‘Smash Hit’ revels in its simple elegance

The sound of glass shattering already is jarring enough. Coupled with that same glass threatening to crash into you as you are forced to move forward? Terrifying. Thank goodness I can throw metal balls at that unscrupulous glass.

That, in a nutshell, is “Smash Hit,” a gaming app released by Mediocre on Apple’s App Store and Google Play. The premise is simple enough: Dropped in a beautifully technicolored world of destructive metal balls and deadly obstructionist glass panels, you’re forced forward as through you’re on a rail through each level, lobbing those balls to break the glass in front of you so you don’t “die.” You have no control over your movements, just where you want to throw the next life-saving ball.

It starts out slow and easy enough. Straight ahead you move, steady and predictably. It’s simple to see what you need to do to progress. That’s quickly changes, though. You gain speed as you make it through the levels, which is just one of the higher-tiered difficulties you’ll encounter through the game’s levels.

No enemies will show up to get in your way. In “Smash Hit,” it’s just the glass. Of which there is a lot. From panels that rotate to panes that magically just appear out of the ground to giant hanging blocks, the glass is out to stop you. Don’t worry: You’re armed. Not with the typical fare of bullets, of course. Here, you’re given a limited number of metals balls with which you are to strategically break the glass. On the iPad, the simple tapping mechanic is surprisingly satisfying, as you see the destruction you’ve caused.

If you fail to break the glass in time, you run into it, causing you to lose 10 balls and deal with the heart-crushing red-rimmed screen alerting you to your mistake.

When you run out of balls altogether — whether through running into too many obstacles or shooting your last ball — you lose. You can collect more balls by shooting a variety of crystals that show up along the way. Most of these life-savers give you three more balls, while some give you more. Power-ups also are available to shake things up, including slowing down time and giving you unlimited balls for a short time.

The goal here, especially in later levels, is to conserve your balls for the most immediate threats. You’ll learn not all the glass in front you will need to be dealt with. (Panels fall before you reach them, sliding elements glide by you, et cetera.) Some obstacles seem daunting, but then you realize it will only take one well-placed ball to get you through. It’s a bit of a rush.

“Smash Hit,” yes, is fairly simple, even if its difficulty does ratchet up later. The game’s gem, though, is its slick graphics. Beautiful and as cold as glass itself, the landscapes comes across as abstract and just a tad menacing. Everything seems so sterile, so perfect. Even the music, which is synchronized to individual levels and actions, can cause shifts in your emotions. (Still, it’s pretty awesome music.)

Which is why, once you’ve destroyed everything around you, you can’t help but smile.

The game is short, easily beatable in a single sitting. However, if you choose not to upgrade for $1.99, you don’t get any checkpoints as you reach new levels. In effect, the free game forces you to complete the game in one shot or start over. If you pay, though, each new level checkpoints you, allowing you to start from any of your previous checkpoints. Well worth it to me, as there’s was no way I was going to beat this game in one shot. The game is easily playable, though, without spending a dime. (Just a bit of your time.)

In the end, “Smash Hit” is a quick shooter with a cleverly simple premise. It’s beautiful and intuitive, allowing anyone to pick up the game and start playing. There really isn’t any replay value, though, which is countered by the price: free (or $1.99 for upgrading). Still, there’s something immensely satisfying about shattering glass barriers, and “Smash Hit” is no exception.

Four shattering stars out of five.

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These balls will be your saving grace in “Smash Hit,” as you use them to break the glass preventing you from progressing through the level. (Photo credit: Mediocre)