Kubrik review

Kubrik is a platformer where you control a cube with a variety of ‘tools’ to help you move around and your goal is to rescue your friends in this world of colorful stages, colorful ‘enemies’ and strangely familiar graphics. Released by QWRKii, Kubrik is available in the AppStore as a universal app for $1.99 and a Lite version.

I don’t know what it is; something about Kubrik reminds me of something. I GOT IT! Look at the screen caps and think of a combination of Little Big Planet and Katamari Damacy. The low poly objects, the ridiculously weird characters, the backgrounds that look like paper cut outs, and the side scrolling platformer that has unique design elements and challenges that teaches you a slew of different game elements. Ok, so the resemblance is probably personal to me, but that definitely gives Kubrik a good start in my eyes.

You tilt the phone and tap tools like wheels, helicopter blades, jet packs or parachutes. Managing them carefully is a big challenge but it’s not impossible to get through each level on the first try. The game has an almost relaxed cartoony feel. Giant penguins that really resemble a sleepy Totoro or a caterpillar that strongly resembles “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” storybook.

The platforming challenges, the level design, and the basic gameplay controls are all quite good. Sometimes a platform forces you to toggle a tool on and off just to navigate past it, others having you frantically toggling back and forth just to not fall into a spikey death or just falling into oblivion. Kubrik is very well designed and plays smoothly. The 3D graphics are charmingly simple and the use of colors give this an almost melodramatic feel… I don’t know how to properly explain it, but the color choices and character designs are more for adults, but the theme still comes off as kid friendly.

I don’t know what more to say. There is a Lite version and that means you can try it risk free. Go for it. This is an app that makes me feel relaxed yet works my mind. I hope Kubrik becomes one of the top apps because the developer really made an excellent game. And it’s excellent because it uses simplicity extremely well and on purpose. That makes all the difference in the world.

Here is a video demo of the Kubrik app on the iPhone

AppSafari Rating: 5/5

AppSafari review of Kubrik was written by Joseph Ho on January 7th, 2011 and categorized under App Store, Featured, Fun, Games, Platformer. Page viewed 4356 times, 1 so far today. Need help on using these apps? Please read the Help Page.