Gameloft have been churning out mobile games for a while now and for the most part they’ve been pushing the mobile gaming envelope especially when it comes to the graphics and N.O.V.A. 3 is no different. Does the gameplay match the beautiful and rich environments though?
N.O.V.A. 3 as the name suggests is the third in the the first person shooter series which follows the explosive exploits of Kal Wardin as he fights for no lesser prize than humankind itself. If you haven’t played either of the previous N.O.V.A. that’s not a problem, (although you may go back to them after playing this), as the game stands on its own and the short intro will soon get you up to speed.
As previously mentioned the whole look of N.O.V.A. 3 is completely immersive as the rich, massive, interactive environments are a pleasure to behold. Starting in and around the derelict buildings of San Francisco, through alien spacecraft and an explosive fire and ice wasteland the worlds look incredible.
As we’ve all come to learn though, games require more than just graphics to be a success and N.O.V.A. 3 is more than just eye-candy, in fact it’s one of the closest experiences to having a console in your pocket that I’ve ever played on a mobile device.
The audio helps this with the overall experience too, from powerful gun-shots and explosions to great voice acting and background music the aural experiences is excellent, especially if you listen with headphones.
The action comes fast and furious, right from the start and you will need fast fingers to keep yourself alive. These fast fingers have to be balanced with the amount of ammunition you have as supplies are limited especially if you don’t want to if you don’t want to increase the cost of the game by stumping up more of your hard earned money to upgrade your weapons and abilities.
The downside of the scarce ammunition though is exacerbated by some less than perfect controls. There’s nothing substantially different in N.O.V.A. 3 from other first person shooters but they feel unpolished and the limited customization ensures that we will have to spend quite a while with them before you feel at ease.
Spending time with N.O.V.A. 3 though is something you will want to do though as the rewards are worth it. A compelling, if short, campaign mode is great to play but the addition of not only a local wi-fi multiplayer but also an online version, via Gameloft LIVE, is going to have you hooked for months.
Six different multiplayer game modes as well as weekly tournaments keeps things interesting and as long as you put in the time to learn your skills so that you aren’t re-spawning every 30 seconds the online modes ultimately make N.O.V.A. 3 {$6.99} a very rewarding experience.
All this comes at a price, not the $7 that it’ll cost you in the App Store, that’s a bargain, but the 1.5 GB of storage space that it will take up on your iOS device. You may need to manage some space before installing this monster!
There are games that push the limit of mobile gaming and make other companies step up, N.O.V.A. 3 is one of those games and you don’t want to miss the bandwagon.
What we like:
What to know:
[rating: 4.5/5]
Shadowgun Review: More and more portable games are claiming that they can match the graphics and gameplay of their compatriots on the PS3, Xbox and the Wii. Some of these have succeeded in some part or other but nothing has truly challenged the console dominance when it comes to the big arcade titles such as Gears of War and Halo. But is that about to change?
Shadowgun {$7.99} is a new game from Mad Finger Games and is a third person action shooter where you take on on the role of John Slade, a mercenary on a mission to bring to justice to a mad scientist who has battened down the hatches of a distant planet.
Of course the mad scientist Dr. Simons is not on his own and his Frankenstien monster inspired mutant army will defend him to the death.
The first thing that grabs you about Shadowgun are the beautiful, rich graphics that do not end at the cut scenes like so many games do but instead spread through the into the game-play creating one of the most spectacular looking games you have seen in a hand-held device.
There are a variety of environments as you progress through the game, from the surface of the planet, through the laboratories and even down into the depths of the planet and each of them is as beautiful as the next.
We all know though that as good as a game looks it’s nothing if it doesn’t have the game-play to match. Again, Shadowgun doesn’t disappoint. The story line is well told and the voice acting is amongst the better that you’ll find. This is especially rewarding as many games these days still rely on subtitles only to tell the story.
The game is a little linear, there aren’t many alternatives routes or story-lines and the puzzles are rather limited but you aren’t playing an action shooter for those elements right, you’re here to kill and blow things up right!?
And of those two items there are plenty. Multiple guns are available to pick-up as you progress through the game all have there strengths depending on the enemy you are facing at the time. Ammunition is limited though, especially as you crank up the difficulty level.
This brings me onto the sound in the game. The audio of the weapons is strong and powerful and the soundtrack keeps the game moving along expertly. This is certainly the case when it comes to impending enemies which you are warned about due to the music which strikes fear into you a couple of seconds before they appear. Playing with the sound on, or even better with your headphones in, is a true aural pleasure.
There are 9 levels in total and when you complete the 9th you will most certainly want to play again, either on a higher difficulty level or to search for any of the 16 hidden extras that are hidden throughout the game. These extras don’t give you anything tangible to use in the game, instead they fill in some of the back-story and provide more detailed information about the game, not too exciting but an additional challenge that adds more to the overall experience.
I’m surprised that haven’t mentioned the controls yet, especially considering that the control mechanism in any game can make or break it. Having not mentioned them yet is indicative of how good they are. They may not have the plethora of options that it’s console equivalents may have but they are intuitive and effective. For example there is no option to run, crouch or jump but your character will take cover when appropriate and interactive with the environment as you instruct it to so that gates can be opened, computers hacked and ammunition loaded.
The left part of the screen controls your movement while the right hand side of the screen controls the camera. There is a d-pad to use but as it’s a floating one you never find yourself hunting for it when you need it the most.
A single button on the right side of the screen is used to fire your weapon and while it will automatically reload should you empty your barrels there is also a secondary button to reload quicker.
Shadowgun is an engrossing game, an adventure that once you pick up you won’t be able to put down, and that’s OK as you wouldn’t want to. It’s also a universal app meaning that at the price point of $7.99 you can install the game on both your iPhone and iPad making Shadowgun even better value for money.
What we like
What to know
Gallery
]]>
https://touchreviews.net/shadowgun-review/feed/ 0
The Deep [rating: 5/5]
Take a swim in ‘The Deep’ for iPhone!
The sophistication of most iPhone games have left behind some traditional game genres. In a world that supports stunning graphics and 3D environments, you rarely see a well executed sidescrolling adventure game. The Deep by 3G Studios combines a classic sidescrolling collection game with role playing elements to make a thoroughly enjoyable game.
As the game opens, you are a mindless office drone filing TPS reports and waiting for the clock to tick down to the end of the day. Suddenly your fortune changes. You receive notification that you’ve won a vacation. The next thing you know you’re transported off to a tropical isle for fun and adventure in the sun. Amid the sun, fun, and somewhat zany locals you find adventure and excitement.
There are two main modes of play in The Deep. The first is a role play adventure. In this mode, you move around the island and talk to the locals. Dealings with the locals are run through a question and response type of interaction. A local will make a statement or ask a question and you will be given three possible responses. Although some of the interactions will initially leave you scratching your head, you quickly learn to drive conversations to extract the information you need to succeed in the game. Locals will either give you general use information about the game or point you towards the quests that drive gameplay forward.
The second mode of the game is a sidescrolling collection adventure. Once a local has pointed you towards a quest, you grab your scuba gear and head out to the ocean. A map will show you the dive spots currently available. Tap an available area to start a dive. Each dive is governed by the oxygen meter located in the upper left hand corner of the screen. Time spent underwater will deplete your oxygen as will running into hostile sea creatures. Return to your ship to replenish your oxygen. During each dive you will collect treasure that can be used to restock and upgrade your diving equipment. Make sure to look for this while performing what ever other quest you are fulfilling. A counter at the top right hand side of the interface will show how much treasure you currently have. Movement can be customized to use either a virtual joystick in the lower left hand corner of the interface or by touch on the game surface. Return to your ship when you want to go back to island to upgrade more equipment or end a quest.
I really like The Deep. It is a fun and welcome change from the usual 3D game offerings. It hearkens back to an earlier time in gaming where the sidescrolling game was king and I would spend my weekly allowance in an afternoon at the arcade. The graphics, gameplay, and music really evokes this gaming environment. The quest-based environment also lends itself quite well to the replay value of the game. I found myself coming back to the game again and again to either finish something I’d started or to anxiously await what my new quest would be. The Deep also features Facebook Connect so you can share your adventures and accomplishments with your Facebook friends.
With all of that being said, the only real improvement I could suggest for this game is a free play mode. Its a small thing but free play is a nice option for campaign / quest style games. It allows the player to experience levels that would be otherwise be locked and enhances the overall replayability of the game. Lack of free play certainly does not detract from the overall experience of the game and would only enhance it.
Overall, I’d give The Deep two very enthusiastic thumbs up. This is a great game that invokes a classic game genre to deliver hours of fun.
The Good:
The Not So Good:
Reviewed by: Erin Peterson
The Deep iPhone Gameplay
Video by: touchArcade.com
Price: $3.99 as of 14 Jan (iTunes Store)
Reviewed Version: 1.0
Size: 103 MB
Seller: 3G Studios, Inc.
SGN’s highly anticipated game ‘Skies of Glory’ is finally available on the App Store for free (iTunes Link). The game is a follow-up to their hugely popular game F.A.S.T (iTunes Link), a game based on World War II.
ngmoco’s success on the App Store with the ‘free to download and pay to upgrade’ model has raised developers interest in the ‘freemium’ model. ‘Skies of Glory’ features in-app purchase and offers additional downloadable content.
Features
‘Skies of Glory’ for iPhone: Trailer
]]> https://touchreviews.net/skies-of-glory-iphone-game-free/feed/ 0