In 2015, Team Alto released Alto’s Adventure, which quickly became fans’ favorite. The gameplay was superb, with impressive visuals and other exciting elements. In a bid to build on the success of the original installment, the developer published a sequel, Alto’s Odyssey. Many people ask if this sequel comes close to the original or falls flat on its face. 

Alto’s Odyssey is an arcade game available on Android and iOS.  It is a side-scrolling game that takes you through different levels where you have to travel various distances. With over 180 dynamic levels in total, you get several hours of first-class entertainment.

Exciting new additions

Alto’s Odyssey borrows many things from the original but comes with incredible additional elements. Now, you have desert sand to slide on, but that’s not all. There are plenty of rocks here and there, and you have to be quick enough to tap the screen for a jump. Otherwise, you’ll end up hitting the rocks. As an alternative to jumping over the rocks, you can also cling to a robe to crush them. Whichever option you choose, a faster speed is the reward that you get.

The most important addition, I believe, is the Zen Mode. I’ve always desired to have this mode where I can play through without the fear of death. Although this mode also doesn’t score you, the thrill and excitement that comes with playing with no distraction are enough. Unsurprisingly, this has become my favorite part of the game.

You also get hot air balloons as new features of the game. Bouncing on these balloons lets you travel longer distances than you ordinarily would. Also, you can now skate on walls and slide through water, gaining extra speed in the process. As if these aren’t enough, you can encounter whirlwinds that give you wings to fly. There’s no doubt that these additions enhance the overall gameplay experience of Alto’s Odyssey. The best thing about these features is that the game retains its simplicity and entertainment value of the game.

Alto’s Odyssey, however, continues with the tradition of picking coins along the way. These coins prove helpful when you want to buy extra items to make your journey safer, faster, and better. For example, you could get a solid helmet to protect you from injuries if you get into a crash. You can also use the coins to buy magnet timers that extend the time magnets necessary for coin collection. 

Gameplay is as excellent as the previous one.

There are many additional features in Alto’s Odyssey, but the game doesn’t come down with complicated gameplay. You don’t have much to do when it comes to button mechanics, but the fun is something else.  It has a simple gameplay that doesn’t feel lackluster at any point. The overall tempo of the game depends on you. While you have the option to go at a moderate speed and avoid as many risks as you can, you also have the option to switch it up.

I prefer the latter as the adrenaline rush is incredible. There’s so much fun in bouncing on rocks to fly high in the air or sliding on water to pump up my speed. Whatever will raise the tempo of the game, bring it on. However, doing all of these increases the risk of falling. Yet, you’ll be missing out on so much excitement if you skip these things. For instance, how do you miss out on skating on walls? How? You may not always get it right at first, but you have to keep trying. When you eventually hit the nail on the head, the gratification is unparalleled. 

If you still want to enjoy these enthralling elements without the associated risks, you have the Zen Mode. There, you can skate on walls as much as you like, without putting your life in danger – there’s no death in the mode. This mode is incredible, without a doubt, but when you do these things with risks taunting you, success becomes more enjoyable. At the end of the day, the choice is yours. Besides, you often get rewarded when you accomplish remarkable feats. For instance, after performing two consecutive flips in a run, I landed some achievement.

Great attention to detail

One of the reasons Alto’s Odyssey excels is the excellent attention to detail rampant throughout the game. When it comes to the visuals, you can hardly point the finger at something wrong. The desert environment looks colorful and breathtaking. There’s a perfect mix of colors that soothes the eyes. This sequel follows the original’s tradition of a 24-hour cycle where you get days and nights. 

It’s fantastic seeing the time change as you journey in the game. These time changes are complemented by the weather changes that are also common throughout the game. So every time you open the game to play, there’s a different time and weather. This improves the replay value of Alto’s Odyssey. That’s why it never for once feels boring, even though it’s one of the simplest games ever. 

Another area where the attention to detail shines is how the game employs geometric shapes to represent things. Also, you get to see sparks of character animation. This animation isn’t the most noticeable feature of the game, but it’s beautiful nevertheless. It’s also important to mention the excellent weather effects. Whether it’s scorching sun or thunderous rainfall – everything is brilliantly represented. I’m yet to see lighting as intriguing as the one in this game.

Verdict

Alto’s Odyssey does brilliantly as a sequel and even takes everything to a higher level. The addition of new elements, like the Zen Mode, is the best thing to have happened to the game. It employs simple mechanics and relaxed gameplay, with no complex battles found. This is the kind of game that you can relax with.  The stunning visuals, soothing music, and overall design are more than enough reasons to give the game a try.