The Impossible Game (XBLIG, 2009)

The Impossible Game
Developed by FlukeDude
Released for XBLIG (11/23/2009)
Also on iOS/Linux/Macintosh/PC/PS3/PSP/Windows Phone

The Impossible Game is a platformer that pretty much boils the genre down to its simplest form, with gameplay that consists entirely of timing your jumps. The game contains only a single level, but as the title implies this level is quite challenging. This single stage can be cleared in about a minute and a half on a perfect run, but you'll spend much, much longer than that attempting to get through it.

In the Impossible Game, you'll take control of a square that scrolls along a 2D plane automatically, similar to many games in the runner genre, where your character is always moving forward with no input required from the player. Since you don't have to worry about movement, your priority will be timing your jumps to make it over the pits and spikes littered throughout the stage. It's simple, but it's far from easy. The speed at which your square auto-scrolls is quite fast and making some of the jumps will take very precise timing of your jumps. There's also quite a bit of memorization required, but this will come naturally as you play through the stage hundreds if not thousands of times trying to complete it.

The graphics complement the simple gameplay, consisting of solid squares and triangles placed upon a gradient background. While the visual presentation is simple, the music is awesome and makes dying a bit less painful knowing you'll get to hear the soundtrack. The level must be completed in a single run, but there is a practice mode that allows you place checkpoints anywhere along the path. After dying, you'll spawn back at the last checkpoint you've placed, making completing the level much easier but a lot less satisfying. There is a penalty for using practice mode, where the excellent music is replaced by a lame track. Finishing practice mode will end with a message telling you complete the stage legit.

The Impossible Game was one of the more successful titles on XBLIG and could regularly be found in the best-sellers section of the store. The game definitely earned its spot with easy controls coupled with a stiff challenge all to the tune of an excellent soundtrack. If you're a fan of brutal platformers you'll likely enjoy this one. If you're easily frustrated or just don't like hard games, you'd probably do your controller a favor to stay away from this one.

The Impossible Game Level Pack released for XBLIG in November 2010. This level pack added 2 new levels that ramp up the challenge compared to the original stage. While the pack started with only 2 levels, the developer diligently updated it over the course of time to include 2 more, for a total of 4 new levels, each with a new song to enjoy while you inevitably die thousands of times trying to complete these. These additional levels can be selected in any order, giving you some options if you get hung up on a particular level. The level pack was a great deal for those who enjoyed the original game, offering quite a bit of extra content which sold for the reasonable price of 80 Microsoft Points (or $1).

The Impossible Game was initially released on XBLIG in November 2009, was next released for iOS devices in April 2010 and even saw a release for the PlayStation Portable in September 2011. At the time of this writing, the game's final releases would come in May 2014 for PC, Linux and Macintosh. All versions of the game from the PSP onward include the bonus stages from the level pack.

Final Verdict: The Impossible Game is a short, simple platformer with a stiff challenge. If you like your games tough, give this one a look as it's still available on a number of platforms.

Related Links
The Impossible Game - Official Site
The Impossible Game Trailer - YouTube
Rage Quit: The Impossible Game - YouTube
The Impossible Game - GameFAQs
The Impossible Game Level Pack - GameFAQs

Washington's Wig (XBLIG, 2012)

Washington's Wig
Developed by Team2Bit
Released for XBLIG (6/2012)
Also on iOS

Washington's Wig is a 2D runner game with pixel graphics where you play as a dog who is trying to retrieve George Washington's wig. As the dog you're trying to gain enough speed so you can hop on the boat with him, but unfortunately you're on ice plus there are holes and dogs obstructing your path. The screen auto-scrolls right and you must time your jump button presses appropriately. More obstacles are introduced the farther along you get. Your dog is equipped with a double jump and you also have a slide if you need to slow everything down. Occasionally an eagle will fly overhead who will carry you a little way through the stage. At the main menu you can select from arcade game, endless run, time trial and two-player versus race. These modes are pretty self-explanatory and if you enjoy the gameplay they will add some replay value. Washington's Wig retailed on XBLIG for a mere 80 MSP ($1) and was a solid investment if you're into these runner games.

Final Verdict: Fans of simple runner titles will like Washington's Wig. The game has a goofiness about it that's hard not to enjoy.

Related Links:
Washington's Wig - GameFAQs
Team2Bit - Official Site

Hurdle Turtle 2 (XBLIG, 2013)

Hurdle Turtle 2
Developed by Holmade Games
Released for XBLIG (10/2013)

Three years after Holmade Games released the original Hurdle Turtle and two level packs comes the sequel, which improves upon the original in many ways. First, they've added some nice digitized voice samples that add some extra personality to the game. The pixel count has been upped significantly and as a result the visuals look more appealing overall. Third and most important is that the gameplay has been refined a bit, now allowing you to switch between four tracks rather than freely moving up and down, making dodging the oncoming obstacles even simpler than before. The game now supports up to four players at a time (local of course). The levels are presented on an over-world map now and the game has added water levels. Hurdle Turtle 2 is an improvement over the original in just about every imaginable, though your enjoyment boils down to whether or not you like the concept of a game that plays like the infamous Turbo Tunnel segments from Battletoads.

Final Verdict: Holmade Games did excellent at keeping what was good about the first game and building on it with Hurdle Turtle 2. Recommended for fans of the original or if you just like dodge 'em up games!

Related Links:
Hurdle Turtle - Xbox Overview
Hurdle Turtle 2 - GameFAQs 
Hurdle Turtle 2 Official Announcement - Holmade Games Blog

Hurdle Turtle (XBLIG, 2010)

Hurdle Turtle
Developed by Holmade Games
Released for XBLIG (6/2010)
Also on iOS

Hurdle Turtle is about as simple as they come. You guide your turtle along a track while avoiding and jumping over the obstacles coming your way. The goal is to simply survive for as long as possible. Hurdle Turtle also supports up to two players locally. The title card for the game is made to look like one of the old NES black boxes, and is certainly what attracted me to this title when I got it back in 2010.

Hurdle Turtle plays similar to the Turbo Tunnel stage from the NES classic Battletoads. It's a heck of a lot easier than that game on its normal setting, but if you try the insane stage you will get a pretty intense challenge. Hurdle Turtle gives you three difficulties, each with a different backdrop and appropriately themed obstacles. The graphics are done with simple, blocky pixels. Personally I would have preferred if they would have put a little more detail in them to make it look more like an NES-era game, but they are serviceable. For some reason it annoys me how the headband on the turtle lines up perfectly with the track lines. Controls are simple and responsive, allowing you to move up, down and jump. While Hurdle Turtle is a very simple game, it can deliver some fun for short periods of time if you're in the mood for it. There were also two level packs released on the marketplace that added some new themed levels. Holmade Games would also go on to release a sequel.

Final Verdict: If you enjoyed the turbo tunnel stages from Battletoads, Hurdle Turtle has three stages with very similar action!

Related Links:
Hurdle Turtle Official Trailer - YouTube
Holmade Games Hurdle Turtle - Blogspot
Hurdle Turtle - GameFAQs

Professional $tealer (XBLIG, 2011)

Professional $tealer
Developed by Aly Ameen
Released for XBLIG (8/2011)

Professional $tealer is a 2D platformer-runner title. You play as a thief on the run from the police, hopping from roof to roof and avoiding various other obstacles along the way. As far as runner games go, this is a pretty solid title. The level layouts are well thought out, allowing the player to get in a groove hopping about using the double-jump. There are perks you can pick up along the way, like knives that can be used to take down officers in your path. The graphics are high-res art, and the city backdrop looks gorgeous, and even though the characters are composed of stick figures, it somehow never bothered me at all during actual gameplay. If you're into runner titles, definitely give this one a look.

Final Verdict: Professional $tealer is a solid runner and is ideal for those who like trying to beat their fastest times.

Related Links:
Professional $tealer - GameFAQs

Ninja Train (XBLIG, 2009)

Ninja Train
Developed by dot zo games
Released for XBLIG (8/2009)

Wao! that's NINJA! (Xbox Overview disclaimer: This was the actual product description from the developer for Ninja Train.)

Ninja Train is the second release on XBLIG from developer dot zo games. The game is a 2D platformer-runner title where the screen will auto-scroll to the right and you'll make an effort to collect as many coins along the way. Your character has a double-jump and can dash in the air, making him quite mobile. Ninja Train is not a bad game, but it doesn't really do anything to stand out in the genre of runner games. The 2D graphics are extremely basic but pack some charm (as with all releases from dot zo) and the music sounds very ninja appropriate, but there just wasn't enough to it that made me want to come back to it. I found I could complete most stages by just mashing the jump button and holding right, at least in the few levels featured in the trial. Overall, the game looks nice and plays decent enough but I'd recommend some of dot zo games' better offerings first, such as Ninja Bros.or NYAN-TECH.

Final Verdict: Ninja Train is a nice looking 2D style runner game that lacks the gameplay to hook you in. Unless you're an absolute ninja junkie this one's hard to recommend.

Related Links:
Ninja Bros - Xbox Overview
Nyan-Tech - Xbox Overview
Ninja Escape - Xbox Overview
Horse Race Starter - Xbox Overview
Ninja Train - GameFAQs