Parents' Guide to Helix Jump

Though it is clever and fun, this physics-based arcade game is undermined by too many ads. In Helix Jump, a ball bounces up and down on a series of circular platforms held up by a pole. By sliding your finger left or right, you spin a platform around until you reach a break in the floor, which will allow the ball to fall to the next level. Of course, your ultimate goal is to reach the bottom of the tower. This isn't as simple as it sounds, since there are pieces of platforms, identified by color, that will block your progress. It also gets more and more complex as you progress; fortunately, you'll learn new tricks to help you reach your goals as you clear more stages. For instance, you can move the ball in mid-flight, and if it falls past multiple platforms, it can build up enough momentum to smash pieces of a lower level. Unfortunately, the gameplay would be a lot more fun if it didn't have so many ads. They're along the bottom of the screen, on the sides when you start playing, and between rounds, tempting you when you fail with the promise of renewed life. It gets to be a bit much after a while (which may be why there's an ad-free version for sale). Were it not for all the commercials, though, Helix Jump would be an engaging and clever arcade game that uses simplicity and gravity to great effect.