Gameplay Today - Because You're Always Gaming

Action-packed, violent and exciting video games are the ones that sell millions of copies. Yet at the core, gamers enjoy gaming because it is still a relaxing and enjoyable hobby. In the past, games like Endless Ocean and Harvest Moon have been fun without relying at all on violence, or any real form of conflict whatsoever. Sometimes though this peaceful intention results in what can only be called a boring, lackluster game. Glyder: Adventure Worlds comes to mind.

Though the name should be a dead giveaway, Glyder is all about gliding and exploring. Since you cannot self propel yourself via an engine or flapping wings, it can't be called flying. Buzz Lightyear might enjoy such a game, but falling with style gets boring almost as soon as the game starts. Outside of acquiring collectible crystals, the only real gameplay is following preset paths and reaching specific areas. Imagine an entire game made out of the Crackdown 2 flight suit. Constantly diving and rising to keep momentum is not only repetitive, but can give you a headache.

When not attempting a difficult bonus mission, the game can be somewhat relaxing. But when combining the bad, almost empty level design and horrid controls; you wonder why it cost even three dollars. The only difficulty that truly stood in my path was keeping the character in motion. Depending on how you hold your phone the gyroscope controls might be completely unresponsive or inaccurate, which leaves you with the touch-screen controls. Funny, as either way it's oftentimes impossible to know where you're flying or where the next collectible is supposed to be at.

Now I love customization, but acquiring new outfits and wingtypes is not enough of an incentive to make up for the otherwise hollow game. Perhaps if the stages to explore were more animated, with large creatures or active events occurring Glyder would be less of a waste of time. Glyder needs more true content, as there really isn't any to begin with. You are presented with a semi-large area to float around and explore. But outside of seeing the environments laid out before you, there is no interaction between character and land. So the game's primary feature of geography is also the game's only adversary.

If Microsoft continues to promote particular games for their Windows Phone 7 as “Xbox Live Enabled” we can just assume that means Achievements are obtainable. Considering that's a major selling point, why bother with things like multiplayer? Then again, Glyder with multiple gliders could only be horrible. It's hard enough floating on your own, let alone if you had to worry about other gamers crashing into you.