Shump review - "An awesome and engaging twitchy action platform shooter"

It's fair to say I have something of a soft spot for arcade games. I grew up dropping 10 pence pieces into machines down by the beach, and anything that reminds me of those halcyon days is good by me.

So it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise to hear that I loved Shump. It's a wonderful mix of retro and modern ideas, and it plays with the sort of elegant simplicity that harks back to the glory days of one-more-go gaming.

It's got a few problems here and there, but for the most part it's an engaging and addictive experience that's going to stick around on your phone for a good long while.

Shoot and jump

The game sees you controlling a stubby little character. It's played in portrait, and you're aiming to work your way up the screen, killing anything that looks at you funny, and taking on the boss in order to move on to the next level.

There are three buttons along the bottom of the screen. One moves you left, one moves you right, and the other lets you jump. You'll automatically blast out whatever projectile you've got equipped, leaving you to concentrate on avoiding the dangers the game throws at you.

Every run through is different, apart from the bosses, so there aren't many patterns to learn here. Instead you need to react to the enemies that are hurled in front of you. Knowing who does what will help, but only so much.

It's your reactions that are being tested as much as anything else here, and that makes for a tricky but compelling experience. Progress comes in stops and starts - just because you've made it deep into the game once, don't think it's going to happen every time.

You'll collect coins as you play, and these can be spent on new characters with slightly different skills. These might be offensive, defensive, or give you boosts in some other way. It also means you've always got something to work towards.

Like a lot of modern shooters, it's the boss battles that let things down a little. Compared to the rest of the game they're standard shooting fare. It's understandable, and they only last a minute at most, but they feel like chores you need to complete to get to the good stuff after them.

Jump and shoot

When Shump gets things right it really is a sight to behold. Waves of enemies roll in from the top of the screen, bullets fly out in crazed showers, and you're on the edge of everything, frantically trying to make sure you stay alive.

It's a great feeling, and while the boss battles are a bit of a blow, they're more a gentle push than a full force kick to the nether-regions. Anyone longing for an up to date arcade experience isn't going to go far wrong if they pick this one up.