Jumphobia
Bounce into the distant future of Euro Nova, one of the last surviving cities on a scorched Earth after a century of corporate war. At the heart of this dark metropolis is a courier jump-bot who delivers packages throughout the many layers of the city, but finds himself in unfamiliar territory when he is uprooted from his humble workaday life and cast out in favour of a newer model. With the help of a newfound canine friend, he sets off on a journey to get back home – the long way round.
Story Mode
Play through 30 varied story levels, with a host of puzzles and obstacles to conquer – can you beat them all? Or is this all too easy for you? Then maybe you need to try the challenge mode! Break some records and smash those times. Test your personal best if you think you are good enough. As you play, you’ll collect all sorts of nuts, bolts and discarded scrap to spend on customising your robot. Make that lovable little jump-bot your own with some crazy colour schemes and sleek redesigns.
Gameplay
As the name suggests, Jumphobia is a game built around the premise of getting from “A” to “B” by jumping – but not when you want to! All Jump-bots are built with a failsafe to limit their manoeuvrability, meaning that you as the player can only automatically jump when you reach the edge of a drop or platform. That’s right – it’s a platforming game without a jump button! You can’t jump by choice, so it’s going to mean taking a much less direct route home for our mechanical chum – you’ll need to think on your feet, so to speak!
Level World
Think you can do better than us? Design your own levels in our level builder. Assemble wild contraptions and deadly traps to fool even the smartest of players, and then share your creations with the community and flummox your friends and foes alike with your ingenious inventions. Forge your own and become a master level builder, or browse the level world menu in search of a worthy challenge and rise to stardom setting records, earning medals and adorning your jump-bot’s profile with all your achievements.
Send your jump-bot homeward bound and navigate through this treacherous and exciting future! Explore, problem-solve and navigate your way through the world of Jumphobia!
Steam User 1
Jumphobia: Homeward Bound is not just a game; it's a testament to the power of resilience, companionship, and personal growth. As I sit down to write this review, I find myself reminiscing about the countless hours I've spent immersed in its world, a world that has been my refuge through some of life's most challenging moments.
Bouncing into the distant future of Euro Nova, a city scarred by corporate warfare, the game's premise alone intrigued me. At its core, it tells the story of a humble courier jump-bot, stripped of its routine existence and thrust into a world of uncertainty. With a heartwarming twist, a canine-like robot becomes an unlikely companion, embarking on a journey that is both physically and emotionally transformative.
The parallels between the game's portrayal of the Mare Corporation, a monopoly that controls the world, and my own personal history struck a deeply resonant chord within me. Much like the monopoly's pervasive influence, my father's domineering presence once overshadowed every aspect of my life. The emotional scars left by his actions during his tumultuous relationship with my mother were wounds I carried with me for years. It was during those turbulent times that I discovered Jumphobia: Homeward Bound.
From 2003, when I first started playing this game as a child seeking solace amidst chaos, to my adulthood where I've emerged stronger and more mature, this game has been a constant source of comfort and inspiration. The diverse story levels, riddled with ingenious puzzles and challenging obstacles, provided not only an escape but a platform for personal growth. As the jump-bot overcame barriers, I too found myself overcoming my own hurdles, inching closer to healing and self-discovery.
The emotional journey of the jump-bot mirrored my own path to resilience. The unwavering bond between the jump-bot and its canine companion symbolized the profound importance of companionship during times of adversity. This relationship spoke to me on a profound level, as I navigated the complexities of my own relationships in the real world.
The game's challenge mode pushed me to test my limits, echoing the resilience I had cultivated over the years. Breaking records and achieving personal bests in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds became a metaphor for the progress I was making in my own life.
Collecting nuts, bolts, and discarded scrap to customize the jump-bot allowed me to reclaim agency over something tangible, much like how I was gradually reclaiming agency over my own life. The act of transforming the jump-bot's appearance through crazy color schemes and sleek redesigns mirrored my own transformation from a vulnerable child into a confident and empowered adult.
Jumphobia: Homeward Bound is more than a game; it's a lifeline, a mentor, and a friend that walked beside me through the darkest times. It showed me that even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, with determination and the support of kindred spirits, we can overcome and find our way back home. This game will forever hold a special place in my heart as a symbol of hope, resilience, and personal triumph.