There weren't a lot of games that used the "draw a line" mechanic before smartphones, but the ones that did exist really stand out. One such title is Kirby: Canvas Curse, released on the Nintendo DS in 2005, among several other follow-ups and clones. Most of them follow the same formula -- simply draw on the screen to manipulate the character, which was usually cruising through a world drawn with a cutesy veneer. Don't Be Squared [Free] follows that same path, but with a decidedly less interesting aesthetic.
The first thing I thought of when I started Don't Be Squared is Rayman -- and I mean that in a sincere "this feels like a homage" way, not in a "it's a ripoff" way. Sure the main character's appendages are hovering around his body and there are companions that are similar to Rayman Adventures' Incrediballs, but the similarities generally stop there. The team over at Super Hippo Studios manages to forge their own art style, with bright broad colors and interesting character designs. Even the menial cast members like random enemies or the helpers look memorable, and all of the action is presented with an amazing angle that shows you just as much as you need to in order to make those split-second decisions.
As I previously intimated, Don't Be Squared uses a very simple "line" system, where players trace lines on the screen for the avatar to follow, whether it's a slightly raised platform to cover up some nasty spikes, or a ramp to ...