Save Betsy

Save Betsy – Can cows fly? Apparently not but they can hurl poo and bounce!

In a total Doodle Jump rip off, let me introduce you to Save Betsy. You are tasked with the seemingly endless challenge of jumping from platform to platform upwards. Armed with cowpats, your comical ascent is only made difficult by the moving obstacles (meat grinders etc.) which litter your path. To clear the way, tap the screen and watch the brown stuff fly!

Movement is a simple tilt of the iPod from left to right. Moving it gently and Betsy will bounce gracefully (well, as gracefully as a hopping cow can) in that direction. Move the handset more vigorously and your Betsy will be boinging like a mad cow virtually horizontally!

As with these platform jumping style games, it’s very simplistic. Some platforms are firm, others will give way after one touch, others will give way before you even get to bounce off them (usually resulting in your a cow patty!) Likewise, it’s not just judging your angle in your climb upwards but also judging the timing (especially when platforms move from left to right or up and down).

In a way to keep the levels progressively more unpredictable, you will find little objects which will help you on the way. Springs propel you upwards, helicopters will give you a helpful lift too! Disguises (either a haystack or a horse) will help you avoid being captured and ending up as a burger.

The game is pretty addictive and does certainly offer some light relief. It’s also pretty amusing watching poor old Betsy tumble to the ground when you miss the platform and come crashing down. Most impressively are some rather obscure facts which you can learn about our bovine friends; like a cow can drink a bathtub of water in a day! These factoids make the bitter pill of defeat easier to swallow and also improve the addictive quality of the game.

Overall, if you appreciate these platform styled games, you will certainly find this title well worth playing. However, if you have Doodle Jump or another one of these sorts of games, I would struggle to see any real difference that would make you want to add this to the collection as nothing really different sets it apart.

Rating 70%

Positives

Good fun

Responsive controls

Highly addictive

Interesting facts about cows

Negatives

Doesn’t really offer anything new

Very repetitive

The frustration could result in a flying iPod!