Off The Rails

Off The Rails is a platforming game released in the year 2007. The player controls two cactus men on a handcar, avoiding enemies through the desert and trying to outrun a train.

Points are earned in the game by collecting gold coins, and landing 360 degree flips. All the level names in the game are connected with the level. This game was one of the launch titles for the iPhone and Android Nitrome Touchy, launched on October 31st 2012 for iPhone, and November 21st 2012 for Android.

Flash
left right Left and right arrow keys - Accelerate

down Down - Brake

up Up - Jump

Nitrome Touchy
Lever: The lever controls the motion of the handcar, and needs to be swiped back and forth by the player's finger in order to activate. It is located in the middle of the smartphone screen.

Switch: The switch controls the direction of the handcar. To activate it, the player must swipe it forward or backwards. The switch is located at the center of the top of the smartphone screen.

Jump pads: The jump pads control when the handcar jumps. To activate it, the player must tap either pad: there is one at the bottom left corner, and one at the top right corner.

Condensed

 * Swipe finger back and forth on middle bar - move handcart
 * Press bottom left/top right button - jump
 * Move reverse direction lever left/right - alter direction the handcart moves to left/right

Levels
Off The Rails has 20 levels. In each level of Off The Rails, the player has to get the cactus men on their handcar past the finish line, while avoiding enemies.

1. Read The Billboards to Learn How to Play
This level is a straight line, with billboards all along it telling the player how to play.

Enemies:1 Tortoise

2. Rollercoaster of Love
The level starts out with going over a big hill, then going over a small hill with a jump over a pit of mud at the bottom. After the jump is another medium sized hill, which after going over it leads to a big hill. At the bottom of the big hill is a huge jump, meaning the player needs to be going very fast to get over it. After the jump is a small straight path to the finish.

Enemies: None

3. This Time we go the Other way
This level is driven by going to the left instead of the usual right, hence the name. The level starts out going down a small hill, and jumping over a gopher at the bottom. There is then a speed boost that helps the player go up a small hill. After going down the hill are three small bumps, and then two more speed boosters to help go up another hill. At the top of the hill is a tortoise. After going over the tortoise, is a speed boost that propels the player over a small jump. After the jump are two more tortoises, and then the finish.

Enemies: 3 tortoises and 1 gopher

4. Next Stop The Moon
The level starts out with the cactus men in the middle of going down a gigantic hill. At the bottom of the hill is a jump that causes the player to jump super far, and try and land on a straight piece of track. Toward the beginning of the track is a cameo of a hovering robot from Toxic. A little ways down the straight track is a giant patch of slippery track with speed boosters. The slippery track combined with the speed boosters cause the player to go very fast, and go over another jump that is similar to the first one. At the bottom of the jump is the finish.

Enemies: None

5. The Rocky Road to Success
The level first goes straight, and then over a small bump. After the bump is is a small depression in the ground with a mole at the bottom. The depression leads up to a big hill. At the bottom of the hill is a big locusts, and then a series of small, sharp bumps that keep getting bigger and bigger. After the bumps (that get big enough to be very small hills), is a big patch of Slippery Track, with a Tortoise in the middle. After jumping over the Tortoise, is the finish.

Enemies: 1 Gopher, 1 locust, and 1 Tortoise.

6. Maybe we Should Turn Around
If the player turns around, there is the word "Jackpot" written in gold coins, which is why the level name is hinting at turning around. Go forward and jump over a Tortoise at the top of the hill. Go down the hill and make the rail cart speed up to get past a enemy called a tumble weed. Some arrows will help the rail cart speed up. After going past a arrow pointing back jump over three hills. Go forward and soon a gopher will be found. Jump over it make the rail cart speed up. When the hill starts to slope down jump. A small platform the hand cart will land on. The end of the level will be found.

7. High Roller!
Basically go hit a arrow and the rail cart will be hurled over a gap. Go forward and underneath a locust. Then some more arrows will be found. It again, will send the hand cart over another gap. This time there is a tortoise avoid it. Go over another gap again and another. On the other side of the second gap is a gopher avoid it to. The last gap has a skeleton bird on the other side. Avoid the dangerous eggs it throws and the end of the level will be found.

8. A Bump in the Road
Go forward and jump over a gap. Keep going but do not jump for enough speed can be made to go over gaps. Soon two tortoises will be found. Jump over them and go forward but not to fast. There will be three platform one below each other that end abruptly. Go over the first one but on the second one jump. Then jump again. Go along that platform and jump over a gap. Go forward and jump over another tortoise. Up ahead is another jump over it to. Soon a small hill will be found. Go up it but once the rail cart is going down the other side slam on the brakes. Carefully get the rail cart to the ground then jump over the last tortoise and the end of the level will be reached.

9. Life in the Fast Lane Surely Make You Lose Your Handcar
Go forward and jump over a gopher. Keep going and some boost signs will be found. Go forward and jump over a gap and some more boost signs will be found after that and another gap will be up ahead. After that gap go forward and jump over a gopher. Jump over a small hill. Up ahead is some more gophers spread out a bit. Jump over all of them and some boost signs suspended in the air will be found. Pick up speed and jump up and let them push the hand cart over a gap. On the other side try to get as much speed as possible then jump over the edge. After landing on solid ground go forward and over another gap blow the platform. The end of the level will be reached.

10. Mole Hills
At the start of this level a new enemy called a train. It will follow the cactus men and try to rum them down. So basicly jump over hills and gophers and try to avoid that train. The end of the level will soon be reached.

11. Tricks and Traps
Go forward and jump over two hills and two gaps. Hit two boost arrows and jump over another gap. Jump over a gopher and two more but be careful to avoid the boost arrows. Up ahead is a new enemy called a bull. Slam on your break and wait a few seconds. The bull will be lifted up into the air. Now dash under him and jump over a gap. Go forward and jump over other gaps and on last gopher and the end of the level will be reached.

12. Look out Below!
Speed forward all the way and only jump over blue shells and the gap behind the first blue that's it. Since the platforms always slope the speed gained will always allow the handcart to get over the gaps safely. The end of the level will soon be reached.

13. Jump up Jump up and get Blown up
Jump over all tortoises on the flat ground. Ahead is a tortoise on a small hill. Once a bit over the small hill jump and the rail cart will be sent over the tortoise. Go up a hill but slam on the brake at the top for there is anther bull. Wait for it to fly up then go under it and over a lizard witch walks back and fourth. Go down the side of the hill with speed then go over the edge but don't jump. Jump over many gophers that are on that platform. After the gophers is a lizard witch must be jumped over. Pick up the speed then jump over the side. If the jump was successful the end of the level will be reached.

14. Timing is Everything
Turn the rail cart around and go up a hill. Jump over two lizards and go down the side of the hill avoiding a skeleton bird. Pick up speed and the rail cart should go over a hill. Go under five tumble weeds and across slippery track. Quickly jump over a gopher then slam on the brakes. There is a bull in front wait for it to fly. Then on the other side put on the brakes and wait for some gophers to go down. Go quickly across and the end of the level will be reached.

15. Flat as a Board
Go forward and jump over a lizard. Going forward onto some slippery track, jump and jump again if another gopher comes up. Keep going forward and try to hit the last boost arrow suspend in the air. Slam on the brakes and wait for the bull to lift up. Go under it but be sure to jump over a boost arrow and a gap. Jump over a lizard and avoid the skeleton birds tossing eggs. Some more boost arrows will be found up ahead. Put on the break for a bull is up ahead. After going past the bull avoid a locust and tortoise and another locust and two more tortoises. The end of the level will be reached.

16. Cactus Pancakes!
Go down the side of the hill and put on the brake. Wait for the bull to fly and go fast under it for there is a train in this level. Go up a hill and under a tumble weed. Avoid the skeleton birds and jump over two gophers. When going down the side of the hill put on the brake and wait for a gopher to go down into it's hole. Now go down the slope and wait for the bull to fly up. After the bull has flown up go underneath it and jump over a lizard. Put on the brake again and wait for a tumble weed to pass or go under it. Go up the hill then down it but stop frequently for gophers are at the top middle base. After going past those gophers stop and go past a bull. Keep going and more gophers will be encounter. After going past the final bull the end of the level will be reached.

17. Ducking and Diving
Pick up great speed then jump over the edge. Landing pick up speed again and the rail cart should land on a flat platform. Go forward but there is no need to pick up any more speed. Some boost arrows should send the rail cart over the remaining gaps. After landing on a area with no gaps go up a hill and jump over two gophers. Going down the slope refrain from jumping until there is a flat gap. Jump over it and the end of the level will soon be reached.

18. Moonwalk!
Switch direction and go forward and jump over a hole containing a gopher. Go and again jump over a hole containing two boost arrows. Jump over another gap that has a tortoise in it. The next hole jump quickly over it for it contains a bull. The next platform jump over also for it is a bottomless pit. After that gap go forward and over a gap but don't jump put on the brake and switch directions then switch it back. This will get rid of a skeleton bird up ahead. Go forward and again put on the brake. Wait for a bull to lift up then go under it and wait for a second bull to be lifted up. Then go forward and jump. The jump will send the rail cart over a gap. Go forward and under many locust. Keep going forward until slippery track is found. Once on the slippery track jump and the rail cart should go over a gopher and the end of the level will be reached.

19. Not Too Fast Not Too Slow
One train in front of the player, one behind. There are two ways to beat this level, the normal way or the fast way. For the normal way avoid all obstacles and go a little bit slower when slippery track is found. In one section there is several dead birds flying drooping eggs. Avoid them and more slippery is found after. There will be a sign marking the end of the level. For the fast way go forward and jump over a gopher. Go over a hill where some arrows are. Wait for the front train to go down the hill. Hit the arrows then jump over the hill. This will either send the rail cart over the train or into it. If the jump is successful speed as fast as needed and the end of the level will be found.

20. Width of a Hair
Now there are two things the rail cart can do at the start of the level. A harder way or the normal way. For the normal way go forward and jump over the lizard. Go forward but do not jump over the edge but gain some speed. The rail cart will go over the edge onto a lower platform with a bull. Press on the brake as soon as the smaller platform is reached. When the bull lifts up dash under it. Now for the harder way speed up and jump over the lizard. When the gap is reached speed up really fast and jump. This will send the rail cart over the bull if done correctly. After following either ways go fast under a locust and jump over a small hill. Some arrows will be found. Once they are hit slam on the brake for if it is used the rail cart will hit a Locust in the air. Go up the hill and under a Locust down the hill is some more arrows. Slam on the break again and wait for the bull behind the arrows to lift up. Hit the arrows but not at full speed for immediately slam on the break again. Wait for a second bull to rise then hit the arrows. Do not slow down but build up much speed then jump over the edge. The rail car will hurl over the huge gap and onto a platform (Note the rail cart might by accident turn over). Slam on the breaks again and wait for another bull to fly up. Hit another arrow but jump over another arrow that is pointing backwards. Go forward and jump over a gopher and take care not to be hit by the skeleton bird's egg. Go forward and at the top of the hill there will be a tortoise. Jump over it and below there will be a Locust. After passing the Locust slam on the brakes for their is a second bull. When the bull flies up go under it and past the finish line. The ending of the will be seen after.

Glitches

 * If the player hits the ground at a certain angle, they will be stuck in the ground.

Enemies

 * Gophers - Stationary, disappear underground and pop back up deals damage on touch
 * Tortoises - Stationary blue creatures that act more like hazards
 * Lizards - Moving enemies
 * Tumbleweeds - Bouncing balls
 * Bulls - Block the way until two birds on its head make it fly
 * Train - Chases the handcar on the rails. On one level, the train goes in the opposite direction and must be avoided by going over a hill
 * Skeleton Birds- Flies above and drops eggs. Oddly, touching the birds themselves won't hurt the player
 * Locusts - Hovers above the rails and land as the car travels past

Nitrome Touchy version
Off The Rails is also available as one of the games playable on Nitrome Touchy. The player is required to swipe back and forth on their smartphone to move the handcar. Also, to change direction, a switch needs to be swiped. To jump, one of two buttons at the bottom left corner and the top right corner needs to be pressed.

This game was one of the 10 launch titles for the iPhone Nitrome Touchy, this game launched on October 31st 2012 for the app and November 21st 2012 for Android.

Trivia

 * If the player does a complete turn the cactus' will cry, "360!" or "Awesome!" indicating that the player has done a 360 flip.
 * Off the Rails has a rather gruesome game over screen. In the game over screen, which is triggered when the player falls off the screen or touches an enemy, the cactus men are blown up, their bodies blackened, and they will fall to the ground, along with some of their bones, and cooked meat.
 * Gophers are also in Skywire 2.
 * In the last level of Rubble Trouble 2, there is a screen with a playable level of Off The Rails on it. If the level is beaten, the player gets to play level 31 of Rubble Trouble Tokyo.
 * The game was made a Distributional Game, and was one of the 12 games made available when the Distributional Games page was launched on August 25th.