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An Endless Runner That’s Endless Fun - Chiki’s Chase Review

4K View2022-09-24

In the free-to-play mobile games era, we’ve all become accustomed to lengthy signups, being bombarded with endless ads, aggressive monetization, and having to be in a high-speed Wi-Fi zone just to play the game we downloaded. Occasionally, though, we get a game that skips all that crap and reminds us that above everything else, a game should be fun, straightforward, and easy to play anytime, anywhere. Along comes Chiki’s Chase, a high-speed action platformer that cuts to the chase (see what I did there?) and shows just how great a game can be when the developer values entertainment and fun over its monetization.

Created by indie developer Dvdfu, Chiki’s Chase is an endless runner that reminded me of the good ol’ days of zoning out in front of my SNES. The look and feel of the game is retro through and through. From the funky chiptune beats to the pixelated environments, Chiki’s Chase is a sight to behold.

Even the sound effects of gathering coins or shooting at enemies brought a sense of childhood nostalgia. I could tell that the developer put a lot of attention into capturing the look and feel of classic games without ripping them off.

It’s not just how it looks and sounds, though; the gameplay is solid as well. Chiki’s Chase plays as an endless runner where the goal is to see how long you can last before dying. The longer you last, the higher your score, but as you run, you’ll be blitzed by an onslaught of obstacles, enemies, pitfalls, and traps. You can decide how you’d like to deal with these foes. I found it best to avoid enemies most of the time, but at other times I just blasted my way through.

Chiki’s Chase is not easy by any means. My best score was around 1100M. The further you travel, the harder it becomes, and what's worse is that if you die, you need to start from the very beginning. The obstacles are generated randomly, which means no run is the same. This, of course, adds an addictive element.

It was so easy to restart a run or do just one more, because I kept thinking, “Okay, this time I’m going to break my record.” The further I went, the more I was encouraged to keep going. A bonus was that the gameplay on my iPhone 13 was seamless. Chiki responded to my commands without any lag time or awkward pauses while I manically tapped at my screen.

To help with the runs, you'll come across shops that will provide useful upgrades and abilities for Chiki. The upgrades can be anything from slowing the enemies down as you run to extra firepower or extra jumps for Chiki. You’re only allotted a certain number of upgrades that can be held in the character upgrade slots, so you’ll need to strategize on which upgrades you’ll select or want to replace for your run. What the shops have is randomly generated but usually always contains an additional health item you can buy with in-game currency. The shops play a key role in the success of your run. I always prioritized items that provided extra health or would protect me if I happened to fall off a ledge. These items only last a single run, though, so when I died...I lost all of my upgrades.

Unlockable hidden characters provide an incentive for longer runs. I unlocked Ronnie, a deceptively dangerous cat that uses close-range claws to slash away at enemies. Small details like this switch up the gameplay in Chiki's Chase and prevent it from becoming dull. You can also unlock new costumes so that your chosen character has a fresh new look. This is where monetization comes into play. For $3.99, you get access to gems at a rate of one gem for every 10m you travel. You can spend gems to unlock new costumes and extra upgrade slots for your character.

So, although most things are free-to-play in Chiki's Chase, you might consider purchasing the extra slots available to upgrade your character as you get further along in your runs. For a game with this level of detail and no ads, the monetization felt more than fair. However, even if you don’t pay, Chiki’s Chase still provides a high-speed, thrilling adventure.

Chiki’s Chase is a great endless runner that can easily get addictive very quickly. It manages to avoid the trap of repetitiveness by adding some cool mechanics, costumes, and incentives that add to the enjoyment. The retro vibe and catchy music brought me back to the day. This is a clear example of a game that offers a lot without being greedy or annoying in its monetization.

SCORE: 4 STARS OUT OF 5

PLAY IF YOU LIKE:

• Ninja Chowdown. Chiki's Chase has a lot in common with this title. Running and dodging enemies is the name of the game, and if you read my review, you know I also thought it was a gem. So, if you liked this game, give Chiki's Chase a try.

• Temple Run. If you like running and avoiding objects in the classic Temple Run, you'll probably like Chiki's Chase.

• Retro-style games. Chiki's Chase feels like you're playing a game on the Super Nintendo. If that sounds good to you, go and play Chiki's Chase right now.

💬 Did you enjoy playing Chiki's Chase? And what is your favorite game where you're running or being chased? Let me know!

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