Like its contemporary,
Canabalt,
The Incident is a game that knows exactly what it is -- and is not -- and plays to those strengths to a T. The basic premise of this iPhone title is simple enough, and in that simplicity (as with many great games) lies its power. You are Frank Solway, a lone man involved in a day that has gone completely out of whack -- namely, objects have begun falling from the sky, and you need to get out of the way. That's it. That's the whole game. You dash and jump while all manner of items come hurtling towards you from above; Mini Coopers, Ikea bookshelves, bikes, fences, arcade cabinets... really just about anything you can think of. Your goal is to avoid what's coming next (teased by a flashing white strip along the top of the screen), grab the variety of power-ups that happen by, and keep getting as high as you can to reach checkpoints. It's amazingly fun, and the charm of the game is doubled by developer Big Bucket's use of retro, 8-bit graphics along with a pitch-perfect chiptune soundtrack. The effect is terrific, blending the best of what we love from our NES years with the kind of gaming that's perfectly suited to a mobile device. We can't overstate how polished
The Incident seems -- the developers have made all the right decisions, and the result is a game you pick up quickly, but can't put back down. If you've got $1.99 to spare, why are you still reading this?
posted August 14th 2010 9:00PM
@Parkmusic42 Don't
Engadget almost never do App reviews, but when they do it, why almost always is for apple iphone or ipod?
Where are THE REVIEWS for Android, WebOS, Nokia, Blackberry, Win7??
So partial to apple, you cant hide it.
@Beatnik
And... why would they do reviews for things that suck, again?
@Rooshma
Another undeserved 9 from from JTops himself. I just downloaded this from the app store and it seriously sucks. It's just so boring and not at all addictive, I don't know what drove him to go out of his way to review this garbage.
Don't get me wrong, there are some great games on the iPhone, but this sure isn't one of them. Try Osmos if you're looking for a fun new game.
@The Advanced Kind
JTops loves 8bit and eBoy stuff..... what can you say
@Beatnik
Every listened to or watched the Engadget podcasts? Guess not.
You're had that comment in your head all week, you were just waiting for the moment to post it. Your next comment will probably be the same.
@Beatnik
Well I imagine when the Android marketplace gains steam and overtakes apple (and it will) because there are more android devices out there, they will have no choice.
Zzz... Topolsky pushing an iPhone game title just out of the blue. How much they pay ya Josh?
@MisterWarmth I do find it quite unprofessional that the editor-in-chief keeps plugging 8bit games.
Either review games regularly or not at all. Certainly don't review games and later sell t-shirts of them like you did with FixPix. It makes the site's credibility suffer.
@The Advanced Kind "Another undeserved 9 from from JTops himself."
Judging from the eBoy stuff, the crazy gameboy style music beats and visuals during their discussions, I think this type of game might just be Josh's preference. It's certainly not my preference but this is his site so he can review however he wants.
I don't like Doodle Jump or Angry Birds or Bejewelled or most of the supposedly addictive games that are on any app store but they get quite high reviews from people and it angers me to tears that people are being entertained by these moronically basic game mechanics but hey, if people like it, my opinion is just another opinion that doesn't matter.
@Jack
You're exactly as smart as you think. You are.
Pooooooom!
@Beatnik
The best iPhone/iPod Touch games will be ported to the other platforms and the best Android, WinPhone7, etc games will be ported to each other and the iPhone. It's not as though the games companies are necessarily tied to any one platform (although John Carmack seemingly dotes on the iPhone/iPod Touch). Games on the iPhone are more developed because the appstore ecosystem (which is perfect for games) is a little more advanced.
@Beatnik
Cry a little more, you little whiney fandroid v
@donnation and continue sticking your fingers in your ears and shouting "lalala can't hear you whiny fandroid" whenever Someone makes a point you disagree with, regardless how valid and obviously true it is.
Speaking as an iPhone game developer, please don't promote things on your site like games unless you are willing to really jump in and evenly review things, it is truly a new innovation or remarkable, you don't take a clearly biased stand, or you make it clear that you are promoting a fringe section of the website (ala you theme things like a 'Seanbaby' area so it is obvious that you are biased).
This is insulting.
@Darkroom
It's more advanced in that its been around longer, has had developers refine their apps for it for longer, has had more time to refine its search and app finding attributes, developers make more on average per app sold (a reflection of the differing models of free/ad supported vs paid apps) and it actually available wherever the iphone and iPod Touch are sold.
There is crap in every appstore and there are gems too. You are obviously blind to anything that dares suggest the Android ecosystem has room to develop. Apparently, Google diagrees since it is working hard to improve all aspects of Android. We'd all be the poorer if it stagnated, no?
@FelixDraconis
Unless, of course, it was for *your* app, the one you're working on right now?
C'mon, this is a blog, they write about what they like or don't like. Don't get upset, just strive to finish something that catches their eye.
.
@Beatnik
Oh well. Your opinion is biased as well, so biased you forget all the excellent Android coverage anyway. I'm starting to not care what you blather on about.
Back on topic, THIS IS A FUN GAME. Buy it if you like quality jumping platform games.
.
@hey buddy Fun isn't a word I would use to describe this game.
Engadget isn't an app reviewing site. You can find plenty of blogs for nearly every platform out there.
@Sofabutt really? Lame? -_-
I find this great. Obviously it's worth mentioning if the game is on Engadget.
And if it weren't, I probably wouldn't have ever known about the game. I'm definitely looking into this now. Thanks Engadget!
I assume Sofabutt's comment was deleted . . .
Was it just for saying "lame?" Or was there something else?
Just curious.
@Sofabutt Don't hate they would do an android game review oo wait they don't have any good games lol
@Sofabutt Let them do what they want
@BallastatuzX And you're just as lame
@Sofabutt
Seriously, get over yourself...
Looks great, Android version please!
@richb93 Noooo please less distraction for my phone lol... I have enough distractions with my iPhone, don't let it happen to my Android too
@richb93
Looks fun. Evo user.
@richb93
This looks so cool! It would be great for an android version indeed. Developers should use a cross-platform environment like Unity3D to target both platforms (and PS3/XBOX) simultaneously.
http://unity3d.com/
@MagnetMan Developers should be using actionscript where you code once and both plats get to run the same end result. But some people don't want that to happen. Those people have turtle necks.
@angelusp
"developers see android as an OS where they will hit less customers"
100 million iOS devices, they WILL hit alot less customers,
And iOS customers actually pay for software, they don't steal it
@Taller
Programming in actionscript wouldn't work on all Android phones either. It's awesome how I can destroy your entire argument in 10 words.
@Wesscoast There's plenty of piracy of iPhone apps, I don't know where you got the idea that piracy is a bigger problem for Android. And while iOS does still have a larger install base, the gap is shrinking I'm not turning this into an iOS vs Android argument because that would be stupid, I'm just pointing out that it does indeed make sense to develop for both platforms if you're a company interested in making money.
@Wesscoast "iOS customers actually pay for software, they don't steal it"
LOL you serious? Most people I know who own an iOS device have Jailbroken it and use Cydia and pirated apps.
@richb93 "Most people I know" with an iOS device don't know what jailbreaking is, and those who do don't bother to jailbreak. I'm sure it's a lot of users in raw numbers but a small percentage when compared to the overall #f people owning an iOS device.
@Wesscoast
You're such a predictable twit, old sport. I hope Adam West, dressed as Batman, shoves a giant letter T up your ass so that you can justify the wit in changing your SN to Westcoast. "So like, dont steal your apps, and such forth." Turd.
@Wesscoast
" And iOS customers actually pay for software, they don't steal it"
Yes well done all Android users are thieves, did you get out of the wrong side of your bed this morning ?
@Jack "Programming in actionscript wouldn't work on all Android phones either. It's awesome how I can destroy your entire argument in 10 words."
You are a tool. You try to destroy truth but you cannot. Just making stuff up doesn't amount to fact troll. Actionscript runs seamless across multi-plats, something others tried to prevent, yet, they fail. That is all you have, an existence full of fail dedicated to some moronic brandind loyalty.
@Taller
Actionscript works for certain types of apps, but there is quite a performance hit with flash vs native code, which makes it less ideal for some apps. Also, things like the GPU tend not to be used (other than video) which further hurts performance.
Actionscript is cool, but not for everything. I do believe, however, a game like this would work in Actionscript, though.
@Sofabutt Your lame
@Sofabutt He's lame.
@Brt312
His lame what?
@ChazClout
I see what u did there ;-)
It would be an incident not to buy this...
if you're playing something like this on your phone, I highly suggest you put your device down and go get a girlfriend before it's too late
@Air Force One. What if you (out of anger) force choked your girlfriend?
@Lord Vader It goes without saying that you, Mr. Vader, are a special circumstance. My concern is all the peeps who will face a lifetime of force choking their groin because of this game.
@Lord Vader are you now ... you know .. able to "have" a girlfriend after that mustafar mishap?
@Formul. No, while i will always regret force choking Padme, it was Obi Wan's doing that made me more man than machine and thus turned me into a female repellent. (Shakes Fist) I will get my revenge. On the other hand some do like my new deep voice