Pillar Hop!: Hopping Good Fun – Review

Pillar Hop!, like so many other free games, seeks to get a lot of mileage out of a few solid mechanics – and in this respect it is largely successful. It’s a laid-back, pillar-traversing experience that plays smoothly… But in this reviewer’s opinion, it just doesn’t do enough to be worthy of a lasting place on your phone.

The game consists of swiping your finger back toward your avatar to plan the trajectory of your jump, and releasing to set them off on their course. In this way you can hop from pillar to pillar, and you can accrue an even bigger score by skipping pillars – but take care that you don’t lose focus of guaranteeing a safe landing or take risky jumps to collect gems, the game’s premium currency. After all, they may be strewn throughout the level, but the game will also give generous gem payouts once in awhile after you conclude an attempt… And this makes collecting enough for a new avatar rather trivial.

In fact, the game seems to be aware of its status as a transient diversion because there is very little impetus to invest in the game at all. Apart from chasing high scores and earning new costumes there is little progression to Pillar Hop!, and most players will surely feel their interest in the game flagging after they’ve mastered its limited mechanics. If you’re not one to play or cycle out your phone games often it can certainly fill the pick-up-and-play arcade niche for you, but any iOS gamer willing to do a little more digging is sure to find a free alternative with a bit more staying power after a few minutes scanning the appstore.

One advantage that may push Pillar Hop! over the top for some gamers is its lack of active threats; though falling off the bottom of the stage will kill you and pillars will shudder and fall should you take too long to plan your trajectory, there are no baddies or projectiles to speak of. This makes the game ideal for arcade-lovers who desire a simple, chilled-out experience to kill time between engagements.

But with the exception of that caveat, for most Pillar Hop! is a competent if uncomplicated arcade experience that can be had in the palm of your hand, and though it’s lacking in engaging new content beyond the first twenty minutes or so, you could certainly do far worse!