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Major Magnet is not the most observant of superheroes. In a humorously animated intro
sequence, he's so happy just flying around the city, that he doesn't notice the dastardly
Colonel Lastin pulling up alongside him to steal his cape, which sends the Major plummeting
to the depths below. Luckily another specialty of our intrepid hero is the power of magnetism
(in the literal sense, not the charismatic one). What follows is a series of small levels
in which you use Major's magnet to fly around nodes, collecting gems, and trying to reach
the black hole that symbolizes travel to the next stage.
Major Magnet exudes polish. From the crisp cartoon visuals, to the all too catchy stage
music, to the Major's logo while the level loads. This game feels like the total package.
Of course that is all for naught if it doesn't play well, but fears of that should be put
aside. The level begins by touching a node, engaging the magnet power, sending the Major
spinning around it collecting gems. Touching another nearby node will transfer your orbit,
and turning the node off by tapping it will result in the Major speeding in that arced
direction. You also have a boost at your disposal, that is engaged by swiping the screen and
this is good for re-adjusting your travel plans on the fly (as it were). Each level
ends by entering the black hole, and a medal is awarded for how many gems were collected
(and if you were able to keep the score multiplier going), and whether you acquired the tasty
baked good hidden in each stage.
As the levels get more complex, multiple pathways will open up, encouraging more exploration
of the mechanics (especially if you want to find the baked goods). The gems can be used
to buy things in the store, but nothing sold there is imperative to the game. Items include
puzzle pieces which unlock bonuses (which apparently can be found hidden in game), and
power-ups such as the ability to freeze the Major in his tracks, allowing some thought
regarding your next move.
The only real negative is that on older devices, there are some framerate issues that can screw
up your magnet arc shots, but it's not a regular occurrence. The levels are bite-sized due
to the platform, but because the mechanics are so enjoyable, it would have been nice
to have much larger stages to play around in. Perhaps it's the fact that they're quick
that stops the game from wearing out its welcome, but as depressing as the endless runner genre
has become, playing with mechanics like these in that field might be a lot of fun.
Back on topic, Major Magnet is a heck of a lot of fun. The high production value coupled
with such enjoyable mechanics and clever level design result in an easy to recommend game
that should have you playing till completion, and perhaps even to perfect each level.