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
@Jack Don't really care about your butt hurt thing regarding Android.
You somehow cannot read and understand a simple line of text. Troll.
@you guys
If people didn't post their opinions engadget wouldn't know what it readers felt about the content. However this is a case where not clicking a link and continuing to scroll down the page would do just fine...remember as addictive as it is no one is forcing you to read this.
@tobsmonster2
If it is so easy, half of the arguments in this world shouldn't exist.
Just like if you don't like some people's comment, just continuing to scroll down the page would do just fine...remember as addictive as it is no one is forcing you to read and reply.
@Rockchan
Commenting isn't something that angers or annoys me where for you reading these kind of articles is, there's a difference.
@tobsmonster2
You do realize you have just fallen prey to your own quip, right old sport? I lmao so hard when I read this exchange. Be careful, you dont want to end up like Jack™.
@Luis Torrao
Stop spamming engadget to plug your site. No one cares and not going to click it, piss off.
Alright... So here's what we know. Topolsky is the bad 'apple' of the bunch. All the other editors here do a great job of providing balanced reviews and news stories about various companies and technologies. Yes, even providing a balance between apple and android. But whenever Topolsky posts I expect him to be plugging in his friends new app to a large demographic, or speaking about apples new flavour of the month. He is the ONE editor here that stands out as not worthy of his position, and the ONE that is completely biased in his approach. On the engadget show he goes on making marijuana jokes way too much giving himself away for what he is too. A pot smoking apple toting hipster. Joshua, please stop this nonsense.
Again engadget is a BLOG, and is not composed of journalists, therefore this is somewhat to be expected. But To this degree? He goes way too far. This is not your facebook Josh, give up the pursuit of money for a minute and have some credibility.
@Stephen1229 Also, engadget will likely censor this post, sad.
@Stephen1229 Man, it's a blog, what makes you feel so entitled? So what? Don't read it, and move onto the next story. You know, most of the stories aren't relevant to my interests, they're cool, I read a few sentences, and then move on. I don't come and bitch about them. The game is nice, I've actually been following it and the developers for quite awhile, Joshua likes it (if you couldn't tell, he likes a lot of things 8-bit related) and is the Editor-in-Chief, so he can pretty much dictate and put out what he wants. Get over yourself man, seriously.
Maybe go smoke some weed and relax, but apparently people who do that are nothing but Apple loving hipsters, of which you want nothing to do with.
@Ether3a1 Apples good, I miss my Ipod Touch. The only thing wrong with apple would be the business ethics. You got way too defensive here. that's cool if he smokes weed, but he doesn't need to plug that into this website too. Just like he didn't need to plug in his friends app.
@Stephen1229 I might have came off as defensive, but after reading the review (and not just this one), I'm sick of all the people who feel that Engadget should be ran their way, that they feel some sort of entitlement on what content they feel should or should not be covered. Yeah, I bet Josh knows the developers, or maybe he liked it and posted a review about it to Engadget? Maybe it should have gone into Alt instead of being a "story". What if it wasn't a game, but something else? He's the editor-in-chief, he can dictate the flow and style of the types of posts and content, and everyone on this staff posts things that are probably more an interest to them than just a story that might be useful to everyone.
It's just a blog, read it (or don't) and move on.
@Ether3a1 I get it, that's like saying the president should be able to dictate everything however he wants regardless of opinion. Even if its against the public's best interest. He should be able to do it uncontested.
In our society opinions and discussion are valued. Even unfavourable opinions (although people don't see them as valued), If no one voices anything then things turn out very odd indeed.
So I do disagree with you here you see?
@Stephen1229 He's a blatant Apple fanboy, I'll give you that. With any issue involving Apple, you can't expect a fair level-headed opinion. That said, he's not as bad as whats-his-face on Tech Crunch who claimed that the Magic Trackpad just "killed the mouse", nor is he is bad as a Mossburg or a Gruber. He is what he is, and because he's running the show, Engadget as a whole has always had some pro-Apple bias.
There's nothing wrong with that, really. I think most of the people who read engadget know that's what they're going to get and they're fine with it. If it turns out he really is just plugging this App because of some personal connection, well that's a different story -- but if he's just an Apple fanboy raving about a new game for his Apple toys, then so be it. That's just a part Engadget.
@Stephen1229
I'm honestly shocked that your post is still up. My two were removed and they were totally one-sentence tame little statements (but on the front page).
We'll see what happens when morning hits.
@Stephen1229 Are you completely high?
@Joshua Topolsky How many 5 yr olds read Engadget? Might consider killing comments, I mean people complaining over a game, who does that?
@Stephen1229
There is a lot of internet left out there... You could up your writing skills and begin your own blog to counter all of that worries you about Engadget.
Few have time for all of that, so I don't really use that as a counter to what you're saying.
But I will say this: This is not your blog. Engadget creates Engadget, not you. If we don't like their opinions, we need to just suck it up and wait for the next post. Maybe it will be about something you like, and because of that, you won't even notice that another reader of Engadget might consider it biased and "a suck-up" to some company or idea.
.
It makes me wonder if someone at Engadget or a "friend" of Engadget made this game....
This is the reason why I stay with iPhone. Android can suck it.
@anotherworld
For an 8-bit game? I feel sad for you guys.
Please at least mention those emulators that is available in iPhone (and in Android in the future. Using an 8-bit game as a point is really pathetic.
@anotherworld What? This game specifically? I don't think it holds a candle to Civilization Revolutions and that was free all last week.
@anotherworld
Hell yeah!!!
And u ever notice how it's Andweebs with Androids who r always bitter for some reason?!
@Rockchan Games in general. Android dont got shit.
Two Words:
Earth Bound
Android ppl needa work harder on gaming apps!!!!!!!!
@Adrian2011
gaming apps? i believe they are called games
@mobo83
Oh thatz rite, cuz bitter Andweebs get soooo offended if u mention Apple anything around them. Y so unhappy? And it seems to be only the Andorks who r unhappy with their product.
@Adrian2011
from reading your spaz post i can pretty much conclude that you are a lot more unhappy than i am
@mobo83
Oh u think i hav an Android. Sorry, i dont. They need more APPS!!!!!!!!! Hope that doesnt upset u again.
Such a sad game...what isn't after one plays Pocket Heroes of Might&Magic on HD2 ;). That's a game worthy reviewing. Not some creepy pixelated mess definitely looking worse than Manic Miner o.O. Yeah, gotta be iPhone App... :D
8bit? NES?
Surely you mean 16Bit and SNES, those arent 8bit graphics.
I love it how posts critical of this piece were censored. Top job...
So wait..... without ever knowing me you're saying I don't buy all my android software that I like? Take that back please I think!!
is it time to flood another devs inbox for a webOs port? It worked for Angry Birds...
Fun as hell - actually.
Game and Watch.
so much hate in here... relax guys it's just a game. if the editor of this website thinks its worthy of a mention then people will read it... just relax.
Hmm out of the blue review on some 8 bit game. Probably went something like this on Saturday night...
Steve J: "Josh babe, what are you doing?"
JTops: "umm cuddling stevie, what else?"
Steve J: "well can't you see i'm busy watching low res clips on one my magical creations, iTV? Why don't you go make yourself useful dear"
JTops: "bu bu but..."
Steve J: "too much talking, not enough pandering"
JTops: "yes sir i'll start writing up something on my laptop... err MACBOOK, I MEANT MACBOOK!"
Steve J: "And while you're up, how bout a sammich?"
*Steve J gives wink and the gun*
@mobo83 I'm not sure that really goes like that in steve's mind, but that sure is whats going on in topolsky's mind
I feel like I just got the opportunity to read a commercial. I want my minute of life back.
I'm afraid to comment on anything. :( the game does look splendid though.
This isn't a gadget. At least have the sense to put this 'review' on ALT, isn't that why you created it?