Android App Video Review: Agent Dash

Agent Dash, which stars a secret agent of the same name, is the new endless runner from Full Fat. Full Fat is behind the elegant and excellent Flick sports games, such as Flick Golf Extreme. For their latest release, they've decided to tackle the third person perspective endless runner genre, but this isn't just a simple Temple Run clone. It is very derivative of that formula, yes, but it also mixes things up with some unique mechanics and great visual variety.

You play as Agent Dash and his spy colleagues as you run through a tropical island. Before long you find a secret island base with parts inside of a volcano, a small resort town that's under construction, and who knows what else. Like Temple Run, you must jump, slide, and move sideways to dodge obstacles, but you don't have a free range of movement as you would in Temple Run. In fact, there are no tilt controls at all. Instead, you swipe between three pre-set lanes, and have to be in the correct lane to make a turn. You also have to deal with shooter segments which are required to open doors, similar to the archery in Temple Run: Brave.

As you run, you'll collect plenty of diamonds, which you can use to purchase and upgrade various power-ups which should all feel familiar, from the jetpack to the magnet. My issue here is the balancing. Most power-ups are more expensive than their Temple Run counterparts, but also less powerful. It seems to take much longer to save up for anything. There are also single use power-ups, and of course, in-app purchase currency.

The visuals in this game are stylized and excellent, with lots of nice little touches. I like how the camera bobs up and down as you run, even if it's slightly disorienting. I like how the scenery changes as you progress, even if it's always in the same order. I wouldn't say it's not quite as good as the Temple Run games, but it's still great and totally free. It's a top-notch title from a top-notch developer, and you should give it a look.

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