Planet Surfer is an Android game that puts players in charge of a rocket ship that needs to head from planet-to-planet, but can only go from the color of planet it’s on to a planet of the same color. This is easier said than done, as the rocket ship is constantly in orbit around each planet, which means that players need to time their launch from planet-to-planet carefully to not overshoot the next planet or crash into another. With Google Play Games integration including leaderboards as well as achievements, this addictive space game could be your next favorite arcade classic, so let’s take a closer look.
Players looking to try out Planet Surfer will need to download the game for free from the Play Store. The main screen will allow players to get started and will also display their best scores.
New players will be given an introduction as to how to play the game, but really the controls are so easy that players will be up to speed in no time at all.
Players need to just tap the display once in order to send the rocket ship on its way, so in the example below I need to go from the yellow planet I started on to the next yellow planet just ahead.
Each time that a player successful does this, they’ll be given a point that makes up their overall score for that particular run. This seems a lot easier than it actually is, as the ship is constantly moving around that planet, which means players have to carefully time their rocket launch. It can take some time to get this timing down to a fine art, but it does feel quite rewarding when you string a number of planets together one after the other. Things get quite a bit more difficult however, when the game starts introduction enemy rockets and such.
One thing that did annoy me about Planet Surfer was the sheer amount of ads that the game relies upon. Developers need to make money, that’s a fact, however with constant ads on display while playing, an ad recommended to get some free stars and some dodgy ads like this link to scam has me wondering when enough is enough. Still, it costs just $1 to remove ads and in my opinion, it’s money well spent.
Speaking of stars, this are earned while playing (we saw two on that yellow planet, earlier) and are used to purchases different rockets and such, which is a nice touch to keep the game feeling fresh.
These different types of rockets including some novel options, including the Astronaut, which I particularly liked.
Planet Surfer offers some extra niceties as well, such as the ability to see your stats and lots of different languages for international players.
While I can’t say that the gameplay here is original – there are many other slingshot-style games in the Play Store – I can say that this is good fun. It’s just frustrating enough to be a tough challenge, but not too frustrating to put players off. It’s certainly a lot easier than people think it is and when you get into the higher scores, it can feel quite rewarding. The amount of ads is an issue I feel, but these can be removed fairly cheaply, which I recommend doing if you enjoy the game. With colorful and detailed graphics, this looks good on high-resolution displays and it has a hell of a lot going for it in terms of addictive and bite-size gameplay. It can however, become quite repetitive after a time, which is a shame, but we could say this about a lot of games out there, even more so about casual games like Planet Surfer.
Ratings
- Speed (4/5) – Planet Surfer runs well and has a smooth frame rate throughout while offering well-paced gameplay.
- Theme (4/5) – With lots of color on offer as well as some very detailed graphics, this is the sort of game that will appeal to audiences of all ages as well as more casual gamers out there.
- Features (4/5) – It might not be all that original, but the gameplay is addictive, challenging and has a lot to offer players looking for something that’s casual but also a quality challenge, too.
- Overall (4/5) – Planet Surfer is a game that might surprise a lot of people, and those that enjoy casual games that also offer a solid challenge with find a lot to love about Planet Surfer, and should certainly give it a try.
Pros
- High-quality graphics are not only colorful, but they look good on high-resolution displays and will appeal to younger audiences, too.
- Solid gameplay is addictive and encourages players to have “one more go” time and time again, without being too challenging.
- Different rocket styles and such help to keep the game feeling fresh and varied even after having played it for a long, long time.
- Planet Surfer is a game that will appeal to players of all ages, with no content inappropriate for younger players.
Cons
- Lots and lots of ads will annoy some users, but these can be removed for a small, small fee.
- Stars are very hard to come by when playing the game, and feels like players are pushed into spending money on them.
Planet Surfer is a colorful and fun game that has a lot on offer and will appeal to a lot of players out there, especially those looking for something that’s challenging and fast-paced. The colorful appearance is a nice touch, and the simple controls make this a game that can be played by anyone. Well worth looking into, this free download is a solid and fun arcade game that might surprise players.