iPhone Games: iShoot Review

The world of gaming was taken by storm by a game known as Worms when it was released 13 years ago. This PC game had a 2D gameplay involving tanks firing missiles and launching attacks at each other. The bombs destroyed not just tanks but also the terrain and this was a big thing then. iShoot is a new iPhone/iPod game which resembles Worms with multiple tanks attacking each other on destructible environments. However, the developers, Naughty Bits Software, have not created a clone of Worms for Apple. Only the core concept has been borrowed. This game has been aggressively promoted in App Store and is available for just $2.99

iShoot has a very simple menu. The no frills menu consists of just two options. You can either start a new game or opt for instructions. The latter gives you a quick tutorial on the game while the former command takes you to the game. Up to four tanks can be controlled by humans while all remaining tanks are controlled by the game. Unlike other games, the AI in this game is not very tough to beat until you play the toughest version of the game. Even the hard computer can be beaten with a good effort. However, only a superlative effort can destroy the extreme computer. Every blow by the AI falls right on target at this level.

The gameplay itself is turn-based with each player controlling their own tank. The objective of iShoot is to launch whatever weapon you choose and have that shot hit the other tank. Most weapons not only do damage to your opponent, but also destroy the terrain. That means that every hit you take will require you to adjust the angle and speed of your shot accordingly. The relative balancing of weapons makes for some nail-biting matches. You'll often find yourself at the end against an opponent, both at very low health, trying to get that last hit to win the game.

The most valuable aspect of this game is its weapons. There is a lot of choice available as far as weapons are concerned. Before the start of each stage, you are given funds to purchase weapons. You should choose your weapons wisely. Going in for the expensive Shiva bomb will leave you with very little money for any other weapon. Using the weapon is a tactical decision and should be taken accordingly. To use the nuke to create a crater and restrict the opponent or to use it to finish off the opponent is a million dollar question. If you want some space, you can opt for the terrain modifying weapons to create mounds or walls to block the access routes of your enemy. The weapons form the most interesting aspect of this game and this game would never had been very popular had it not been for the wonderful choices available as far as weapons are concerned.

If you do not want to focus on moving the tank around, you must opt for a simple map of a hill. On the other hand, if you want wickedly complex maps, opt for the one where you fight on top of Mount Rushmore. This game would have been a lot more fun had the developers permitted the players to choose their maps. Currently, you have to play on the map assigned by the game. This restriction prevents you from playing on your favorite map again and again.

As far as graphics of this game is concerned, the presence of a periodic frame rate slowdown is inexcusable for a game that is rendered in 2D. This does not affect actual performance as the game is not dependent on a good frame rate. However, this error is indicative of poor programming on the part of the developers. Apart from this issue, the graphics are par for the course. The tanks are not designed in detail but the environment has been rendered very well. The frame rate issue needs to be sorted out before the next version is released.

The absence of a good quality back ground sound track seem incongruous considering the fact that this game costs $3 to download to your iPhone. A $1 game is not expected to have a background score. However, the fact that your gaming experience is punctuated only by the sounds of explosions and missile fire seems out of place for this game.

If this game has to be described in a single word, one would have to call it a fun game. However, its high price is a dampener on an otherwise good game. The price seems very high considering the fact that the developers have not provided for a real menu design, a good background music score and different modes of playing the game. The developers ought to put more effort in these areas. The work done on the wide range of weapons and maps is not enough to justify its high price. However, if you can afford this game, you should go for it as it will make a great addition to your iPhone/iPod gaming library.

Final Score: 7.5 / 10