Demolition Dash (iPad) – Review

Game Name:	Demolition Dash
Platforms:	iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Publisher(s):	Dreamfab
Developer(s):	Chimera Entertainment
Genre(s):	Platformer
Release Date:	Available Now
ESRB Rating:	Everyone

Have you ever found yourself playing yet another one-button platformer, wishing it featured destruction? the ability to traverse exotic locales? Or maybe the opportunity to play as an adorable monster? No? Well DreamFab  and Chimera Entertainment have gone ahead and granted those wishes anyway, and having now finished Demolition Dash I ponder why I wasn’t wishing for this eclectic mix of features sooner.

Demolition Dash isn’t your standard always-scrolling platformer, throwing out the “how long can you last” mentality and replacing it with one a whole lot more pre-occupied with destruction. Though the game does feature an Endless mode, the World Rampage is where you’ll likely spend a lot of your time – traversing your way through 8 exotic cities and 22 discrete levels littered with objects – as Zilla sets out to wreak as much havoc as he possibly can, all in the name of obtaining a hi-score. Levels aren’t just filled with inanimate objects though, and you’ll have to be on the look-out for the SWAT – the defence force attempting to bring your rampaging fun to an end. You’ll need to evade them, or as any monster would – destroy them – to avoid bringing your run to a halt.

Zilla brings with him your standard jump and double jump ability, but alongside it comes his Roar, an emanating shock-wave destroying anything within its radius. These jump and roar abilities are tied to either side of your display, (which side they reside on completely up to you), and it’s an interface which manages to stay out of the way better than most on the device. Keeping your thumbs clear of the on-screen action is something you’ll be glad you can do, as the game’s crisp, painterly aesthetic looks gorgeous on the iPad display. There’s an almost cartoon-like quality to the game’s animation, with every piece of the bigger picture lovingly detailed – though it won’t be for long if Zilla has much to say about it.

Each level not only provides you with objects to destroy and jumps to make, but also an optional objective to complete – destroying a set amount of one object or surviving a level without losing a life – all with the lure of bonus points attached. The balancing act between trying to survive, whilst also wracking up as many points as possible is where the true challenge lies, constantly weighing up just how much of a risk you want to take. Levels can become seriously hectic with the amount of destruction unfolding, as your thumbs engage in an epic morse code battle – jumping and roaring in perfect harmony. You’ll know that attempting to destroy those few extra objects will bring with it much-needed points, but in the end may leave you short of a jump, or have you slamming into a SWAT unit.

Zilla isn’t completely alone in this task though, as power ups litter each level. The ability for continued jumping, invulnerability and a super-charged roar are available to you if you’re agile enough to pick them up, and the game does a great job of providing enough cannon-fodder for you to chew through as soon as they’re acquired. There’ll be times where you’re ripping through 20+ objects at once, offering a great sense of empowerment and just pure fun – the resulting smile on your face one which is unlikely to leave.

This hectic destruction does have its downsides though, as DD doesn’t allow as much room for the perfection or planning of a run in hopes of that high-score. There’s so much going on at any one time that working out just how you’ll improve on your previous performance can be difficult, as a lot of your progress can often come down to luck more than any single plan. This goes hand in hand with the often repetitious environments – never changing too much in their look or construction – but devoured in bite size chunks you’re unlikely to notice it, having far too much fun with explosive destruction to really care.

While Demolition Dash may lack the usual draw of run-perfection that makes games like it so addictive, it more than makes up for it with its reckless obsession with destruction. A beautiful aesthetic, a finely balanced back-and-forth of abilities and just pure explosive fun make this self-contained experience more than worth it. Demolition Dash earns 4 out of 5 stars, its destructible romp one well worth taking.

About the Author

Jamie Dalzell When I’m not scribbling random words into a text document I’ll be applying copious amounts of paint to miniature figurines - because I’m cool like that!