My new favorite iOS game is an auto-runner where you throw pinballs at glass obstacles to see how long you can last before you run out of balls. In the iOS/Android freebie, Smash Hit, you float through a gorgeously futuristic and ever-changing landscape trying to survive the ever-present threat of obstacles getting in your way while enjoying beautifully synchronized music.
On the surface, it’s a simple game. You have a “first-person” view of yourself floating through a landscape. You have zero control of your speed or direction, almost like you’re on a rollercoaster with no tracks. The only thing you have to worry about is clicking the screen in order to throw pinballs to either shatter glass obstacles, break gems which give you more balls, or hit buttons that open doors to allow you to continue unscathed. If you’re unfortunate enough to slam into an obstacle, you’ll drop a bunch of your pinballs. The name of the game is to survive as long as you can before your stock of balls is depleted.
There are also power-ups along the way that, when hit with a ball, allow you to either throw unlimited balls in rapid succession for a short period of time, slow down time, and more. You can also earn multi-ball throws by hitting 10 gems in a row, all the way up to 5 balls at once for the price of one. The music is also synchronized with the gameplay, so if you use the “slow time” power-up, the music slows down as well. And each new stage has its own melodic soundtrack. The physics are also some of the best I’ve seen so far in mobile apps and games.
Smash HitVideo Look
For gameplay video, check out the launch trailer from developers, Mediocre:
Check out Smash Hit for free on both the Apple Store and Google Play Store. You can also purchase Smash Hit Premium as an in-app purchase for $1.99, which gives you the option to restart from checkpoints, allows your saves to sync to iCloud, and gives you access to gameplay statistics.