A game rarely finds success with experimentation, but Jetpack Turbo could very well be one of those rare gems out there that actually make it work. If you’re wondering about where the unconventionality of this app lies, its overall gameplay actually calls to mind a lot of the main features and tropes you’ll commonly find in iOS mobile games.

The game has its quirks, that much is for certain. Its main character is a shade-wearing orange fish sporting an eternally (but nonetheless kooky) grin on its countenance. It setting is equally bizarre as most of its action takes place in space. With that said, it’s your job to guide the fish through a series of obstacles that litter what appears to be an alien spacecraft.

Its controls are highly similar to Flappy Bird, wherein you tap the screen to give the fish a slight boost with the jetpack it is wearing. There are directional buttons on the screen to help you direct the fish easier. It’s your job to avoid a myriad of futuristic obstacles and alien beings along the way, which range from missile-shooting turrets and UFO spaceships to laser beams and various strange creatures.

Along the way you have to collect coins in order to raise your score, as well as to disable laser beams that block the escape shaft. Not all the items on your immediate surroundings are harmful, though, as there are innocuous boxes and crates that tumble as you bumps them; these could either shield you from damaging projectiles or block your path and slow down your progress. You have to pay attention to your health bar as well, as once it is depleted, it’s game over for you. What’s good is that there are first aid kits strewn all over the place, which completely heals your HP.

It’s not all about trying to evade obstacles and enemies, though, as this game actually allows you to fight back by being able to drop bombs on them. You only need to watch out for ammo packs as you progress in order to be able to do this. You may also disable the laser beams and missile turrets. Once you are able to disable the one guarding the escape shaft, you may now enter it to finish a level.

JetPack Turbo is set apart from other jetpack games by its highly familiar yet still very much original gameplay. You can’t expect any more or less from a game that appears to have seamlessly merged the features of games that have proven to work in the past. It’s easy to get a hang of, has smooth gameplay, is very much challenging, and (competitive types would surely love this) has its own leaderboard.

Price: £ 0.99