Finally, another jump and run game! The genre, that was so extremely popular in the 80’s and 90’s, became less and less visible during the last two decades. It might be due to the fact, that these games were designed for consoles and on-screen touch buttons without haptic feedback can’t keep up with the precision of its predecessors. Anyway, I am happy to see that some developers like RQL still want to project the jump and run spirit onto the mobile gaming world. So does Tusonic with publishing “Pixel Shon Adventure”. Off we go!

This scene should be accompanied by … One Direction.

Full Retro Jacket

“Pixel Shon Adventure” covers itself in the cloak of the glorious 8-bit era. The catchy beepy soundtrack shows a great variety, the charming pixel graphics run like a golden thread through the game and the scenario (Knights! Castles! Skeletons!) radiates the warmth and comfort of past times.

Well, if we stop to see things through rose-colored glasses (just for a second!), we’ll surely remember the terrible walking and jumping animations of games like Super Mario Bros. or Prince of Persia. Thank God Tusonic is stretching the retro truth at this point and adjusts the controls to the contemporary taste and the users’ expectation of 2017.

Major Pros, Minor Cons

There are, indeed, a few things to discuss, but I can ensure you all, that these are just minor flaws, that can be easily iron out. Let’s take the background graphics for example (see screenshot below). Oh, you didn’t identify them as background graphics? Well, neither did I. Actually, I clicked the fight button a dozen times (trying to open, destroy or move something) but nothing happened. Maybe it would be better if the background actually looks like a background.

Secondly – and this is a thing that actually bothered me a lot, although it’s just a minor thing – the game has to STOP showing the level selection after each and every death. I know, it’s just one single additional click and you’re back on track, but it’s so completely unnecessary and slows the game down in an unpleasing and absolutely pointless way. Please let me respawn immediately! Why would you replay stage 1, 2 or 3, if you try to master the fourth stage? It would only make a bit of sense to replay old stages, if there were some achievements or a rating system (which might be a good choice either way).

The castle’s living room.

The Verdict

“Pixel Shon Adventure” is a great retro jump and run game with a slight, but appropriate contemporary touch. Download the game here.

All pictures are in-game screenshots.