Rayman Fiesta Run iOS Review: One of the best games I’ve ever played on a smartphone or tablet

Did you love Rayman Jungle Run? You did? Good, then go buy and download Rayman Fiesta Run. Fiesta Run improves on everything set up by its free-running predecessor, making it a must-have game for anyone with a smart phone. With an already impressive dose of Rayman released with Rayman Legends, Fiesta Run brings the series to new heights.

A combination of rhythm-platformer and endless runner, Rayman Fiesta Run brings more of the same successful formula and gorgeous visuals of Rayman Jungle Run, but changes some things to keep the game fresh. Gone are the worlds and levels of Jungle Run. In its place is a winding path of progression, much like the one that can be found in Candy Crush. As you collect more Lums in each level, more of the winding path will unlock, even sprinkling you with gifts here and there.

Of course, if you're a completionist, you'll want to collect all 100 Lums in each level, progressing your furthest and unlocking a more challenging “invasion mode” version of that level. These levels are obviously more difficult, but it's a good reward for getting 'Perfect' on a level. Sometimes you'll have a flow of fire chasing you in certain spots; other times, a swarm of enemies will chase you the entire level, waiting for you to make one mistake and pop your bubble.

The levels themselves feature the bright, vibrant color palette that the Rayman series has become known for. You'll travel through icy levels, tropical paradises garnished with lime, and inferno with roasting hot dogs. Rayman navigates these terrains in pure platforming fashion, equipped with an arsenal of punches, jumps and glides. Honestly, it feels like more of a platformer than a free-runner. Outside of the fantastic levels and the gorgeous visuals, the music is the real star of the game. My favorite parts of Jungle Run are the levels when the songs had someone singing in them. Now, every level has that. It really does feel like a party coming from your phone.

You have the option to buy Lums to speed up your progression through the game, which feels like a weird thing to include in a game you're already paying $2.99 for. A large part of the experience of Fiesta Run is the struggle for 'Perfect' scores so you can progress. It comes down to memorization and reaction time, not spending real money to progress. I wish there wasn't the option for microtransaction in the game at all. Obviously, I didn't spend any money.

That little gripe aside, Rayman Fiesta Run is a must-buy game. It's right up there with the best games I've played on a smartphone or tablet. It's a gorgeous, fun platforming/free-running game that has hours and hours of fun in store for you.

You can follow Senior Editor Lance Liebl on Twitter @Lance_GZ. He likes talking sports, video games, movies, and the stupidity of celebrities. Email at LLiebl@GameZone.com