Trace is one of those free games at the App Store that at first glance a lot of people might just pass on because of the simplistic art style. The game is completely free-handed and the animations are extremely simple but the gameplay is what makes Trace a joy to play. Think Line Rider with a controllable character.
Developer Bovinedragon Software’s first foray into App Store gaming is a solid effort. The game controls are straightforward. The iPhone/iPod touch is put into a landscape mode at all times to create more screen real estate for the platforming portion of the game. All of the controls are located at the bottom of the screen with the left and right character control arrows on the left side of the screen and the jump button all the way to the right. This small area doesn’t take up much of the screen plus the controls are mapped just like a basic gaming controller. A retry, back and draw/erase button are all located in this area as well.
The real treat you get from playing Trace comes from drawing portion of the game. The first stages give you a feel for what is being asked of you. Each stage starts with your character trying to get to a set goal. Everything in the middle is there to impede your progress. In some stages you are able to make it across without any drawing assistance. In other stages it is required of you to draw a new path in an attempt to avoid moving objects and various death traps. The drawing portion of the game responds very well and an eraser is included to fix any mistakes you may have made along the way. It is best to plan out your path ahead of time to avoid frustrations, running head first into any stage usually turns out to be a bad decision. Trace doesn’t give the player a set number of lives, you just keep on trying until you succeed. There are also some strategic timing areas that require nimble movements to proceed which brings in that good ole platformer feeling.
Trace is full of content including 6 worlds with 120 different stages to conquer. With this much content you will have your hands full for hours but there is also a timer in each stage to compete with yourself to add a bit of a replay value to the game. You could call this one of the downsides to the game but with 120 stages and the fact that it is free, I find it hard to complain about a replay value at all.
The art style is simplistic. When I first started playing the game I was actually turned off by how simple everything looked. Within a few minutes however I was hooked. The art style works very well by the developer creating wide variety of worlds to enjoy. With the 6 worlds varying between paint, plants, water, flame, chalk and space, it’s hard to get bored with the scenery.
The music and sound effects are entertaining at first but get boring after a lengthy playtime. The solution of course is to listen to your own music, you are playing on an iPhone/iPod touch after all.
Trace will keep you busy for hours on end. It’s challenging enough to keep you hooked but not so difficult that you want to throw your iPhone/iPod touch across the room. It’s one of those games that is hard to put down once you have started, I had that “just one more stage” feeling every time I finished a stage. Trace is one of the most entertaining free games available at the App Store at this time.
Overall: 8 out of 10
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Nice to see more good free games on the App Store.
Free = good.
Tyler, do you ever part from your iPhone?
To tell you the truth I only wish I owned an iPhone. I don’t want my cellphone bill to get any larger. I actually play all of these games on my iPod touch which is getting long in the tooth itself. If you want to support my “Tyler needs an iPhone foundation” just send me some money via paypal and I will get right on it!
In all seriousness I am extremely fond of mobile gaming due to time constraints. There are some gems out there, you just might want to pick up an iPod to play them.
I’ll get right on that “Tyler needs an iPhone foundation”. Haha
I hear you on the mobile gaming time constraints. My DS is kept in my inside suit pocket at all times, even at work, and I sit on a trading floor.
I don’t use the iPod because once that battery dies then life sucks. May pick one up though but I’m not sure if that will pass the recession test right now.
[...] Here’s my favorite example of a simple, yet profound game: Trace [...]
[...] Here’s my favorite example of a simple, yet profound game: Trace [...]
Does trace work with the old ipod touch or just the new one?
@Alicia – To answer your question, yes it does work on the old iPod touch. Actually, all of my App Store game reviews are done on the first generation iPod touch so you can rest assured that if you see an App Store game review on Loot Ninja written by me the game will work on the old iPod touch.
glad to see other fans of Trace around, great review too! Just wondered if you’d managed to get past what I consider to be the hardest level, 96 on Flame world? If you have, could you give me any tips please? Cheers Doc
@doc lok – Happy to hear you enjoyed the review! I actually was able to get by level 96. The best strategy is to create a whole bunch of small platforms to keep bouncing off of. Take off running when the wave of 4 flames that start from the bottom arrive, create a path over them, drop down and work you way back up and over the next set of 5 flames. If you get that far you should have an easy path to the finish before the waves start over. I hope that makes some sense! It takes a while but once you get a nice path set up from trial and error you fly right through it. Good luck!
how do you get past the last level on the plant land place???
Sure does look entertaining. Only thing is I don’t own any Apple product, but the iPod Touch is lookin’ good for me.