen. The action remains smooth throughout. The music and sound? Perfect. And no worries about controls: tapping the screen works just as well as playing with the keyboard, if not better.

You can do it, Neo!

Any gripes? Just one, really: the post-game screen doesn’t let you see the high score list. You have to exit the game and pop back in to see what you’re up against, or how you barely missed out on beating your best. And you’ll be doing that a lot, because Canabalt has “Just one more game” addictiveness in spades. While some may also gripe about paying $2.99 for what’s essentially free on the PC, it’s not a gripe I can share because the game is worth it.

So pick up Canabalt. You’ll be playing when waiting for your friends. In between meetings. While you’re getting a beer. And yes, if it grabs you hard enough, Canabalt may also change your activities on the throne. It has for me.

Canabalt is $2.99 from the App Store. You can click the badge below to purchase. Purchasing from this link supports SHR! Thanks for your support.

High Res: Fast paced gameplay, simple to learn/hard to master. Perfect bite-sized gameplay for on the go.

Low Res: Impossible to put down.

Verdict: Buy without reservation.

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