Why You’ll Love (and Loathe) Magikarp Jump for iOS

Niantic — also known as The Pokémon Company — made headlines last summer when it released the iconic Pokémon GO game for mobile devices. And while the financial success of Pokémon GO has been unprecedented (even though the game, in recent months, has lost about 90% of its player base), Niantic is back this year with a brand-new Pokémon game, Magikarp Jump, which I’ve been both enamored (and disappointed) with for the last week or so.

Avid Pokémon fans and casual enthusiasts, alike, know Magikarp as the little Orange fish-out-of-water who eventually evolves into Gyrados — a large, majestic, and somewhat intimidating blue monster — in arguably one of the most unconventional evolutions in the history of Pokémon. Of course, while it’s unlikely you’d trust a defenseless little fish to stand its ground in battle against a much larger creature, Magikarp is still good at doing what it does best — jumping, err, flopping around haphazardly, whatever that move is.)

In all honesty, I’m not much of a ‘mobile gamer’ — although I did enjoy getting into Pokémon GO last summer, climbing up to level 27 prior to dropping off the radar. To give credit where credit is due, though: Niantic has created a wholesomely fun, entertaining, and persistently-playable game in Magikarp Jump — though like all games, this one, too, is not without its disappointing elements.

What You’ll Love About Magikarp Jump

One word: simplicity. Unlike Pokémon GO, for instance, there’s no need to “go” anywhere if you want to climb the ranks in Magikarp Jump. It’s the kind of game you can literally keep playing throughout the day — 10, 15, even 20 minutes at a time — and never get bored with it. You’ll also get the satisfaction of knowing that every time you do play, you’re not only getting closer to reaching the top, but by feeding your Magikarp in it’s pond habitat, training it via a series of exercises, and collecting free in-game bonuses, you’ll only contribute to your Magikarp’s bottom-line as it prepares for battle.

Moreover, even though the game gives you the option to purchase coins, diamonds, and tickets to advance your Magikarp’s position, you won’t actually have to spend a dime playing the game — if you play it right, of course. Through a combination of training, eating ‘berries’ that sprout up in your pond, and receiving bonuses from the games’ myriad of side-characters, you’ll obtain more than enough JP (Jump Power) to get through all 50 levels transaction-free. I’m currently up to level 32 — err, ‘Generation 32’ — and I haven’t spent a penny on this game yet. Of course, the best part about that is you can play Magikarp Jump as much (or as little) as you want — without the pressure of spending money to win, or the guilt that would otherwise ensue from dropping heaps of cash on in-app purchases like this kid.

The game boasts a relatively simple and easy-to-learn mode of play — all you have to do is build up your Magikarp’s JP until it’s ready to ‘battle’ other Magikarps in a “jumping contest.” The game’s interface is similar to that of classic Pokémon titles from back in the day, with commentary text boxes and more graphically-mild animations which, on iPhone or Android devices, actually don’t look that bad — you can just tell this game is very simple, even within seconds of jumping into it. Raising your Magikarp and watching its rank grow through the generations, though, is actually quite rewarding — even if it is just a game.

What You’ll Loathe About Magikarp Jump

In all fairness: the storyline of Magikarp Jump is a bit redundant — and the interface is, how should I say, quirky? That’s not to suggest it’s bad, per se; but take it as more of a forewarning that there’s no major surprises at the end of the game. Yes, in all fairness, you’ll eventually be able to evolve your Magikarp into Gyrados — but other than that, it’s just a bit predictable, albeit enjoyable and fun, with no strings attached.

You’ll be able to continue playing even after you’ve ‘beat the game’, too, collecting coins and diamonds and other goodies to purchase new characters or upgrades. But until Niantic pushes updates with new features or levels (if it even does), what you see is pretty much what you get — take it or leave it. As for me: I decided to take it, and I’m pretty glad I did.

Magikarp Jump is available to download for iOS and Android devices now.

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