Drawing a page from the classic arcade game Snake and mixing it with a little modern knowhow, Hard Lines aims to be the end-all nom-fest for lines that collect things to grow larger and more windey. It will easily replace similar arcade games you could find for your mobile device, as its got enough content, creativity, and attitude to keep you entertained for hours!

The basic gameplay of Hard Lines revolves around controlling a neon snake-like line that can move in four directions around a grid. Collect the glowy things (their real, official name!) as you guide Lionel around the stage, avoiding the walls, his own body, and any other lines meandering about the course. Borrowing some inspiration from the light cycle game from Tron, you can kill other lines by tricking them into crashing, usually by trapping them or by making sharp turns in front of their path. The line-on-line violence is intense!

Hard Lines does some interesting things with its multiple modes of play, including limiting you to short sessions, pitting you against a dozen or more enemy lines, and forcing you to focus on killing opponents or gathering glowy things. These creative and usually crazy experiences add loads of variety, and the game's overall attitude puts a newer, hipper face on the classic genre. The most pointlessly fun bits are the quotes lines utter when they're defeated. Even though they're little more than colored streaks on a screen, somehow their shouts of "Let's do this thing!" and "Pwned!" make them seem a little more realistic and a lot more entertaining!

Hard Lines

(iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch)

Hard Lines HD

(Android)

Hard Lines HD

(NOOK Color/NOOK Tablet)

NOTE: This game was played and reviewed on a first generation iPad. Game was available in the North American market at the time of publication, but may not be available in other territories. Please see individual app market pages for purchasing info.