UPDATE: August 31st, 2010
Jules Unboxing the World received an update that aims to fix the major control issues that kept us from enjoying the game when we reviewed it originally. So how do the tilt controls feel now?
Definitely better, but still not perfect. Before, it felt like Jules went out of control just about every time we tilted the iPad. Now he feels more reined in, which is a very good thing. The game still hasn't achieved the tilt precision of Labyrinth 2 HD, but it's on the right track.
Also included in the update are some extra achievements and a few new boxed-up people to save in the campaign mode.
The control improvements make the game more playable, which unlocks much of the charm and creativity that was in there in the first place. Even though the controls still aren't perfect, we can now recommend the game.
Jules Unboxing the World is a ball-rolling game or, more precisely, a pet-rolling game. But Jules isn’t your average house pet-- he’s a sleek hybrid of what appears to be a fox and a rabbit, with a ball attached to his tail. He curls up, and you tilt your iPad to steer him through locations scattered across the globe.
The reason for this all this travel is that a race of box-shaped creatures has suddenly appeared and trapped all humans in individual wooden shipping crates. These crates are scattered through each level, and to get the people out you just roll Jules into them. However, the evil creatures also wander around the levels, and bumping into them turns Jules into a box. To make matters worse, the environments are often ringed by pits waiting to swallow an out-of-control Jules.
Boxed in.
All of this sounds like the bizarre hijinks of a fun, creative game, and it almost is. But there’s a major game-crippling flaw: the controls. As you tilt the iPad, Jules seems to have a mind of his own. He quickly builds up momentum that’s nearly impossible to stop, and his turning radius feels far wider than it should be. Without the precise tilt controls and realistic physics that, say, Labyrinth 2 HD nailed, Jules Unboxing the World never feels like a functional game.
And it’s a shame, because there's a lot to love otherwise. You get 30 well-made levels, some of which feature warp gates, switches, or other puzzle elements that are fun to figure out. As you progress, you unlock four minigame-like endless modes that offer a decent diversion from the main gameplay. And the graphics and presentation are satisfyingly unique and excellent.
But when the only input you have at your disposal is tilt, botching the controls botches the game. Compounding matters, the frame rate frequently stutters unless you’ve recently rebooted your iPad, adding to the control frustration.
If an update comes out to fix the controls, we’ll be sure to revisit Jules Unboxing the World, because it exhibits a great deal of potential. But until then, you'll probably want to keep this one in its box.
6 Comments
SlideToPlay staff, readers. I am Henrique of Sulistas/TWGames, and thank you for your honest review.
We here at Sulistas have received feedback from players over the last two weeks and have acknowledge the control issues in the current version. We have worked hard, and are right now sending the 1.0.1 update to the Apple Store for approval.
In the new update, the game's controls have been completely reworked from scratch, and the framerate issues have been solved. Also, we have included a few new rewards.
The update will be live as soon as Apple approves it. If any of the staff or readers have any further questions, I can be contacted at henrique@twgames.com.br
Henrique, any plans for an iPhone version? Thanks!
We have toyed with the idea of making an iPhone version, but since the gameplay and graphics have all been thought out and implemented taking in consideration the iPad screen size, an iPhone version would be quite expensive to develop.
Of course, we would be very happy to develop it if there is demand, or if we manage to hit break-even with the iPad sales! :)
They got time to fix the controls with updates. :)
It just got a point up. I knew they could do it with an update!
Thank you for your support! We are still working on the controls to make them even smoother and more accessible to all players.
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