We review Project Secret, the brand new mobile game by indie developer Quadrant Games…
Find out why you should play this puzzle platformer, and why it’s a real throwback to the glory days of mobile games.
Download Project Secret for free
Transcript
Hey how’s it going guys! This is Tom from UDS and welcome to our review of Project Secret, a new mobile game by indie developer Quadrant Games, who are sponsoring this video. But fret not, they were cool enough to let us make a totally honest and fair review, so don’t worry, we’re not corporate shills just yet. We’ll still give you the lowdown on everything you need to know before you play. Finally before I start, if you’re a fan of all things video games, make sure to join our Discord and of course subscribe here for more reviews and features every single week. You’re not going to want to miss it.
Do you remember a time when mobile games were, y’know, games? Cast your mind back a decade or so, and everyone’s iPhone (or iPod Touch if you were a poor teenager like me) was chock full of the likes of TapTap Revenge, Doodle Jump, Jetpack Joyride, not to mention a bunch of ports of console games. But over the years, the market became flooded with free to play cash grabbers, and most developers just pulled their titles from the app stores.
And if you ask me, this is a real shame, as I have massively fond memories of a lot of those titles, and with the immense processing power of a lot of phones nowadays, a lot of people have a potential games console sitting in their pocket, without them even realising it.
That’s why it was heartening to see Quadrant Games release Project Secret. A real throwback to those halcyon days of mobile gaming, it looks to combine platforming with puzzle solving and competitive multiplayer. But does it deliver, or has the time of mobile games truly come to an end? Watch on to find out…
Starting with gameplay, it takes the classic 2D platforming foundation of racing from one end of the map to the other, while sprinkling in some nifty features that definitely help it to stand out. If you’ve come across a puzzle in any platformer before, you’re more than likely come across it here.
Beyond mere obstacles like spinning saw blades and lasers, there’s also gravity and physics puzzles, time limits and other challenges that can lead to some genuinely tense moments. The variety keeps everything feeling fresh over the 200+ different levels you have to navigate.
Each stage focuses on a different discipline you’ll have to master. Some will test your reflexes, others your lateral thinking and some just your mental endurance. It can get super addictive replaying the same level trying to beat your previous score, and it’s really satisfying figuring out the trickier puzzles.
With that being said, the touch screen controls can be a little bit fiddly. You have translucent buttons on each side of the screen that you use to move left and right, and jump and crouch. I did quickly get used to them, but I couldn’t shake the feeling everything would be a bit nicer with a traditional controller.
However, there’s plenty of perks and upgrades to help give the advantage on the harder stages. This adds a pretty nice RPG element, as you can boost your stats to play the way that suits you. There are quite a few menus to navigate, which can be a little overwhelming at first, but if you’ve played any popular RPG game before, you’ll pretty much know what to expect. You can also unlock a swathe of colourful characters, including Two Tone Tony, allowing us to finally play as a real life Upside Down Shark!
Just don’t expect much in the way of story to go along with your roleplaying. Gameplay definitely takes priority over any elaborate plot, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. I found the most fun to be had in short bursts, playing the odd level whenever I could, rather than sinking hours into an extended session. Perfect for the mobile gaming experience.
There’s a multiplayer made that does look pretty cool too. You compete in real time against opponents, where you race to get the highest score, while sabotaging each other’s run with gadgets and power ups. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to find a game during my review time, so please let me know your experience with the multiplayer in the comments below.
Project Secret is a true throwback mobile game in the best possible way. It’ll win you over with slick and intuitive gameplay, and keep you coming back thanks to plenty of variety. While it does offer in-app purchases, they’re absolutely not necessary to find hours of enjoyment, and this review is based on the vanilla version found in the app store; we didn’t have any extra loot thrown our way.
It does have a few rough edges as you would expect of a game from a small studio, but my only real issue is the controls. I really hope Project Secret can find a home on the Nintendo Switch in future, as having a real analog stick and buttons to press will make all the difference when mastering the tricker courses. A man can dream, a man can dream.
And that’s a wrap on my review of Project Secret. We’ll put a link to download it for free in the comments below, and if you do check it out, let me know what you think of it in the comments below. Of course, don’t forget to hit subscribe for more reviews and features every single week. My name is Tom and I’ll see you next time.
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