Windows Phone Archive

I have a new addiction. It’s called Roid Blaster. Just released into the app marketplace, Roid Blaster has quickly become my go-to game to kill time…even when I shouldn’t be killing any sort of time. That my friends, is a sign of quality gaming. When the need to have fun is stronger than the need to work, you know you have a problem. Conflicting issues of work ethic aside, Windows Phone gamers should put their attention to this little Asteroids-like game.

As the name implies, the game is loosely based on that old Asteroids classic. It isn’t a one-for-one copy, which is a good thing, but it does carry some of its quirks. For instance, the floaty, skating aspect of ship movement is still here as the primary ship will carry its forward movement as its axis shifts in a different direction. It will slide a little until the full weight of its thrusters latches onto its new trajectory. It’s a cool throwback to that old Atari game, but it adds a level of difficulty when trying to avoid a head on collision with an asteroid three times your ship’s size.

Luckily you are rewarded with a trusty blaster as your primary weapon. Barreling head on to an asteroid isn’t a death wish if you are blasting your way towards it. The big boulders will need some distance and enough persistent firing to get it to break apart, but having an escape route should you need one is always a good idea. There are different sized asteroids to blow up and each one gives you goblets (for lack of a better word) of “stuff” that you must collect to add to your point total. Aside from those pesky asteroids, you also have upgrade crates, crystals, and rocks of fuel to up and puff out. Each one gives you a different item to collect like power ups and weapons, higher goblets of points and fuel for your ship to keep on blasting. They are helpful and dangerous as anything that is destroyable is also able to destroy you if you so happen to crash into it.

The arsenal at your disposal is also worth your consideration. These upgrades obtainable from the crates that float about are important if you wish to rack up your points. You have rockets, laser beams and a mine that is probably the greatest mine you will have the pleasure to detonate. You have to see it in action to understand its salubrious gratification–it’s just plain yummy. The quicker you utilize these weapons the better, and the more destruction you can ravage through outer space.

For controls you have your standard, virtual “nubs”; one for moving about, the other for shooting. Each control sits at your left and right, with a weapon slider at the top-right corner of the screen. These are probably some of the best virtual controls I’ve used, which in the age of touchscreen gaming, is something that can totally break a promising game. The aloof aspect of the ship’s movement is something everyone will have to get used to, and that’s where the biggest learning curve rests. After a few dry runs you’ll start to realize how to counter the ship’s slip-n’-slide nature. The faster you get your noggin around this the more natural it will feel navigating around.

Now, with the way the game controls and plays, most people would be satisfied, but the real treat is playing and looking at the gorgeous graphics on display. This game looks amazing. Developer Brainwave Games has created a truly breathtaking little shooter. The way asteroids break apart or the flashes of light that flare up and out after every single blast of your weapon is enthralling. You want to look at the game as much as you want to play it. Having a screen shot doesn’t do it justice. The game is also silky smooth, and runs at a very fluid framerate. Being an indie game it sure beats the pants of roughly 99% of the games on the market with its graphics.

The sound effects and background music don’t disappoint either. With every little nudge of the fire button, you have ample noises coming from your ship. The thrusters, weapons and dings from collision add to the level of immersion. It’s gratifying to hear the rapid rat-tat-tat-tat of your blaster, or the crunching sound of your ship’s demise when you just happen to crash into one too many things. The background music is a trippy, new age melange of tunes that sit back and let you do you work.

This is one of the games you want to use headphones as recommended by the on-game menus–and it’s true.

The game also boasts three types of game variations. You have arcade, fuel run and survival each with its own quirk to make it a challenge. It has a local leaderboad, but unfortunately no global online leaderboards. After contacting the developers they did mention of a possible future update with online leaderboards included. If they happen to add it, it would make for an addition that will prolong the experience to keep up with everyone else in the leaderboards.

The game has a brief trial that limits you to the arcade mode, but it does not let you collect fuel so as to limit your time. You should check it out, it’s worth it and if should you decide to take the plunge and buy the game, it will cost you $1.99 to get the whole shebang.

With the way new Xbox Live titles are priced, a two dollar investment on Roid Blaster isn’t too much to ask, and it will be well worth the asking price.

This is one of those games you shouldn’t pass up.

Tried this app? Let us know how you feel about it in the comments section. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @zunited and Facebook.