There have been a lot, and that is putting it lightly, endless runners, since the success of Temple Run. It has been a long time, since I have played an endless runner that is so close in style to Temple Run, without yawning and thinking, this is more of the same. Headup Games, out of Cologne, Germany, teamed up with Level Bit, has just changed my mind again about the endless runner genre. Though the mechanics are exactly the same as other endless runners, Ms. Kong, their latest game, appears to have refreshed the genre. Welcome to the jungle!
Ms. Kong is appropriately set in the lush jungle. The back story is told through well-rendered panels. It seems someone took something from Ms. Kong that they weren’t supposed to. They took bananas that Ms. Kong gathered herself, for her sweet little child. I don’t know why anyone would want to anger Ms. Kong. We know what happened to those that angered King Kong in earlier films that date back to 1933, and the countless reboots, that the original film spawned. Nevertheless, here we are, we find Ms. Kong swinging through the jungle, and you can join her with a few simple swipes.
The controls work well. As is typical for endless runners, you are swiping left or right, at the appropriate time to change paths. Also, you are swiping up and down, which is basically swinging from vine to vine, to avoid other apes, rock clusters, branches, etc. The controls are extremely fluid, and they remind me why the endless runner genre was so popular to begin with… easy controls. There were a few times when swipes did not register, but they primarily occurred when I was swiping to the left or right, to go down another path.
Ms. Kong Features:
- Play as Ms. Kong for the first time!
- First 3D swing mechanic!
- Lush 3D jungle environment
- Collect fruits in correct order and receive bonuses
- Top player rankings
- Upgradable Power ups
- Unlock Jungle Man outfit
Ms. Kong is available to download for $99. The game does have in-app purchases as well. It is not necessary to use the in-app purchases to progress in the game. Ms. Kong gathers bananas and they are used as the in-game currency. You use the bananas to upgrade Ms. Kong in various ways. The game is integrated with Google Game Play Services with over 20 achievements to unlock, and there are leaderboards for you to ascend. You also have the option of unlocking an additional character, that is Jungle Man. Yes, he looks a lot like Tarzan. I am not certain if you can unlock Jungle Man through game play alone. I have not ventured far enough in the jungle yet to do so, if that is the case. However, when you hit the unlock button, it takes you to the Play Store, and it says for $2.10 you can unlock him. I am not a fan of this. I would rather unlock him through regular tried-and-true game play, but I understand, some game developers are going this route.
Overall, Ms. Kong is an enjoyable game. It does revitalize my interest in endless runners. The game is well put together from the graphics/artwork, the music, story and controls. If you enjoy endless runners, and want to try something new, you should take a look at Ms. Kong. I am not sure how long the fun will last, but it is worth the price of admission, and a little cheaper than a pound of bananas in the grocery store.
Ms. Kong: Ms. Kong
