In a game, controls are one of the most important aspects. Controls are what can make a game great and they are also what can completely break a game. One of the hardest parts of designing a mobile game is trying to find and implement controls that really work with, not against, the platform and game your working with.
Name: Bean’s Quest | Developer: Kumbobius Games | Category: Arcade & Action | Players: 1 | Version: 1.3.0 | Size: 21 MB | Price: $1.99 |
The same can be said for gameplay. Finding a good gameplay mechanic on mobile is essential. Not all types of gameplay work on mobile, especially platformers. Platforming is one of the hardest genres get right on any platform. Bean’s Quest’s is game that shows how a mobile game can work, without compromising on the gameplay or the controls. Developed by Kumobius games, Bean’s Quest was released in back in April of this year on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and Linux.
Bean’s Quest is one of only a few platforming games on Android that gets it right in all areas of the game. The visuals are bright and crisp and the music is really well done. Flashygoodness created the music in this game and it shows. The soundtrack provides catchy tunes that will be stuck in your head for a LONG time.
The main character Emilio has been cursed and his girlfriend kidnapped and through the curse, Emilio was transformed into a jumping bean and now he must bounce his way through 5 worlds to rescue his girlfriend. As far as story goes, the details are scare, but it matches the game’s retro, hyper-16-bit style and the game would feel at home on the SNES or something else of that era.
Bean’s Quest’s is a retro game at heart and in the earlier stages, the game seems deceptively easy. The game is played by collecting jewels and moving towards the right. Seems easy, right? Wrong! At points, Bean’s Quest can be a very difficult game but only if you want it to be. You could play the game only trying to reach the end of the stage, ignoring the jewels and jumping over the enemies, or you could go along collecting coins and saving the Axolotls. It’s all up to you.
Controlling Emilio works very well in this game. The levels scroll left and right and you control the bean by using two left and right arrows. This scheme works well for the game and the controls are precise and responsive. They have to be for this game, the levels are so well designed. You’ll need it.
On the topic of design, Bean’s Quest has some of the most interesting and smart level design I’ve seen in recent memory.
In platforming games, there is a fine line to be crossed between being to difficult and being to easy. Most of the time, Bean’s Quest walks this line perfectly. The levels require precise jumping and avoiding of spikes and enemies. There is a wide array of enemy types, sometimes it’ll be flying or maybe on the ground and even crabs. Variety is the name of the game, and Bean’s Quest does all of this while still managing to look good.
The visuals in this game are fluid and crisp. Everything it the environment is full of detail and you can easily tell each stage from another. For instance, every time the Emilio jumps, his sombrero bends with him. You can tell that a lot of hard work and care has gone into the graphics, animations and little details with this game. Maybe it’s the game’s Mexican-style aesthetic or the way the jewels sparkle. The game world is so full of detail and it’s really something you have to see for yourself.
Overall Bean’s Quest is a charming game where it’s visuals, music and gameplay all add up to a spectacular title and at 1.99 it’s well worth the price. On a side note: the game can be paired with a wired or wireless controller and a keyboard should you prefer gaming with those instead.
