I often look up to what mobile gaming has become, now that we have a powerful device that fits on our pocket with the capability of what people back then wouldn’t realize, games aren’t limited to only bland graphics, they can now unleash their potential, adding effects such as real-time shadows, particle effects, and even more. But, there’s one more thing I would also point out, not gameplay, but rather in-app purchases. Mobile gaming has been synonymous to ‘in-app purchase filled games’, and it doesn’t help that the big dudes like Gameloft or EA is doing it.
Let’s step aside that topic for a while, and talk about Alto’s Adventure, a game published and developed by Noodlecake Studios. Alto’s Adventure is not particularly one-of-a-kind game, but even so, it doesn’t stop it from being gorgeously beautiful.
Gameplay & Story
Alto’s Adventure uses the same formula as the good ol endless running game, in Alto’s Adventure you’re chasing the llamas that has escaped the cage while additionally collecting coins and avoiding obstacles on the run. There’s also a ‘tricks’ point, where you can do all sort of these cool skating tricks such as grinding a bunting line, and backflipping as you flew to the sky.
The game itself isn’t actually hard, instead of being a hard-to-play game, it tries to be enjoyable. It doesn’t make you think that you should be the best (although that’s up to you), it tries to make you play while seeing what the game has to offer.
Now, you might think, since it’s an endless running game, wouldn’t there be an IAP (in-app purchases) ? Absolutely, yes, but it doesn’t prompt you to buying more and more coins if you don’t want to. You can just enjoy the game without having to pay for coins or power ups. Also, there’s a level system, where you have to accomplish certain task to level up.
There’s no story, apart from the introduction story (or should I say ‘tutorial’ ?), but that’s what endless running game is, it’s not endless if there’s a story. Still, without a story, it’s rather enjoyable to play as a time killer.
Graphic & Sounds
The graphic in this game can be explained by one word, but that one word won’t be enough to convey the meaning of everything. Alto’s Adventure is one of those game that make use of the beautifully painted landscape as its stage background, using the weather and day-night system to add the serenity to the game. Overall, the graphic is not good, it’s beautiful. If you’re in for some relaxing adventure, you should enjoy this game.
The same goes to audio, it complements the graphic, adding ambiance sounds and beautiful music every time you pass on to a new area in the game. The ambiance is also one thing I would point out being a nice touch to details, you can hear the rainwater hitting the soft snow, the birds chirping and the bell rhyming, all of this without overusing the detail it gave out. This makes me enjoy the calming pace the game has set, which is amazing.
Conclusion
How can I say this, the game is nice to listen and look at, but at some point, if we were to scrap the nice cherries and cake on top, what you’ll find is an endless running game with IAP, not by any mean it is bad, you see. If you’re looking for a game as a time-killer and/or looking for a relaxing game with calmer pace, this game is for you, it doesn’t have ‘BOOM! EXPLOSIONS!’ but it sets you out on an adventure with beautifully painted landscape and serenity at hand.
Software Pen 