Beat Sneak Bandit is a new rhythm puzzler from Simogo. You step into the sneaky shoes of the titular bandit to retrieve some clocks and thwart a madman’s scheme. Oh, and I should also mention that it’s ludicrously brilliant!

The beautiful thing about Beat Sneak Bandit is the way it seamlessly expands from a simple concept into a complex puzzler. You see, there is only one method of moving in Beat Sneak Bandit, and that is to move to the beat.  Controls are simple enough, just tap anywhere on the screen, and as long as you're in time with the rhythm you'll start sneaking in the direction you're facing. It’s easy to get to grips with, but as you progress you’ll need to master the technique if you want to see everything the game has to offer. 

The game is split into chapters, with each chapter containing 10 main levels and 4 extra unlockable levels.  Levels get increasingly complex as the game progresses, with new elements being thrown into the mix. This helps keep the game feeling fresh. Replayability is something that the developers have clearly thought about as in each level there are 4 clocks to collect besides the main clock. This means that you will find yourself coming back to previously “completed” levels to collect every clock on offer; doing so will unlock the extra levels I mentioned before. To complete the game it will take you a couple of hours, however to collect and unlock everything it could take you much longer. How much time you get out of the game all depends on how much of a completionist you are. 

In terms of presentation Beat Sneak Bandit is a gem. The comic book style graphics are original and smooth. In-game it looks great and comes together without a hitch. I never once encountered a technical problem of any kind. The real star of the show though has to be the jazzy soundtrack. Each chapter has its own distinctive sound and look, which each level offering some variation on this. As the music in Beat Sneak Bandit is a key gameplay component, it’s a good job that it’s so infectious. As you would expect, these factors all carry over to the menus, which are just as funky and polished as the rest of the game. 

As with the majority of iDevice games, Beat Sneak Bandit won’t burn a hole in your wallet. The game will only set you back $2.99 in the US and £1.99 in the UK. In my humble opinion, at these kinds of prices, it's an absolute steal. It’s a testament to the mobile gaming industry when you see stellar games such as this available for such a small amount. Beat Sneak Bandit is a game that will charm your socks off if you give it a whirl. So, if you're on the fence, I suggest you get down and try a game that's a little different but a lot of fun. 

This review is based on the launch copy of Beat Sneak Bandit, provided by the developer and downloaded via the App Store.