GIReiner Blog

My Favorite Games Of The Year

2013-05-18T00:52:00Z

Yes, I know it’s only May. Back off. This list only represents the games I played in the first four months of 2013. It is by no means complete, and likely won’t be until the end of December.

Why am I bringing it to you so early? Why not? Over the course of the year, I chronicle my game experiences in a notebook. Old school, I know. The first six pages of this notebook are dedicated to the games I feel I need to play. I jot down a game's title and cross it off after I complete it or feel I've seen enough of it. By the end of the year, my goal is to have played all of the these titles.

The games that stand out as the year’s best are jotted down on the last page of the notebook. Yes, I only need one page for this. The pages in-between these two sections are dedicated to individual games. Each game gets at least one page that I fill with notes, opinions, crudely drawn images, and occasionally quotes. A massive game like Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim consumed six pages. Resident Evil 6 consumed four pages; the last dedicated to one word: an angrily written "DISASTER!"

What you’re about to read is essentially the last page of the notebook. The only differences are the addition of opinion and screenshots. Oh yeah, you also don't have to decipher my awful handwriting.

These games are not numbered and won’t be until the Game Informer staff is tasked to compile end-of-the-year lists. You won’t know what my top game is until that issue hits newsstands. I know the suspense must be killing you. This blog will be updated whenever I add a new game to my list. Bookmark it, start your own blog with your own list of games, and link it in the comments section below. I'd love to read them!

Without further delay, here are my last-page picks for the year:

Metro: Last Light

I enjoyed Metro 2033 to an extent, but walked away from the game thinking I'd seen enough of this subterranean world created by 4A Games. After reading Jeff Marchiafava's rave review, I decided to give the sequel, Last Light, a chance. I'm glad I did. Once I started playing, I didn't want to put it down. The game handles both run-and-gun and stealth particularly well, letting players decide how they are going to work their way through densely populated environments. I leaned more on stealth. Most of the environments are designed to allow the player to sneak through the shadows or in the tunnels below enemy troopers. I wasn't enjoying the story until around the halfway point, when a "companion" was added to the mix. From there, I was hooked, and the game didn't disappoint in its delivery of gorgeous story sequences and towering set-piece moments. In retrospect, Last Light made me appreciate the time I put into Metro 2033. The importance of that "companion" just wouldn't hold the same weight had I not played the first game in the series.
My rating: 4 Spooky Spider Tunnels out of 5 Candle-Lit Subways

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

Charming. Fascinating. Beautiful. Challenging. Wonderful. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch blends the cinematic storytelling of Studio Ghibli with the JRPG expertise of Level-5 to create a journey filled with heart and depth. Whether I was helping villagers put their lives back together or spending far too much time capturing monsters, Ni no Kuni won me over and made me want more. Although I’ve never played another JPRG quite like it, it reminded me of the JRPG heyday of the PlayStation 1 and 2 eras. 
My rating: 4 weird nose lanterns out of 5 ghost girls

BioShock: Infinite

My favorite moments in BioShock: Infinite occurred in the first 20 minutes and the last 20 minutes. The eight to nine hours in-between these mind-blowing sequences offered great run-and-gun gameplay, but didn’t hold a candle to Irrational Games’ spellbinding storytelling. Even months after completion, this is one of those games that I still discuss with friends, as I often find everyone interprets parts of it differently.
My rating: 4 garbage can hotdogs out of 5 terrifying songbirds

Injustice: Gods Among Us

I’ll let my review do the talking: “NetherRealm clearly had a blast creating Injustice. The team’s appreciation of the DC universe blends nicely with their well-worn Mortal Kombat formula to create an experience that is a success on both fighting and comic book levels. Whether Doomsday is knocking Superman into the core of the planet or Bane is breaking Batman's back, a stratospheric level of violence accompanies almost every fight. The carnage towers over the combat seen in the team's previous venture in spandex, 2009's Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe.”
My Game Informer Review Rating: 9 out of 10
 
Tomb Raider

When I first heard about the new “survival” direction Crystal Dynamics was taking Lara Croft in, I thought the game would play out like Lost, with Croft hunting for food and fending off crazed villagers as she searched for a way off of a mysterious island. It turns out that “survival” mostly means watching Lara fall 30 stories, kick wolves in the face, and get impaled a few times for good measure. Crystal Dynamics basically gave her the mutant healing powers of Wolverine. Both brutal and fun, Crystal Dynamics assembled a hell of a shooter. The Zelda-like “return to this area with new powers” design is implemented nicely, and the story kept me hooked. I miss the tombs of old, but also dig the direction this series is going in.
My rating: 3.5 broken bones out of 5 improbable plummets

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

One of my top moments of the year occurs in the final hour of Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. The cinematic leads to the acquisition of one of the craziest weapons I’ve ever wielded in a video game. And that’s the point of said weapon – to obliterate foes with ease. I loved Blood Dragon when it was being absurd – usually in any cutscene or story-based mission. I didn’t like that most of my time was spent securing outposts and completing brief side missions. More story missions would have been nice.
My rating: 3.5 middle fingers out of 5 hand lasers

Devil May Cry

The transforming worlds and ridiculous story are worth the price of admission alone. Throw in a deep and satisfying combat system and Devil May Cry delivers big thrills that live up to the series’ namesake. Outside of an anticlimactic last boss, I enjoyed all of the fights. Bring me more, Capcom. Lots more.
My rating: 3.5 emo haircuts out of 5 people complaining about hair color

Fire Emblem: Awakening

Kimberley Wallace’s review of Fire Emblem: Awakening nails the experience. “My heart raced as I watched enemies close in on an injured character, and I found myself devastated if I executed an action that cost me the match,” she said. “Awakening made me scratch and claw for victory, and I savored every moment.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. I always cringed when my characters would take damage early in battle. Ensuring victory without sustaining casualties was paramount. I thought long and hard about most of my moves. Carelessness often led to battle restarts. Turn-based strategy doesn’t get much better than this.
My rating: 4 strange feet out of 5 awkward battlefield relationships

Defiance

Sure, I complain about Defiance at an alarming frequency on Twitter, and yes, I realize the game has more bugs in its code than its missions do Hellbugs. But, the flawed experience can be incredibly rewarding when friends are battling at your side. I like the game Trion Worlds is trying to sell. I just wish the execution matched the vision.
My rating: 3 hellbugs out of 5 game-crippling bugs

Games on my “must-play” list:
Badland
BattleBlock Theater
Crysis 3
Dead Island: Riptide
Guacamelee
Luigi’s Mansion 2: Dark Moon
Monaco
Resident Evil: Revleations
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner – Soul Hackers
Year Walk

A Lego Star Wars Set Unlike Any Other

2013-05-17T16:18:00Z

I arrived at work today to find a mysterious Lego Star Wars box sitting on my desk. The message "secrets to reveal there are" is written on one of the sides. The rest of the box is covered in what would appear to be Lego lights, some of them flashing.

A document inside the box shows that this surprise is tied to the May 29 launch of Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles show on Cartoon Network. But that's not all...

Lego is also unveiling the "world's largest Lego model" on May 23 in New York's Times Square at 11 AM.

The box also includes a new Lego set consisting of 408 pieces.

The instruction manual shows Yoda holding some sort of Holocron-like device, which would appear to be one of the lights.

The final model looks like a meditation chamber of some sort. The lights on the box are also on this set's walls. If those lights are Holocrons, this could also be a vault or library. The set includes figures of Yoda, a female character with long brown hair, and a droid.

I've reached out to Lego to see if this set will be sold at retail, and was told that, "This set will not be sold in stores, and is an exclusive teaser for the event in New York next week." We'll find out then what piece of the Star Wars universe becomes the world's largest Lego model next week. My money is on the Death Star.

Here's Why Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen Doesn't Have New Achievements & Trophies

2013-05-03T16:28:00Z

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is one of the games I was looking forward to playing the most this year. Given my somewhat psychotic desire to reach 200,000 gamerscore as quickly as possible (I currently sit at 199,454), my interest in this expansion nosedived a few days ago. I discovered Capcom didn’t create any new achievements for it, and I had to know why.

Like From Software's Dark Souls before it, Dark Arisen has earned a reputation for delivering punishing battles. The difference is that the thrill of overcoming great odds in Capcom's latest won’t be heralded by a satisfying “boop-boop.” My sigh of relief brought by victory won't be treated with the familiar oblong sigil or an increase in my gamerscore.

Capcom isn’t to blame for the lack of achievements, though. "Trophies and achievements gained in Dragon's Dogma will carry over to Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen so adding any new ones would exceed the standard amount of awards that can be received per game,” a Capcom representative told me. “Removing existing trophies and achievements to replace with new ones was not an option given the incompatibility issues with any trophies and achievements carried across in a player's save data from Dragon’s Dogma to Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen."

Retail Xbox 360 games are limited to 50 achievements worth 1,000 gamerscore. Developers and publishers can add to these totals through downloadable content. Bethesda upped The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’s totals to 75 achievements and 1,550 gamerscore through numerous DLC packs. On PlayStation 3, it offers 76 trophies (one extra for platinum).

Since Dark Arisen isn’t technically DLC, Microsoft would not allow new achievements to be implemented into the game. Had Capcom released Dark Arisen as a download-only expansion that didn’t include all of Dragon’s Dogma’s content, new achievements could have been added. At that point, Capcom could have released the Dragon’s Dogma/Dark Arisen collection to retail with more than 50 achievements and 1,000 gamerscore. Numerous developers have told me that they are frustrated and mystified by these arbitrary restrictions. Sony follows a similar system for trophies.

This is one instance where Microsoft and Sony should have altered restrictions for Capcom.

I know that achievements and trophies do not make a game, but they sure are fun to unlock – especially for someone like me who is striving for that next big milestone.

Oh No, Hellbugs! Let’s Play Defiance This Weekend

2013-04-18T20:43:00Z

Due to the shaky stability of Defiance’s Xbox 360 servers during my gaming hours, I haven’t been able invest as much time as I’ve wanted to into this massively multiplayer shooting experience. Kelly, my lovely wife, has graciously given me a nice window to play Defiance this weekend.

I don’t want to go after the Arkfalls alone, people. Join me in my fight against the evil hellbugs, mutants, robots, and weird beasts that are infesting our cities! I’ll be online on both Saturday and Sunday, starting at 5 PM CT and lasting as long as I can keep my eyes open.

My gamertag is Reinak. My in-game character name is Rinley. I’m two missions into Chapter 2, and currently sit with an EGO rating of 228. I’d recommend reaching these milestones before you join me. I should also point out that Mike Futter, Game Informer’s news editor, is joining me. His gamertag is PaladinXII.

He-Man And The Masters Of The Legoverse

2013-04-08T20:02:00Z

A couple of weeks ago I geeked out over the idea of George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones being turned into a Lego series. Brick builder David Frank (known as Fraslund on Flickr) shows us that He-Man and the Masters of the Universe has just as much "I will give you all of my money for every set" potential. Frank's custom piece is of Castle Grayskull, home to The Sorceress and that strange power that makes He-Man's shirt disappear.

Frank's build includes a detailed interior, three exterior sides, and custom minifigs of The Sorceress and He-Man. Take a look at Fraslund's gallery for a good look at this outstanding custom piece.

[Source: Fraslund via Brothers Brick]

Shadow Of The Colossus, Adam Sandler, And Game Informer...It Happened

2013-04-04T16:36:00Z

In the fall of 2005, Game Informer's editor-in-chief, Andy McNamara, entered my office and told me that he had been contacted by a movie company that wanted us to create a special Game Informer cover for use in an upcoming Adam Sandler film called Reign Over Me. He said it was a serious-toned Sandler movie that followed a character who lost his family on 9/11 and was trying to rebuild his life. He then said that the movie company requested Shadow of the Colossus to be the game featured on the magazine cover.

I remember giving Andy a blank stare in response. I couldn't wrap my brain around Sandler, 9/11, and Shadow of the Colossus in the same film. Andy walked me through more of the plot, which utilized Shadow of the Colossus as a bonding tool for Sandler's character and a friend he had lost touch with, and I thought it sounded like a great thing to be a part of. Andy agreed.

An added bonus to this project: We got the chance to create a cover for Shadow of the Colossus, something we hadn't done in the past. To this day, this is still one of my favorite covers. The sad part: Only a few people have it in their collections.

We decided to give it a unique number. We settled on 150.5, since it was created after we finished issue 150. Shadow of the Colossus was also reviewed in issue 150. The actual cover for the issue was the first look of Crackdown.

We sent the cover file to our printer and asked them to recycle pages from previous issues to complete the issue. What was inside the magazine didn't matter. The finished prop featured a random assortment of 146 pages. In a few of the magazines these pages were printed upside down. The cover stock is considerably thicker than Game Informer's standard. No ad was printed on the backside of the cover. The back of the magazine features an add for the PlayStation 2 version of Resident Evil 4. We only printed 50 copies of this issue. Half of them were sent to Happy Madison Productions. The rest went to Game Informer's office.

Sadly, the magazine wasn't prominently displayed in the film, but some of us think it's on the chair in the background. Others believe it is under the stack of games on the coffee table.

Don Cheadle's character loved Shadow of the Colossus. We felt the same way about our fake cover.

Game Of Thrones Would Make An Amazing Lego Line

2013-03-22T14:20:00Z

Brick builder Jacob Nion shows us that the Iron Throne from George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones would make a great (and cheap) Lego set. Game of Thrones is probably too dark and mature of a property for Lego to pursue, but just think of the amazing sets that could come from this fiction. Winterfell, The Wall, the Red We...uh...I should stop before I reveal any spoilers. Just think of what Traveller's Tales could do with this property in the game space.

Nion's Flickr stream is loaded with shots that give you a good look at this custom set. If you like his stuff, make sure you check out his custom Lord of the Rings works.

Marvel Is Giving Away 700 Digital First Issues

2013-03-11T15:31:00Z

Free up as much hard drive space as you can. Marvel Comics is giving away 700 first issues – including many from the newly launched Marvel Now brand – on Marvel's digital apps and Comixology. I highly recommend checking out All-New X-Men, Iron Man, Uncanny Avengers, and any classic event like Infinity Gauntlet, Civil War, and Fear Itself.

These digital sites are experiencing high traffic at the moment (duh) and are understandably experiencing problems. I've been able to select the comics I want for download, but any attempt at getting them has been hit with a "download error" message. I would say wait, but the promotion only runs until Tuesday, 11 PM Eastern Time. At least get the comics you want queued up for download. Happy shopping!

I Hope Metal Gear Isn't The Next Final Fantasy

2013-03-06T23:39:00Z

If you asked me to sum up the Metal Gear series to the best of my ability, I would enthusiastically ramble on about stealth action, mechs, political intrigue, ninjas, mullets, cardboard boxes, enemies that read minds, lengthy story breaks, posters hung on locker doors, the crazy stuff that happens when these locker doors are closed, and at the end of it all, I likely wouldn’t be able to paint a definitive picture for you. I’m not crazy, and my memory of the series remains razor sharp. My takeaway: The Metal Gear series is always changing. Gameplay commonalities tie each game together, but most of the content doesn’t adhere to a consistent framework. That’s what makes this series so exciting. You never really know what Kojima Productions is going to deliver next. We even find ourselves second guessing if Snake will remain the protagonist, thanks to a brilliant (and controversial) character switch in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

That being said, I haven’t enjoyed my time with Metal Gear Rising, a gonzo, action-focused spin-off starring Raiden. Even when I’m racking up huge combos that shower the battlefield in foes’ body parts, the action isn’t clicking for me, and I’m not engaged by the brutality of the fights. I don’t like how blocking is handled. Raiden’s basic moves are a little too loose for my liking. I’m not a fan of wiggling the left analog stick to regain consciousness. I’m a cyborg who gets concussions…how is that even possible?

My lack of interest in Rising reminded me of another gaming misstep: Square Enix’s Dirge of Cerberus, a Final Fantasy VII spin-off starring Vincent. The issue isn’t about quality (Rising is a better game than Dirge) as much as it is a comparison to a series losing its identity and not getting it back.

Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts are two series that I feel are suffering from identity crises. I lost interest in Kingdom Hearts when Square Enix decided to continue the series through confusing naming conventions and canonical placement, such as 358/2 Days, a game set between Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2, and Dream Drop Distance, a continuation of the epilogue in Re:coded.

I can probably spend an entire day telling you where Final Fantasy went wrong, and why my excitement for the series is practically nonexistent now. It was one of my favorite series coming into this console generation, and it went off the rails to such a degree that I still haven’t played Final Fantasy XIII-2 and have no interest in Lightning Returns.

Metal Gear has had a few spin-off games before – from card games to portable chapters – but Kojima Productions’ vision hasn’t changed. Metal Gear Solid 4 hit the target.

Rising successfully delivered many of Metal Gear's traits, but also became a red flag for me, and it isn't the only one I see. Ground Zeroes is looking like another new wrinkle for the series. And let’s not forget about The Phantom Pain, a game everyone believes is a Metal Gear title, but Konami refuses to comment on at this point. There are rumors of it being Metal Gear Solid V or another spinoff that ties into that continuity.

I’m okay with periodic experimentation in a series. Getting more of what we love is always a great thing. I just hope Konami remembers how to count to five, or establishes a new vision for the series that fans can latch onto. The last thing I want to see is the series getting tangled in its ever-expanding web of side stories and games.

Reader Creates Game Informer-Themed Royal Rumble

2013-02-13T16:22:00Z

Game Informer reader "Attackcobra" recreated the likenesses of 10 Game Informer editors and inserted them into a Royal Rumble match in WWE '12. Associate editor Kyle Hilliard and I were the first two entrants, putting us at a distinct disadvantage. I should also point out that Kyle is psychopath who immediately tries to strangle his boss to death. If you watch the video, mute the sound unless you want to hear 13-minutes of annoying music.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

2D Video Game Invades Reality In Excellent Music Video

2013-01-23T21:35:00Z

Xilent's "Boss Wave" music video shows what happens when a 2D video game meets the real world. Summary: Plenty of robot foes are blasted, flying eyeballs are annoying, and a few civilians are caught in the crossfire. Whether you like dubstep or not, you owe it to yourself to watch this amazing video game-inspired video.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

[Thanks go out to GI reader Deschnel for the video tip!]

200,000 Gamerscore Is Within Reach

2013-01-21T22:37:00Z

I stopped caring about my Xbox Live Gamerscore after I hit 100,000. At that point in time, the next milestone was obviously going to be 200,000 – a feat that would take me years to reach. I have the attention span of a fly, so there was no way I was going to stay engaged for multiple years to increase a number that has no meaning other than bragging rights. Years have passed since I hit 100,000, and my Gamerscore is now sitting at 195,149. That itch to reach the next milestone is back...to a degree. I find myself torn between playing the games I legitimately want to play and playing games that will give me the easiest achievements.

Since I've already bled the easiest achievement-dispensing games dry (Avatar, TMNT), I've decided to stay the course and devote my time to good games, like DmC: Devil May Cry and Dead Space 3. I don't know how long it will take me to rack up an additional 5,000 gamerscore, but this milestone is going to be reached with a game that I enjoy, or at the very least, feel I need to play.

What would you do if you were in my shoes? Also, have you been there? What embarrassing games have you finished to reach a Gamerscore goal? My lowest point: Finishing the awful Brave: A Warrior's Tale to get over 700 points. That feat took me an entire weekend.

The Games I Completed In 2012

2013-01-17T23:25:00Z

In 2011, I completed 70 games. The blog I wrote listed 69 games, but I managed to finish L.A. Noire on December 31 with just two hours left before ringing in the New Year.

In 2012, my total is far lower than I expected it to be. I’m probably missing a few games, but I believe I finished 48 games last year. The birth of my first child obviously led to me having far less time to game. I also feel that 2012 didn’t have as many “must-play” titles that kept me up late into the night.

There’s another factor at play here, too. Many of the games I play on iOS don’t have a defined conclusion. The same could be said of sports games like MLB 12: The Show, but winning the World Series or being awarded the American League MVP in Road to the Show are conclusions of sorts. Should games I obsessed over like Temple Run and Madcoaster be added to my list? I don’t think so, but they are definitely worth mentioning given how much of my time they consumed.

The game I spent the most time with was Dragon’s Dogma. I played through it with a friend over the course of three months, and nearly completed a second playthrough by myself. That playthrough was completed on January 13, 2013.

I got a huge kick out of seeing all of the games you completed in 2011, and once again extend an invitation to all of you to jot down the games you finished in 2012 in the comments section below.

My List of Completed Games in 2012:
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon
Alan Wake’s American Nightmare
The Amazing Spider-Man
Angry Birds Star Wars
Assassin’s Creed III
Battleship
Borderlands 2
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Darksiders II
Dishonored
Disney Universe
Dragon’s Dogma (almost two complete playthroughs)
The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn
Fable: The Journey
Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse
Far Cry 3
Fez
Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
Halo 4
I am Alive
Hell Yeah!
Journey
Jurassic Park
Kinect Star Wars
Lego Batman 2
Lego Lord of the Rings
Little Inferno
Lollipop Chainsaw
Lord of the Rings: War in the North
Major League Baseball 2K12
Mass Effect 3
Max Payne 3
MLB 12: The Show
New Super Mario Bros. U
Prototype 2
Resistance 3
Skylanders Giants
Sleeping Dogs
Soul Calibur V
Spec Ops: The Line
Street Fighter x Tekken
Syndicate
Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
The Unfinished Swan
The Walking Dead
XCOM: Enemy Unknown (PC, almost completed on 360)
Zuma’s Revenge

Hundreds Delivers Stressful Fun

2013-01-05T02:14:00Z

Welcome to Hundreds, a new iOS game by Semi Secret Software.

How does it work? You see that "76" hidden behind a grey sphere? If that number reaches 100, the level is complete. To make this number grow, the player must tap and hold the grey spheres. In this particular stage, the like colored spheres must be touched in unison. Holding a finger on a sphere makes the number climb and also increases the size of the sphere. If any of the spheres collide with one another, the game is over. If a sphere touches a spinning saw blade of doom, its number is reduced to 0. For this stage, dividing the number evenly across all four spheres is a great strategy. In other stages, victory may come from one or two giant spheres. Seems simple, right?

Wrong. This is a game designed to test your patience and timing. Recklessness and greed only bring fried nerves and numerous level restarts. In a way, Hundreds reminds me of games like Super Meat Boy and N+, where every action must be executed flawlessly. It's stressful, difficult, but above all, lots of fun. A great sense of satisfaction is gained after a difficult stage is finally beaten.

Hundreds is currently $2.99 and can be played on either iOS or iPad.

Check out the video below to see several levels in action. If you do pick this game up, share your thoughts in the comments section.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

An iOS Space Shooter You Should Consider Playing

2012-12-20T17:05:00Z

My coworkers often make fun of me for playing everything. And I mean everything. I play bad licensed kids games, purchase weird iOS games with the word “Fart” in the title, and deem any game that scores a 1 or higher on Game Informer’s scoring scale to be in my wheelhouse. People often ask me why I play these games, and I say that they give me perspective. One of the few games that I refused to play this year was Psyonix Studios’ Arc Squadron, an on-rails space shooter for iOS.

My reason? I hate automated firing systems. Hate them with a passion. If you throw me into a spaceship armed to the teeth with laser blasters, I want to fire them. If Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing automatically fired the torpedo that destroyed the Death Star, all of the drama would be stripped from that pivotal moment. And yes, I do see a parallel between a game like Star Fox and Star Wars’ Death Star run.

So, that brings us back to Arc Squadron and its automated targeting system. Despite being inundated with friends and coworkers telling me that I was “being unreasonable” and “would absolutely love it if I gave it a chance,” I wouldn’t budge from my stance on the automated targeting system…until yesterday. I caved.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

It turns out they were right. The automated firing system doesn’t diminish the intensity or fun that Arc Squadron delivers. The thought of “I wish I could fire these guns” washes away after a few seconds. The automated firing system and general ship movement are joined in a way that works incredibly well. It’s more a game of quick evasive movement, than sitting in one place to unload rounds on a foe. In most stages, I found myself dancing all over the screen to dodge rocket blasts, rolling asteroids, and to fire off a few shots at a heavily armed vessels. The ship’s movements are silky smooth, and a barrel roll maneuver is perfectly implemented with a hard swipe of the finger.

Special weapons add strategy to the mix. If missiles are equipped, the player can tap individual targets to launch them. If defense is called for, a doppelganger hologram can be deployed to draw enemy fire. Lasers, burst missiles, smart bombs, reflective shields, burst lasers, squadrons, chain lightning, and black holes can also be called upon as the game unfolds.

There’s no shortage of content here. Arc Squadron is a gargantuan game, offering over 60 beautifully designed levels. Depth also comes from the shop, which allows for the purchasing of new ships, upgrades, and skins. All of these items can be purchased with in-game currency. Levels can be farmed, if you so choose.

And then there are the mods that can only be purchased with real cash, and are surprisingly spendy. Double currency will set you back $4.99. A shield costs the same. If you don’t want to unlock items through the game, you can throw down $8.99 to unlock them all at once. While I’ve found double currency to be helpful in games like Jetpack Joyride and Temple Run, I didn’t see a need for it in Arc Squadron. Currency is thrown out at a decent rate, and having over 60 levels to replay doesn’t hurt, either.

Arc Squadron is a must-play for fans of Star Fox and Panzer Dragoon, and anyone looking for a great space shooter for their iPhone or iPad. As of this writing, Psyonix Studios has reduced the price to “free.” You can’t beat that.

I played through version 1.21.