Jetpack Joyride 2 is fun, fast-paced spectacle filled with cartoon violence and colorful explosions.
Jetpack Joyride 2 is the first game by Halfbrick Studios that was specifically made for the Apple Arcade subscription service. You may recognize the studio name as the first Jetpack Joyride is quite a classic, but they are probably far better known as the ones behind Fruit Ninja. Now, while Jetpack Joyride 2 is not quite as visceral as Fruit Ninja, it is a fun game you can easily sink tons of hours into.
You play as the ludicrously named Barry Steakfries as he zips around the screen on his bullet-powered jetpack. Think of the basic gameplay as being a combination of an endless runner and Flappy Bird. You press the screen to jetpack your way into the air, and you then naturally come down with gravity, and so it is a single-input game, which makes it a very accessible thing that anyone can get into very easily.
One of the quirks of the jetpack in Jetpack Joyride 2 is that it also shoots downwards whenever you jet your way into the air. This has limited functionality as it effectively shoots possible enemies who can no longer harm you, but there is still XP to be had! The main means of attacking is an endless, automatic attack that shoots forward while you pilot Barry.
The main thing you need to do in Jetpack Joyride 2 is dodge and make sure that you orient yourself in the right position to shoot your enemies. It is very mindless and quite an addictive experience. Do not expect incredible gameplay complexity from the people who brought the world Fruit Ninja. But that is not a disparaging comment. It may not be complex, but Jetpack Joyride 2 is fun. It’s fun.
In the second-to-second gameplay, you only ever have to focus on that one thing. Just avoid enemy attacks and missiles, line yourself up to hit your enemies, and try to collect as many coins and power-ups as you can. All of this is tied to that one screen press. And some of these power-ups are things like new weapons that can devastate your foes or special vehicles.
The vehicles are timed power-ups that constantly lose health, but you can lose even more health by getting hit, so they need to be used effectively for maximum impact. These vehicles are absolute beasts on the battlefield, and they light the screen up in a glorious spectacle of cartoon violence. Plus, there are various vehicles to unlock, from a big mech to a flying saucer.
However, that is not all this game is. It probably could be that alone and would be great, but the developers have seen fit to add in a whole other system.
Between levels, you can permanently upgrade the pickups you can find, your health, and the strength of your weapons. You can also definitely tell that the game comes from a mobile background because numerous currencies are tied to various types of upgrading, but do not fear, for this is an Apple Arcade game. That means that Jetpack Joyride 2 has no microtransactions whatsoever. You simply get to enjoy the fun, silly, fast-paced gameplay without having to sit around and hope that you can play without dealing with a microtransaction pop-up.
Jetpack Joyride 2 gives you lots of customizability. There are all sorts of outfits and weapons to acquire, things to upgrade, and also The Factory. The Factory is a little slice of Fallout Shelter slapped into the middle of an endless runner game. Between missions, you can research various things in your R&D lab, gain passive income for upgrades, and even ward off the occasional random attack from a monster. It’s a little strange at first, as you go in expecting a straight-up runner shooter, but instead, find a mini-shelter experience there too.
But it’s really just more stuff crammed into an already crammed game. Jetpack Joyride 2 is bang for your buck. If you’ve enjoyed what Apple Arcade has to offer so far, this is just more for you to enjoy. At present, there are only three main areas, and there are a large number of missions within each of them, but more are set to come. Many games on Apple Arcade receive constant updates to add more levels, and this is one such game.
If you enjoy Jetpack Joyride 2 and become invested in it, there’s an incentive to keep it installed on your mobile device, as new updates will bring new areas for you to fight your way through. However, because of the type of game it is, it would probably be enjoyable to simply replay any of the levels. And if that isn’t your speed, then there is an arcade mode for you to enjoy.
Jetpack Joyride 2 has everything you’d typically want out of a mobile game. It’s fun, fast-paced, and doesn’t waste your time. So, jump into the zany action and have yourself a good time!
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