Joe Danger is the Evel Knievel of his world and over the years his fame has died down and his name doesn’t cross the lips of fans as much as he would want. So he decided that he needed to remind everyone why his last name is Danger and got back on his bike to regain his lost glory. Joe Danger plays similar to Trials HD but has its own feel that you will have to get used to if you have played hours upon hours of the other.
Pros:
Environment: At the beginning of the game you get to see the highlights of Joe’s life and you realize that he is now trying to get back on top by getting back to the roots of danger. You will have him doing backflips over shark tanks, spike traps, and massive springs. The levels feel like something a child would have lying around their room to drive their hot wheel cars through. The backgrounds of the levels also have nods to the developers and random things that will make you smile. Hello Games did a great job with the graphics and soundtrack in that they are crisp and fun which add to the quality of the title.
Unlockables: When the game was a PS3 exclusive it was praised for having plenty of things to unlock and there is even more in the Special Edition on the Xbox. We have exclusive characters that aren’t in the original and we can still unlock plenty of levels and other things. The Lab is also new to the SE which is where they put all the biggest challenges to keep us busy with the game. The story is great but the game really does shine in the Laboratory where it is similar to Trials HD but plays in its own way.
Avatar Awards: You can make your avatar look like Joe Danger with his, Helmet of Power, Cape of Destiny, and Trousers of Triumph. You can get these items by collecting D-A-N-G-E-R on three specific levels. These awards are very well done and look exactly like Joe himself.
Putting the D in Danger: Our main character loves danger so much that he is named after it and you will be doing tricks and going off jumps to help him live up to his name. These tricks that you pull off will give you boost that will have you driving at even faster speeds and gaining more points. You have to keep a look out for the shark infested waters or the spikes that will kill you.
Santa Danger DLC: The Santa Danger pack is the first DLC for Joe Danger which was available for a limited time. It added a new character and the ability to ride an atv instead of a motorcycle. While it may have only been a limited time thing, the fact they are already working on some DLC shows they want to support the game and I hope they keep it going for a long time.
Cons:
No Online Multiplayer: Local multiplayer is included in the game and two players can race to the finish against each other. Having no online isn’t the worst thing in the world but with family and friends far away your only option of interaction with them is the level sharing that is included in the game and leaderboard scores. I just feel like that being able to race against them would have been a great addition to the game that I hope can be added in at a later date or in the next game.
In Conclusion:
Joe Danger: Special Edition will be one of the last few games released on XBLA in 2011 and it really is sending it out with a bang because it is a great game with a high replay value. Hello Games really did a great job capturing the fun that Trials had and adding their own spin and humor to it. I would recommend it to any fan of Trials HD because they could absolutely fall in love with this game. I can’t wait to see what kind of DLC comes for this game and what we will see in the next phase of Joe’s life in the next game.
Score: 9.5/10
