Geometry Dash
| Geometry Dash | |
|---|---|
 Geometry Dash icon | |
| Developer(s) | Robert Topala |
| Publisher(s) | RobTop Games |
| Distributor(s) |
Apple App Store Google Play Store Windows App Store Steam Amazon App Store |
| Platform(s) | iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Microsoft Windows, OS X |
| Release date(s) |
iOS, Android August 13, 2013 Steam December 22, 2014 |
| Genre(s) | Arcade, Music, Platformer |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Geometry Dash is a 2013 mobile game and Steam game developed by Sweden-based developer Robert Topala, and published by his own company RobTop Games. It is a rhythm-based running game which currently has 20 levels. Each level features unique background music. Other features of the game include a level editor, map packs, user-created levels, secret coins, and a great variety of icons and game modes, as well as user coins and a secret vault in the latest versions.
Gameplay
Geometry Dash uses a simple tapping/clicking system to control different vehicles that react when a player presses anywhere on the touchscreen (space/up key(s) or mouse if playing on the Steam version) and can be held down to constantly interact (on some vehicles). Users cannot control the speed at which the icon is moving, the only way to change velocity is touching a speed changing portal. The timing and rhythm of the in-game music are key parts of the game, often in relation to each other.
The object of the game is to complete a level by reaching the end of it; however, if the player dies to an obstacle, they will have to start over from the beginning.[1] All levels (with the exception of three in the full version) are unlocked from the start, so they can be played out of order. Along the way, the player can collect up to three secret coins in each official level, which are scattered in either hidden or challenging areas.
The icon can take up to six separate forms, which behave differently with each interaction.[1] Forms themselves can be changed with six separate portals, while the behaviour of these forms can be changed further with portals that transform the icon into a miniature version of itself, additionally, another type of portal will enter a mode where two vehicles exist with opposite gravities,, the vehicle can travel at 4 different speeds and travel with normal or inverted gravity, plus there are portals that mirror the view, additionally, there is a portal that duplicates the vehicle, they can be controlled in 2 ways: separately (2 player) or at the same time (in 2 player mode, the 2 icons can be at the same gravity or in different gravity). All of this features give a variety of ways to play the game.
Achievements
The game features achievements, these can be unlocked in several ways, such as: getting a certain number of stars, completing certain Demon-rated levels, completing official levels, adding friends, liking or disliking online levels, rating custom levels, etc.; plus secret achievements unlocked though undisclosed means.
By unlocking achievements, the player is rewarded with certain icons or colors, where they access the Icon Kit to customize their icon. The player can also unlock other customization features, namely a selection of trails behind icons and a secondary color glow around the icon's black border.[2]
Game levels
Geometry Dash features 20 official levels, 17 of which are playable from the start. Each level has rewards when completing them.[1] 3 Secret Coins can be found in each official level, for a total of 60, these secret coins unlock 3 secret levels: 10 unlock Clubstep, 20 unlock Theory of Everything 2, and 30 unlock Deadlocked.
The levels start out very plainly decorated, but as the levels get more difficult, part of the difficulty comes from distracting decorations and flashing, rotating, pulsing, and even invisible obstacles and background elements.[2] This is not actually an intended gameplay feature; as more updates are made to the game, more blocks and features are added alongside more levels, with the new features being integrated into these levels.
Levels are classified by difficulty, from Easy (or Auto if the level is user-created) to Demon; in order of the levels' addition to the game, somewhat but not completely in order of difficulty.
The stars represent the difficulty and the number of stars the player gets when completing that level. Also, official levels are worth more stars than custom levels. For example, Demon levels are rated 14 (as in Clubstep and Theory of Everything 2) and 15 stars (as in Deadlocked) for official levels, but only 10 stars for the custom ones.
Geometry Dash has a practice mode that can be used for any level. Checkpoints are available in this mode, allowing for restarting at checkpoints instead of the very beginning.[2] These checkpoints are marked by green, diamond-shaped gems, resembling those from The Sims series.
The lengths of the main levels in the game range from 1:22 to 1:42 minutes.
Custom levels
With the addition of the level editor, owners of the full version of Geometry Dash can create their own unique levels with up to 3 user coins in each level which need to be confirmed by RobTop for being valid. Silver/Confirmed user coins are used to get the vault and other icons, including ones typed into the vault. The player must be able to complete his own level with all coins in normal mode in order to ensure that it is actually possible to beat. These levels can either have the same music already in the game or custom music from the Newgrounds website.[2]
Each user created level has a unique ID, which can be used to play the level without searching its name. As similar to the official levels, user-created levels are classified by difficulty, which is decided by RobTop or by players who rate a level's difficulty. Unlike official levels, they cannot be played offline unless they were previously downloaded. The saved levels are available at the "Saved" folder on the user level menu. In addition, users can create levels with varied lengths, from tiny (10 seconds or less) to Extra Long (2 minutes or more).
In custom levels 2 extra difficulties are added, NA (un-classified) and Auto (automatic level).
To get to the secret vault (which is located in the settings menu) players need to get ten silver user coins.
Development and Release
According to Robert Topala, the game Geometry Dash began as a project that could have moved in any direction. He made the remark, "There was really no detailed plan... it simply started as a template with a cube that could crash and jump.[3]" He previously developed it for the computer, but later altered his plan and made attempts to make it a mobile game. Topala was allegedly inspired by Super Mario Bros.-style platformers. He took about four months to create the game and take it to the App Store. In beta version, the game was called Geometry Jump, but it changed suddenly.
Upon its release, Geometry Dash had just seven levels, which are now currently free to play on the game's free version, alongside three other levels (Time Machine, Cycles and xStep). It would soon gain serious popularity around the world, especially Canada, where it achieved the title as the most popular paid iPhone app in June 2014.[4] There are two free versions of the game, one being "Geometry Dash Lite" which currently (as of update 2.1) includes the first 10 levels from the full version and "Geometry Dash Meltdown" which currently (as of update 1.0) includes 3 levels made to showcase the 2.0 features to the ones who don't have the full version. On 19 December 2015, RobTop released Geometry Dash Meltdown on iOS. [5]
References
- 1 2 3 "Geometry Dash Review". Softpedia. Andrei Dobra. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 "Geometry Dash Review". Bio Gamer Girl. E.J. Smith. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
- ↑ "Smart strategies fuel Geometry Dash’s slow jog to success". Cult Of Mac. Luke Dormehl. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
- ↑ "Geometry dash top paid app in Canada". Thestar.com. The Canadian Press. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
- ↑ "RobTopGames official account". Twitter. RobTopGames. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015.