There aren’t enough decent retro shooters on the iPhone to date. Yes, there’s Space Invaders: Infinity Gene, which is the prime example of how good the platform is for gaming, and other more modern shooters like Isotope, but none that present decent, fun arcade alien or asteroid killing. Until last month, that is, where two highly anticipated games were released that offer retro junkies the chance to pork out on gaming goodness.
First up is Geo Geo Wars ($0.99 – iTunes Link) which, although being linked to both Geometry Wars and Space Invaders is jammed in the middle of both gameplay elements. Not a free-roaming around an arena shooter nor a exterminate all enemies shooter, it is a game where all you really have to do is make it to the end of a level, moving up and down around a small, restrictive box with the asteroids and enemies coming at you.
When you fire up the game, after waiting for a clever, yet a bit painful on the eyes loading screen to go you come to the first few faults with the game – the main menu. Although everything looks nice, there are a few major spelling errors, like Instructions being spelt wrong and some of the wording being incomprehensible. Although the games should have been checked for these mistakes, we are really looking at gameplay, interface and graphics here, and as the author is obviously not English then this error can be forgiven.
Instauctions? Not a great start, is it?
What can’t be forgiven, though, is how the developer has tried to make his menu impressive (and to be honest, it is) but failed making the game accessible for some. When you try to start a game, the main menu turns into a cube, that does a few spins before stopping on the gameplay screen. As well as taking a while to actually get into the gameplay, some gamers have reported that the game has frozen or crashed at this point, and that it sucks battery life out of your phone very quickly. I’ve had no problems on a 1G touch but as I’m the minority here maybe wait for an update to fix this problem before diving in if you’re on a newer device.
Sorry, dev - the cube is more faulty than impressive.
Eventually you are able to play the game, and I have to say I’m very impressed. With graphics which mimic the success of Geometry Wars the closest I’ve seen so far, it looks very nice, and the gameplay is proper, hardcore action with a twist. You control a ship (you can choose from two – a weak, quick firing ship and a strong slow firing ship. I found the more powerful one to shoot way too quickly making the quick firing one obsolete) and can move it up, down, left and right to try and avoid and destroy enemies. The genius in the game is the excess of the upgrades and powerups. They are very common and the frequency of them all adds to the frantic action and pace of the game. Unfortunately what I played of it was very easy and a tad repetitive, but definitely enhanced a few hours of my day.
Behind the flaws is a very good looking, fun game.
Geo Geo Wars has really hit home the fact that indie devs can make very addictive and fun games, you just need to try them to really appreciate them. Although the game isn’t as polished as you’d expect on the menus and spelling, the gameplay and graphics beneath are very good. Don’t let this one pass without a look, as at only $0.99, and with a lite version not trying this game is a mistake.
iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=333267627&mt=8
Conclusion
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very nice gameplay, Excellent graphics | Faulty on some pointless screens, Unpolished with silly errors. |
| Verdict | Worth a look |
| Rating |
Second to be reviewed today is a more traditional shooter called Radiant ($0.99 – iTunes Link) and done by the folks at Hexage, this game reeks polish and excitement. It has a nice looking title screen, a decent menu, and helpful instructions on how to play the game and gets you blasted straight into the action.
Shiny! But is it too similar to Space Invaders?
What makes this game different to most is its ‘Story’ aspect – you, the ship, is talking to your commander, both trying to do alien impressions when an alien actually breaks into your discussion – and threatens to eliminate you and the universe. You have to try and stop this destructive being doing so, but by the end, after the alien has thrown numerous awesome bosses at you and destroyed your home planet, it becomes personal.
Supercreep - not your usual arch nemesis.
Max doesn't realise that it was really the alien that would destroy his home planet.
Infiltrated! The battle begins here.
This game is very similar to that of Space Invaders. You move left and right by touching each half of the screen, and your ship auto fires. Seems simple, doesn’t it? Well, a few gameplay elements make this in my eyes the modern version of a retro shooter as it takes many leaps and bounds away from the minimalistic gameplay of the arcade hit. Firstly, there are many upgrades you can get, with weapons and, for example, an upgrade that makes you move and evade faster occasionally falling out of destroyed enemies or asteroids or available for purchase at an im-game shop, accessible every two or so levels you progress. The bosses, as I mentioned earlier, are very tough and look amazing, as does the rest of the game. The sprites are basic but have a gleam to them making them look very visually pleasing, and I have never experienced lag even in the craziest moments.
Everything has a nice looking gleam to it, even the crazier parts.
There are a few flaws with the game but the developer has already promised to patch them all up, as well as adding to the game in December in a new update. The first is that when you lose, you have to start from the very beginning. This would be fine if it weren’t for a) the intense difficulty and b) the story. When you do get the infamous ‘Game Over’ screen, you have to get back to the point you were at to continue with the story, and that’s even if you make it back to that point as the game can get frantic nearer the end of the game. As I did mention, however, the developer is going to add a new game mode which is easier in difficulty and saves at certain points. Unfortunately there will be no leader board for this difficulty but any people who actually want to try for scores will be hardcore enough to stick to the normal version of the game while the more casual gamers to the easier difficulty. The developer has implemented the best of both worlds for the game, although it would have solved disputes if it would have been there since the beginning.
I haven’t exactly written a boatload for the review of Radiant, and that’s because it is a very traditional and hardcore shooting game. Although it shines in so many departments and makes so many leaps and bounds in the basic gameplay of space invaders, the very core gameplay mechanic is the same, and really it’s whether you like said mechanic that determines whether this game is for you. If you’re a fan of any shooter game pick this one up, and if you’re not, it’s only $0.99, you may as well take a gamble and who knows, you may be surprised, if not now maybe when the more casual focused update comes in December.
iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=335989815&mt=8
Summary
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Clean graphics and good story, Gameplay evolves from older games. | No checkpoints messes up story, Hard for casual gamers. |
| Verdict | Buy it! |
| Rating |
A small 6% is all that separates both games reviewed today, but both are different, unique games that stand out from the crowd in terms of arcade shooters. Although Radiant is a enhanced, Space Invaders clone that improves on the steps made by the arcade original many years ago, Geo Geo Wars sticks itself between 2 different genres and successfully brings unique and fun gameplay. My opinion? Get them both, you could go a lot worse in the maze that is the app store.
Been wondering about buying Radiant myself as i loved the graphical design of it. Looks like I will be buying it later today!