Flappy Bird In Space: 5 Reasons To Start Playing Dodgy: Zero

Few games have garnered as much mainstream media attention as Flappy Bird, and for good reason; its design is comically simple yet unforgivingly difficult. In the wake of Flappy’s demise, there have been countless clones and imitations looking to capitalize on the app’s wild popularity, and some have succeeded. Despite the madness, I never got all that hooked on Flappy Bird. I never played it obsessively. And I never scored above a meager 32 pipes. Still, I craved a mobile time sink while everyone else was hooked, and finally found one when a friend showed me a humble little iPhone game called Dodgy: Zero. It’s a game steeped longer perhaps in Jetpack Joyride than anything else, but definitely shares Flappy Bird’s simplicity and charm. It also has a cobbled-together, homemade feel to it, which I find incredibly endearing. As a result, I’ve been super hooked on Dodgy: Zero, and despite an only slightly above average top score, I’m actively seeking ways to improve it. Beyond that, I want to see how the damn thing ends; there’s reason to believe it actually has a finite ending, and I’m keen to at least get close. Considering it’s simplicity, addictiveness, charm, and cost (free), there’s little reason not to give this game a download. Here are my top reasons why. It's Flappy Bird In Space Dong Nguyen yanked Flappy Bird from both Apple’s App Store and Google Play after announcing that he felt its addictive traits had “become a problem.” He’s since rescinded a bit, hinting that it’s not impossible for the bird bird to return, but that he’d still need a break from the madness before fully changing his mind. In other words? Don’t get your hopes up, fans. Dong must simmer in his thoughts. Since nabbing Dodgy: Zero, I’ve long since forgotten about Flappy’s endless world of Mario-pilfered green pipes. I mean, Zero (which I’ve named the protagonist green blob, if he wasn’t named that already) navigates space. What’s cooler than outer space? A few things, but they’re not important, nor are they nearly as large or amazing. Plus, Zero ditches the need for oxygen without a second thought. In all seriousness, though, Dodgy’s world is a fair bit more varied than Flappy Bird’s, all while maintaining a similarly Mario-inspired look. See the faces on those yellow blocks? Sure, they’re just two black rectangles, but they also bear a striking resemblance to the Power Stars collected in countless Mario adventures. The red multi-faced sticks popping up everywhere are a bit more of a mystery, but I’ll chalk it up to LedgeWizard games’ creative side. The Music Is Hilariously Amazing Sound is an incredibly important determinant in how much I enjoy a game, and Dodgy: Zero’s sound design is downright hilarious. Though your screen taps don’t directly affect the music being played, there’s a very compelling reason to keep playing: the song never ends. Well, I shouldn't say never, but for as long as I’ve lasted thus far, I’ve never heard a section repeat in a single playthrough. Zero gleefully belts his adorable tune as he hurtles past stars and space debris, mashing together random syllables and even attempting to swing his eighth notes in some sections. Sometimes he fails, but his effort is adorable. The game is structured such that it speeds up as you progress, making precise taps more difficult, and placing access to a new section of the song higher and higher on the pedestal. As such, you’ll be shocked at how many times you’ll play again after dying, because you were so close to accessing the next eight bars of Dodgy: Zero's never-ending tune. Beyond that, Zero’s musical behavior is pretty unpredictable, as he’s prone to random ‘boops’ and ‘bops’ one minute, in-the-pocket offbeats the next, and will occasionally hit you with an adorably spastic outburst of sound as he struggles to keep a fast tempo later in the game. It’s super retro, super catchy, and will super-annoy everyone around you. It's super great. It's Perfect For Hipsters Hey. Flappy Bird is so last year. You know what’s cooler than playing last year’s game? Playing the game from two years ago. That’s what the people with real taste are doing. Not only that, but there aren't very many people who know about Dodgy: Zero, which makes it an even better hipster goldmine. My top score is just pretty average, yet I’m placed within the top 100 scores. Eighty-something, I think it is. If you put in a reasonable amount of effort, you could be one of the world’s top players at one of the more obscure Flapp-a-likes out there. That’s something to have engraved on your tombstone, friend. Also, did I mention it came out two years ago? As in, it came out before Flappy Bird. Back in 2012. Aside from the fact that Zero could easily defeat Dong’s feathered, face-planting creature in a boxing match (not to mention a sing-off), Dodgy: Zero is something you can show your friends that they will think is cool. Just don’t show too many people, because, you know, that would ruin it. It Won't Leave You This is a minor thing, but a significant one. Dodgy: Zero has been on the App Store since 2012. So you know it’s not going anywhere. Unlike that flaky, noncommittal jerk Flappy Bird. First he’s all “oh, I can’t deal with this anymore, time to remove myself from the store,” but then he goes running to Rolling Stone saying he might make a comeback! Make up your mind, my dude. Meanwhile, Dodgy has chilled on the App Store for years, and to be honest, it probably hasn't even been updated since it came out (as evidenced by the game’s outdated aspect ratio). Still, at least you know it’s going to stick around, and that’s always a plus. It's Addicting, But Not Too Addicting This is perhaps my favorite aspect of the game. While Flappy Bird had people neglecting schoolwork, punching walls, and letting baby strollers roll down hills unbeknownst to anyone, Dodgy: Zero manages to be extremely addicting without cutting into other tasks in your life that are important. The reason? You’re compelled to keep playing for a chance to discover something new, rather than redeem yourself against frustration. When push comes to shove, it can be annoying when Zero turns blue after slamming an oversized yellow block, but the real reason to continue is to hear the next part of the game’s awesome soundtrack. Also, chilling out and cruising through space can actually be quite soothing and fun in its own right, once you develop the ability to auto-pilot things until you approach your record score. It’s a delicate balance that works wonderfully, and rarely frustrates the player more than necessary. Perhaps most importantly, Dodgy doesn't taunt you with an obnoxiously loud “smack!” when you die. Instead, you’re actually treated to a head-banging 8-bit jam, with the option to simply tap “Dodge” if you want to play again. Why yes LedgeWizard Games, don’t mind if I do! Thanks for the kind offer. Wrap-Up There’s only so much more to say about such a simple game, but if you like Flappy Bird enough to try something similar, or hate it enough to try something (arguably) better, then definitely save some mobile data and download Dodgy: Zero when you have a spare moment. And if Mr. Nguyen does bring the notorious yellow bird back, well, I guess I’ll have a decision to make. About who to place bets on in the inevitable Zero vs. Flappy boxing match, I mean.

Flappy Bird In Space: 5 Reasons To Start Playing Dodgy: Zero

It’s Perfect For Hipsters