Joe Danger

Gooooooo Joe!

Posted 2 years ago By - Jay Acevedo

So I had never heard of Hello Games and their first title, Joe Danger, up until recently and to be honest, once I knew that it was a motorcycle stunt game a la Excitebike/Trials HD, my curiosity increased to a point where I felt the need to run to my console and get it. After a few hours of playing this game, I felt like I could have missed on something big had I not stumbled on the freshman developer. Not as big as in AAA or Game of the Year type of title, but more as a collective effort (in this case, a four man development team) that needs to get the praise it deserves from the industry.

Let me introduce you to Joe Danger.

The story is quite simple. You play as Joe, a motorcycle stuntman who lost its popularity after a near-fatal accident. Looking to regain his place among the best of the best, he needs your help to bring him to the top. While the story will quickly become second fiddle in the whole scheme of things, the addictiveness of its gameplay is what makes Joe Danger shine among the rest of the games available on PSN. Matter of fact, there’s no game like this one on Sony’s digital service so its arrival is more than welcomed.

For those who haven’t played last year’s XBLA hit Trials HD (but I’m sure you’ve all heard about ExciteBike), the goal of the game is simple: drive from point A to point B as fast you can while executing acrobatic moves and avoiding falls and some of the hazards that you’ll find in your way. Complete level objectives (ex: spelling the word DANGER or get to the finish line under the time limit) to earn special stars which you will then use to unlock new levels and advance further in the 10 chapter story mode.

Controls are responsive and moves are easy to pull-off and while the difficulty increases after each level, the sense of frustration never gets to you. Actually, I found the game to be a tad easier than Trials HD, but that doesn’t mean that the game loses any of its quality in the long run. When fun is mixed with replayability, there are very few reasons to complain. Speaking of replayability, you will get to see how well your friends have performed at the end of each level via the online leaderboard. Just like Trials HD before it, Joe Danger pushes you to replay the same level over and over again for bragging rights. Say what you want to say but if you have a small bit of competitiveness in your gamer soul, you won’t stand to see your friend leading and not doing anything about it. For those who haven’t connected their consoles online (PSN is free…for now), the game features two player local head-to-head play via split-screen.

To add even more craziness to your experience, Joe Danger features a track editor, which allows not only to create levels but also to share them online with your friends. It may not be as deep as what Trials HD offers but it’s actually way easier thanks to a fun and interactive tutorial mode. Those with the creative minds will spend hours putting together some of the most crazy race tracks.

Unfortunately, just like Trials HD, there’s no way for you to upload your creations for the world to enjoy, so you’ll have to rely on sharing with your friends.

Conclusion

Joe Danger arrives on the gaming landscape as a refreshing experience despite its strong resemblances with other titles in the genre. It’s cartoony visuals, bright colors and intuitive gameplay makes it a worth-checking out title. And at a $10 price tag, this is certainly one of the few great titles PSN has to offer. You won’t be disappointed.