Joe Danger

Downloadable stunt-racer Joe Danger feels like a classic from the very beginning. It isn't just the playful retro template that makes this simple side-scrolling motorbike romp feel so good and so timeless, but also both its finesse for gameplay and simplicity – within moments of the first flutter of a chequered flag, the urge to have another go is irresistible. The titular Danger is a retired Evel Knievel character returning to his motorbike to leap barrels of sharks, giant boxing gloves and other comically dangerous obstacles. Assuming responsibility for the daredevil's midlife crisis, the player has the task of clearing a range of increasingly eccentric, yet perfectly succinct stunt courses. Each is realised on what is effectively a 2D-plane, where an instinctive set of controls lets users toy with some suitably bouncy physics, allowing Joe to somersault and spin through the air. Aside from the course design, most inspired is the wide range of objectives each level hosts, which encourage revisiting completed tracks and tackling them in utterly different ways. There's even a hint of Mario's early 2D-platform jumping career in the atmosphere, along with a competent level editor and some tidy multiplayer support. Great stuff right from the word go, Joe goes on to deliver danger, brilliant fun and thrills throughout.