Jumpy Junior - 3.5 stars

What is it?

Jumpy Jumper is an endless play platform game. The aim of the game is to jump between platforms without hitting walls or falling between gaps. I would describe this game as Flappy Bird meets Ninja Jump. To play the game you simply tap the screen to make the running man character jump, and the more you tap the more mid air jumps you make. This element reminds me of Flappy Bird but instead of keeping the character off the platforms, you actually only score points for landing on them. As you increase the distance travel the game increases in speed, I like this feature and I found it easier than at the slower start.  After several plays though I quickly realised that you can take advantage of the sluggish start by jumping on the longer platforms twice to build up the score quicker. 

On trend the developer has used the pixel design with minimal colours or alterations between game play. Unlike Ninja Jump the characters legs don't move, so it appearance reminds me a little of the static picture of Mario from the retro games.

The game is on the GameCentre which is a big plus for me. After seeing the highest score on the GameCentre today I knew with a bit of dedicated play I could get to the top of the Leader Board, which I did, in less than 10 minutes. There  does however seem to be a design fault with the GameCentre settings applied to the game and only one of the two Leader Boards actually works, which is a shame, but I am holding onto my victory with both hands!

This is a basic game, and similar to many others on the store at the moment, but it does what it says on the tin. If you like Flappy Bird but want to earn points for those unfortunate contact with the platform then Jumpy Junior could be for you.

Now for some ratings.....

Ease of use - 5

The game gives the basic instruction of 'Tap to Jump' at the start of each game, but that is all that is needed really. If you are part of the Flappy Generation, yes I may have just made up a new label here but hey ho, then you will take to this game like a duck to water. The only difference as I mentioned above is that you get the points for landing on the platforms, so if you jump completely over one then you have missed valuable points. 
Price - 5

This is a free game with no in app purchases.

Adverts - 5

There are footer adverts on the app, but to be fair I hardly noticed them and they didn't interrupt my game play at all. 

Keep, jury is out or delete - Jury is out

I have had the app less than a day so I am not sure how long I will keep it just yet. It is a pleasant game that was easy to just pick up and play, but it is very similar to other games out there at the moment. With that said I personally preferred it to Ketchapps Triple Jump which I still haven't managed to master. The app has could be enhanced by earning points to unlock new characters or even options to change the background that I have seen appearing here and there across the App Store in the past few weeks. 

Overall Score - 3.5 
I have selected this score by comparing it to the other apps I have been playing in the past few weeks. This is not a negative rating by any stretch of the imagination, but the concept has flooded the store and it is just missing the special difference that would make it higher. With more user options this game would keep the user engaged for longer, but download it and see what you think (link is below).

Where to find it:

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jumpy-junior/id950560531?mt=8

Virtual Beggar - 2 Stars

What is it?

I was browsing for some new apps to review and stumbled across Virtual Beggar. I literally did a double take when I saw the name. When I started to read about the app I couldn't believe my eyes that someone would actual create a game about a homeless person. I wasn't alone in my shock in some comments made but there were several that said it was addictive, so I decided to see what it was like.

The game starts by you basically tapping to earn coins. At first I thought that you had to tap the people that walk past the character to get coins, but no, just tap anywhere. I will admit this got boring quickly. The more coins you collect the higher levels your achieve. With the coins you can buy things but, and it might be that I am playing on an iPhone 4s, it was difficult in the pixilated text to see what I was buying.

As I continued tapping, I won a card, and somehow this led to me buying a shop and being able to hire staff. Now the game wanted me to keep putting the hired staff to work as well as continuing to beg. It is a little like a SIM game. To put this into context when I was a child I gave my Tamagotchi away as it was too much effort with little reward. I did however, continue and put the employees to work.

After playing for a good thirty minutes, I am sorry to say that I lost interest in the game and if I wasn't reviewing it I would have lost it a lot sooner. Even the little notifications weren't tempting me back.

I imagine if you like Tapped Out and don't mind to controversial topic of a homeless person begging while owning a business this could be one to look at. However, if like me you don't like SIM games and like something that has an immediate purpose then this might not be for you. 

Now for some ratings.....

Ease of use - 3 

Can you tap? Then you can play this game. The text on the menu to buy things and the speech bubbles from the players is a little difficult to read, but as I said this could have been that I am playing on an iPhone 4s. The premise of the game as it evolves does so without much explanation so I just kept tapping.
Price - 5

This is free and I didn't come across any in app purchases. 

Adverts - 5

From the time I spent using the app I didn't have any adverts. During my play I didn't come across any in app purchases but thats not to say there aren't any. 

Keep, jury is out or delete - Delete

I hate to say delete to an app but this one wasn't for me. I can see that a lot of work has gone into the app and the popular pixelated theme had been used for design. The game, for me, didn't captivate me sorry :(

Overal Rating - 2
I will give credit where it is due, this is a unique theme and designed well in the pixel world but it wasn't for me.

Where to find it:

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/virtual-beggar/id922983045?mt=8&uo=4