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1-bit Ninja Remix Rush

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1-bit Ninja Remix Rush

1-bit Ninja Remix Rush is the sort of game you play hunched over your iPhone, leaning into the screen, fingers clenched on your smartphone, eyes afraid to blink.

It's a rock-hard endless runner, every bit as unforgiving as its Game Boy-styled platforming predecessor 1-bit Ninja.

Despite the change of genre, the controls are the same - you push down on the left side of the screen to move forward, and tap the right to jump.

It's a weird scheme - it's not an auto-runner like most of these games, but you also aren't give full control over your movements because you can't run left (unless you hit a spring), or shift your position in mid-air.

Bit tricky

But you can stop to wait for the right timing, or just to catch your breath. You end up moving to a nervous stop-start beat, anxious to run forward but cautious of the next gauntlet of threats. It's a feel that's unique to the game.

You can't stand still forever, though. The game also features a ticking timer that will spell game over if it hits zero. You need to collect bits to reverse the clock, which forces you to take dangerous paths.

All this means that this is not a game for those accustomed to endless runners with extra chances, paid-for boosts, multiple lives, or even a gradual difficultly curve.

Don't rush

It throws you into the fray and then looks on with indifference as you dodge arrows, narrowly avoid enemies, and pounce over chasms. It's cruel and it's slightly unfair, and that just makes it more satisfying when you do well.

It's not a perfect game though. It's hard to bounce on enemy heads, for instance, and not being able to run left can leave you completely scuppered if you don't think ahead. Having to dive into menus to find your high score is silly, too.

But this is an addictive, finely-tuned, toothy and twitchy endless runner for those who fancy a serious challenge and enjoy games like Super Hexagon. Everyone else should probably steer clear.

1-bit Ninja Remix Rush

1-bit Ninja Remix Rush is an unrelenting and unforgiving challenge, and the perfect antidote to toothless endless runners
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Mark Brown
Mark Brown
Mark Brown is editor at large of Pocket Gamer