When it comes to ports, we usually see PC and console games turn up on mobile platforms in a “mobile friendly” version. It is good to see that mobile gaming has come to a point where the reverse will sometimes happen. Such is the case with Leo’s Fortune, a platform game originally designed for iOS, Android and Windows Mobile. One of 2014’s best on the go games makes its way to the PS4, Xbox One and Steam for additional audiences to enjoy. If you are like me, this is a good thing because you don’t do a lot of mobile gaming and a title like this could otherwise slip by you. For those of you who drive a lot and define mobile gaming as playing Candy Crush whilst making “royal decisions,” Leo’s Fortune may definitely be worth your time and money.
Leopold, aka Leo , is a stately gentleman whose accent would have you think he is probably Russian or from somewhere in that region. He is an individual of extreme calm; the reason I know this is that most people would freak out if they came home to find their entire fortune stolen. Instead, Leo thinks about who the culprit could be and notices that the theft was a sloppy one as coins trail away from his home. He tells his wife that he will be back soon and sets off to solve the mystery and make his way back into the one percent. Taking a look at Leo, you might wonder how he aims to accomplish what would be a daunting task for nearly anyone. Moreso for an individual of such little substance. I once described Leo as the disembodied head of Oscar the Grouch and he definitely does look like something out of a Jim Henson studio. A better description would be if you remember those pens that had the little furry guys with googly eyes on them. The ones where you roll the pen back and forth in your hands quickly to make their fur stand out. That would be the best description of Leo, but he is determined to get his gold back and has one or two (literally two) tricks up his sleeve.
One of the best ways to describe the gameplay of Leo’s Fortune would be to imagine Sonic the Hedgehog. this game plays like Sonic at normal speed. That might sound like a bit of a slam, but it is not because the path Leo travels is treacherous. Imagine trying to play through the original Super Mario Bros. as Sonic. You can try to speed through it, but you will die quite often. Creative platforming is the name of the game and even Leo knows it as you will often hear him say “a-ha!” amongst his other smart-mouthed quips. Each level tasks you with three objectives which earn stars at the end. These objectives are to collect all the coins, finish the level without dying and beat the set best time. Stars help you progress to new stages and unlock bonus levels. The bonus levels will either have you complete as many laps as you can within a specified tome or complete a level with as much time left as you can by collecting hourglasses. It looks simple , but you will be challenged. If you sit and play the whole game through, Leo’s Fortune can probably be beaten in around two hours or so. Completion with all stars will likely take you a lot longer though.
Tilting Point and 1337+Senri stress that this is an HD remaster of the original Leo’s Fortune and they are not kidding. For a game that was originally designed for cel phones and tablets, Leo’s Fortune has exceptional visuals. The graphics themselves are nothing that a Super Nintendo could not handle, but the detail lives up to this generation. The animation is smooth and the use of 2.5-D gives a visual pop you sometimes do not see in more expensive games. Fire and wind effects are present throughout the game that just give an extra charm to the title. As I have said, I often see bigger games that do not give this much attention to detail and that is where Leo’s Fortune shines (no pun intended). Take one more look at the revela trailer to see what I mean:
If you are on current-gen consoles or use Steam, then you should definitely give Leo’s Fortune a go. It has wonderful graphics, platform meat to challenge players of every skill level. The music is hauntingly beautiful; it sounds like something you hear in a ballet. TO give you some perspective, the game itself is not very long, but is approximately 75-80% the size of the original Super Mario Bros. in terms of number of levels. It als ohas an attractive price tag of only $6.99 so you really cannot go wrong with this game. If you have never played it before, I highly recommend that you try out Leo’s Fortune. As of this past Friday, it is available for all three platforms.
