Don’t know when I’ll be back again (probably never)
By Angela Espinoza, Arts Editor
5/5
NimbleBit should be a household name to anyone who frequently plays iOS or Android games. The two-man team (co-found by David and Ian Marsh) behind NimbleBit skyrocketed to popularity last year with their hit game Tiny Tower. They’ve since struck gold again with Tiny Tower’s spiritual successor, Pocket Planes, released back in June.
Despite NimbleBit’s sizeable catalogue, it’s impossible not to compare these two games in particular. Both Tiny Tower and Pocket Planes share the same 8-bit art style—although Pocket Planes’ more technical designs require touches of 16-bit detail. Both games also adhere to the use of coins and ‘bux’ as currency, use similar upgrade systems, and most importantly of all, allow you to dress up your tenant/pilot in costumes (frog, domo, fireman, etc.).
In Pocket Planes, the player runs an airline with the intended goal of operating globally. Bit by bit, more locations are unlocked, allowing for your aircrafts to travel farther lengths. For every delivery (of passenger(s), cargo, or both), you gain experience, with each level reached unlocking a new flight path of your choosing.
Although Pocket Planes is understandably more complicated than its predecessor, it takes almost no time at all to get used to—especially considering the amount of time you’ll spend playing it once you do get the hang of things. Pocket Planes is addictive, immensely original, and (again, like Tiny Tower), absolutely free!
