10000000 Review

When you’re playing a mobile game, there seems to be a safe bet that you’re doing one of three things: matching three like objects together in a puzzle grid, collecting enough nibs and nob to purchase upgrades, or touching the screen while some sort of high-velocity object (or objects) zip around your screen. Eightyeight Games wasn’t content in only tapping into one of these wells, they decided to combine chocolate, peanut butter, and bacon in their uniquely named game 10000000. Available for PC, iOS, and Android, can infinite runners, RPG-ish upgrades, and matching puzzles be combined into some sort of gaming megazord?

Dungeon Running

10000000 might have the most transparent premise of any game I’ve ever played: your little fedora’d avatar is stuck in a dungeon and you must earn ten million points to let him escape. You’ll earn points by running through short dungeons over and over, defeating monsters, opening treasure chests, and collecting the raw materials you’ll need to upgrade your gear.

The core of 10000000 is clearly inspired by infinite running games. When “running” a dungeon your be-hatted character dashes to the right of the screen until he encounters a challenge like a locked chest or a monster. You use a match-three puzzle to deal damage to monsters (by matching swords and staves), create a barrier to block incoming attacks (matching shields), unlocking chests (matching keys) and collecting resources for upgrades (matching wood and stone). Every swing of a monster and every second you hesitate in front of a lock will scoot you closer to the left side of the screen: hit the left side and your run is over.

Earned resources are tallied up at the end of a run and the player can purchase upgrades before jumping back in. Upgrades are crucial, allowing your shields to last longer, your swords to crit more often, etc. Experience points can be traded in for unique abilities and potions will be unlocked as you play that can fundamentally change the nature of your dungeon runs.

I was happy to discover that the game’s urgency never wanes, you’ll be constantly clenched as you scramble to match the swords necessary to slay the dragon. Each run only takes about 2-5 minutes, so the reward treadmill is constantly in motion. Which is good, because the “oh shit oh shit oh shit I need a key why are there no fucking keys” panic moments are frequent. The game ultimately isn’t too challenging, but a game that can be enjoyed in 2-5 minute bursts shouldn’t be too difficult.

Fickle Pixels

The presentation of 10000000 isn’t complicated. What you’re seeing in these screenshots is all that you’re getting: a pixelated dude with a hat fighting monsters equally as detailed, connecting blocks. I find it charming, I have a major soft spot for pixelated games with catchy chiptune beats.

But this is a game of break neck speeds and split second matches. Games with “retro” graphics have the benefit of being pretty darn clear: their simplicity should put everything you need at your finger tips. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case in 10000000. The tiles that you need to match up simply don’t look unique enough. Many use very similar colors and don’t have icon designs that are unique enough to be unmistakable. While I’m not artist, this game is a classic example of a programmer making visuals. They are perfectly functional but unpolished, at times frustratingly so.

Reaching for the 10000000 Stars

10000000 was fun right up to the moment where I completed the game, which is why I was surprised to find no “infinite mode”. The lack of a mode where the upgrades and difficulty ramp up procedurally (allowing me to play long after I get my ten million points) is a tragic omission! While you can go back and run the last dungeon over and over trying to beat your best ten-million-plus score, the lack of sword-upgrades and ever-harder-dragons makes it a blase affair. I got a solid three and a half hours of fun out of 10000000 and I would have played another ten if I had been given the chance.

But don’t let this deter you, the bottom line is that this is a quality game that you should own. For a paltry $2 you’ll get hours of frantic matching and enough upgrades to make you feel like a demigod. I wouldn’t suggest getting the game on Steam; not only is it $5 instead of $2, but 10000000 is a “play as you poop” game. (It’s best when digested in small upgradey bursts.) Pick it up on Android or iOS, you won’t be disappointed.