App Review - Dumb ways to Die!

Dumb Ways to Die

Publisher : Metro Trains Melbourne Pty Ltd

Site :http://dumbwaystodie.com

Download: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/dumb-ways-to-die/id639930688?mt=8

Price: Free

Version reviewed : 1.1

Reviewed on: iOS


Pre Play

Clearly marketed by geniuses, DW2D offers the casual gamer what they've always wanted to do in a video game - wipe up virtual up vomit, protect private parts of from prianhas and... being safe around trains.  Whilst alluding to a video that apparently would somehow make the above relevant, I sceptically started the app wondering at the state of mind of the general population if the above tasks satisfy a common enough need to propel this app to the top of the charts in popularity.

Play

DW2D is effectively a series of simple mini games of which generally take less than 10 seconds to complete.  Incentive comes in the way of flashing black and white writing egging you on to go "faster", "fasterer" and "fastererer" in a manner that left me wondering if there were not in fact subconscious messages hidden within the contrasted writing flashing at epilepsy inducing speeds.

Whilst there was a small pleasure in figuring out some of the vaguer mini game instructions and the small relief of successfully completing a short frantic task, overall the only real incentive to continue to play this game is to unlock different animals (?) to your collection.  Whilst you can't exactly fight / breed / evolve them, what you can do with them easily surpasses all that - you can.... watch them as they wait on a train station!  Indefinitely!

That thrill aside, where this game really shines is the music and presentation - reminiscent of the 90's  the music was distorted and catchy enough to bring on waves of nostalgia of an era where games were simple, unforgiving and relied purely on skill - exactly what this game does.

Score:

Overall, whilst beautifully presented the overall feel of the game cannot overcome the lack of depth and replay ability is severely lacking - there's only so many times most people will want to mop up imaginary vomit after all.

5 / 10