(XBLA/PSN) Joe Danger Review

16/04/2012

Joe Danger
Developer: Hello Games
Publisher: Hello Games
Platforms: XBLA, PSN
Genre: Racing/Sports
Modes: Single Player, Multiplayer (offline only)

Being an Xbox 360 owner, I was disappointed when I found out 'Joe Danger', an extremely promising looking game from Happy Games, was being released exclusively on the PlayStation Network. Looking to be a similar title to Trials HD, only with more of an arcade and casual feel to it, Joe Danger looked to be a great game, no ifs or buts about it. When the finished game released on the PlayStation Network, it sold over 50,000 downloads in its first week, and the development team stated they "broke even” (in terms of their expenses) on its release day. Not bad for a small independent games company.

Finally, a little over a year later, Joe Danger has made its way onto the Xbox Live Marketplace. Curious to see if the game's success on the PlayStation Network was warranted, I purchased a copy of Joe Danger, and played almost the entirety of the game's rather extensive campaign.

Gameplay
Joe Danger has almost no story at all. In fact, the only information which details Joe Danger (the titular protagonist), his retirement, and his planned comeback are only told through the game's tutorials and opening levels. Joe Danger (the game) however, is primarily an arcade sports title with puzzle elements, and it should be noted that the almost complete lack of a story does not detract from the overall experience, as the simple design of the game wouldn't actually benefit from a story.

Controlling Joe is simple enough, and should be immediately accessible to most players. The triggers control the brakes and accelerator, the shoulder buttons perform various tricks, the A button uses your turbo meter, and the X button makes Joe perform a bunny hop, which can be used to reach stars and secret areas, as well as avoid obstacles and traps. The trick system is very reminiscent of early arcade sport titles such as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, with rotations and tricks adding score values and multipliers, and endos and wheelies adding score and keeping combos alive. When a player performs a trick, it fills Joe's turbo meter, which is especially crucial when trying to reach secret stars, or complete a level under a time limit.

The game's levels are presented in a simple menu system, broken up into smaller groups representing which stage of Joe's comeback he is presently undertaking. Levels can be a number of activities from races, trial courses, collectible courses (such as the coin dash) as well as minigames, such as bowling, where players propel Joe himself off a stunt ramp and into a group of bowling pins underneath. All levels have a number of goals to complete, earning the player stars which in turn can be used to unlock further levels later on.

The addition of these goals and the star system add an element of accessibility, where players can opt to unlock an upcoming level at the cost of a few stars, and return later to complete unfinished goals at their own convenience. Some goals can be as simple as collecting all the stars in a level or beating a time limit, others can be more complex such as performing tricks for the entirety of the level, or a combination of other goals.

The only area Joe Danger lacks in compared to other titles, is its omission of a competitive online mode. Considering that you race computer-controlled opponents multiple times throughout the career mode, it seemed a logical and easily feasible feature.

Graphics
Joe Danger's visual style compliments its simple gameplay with its playful use of vibrant colours and cartoonish characters. It's a welcome contrast from the usual dark and gritty design focus of most modern games, and certainly more appealing than the black and brown warehouses of Trials HD. Although the graphics aren't groundbreaking, they are adequate, and I believe more realistic graphics would have in fact detracted from the overall Joe Danger experience.

Sound
The sound design in Joe Danger is great. The game opens with a stadium announcer calling Joe's name as "J-J-J-J-Jooooooooe Dangeeeeer!" and a lighthearted and catchy theme song. All of the games musical score is reminiscent of funky 1960's and 70's orchestral TV and movie scores, reflecting the height of stunt-performing’s popularity in the US, but also of the time when the fictitious Joe was at the height of his career, and it also lends a kitschy and fun atmosphere to the game. The sound effects are also worth mentioning, especially the sounds Joe makes when he turbo boosts off a jump (mostly being a high-pitched "yahoo" an screams of joy) and also the sounds Joe makes when he crashes, or is comically crushed by a giant mousetrap.

Keep It?

• HUGE value for money; the career is absolutely massive, and a blast!
• Fantastic accessibility; kids and adults will both enjoy Joe Danger
• Level editor (share and upload levels to friends)

Ditch It?

• No online multiplayer
• Some difficult challenges

Anything Else?
Joe Danger truly has hardly any faults in it. It is a fun, rewarding experience that almost anyone can enjoy, and well worth its price of 1200 Microsoft points. Happy Games' first game is so well thought out and designed in every single aspect, and I can't wait for the sequel, 'Joe Danger: The Movie'.

Score: 8/10

Written by Nick Getley