As its name suggests, Endless Surf is pretty much an endless runner with a whole lot more water involved. If you’re looking for a true to life surfing sim, complete with realistic board dynamics and the like, you’re going to be disappointed. But if you can look past that, Endless Surf is a giant wave of fun.
Category: iOS Games
Works With: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Price: $0.99
Like any endless runner, your goal is to keep going for as long as possible, while simultaneously notching up the highest score you can. In your path are various power-ups — in this case including one that turns the weather temporarily stormy, therefore increasing the size of your wave —as well as an array of obstacles to negotiate. These are mainly made up of buoys and menacing shark fins, but the real threat is the constantly advancing wall of water breaking behind you. Move too slowly and you’ll get swallowed up — leading to the inevitable “Wipe Out” screen. Move fast enough and, over time, you’ll be able to customize your character and complete the various stages the game has to offer.
- Controls are simple and straightforward. Since you’re being driven along by an external force (think a platformer where the platforms are moving underneath you), it makes sense that you’d have a bit less control over your character than in other similar games. You control whether your character moves up or down on the wave and, a bit like Flappy Bird, it will take you a while to adapt to the trajectory/lead time you need to ensure that you hit specific targets. Occasionally you can take your character airborne, and this lets you string together combinations of different tricks for extra points.
A little bogus, but still a gnarly way to shred that’s sure to leave you stoked.
Beyond that, there’s not much to say about Endless Surf. It’s perhaps not a game that will keep you coming back to it time and again, but it’s a fun package, with an entertaining Beach Boys-style soundtrack, eye-pleasing graphics, and a pick-up-and-play feel that takes a second to learn but much longer to master. If you’ve played its predecessor Bobble Surfer you’ll know what to expect, but even if you haven’t it’s hard to think that endless runner fans won’t get something out of this.
If you’ve been searching for a good surf game for iOS, this one may be a little bogus, but it’s still a gnarly way to shred that’s sure to leave you stoked. (Provided this “surf slang” page has given me the right terminology, that is.)
Game Name: Endless Surf The Good: An endless runner with a fresh new skin. Perhaps not groundbreaking, but a whole lot of fun nonetheless. The Bad: Those looking for a realistic surf sim may be disappointed. Can get repetitive after a while. The Verdict: From graphics to gameplay, a well-executed package. If you’ve been searching for a decent arcade-style surf game for iOS, Kahuna (the Hawaiian god of sun, sand, and surf) has answered your prayers. Buy from: App Store |