Just received preview code of Skipping Stone, a masterful little mobile game from eccentric Korean developer, Gamevil. It's being released in the UK by I-play very soon, and fans of Wario Ware and its ilk should keep an eye out for it. The concept is ridiculously simple - you stand on the beach and skim stones across the sea. But the implementation is fantastic, combining Hyper Sports-style sports sim and rhythm action elements.
To begin with, you select the power of your throw by hitting the 5 button when the speedy power meter reaches its highest point. Then, as your pebble skims across the ocean, you keep hitting the 5 button at the right point to maintain the height of the bounces. If you hit the perfect position more than twice in a row, you start building up combos - earn enough and you release power-ups, like whales surfacing and shooting your stone even higher.
Alright, it sounds daft, but it's wonderfully presented with surreal Anime visuals, and the interface works perfectly. There are two game modes, one where you're looking to make as many splashes as possible and another where your aim is to make the stone go as far as possible before it sinks.
Offbeat theme, fun graphics, compelling one-touch interface, high-score focus. This is where mobile gaming comes into its own.
