Rating:
iBots Launch for iPad is a competitive game that uses futuristic robots to give you a game of air hockey on steroids. The robots, boosts and environment of this game make it feel completely different than your typical game of air hockey. The beauty is that it plays just like air hockey so it’s easy to pick up and get started right away.
The control system in iBots Launch is bit tough to get used to. The concept is very simple as it is a game of air hockey with certain boosts that change the style. You start the game by selecting one of three robots have varying abilities. Your options are:
- STEEL: Powerful and fast throw
- STING: Fast and agile
- VENOM: Great all rounder
This is very important in how you play so pick carefully. I came to like Sting the most as it is the quickest and helped me immensely on defense. After selecting your bot and difficulty you are ready to get started. The controls are as simple as: flick a direction to throw the disc, click to run to a spot or slide your finger to slide your bot to a given spot. The controls are easy to learn but hard to master. I must say, I had a tough time controlling my bot early on.
Once you have the controls figured out you will find that learning how to use the boosts is almost just as important. The computer player obviously makes early use of these boost so it is important that you do the same. Power Ups come in both attacking and defensive types. The attack power ups are fire ball, whirly and directo while the defensive power ups are magnet and shield. They are fairly self-explanatory and can be used by simply clicking the indicator on your screen that will show you what power ups you have and how many. These will play a huge role in how you both attack and defend so figure them out early on.
The strategy you decide to use also plays a large role. When I first started I played the role of the defensive player and stayed close to my net and simply defended until the opposition made a mistake. After I began to feel more comfortable with the game I went into more of an attack mode and ventured further from the net and went for the power ups as they popped up on my side of the screen. Either way you play, you are sure to dabble in other techniques to find a unique type. This helps keep the game fresh and will also allow you to beat the bots on the harder settings. The same things rarely work when playing the different bots so be careful not to get in a rut with your style of play.
Another very cool feature of this game is the multiplayer. It could use a little more polish but the idea is great and it is very fun. My wife and I played and she was able to sit across the table from me and control her bot as I controlled mine. This made the game even more competitive and added some trash talk which is always fun.
My favorite part of this entire game is the visual and audio presentation that jumps out at you from the beginning. The music gets you in the mood for a fast paced competitive game and the sound effects help carry on that feel. The visual aspects of the game are awesome. I never experience a slow-down in gameplay and there is always something going on screen. Especially when we played multiplayer mode, we never saw a single slow down which was impressive. The overall presentation of this game is pretty awesome! Definitely a fun play at $1.99 for the iPad.
Pros
- Addictive Gameplay
- Great Video and Audio
- Very Competitive
- Sweet Local Multiplayer
Cons
- Only 3 Robots (more coming soon)
- No Rewards
- One Court (more coming soon)
- No Story Mode
$1.99
Category: Games
Released: Mar 30, 2011
Version: 1.0
1.0 (iOS 4.0 Tested)
Size: 18.6 MB
Language: English
Seller: Flick Studios Pty. Ltd
© 2011 Flick Studios Pty Ltd
Rated 4+
Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later
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2 Comments on “iBots Launch for iPad 2 Futuristic Spin On Air Hockey Anyone?”
Great review!
We’re hard at work on updates and this is very valuable feedback, thanks JJ
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