Chameleon Run: winning pick for kids

Ease of play: 3 out of 5

Violence and scariness: 1 out of 5

Sexy stuff: 0 out of 5

Language: 0 out of 5

Drinking, drugs, and smoking: 0 out of 5

Consumerism: 4 out of 5 (Are products/advertisements embedded? Is the title part of a broader marketing initiative/empire? Is the intent to sell things to kids?)

APP DETAILS

Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android

Price: $.99

Release date: June 14, 2016

Category: Action Games

Size: 49.80 MB

Publisher: Noodlecake Studios Inc

Minimum software requirements: iOS 8.0 or later; Android 4.1 and up

Parents need to know that Chameleon Run is a combination of a platformer, the game show Wipe Out, and the app Color Switch. Players control a little robot-like block figure as it moves along an obstacle course of colored, beam-style platforms, jumping and changing the figure’s color to match where it will land. It’s not for all kids since the pace is so fast and finishing levels can be really tricky. There are no ads and no in-app purchases, but there’s also no parent gate on the More Games tab and kids can use the “face cam” to record themselves playing and presumably share the video, though that feature wasn’t working during the review period. Read the app’s privacy policy to find out about the information collected and shared.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

Tap the Play icon on Chameleon Run and watch as your character begins to run across the platform. Tap with your thumb or finger of one hand at just the right time — and as many times as length requires — to enable him to leap onto the next platform. If the platform is a different color, tap with your other hand’s thumb or finger to change to the matching color before landing. Avoid black obstacles, and watch for certain platforms that operate differently than others. If the character doesn’t make it or runs into an obstacle, he puffs into a cloud of smoke and re-starts at the beginning of that course. As you collect objects, you get points that help move you to new levels. Tutorials help you get used to the controls and learn new maneuvers. In the settings, players can flip the controls from one side of the device to the other, control the music and sounds, and reset the progress of the game.

IS IT ANY GOOD?

There’s so much more going on than just running and leaping over obstacles which makes it more interesting and, potentially, more frustrating. Dozens of similar games, like Temple Run, are all based on a similar concept of running, avoiding obstacles, collecting stuff, and reaching new levels. However, Chameleon Run sets itself apart with the color switch twist, the different types of jumps, and customizable options like replay recordings, a face cam, and adjustable controls. Though the layered challenge might be too much for some kids (and adults), Chameleon Run is a really fun, challenging, and visually appealing game.

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Common Sense Media is an independent nonprofit organization offering unbiased ratings and trusted advice to help families make smart media and technology choices. Check out our ratings and recommendations at www.commonsense.org.