The Branch
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Release Date: May 28^th, 2015
Developers: Ketchapp
Publishers: Apple Inc.
Platforms: iOS
Genre: Arcade
Players: 1
Rating: 8.5/10

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Synopsis

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Stay on the branch as long as you can!

Tap the screen to rotate the world and keep Mike safe.

Get higher scores and collect gems to unlock new characters.

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Gameplay

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The Branch is an addictive arcade game like no other. Ketchapp manages to make all of their games feel similar, yet be completely different, and this game is no exception. The aim of this game is to last for as long as you can running on the branch. The branch is an infinite line of cubes that you run along, there are other branches growing out of all 4 sides, you must change the side you are running on to avoid hitting one of the smaller branches. This is a very different game that I have never seen before, along the branch there are crystals and you can collect to increase your score and to spend on new characters. There is also a purple crystal that you can grab along the way, this will reverse the way that you move around the branch until you collect another one of these purple crystals. The gameplay in this game can get quite intense as you have to make split second decisions on whether or not to move around the branch, if you hit a branch you don't die immediately, but as the path behind you is falling down it will very quickly catch up to you. There are also some situations that you cant make your way out of no matter what you do, as moving onto another side that has a branch right in front of you will push you off the side and cause you to lose. To play well at this game and to get high scores you need to be able to recognise these situations and be able to calculate which moves you need to do when.

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Graphics

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The graphics in this game are 3D, but also 2D in a way. The branch is made up of 3D cubes, but it seems 2D as they all appear to be single images, there is no depth to the sides or extra detail. One thing I like about the graphics is how the crystals bob up and down no matter which side of the branch they are on, and a player who has played some of Ketchapp's other games will recognise them from some of the other games. Another thing that is nice about the graphics in this game is the way that the different sides of the branch are shaded, the base color is an orangey color but each different angle of the branch is colored lighter or darker to represent a light source shining upon it. Overall the graphics in this game are very similar to many of Ketchapp's other games, simple, and very attractive.

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Audio

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The audio and sound effects in this game are simple, but also suit the game and its different events very nicely. The game makes a distinct, high pitched almost squeaking like sound every time you tap on the screen to move around the branch. When your path is blocked by a branch and you bump into it, not only does it bounce you away a tiny bit, but every time it does there is a quiet but obvious drumming sound almost to let you know that you need to do something quick to avoid losing. One other sound that you hear while playing is the sound that plays when you pick up the crystals, picking up the purple crystal that reverses the way you move plays a techno sounding, boomy sound, like something you would hear from Portal 2. The regular crystals play a strange sound that sound like a bubble being popped, I would have expected it to sound like an accomplishment.

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Controls

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The controls in this game are pretty much as simple as they can get, all you have to do is tap anywhere on the screen to move around the branch. The controls themselves are easy to use, but it is how you use them and how well you use them. Being able to realize when you will have to do certain moves and having the reaction time and reflexes to do those moves before it is too late is crucial if you want to get high scores. I do like how in a lot of these new games you only need to use one finger to do everything you would need to in the game, this increases the time and number of places you would be able to play the game which makes it more popular.

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Rating

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Gameplay - 9/10
Graphics - 9/10
Audio - 8.5/10
Controls - 8.5/10
Overall - /10