So I Tried… JumpJet Rex

Each edition of So I Tried… I will try a game that I have never tried before. Will I find something new to love? Will I find something new to despise? I'll take a full half hour, no matter how bad it gets or how badly I do, to see if this is the game for me. This time I went for the PC version of JumpJet Rex.

What I thought it was

A platformer that sees you controlling a T-rex with a jetpack of some description. If you don’t see why that would interest someone who saw the original Jurassic Park at the cinema, and thinks that any game featuring a jetpack or grappling hook are GOTY material… I don’t know what to tell you.

What it actually is

There’s an asteroid heading towards Earth and JumpJet Rex, the planet’s only dinonaut, is the only one who can stop it! The accomplish this, they must complete levels to collect stars, and unlock the way home? It’s kinda vague as to quite why these stars have to be collected, other than just to unlock the next batch of levels. There are three ways to complete them; reach the end, finish within a time limit, and get to the end without dying. Not even the first one of those is always an easy task...

Will I keep playing

I don’t think so. As much as the concept appeals to me - Rex has rocket boots! - the gameplay isn’t my cup of tea. “Very challenging platformer” holds little appeal to me because I want to play the game, not repeat levels over and over again… It looks great, and plays fine - JumpJet Rex isn’t a bad game by any stretch - it’s just not for me.