Can the 2D charms of this automotive outing win over a jaded audience..?

The title of the game screams oxymoron, with traffic implying boredom, anger and frustration, whilst wonder implies beauty, perfection and Angelina Jolie. Therefore when I first started playing this game I was uncertain of how my next gaming experience would pan out, and after playing it I was still uncertain about whether or not I enjoyed the experience.

When I first entered the realms of the wonderful world of traffic in a two-dimensional format, I learnt that the premise of the game is to get a car, to a garage, without it being reckless, crashing or running out of fuel. Ironically, this is also the basis of a game that parents give their children as an unwanted Christmas present.

The effect of a game like this in a world where we have the likes of Temple Run at our disposal is always going to make it difficult for this game to get recognised; yet despite the basic look it does have some positives. During the first few levels I was disappointed at how easy and simple the game was. However, it wasn’t until the later levels that I felt myself sighing and shouting every time I crashed a car, and at this point I actually felt the addiction of the game rising. I was also shocked to find that I was more engrossed in getting cars from A to B rather than watching the latest Premiership Merseyside derby.

"If you prefer your games laced with buzz and explosions, then Traffic Wonder will be like eating toast without butter"

However the main problem that arises when playing Traffic Wonder is that even though I found it is hard to get off the game, it seemed even harder to get back on it.

To put this into context, it was like riding a mechanical bull - once you’re on it, you try to stay on - but by the second go, you come off and you're done - getting back on almost seems redundant. Therefore, the life-span will be indifferent to whoever plays it. If  you like puzzles and repetitive games, then this is for you, but if you prefer your games laced with buzz and explosions, then Traffic Wonder will be like eating toast without butter.

In an attempt at creating a compliment sandwich, one great thing about the game is the price -  it's cheaper than a lady boy in Thailand (can I write that?) - and this cheapness will inspire anyone to take the chance on a game that can potentially offer a lot of addictive fun.

Despite its flaws, Traffic Wonder does offer a surprisingly addictive driving experience, and instead of being like many adrenaline-fuelled racing games that are generally a miss rather than a hit, it decides to sit back and cruise, producing a solid, safe driving experience.

Traffic Wonder

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