Happy Wheels is an interpretation of the legendary Gravity Defied with an advanced physics model and the ability to cripple a selected character. The project is available through the browser and on the mobile platform.
Gameplay features
Happy Wheels full version on iOS largely repeats its flash counterpart available on PC. The player enters a level with a huge number of obstacles that he must pass in order to get to the finish line alive. Hits inflicted on the hero can kill him or partially cripple him. You can continue the journey without arms or legs (depending on the transport).
In Happy Wheels, the levels are divided depending on the character. They are designed in such a way that the player can use the main feature of the hero to overcome difficult sections of the task. For example, a businessman’s Segway or a fat woman’s cart can bounce, a wheelchair has an acceleration mode, and so on.
As an additional challenge to Happy Wheels, the latest version offers shared locations to play through. Unlike the main tasks, they differ in the ability to choose the main character.
In the PC version of Happy Wheels, things are arranged differently. The game is accessible through a browser, where user-created levels appear on the location selection screen. They may differ in the presence of a plot, a transition between several locations and full-fledged dialogues. The game design rating is determined by the community on a five-point scale.
Characters
In Happy Wheels, characters take the lead as they define the style of gameplay. A total of 11 actors were implemented. Some of them received a separate campaign in the mobile version, while the rest are waiting in the wings in the upcoming updates.
They look like this.
- Segway Guy (Business Guy on iOS version). Dressed in a solid suit and moves on a Segway. Can jump.
- Wheelchair Guy. A mad tramp in a wheelchair equipped with a jet engine. Enables instant acceleration.
- Irresponsible Dad. This is a man on a bicycle, behind which is his son in a child seat. Able to slow down.
- Effective Shopper. Available in Happy Wheels on iOS with a slightly redesigned look. Looks like a full lady on a special vehicle. Endowed with a jump.
- Moped couple. A young couple on a frisky moped. Ability similar to an old man in a wheelchair – instant acceleration.
- Lawnmower Man. A knocked down black man on a lawn mower that cuts everything that gets in its way. Difficult to steer, capable of pushing the wheels off the ground.
- Explorer Guy. Indiana Jones caricature. A man moves around the level on a mine cart. On the Happy Wheels level, when the ability is activated, it moves on the ground, as if standing on rails.
- Santa Claus. A real Santa in a sleigh pulled by two elves. Activating the treasured button leads to the flight to the Christmas music.
- Pogostick Man. A young man on a “grasshopper” (pogo stick). When holding the button, makes an enhanced jump.
- Irresponsible Mom. In Happy Wheels on the phone, is only in the plans. Repeats the concept
- Irresponsible Dad, only instead of one child, there are two of them at once. Able to quickly stop in place.
- Helicopter Man. An overweight man on a makeshift aircraft with a magnet attached to it. Capable of grabbing and moving metal objects.
The physics of the hero’s behavior largely depends on his build and vehicle. For example, the trolley is the most clumsy, and the pogo stick is characterized by increased lightness.
Levels
As mentioned above, the levels were created for individual representatives of the game. However, the game Happy Wheels is distinguished by a special vision of level design. The locations are located not only traps, but also special amplifiers, whether they are designed for acceleration or enhanced jump. But this is not the main thing, because the main attention is taken away by design. The background can be painfully gloomy, colorful, or psychedelic, depending on the vision of the author.
Zones in Happy Wheels 2 are divided into levels using interactive elements. This adds proper variety and fundamentally changes the feel of the game. Among the finished cards there are ideas dedicated to trends. A striking example of this is the Happy Wheels bottle challenge. The essence of the test was to throw a bottle, and she stood on the bottom or neck. There were enough variations of the challenge for several dozen cards.
The game also has an advanced level builder, where everyone can realize their wildest ideas and share them via the Internet.
Management
It is worth immediately returning to the topic of management on different platforms. On a computer, actions are distributed only on the keyboard buttons. Traditional arrows are responsible for moving forward, backward, tilting left and right. The rest of Happy Wheels controls are as follows:
- The “Shift” and “Ctrl” buttons are responsible for moving the limbs or controlling the vehicle.
- Space is responsible for activating special skills.
- “Z” allows you to get out of the driver’s seat.
- The English “C” is designed to switch between multiple characters.
In the portable version, the controls are placed on the touch screen. There are buttons for moving forward / backward, tilting left / right. Separately rendered activation of a special skill.
Returning to specific tasks, in particular the bottle challenge, it is necessary to know how to grab Happy Wheels. To do this, you need to direct your hands to the object using the arrows and take it by holding the “Space”. By releasing the key, the bottle will fall or be thrown in the intended direction.
Interface
On the iPhone, the main screen appears in front of the player with a large “Play” button, a gear displaying “Settings”, next to it are “Information”, “Leaderboard” and “Level Builder”. During the game, as mentioned above, the controls are located from the bottom left and right. At the top is the pause button and the time spent on the level.
Platform Support and Free Foundation
Once again, it is worth repeating that a flash version is available on the PC, which can be found on the official website. For iOS, developers have created a separate project with periodic additions. Happy Wheels on Android never appeared, which is why numerous clones took its place.
The game is absolutely free, except for advertising banners on the phone.
Conclusion
Happy Wheels is a crazy action game with lots of gore and unpredictable levels. An excellent project for fans of physical puzzles and an original approach to game design.
Interesting facts
- The game has an age limit of 17.
- The character concept was born long before the official release of the project.
- The community creates new tracks every day.
