Run The Joint with your old ball and chain (app review)

Every once in a while there are apps that surprise me. Run The Joint is one of those apps. When I first looked at the app I wasn’t really very excited to review it. After all it’s a side-scrolling running game and that’s been done several times over by several different developers. However, Run The Joint has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Run The Joint overview

The premise is simple. You are one of many convicts trying to escape prison. Your character is actually a disembodied head that moves by bouncing and jumping. Of course, because your character is an inmate, he is shackled to a ball and chain. It turns out that this ball and chain is also a playable character. While impossibly happy, he can jump independently of your character. Not only do you need to escape, but you must take your smiling ball and chain with you.

While you are trying to escape, the guards and their dogs will try to capture you. The guards will remain stationary and can be easily evaded. The dogs, however, will chase you down. Meanwhile, there are missiles shooting at you. The world can also rotate to add an additional level of difficulty.

There are 10 different levels to escape before you are finally free.

• Drop-off point
• Old town
• The street
• Pig farm
• Bridge
• Oil fields
• Manor house
• Car dealership
• Motel Gorman
• Docklands

There are 7 different characters that you can unlock to aid you in your escape

• Highway Bob
• Voodoo Kid
• Penguin Boy
• Funny Man
• Mutant Beast
• Goldie
• Big Tash

Run The Joint setup

It’s super easy. All that is required is to download it from Google Play.

Run The Joint gameplay

I was pleasantly surprised at how fun this game actually turned out to be. I liked that there were defined levels and that it wasn’t just another endless runner. The ads were also minimal and nonintrusive. The double runner element with the ball and chain added a unique element to the game.

What we liked

• Double runner element
• Unlockable characters
• Defined levels

What could be better

• More unlockable characters
• More levels

Run The Joint summary

Overall it’s a fun game and an entertaining way to kill a few minutes here and there. Indie developer Naked Penguin Boy did a great job of making the game feel polished.

[pb-app-box pname=’com.npb.runthejoint’ name=’Run The Joint’ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]