StarSmasher Review

Remember how much fun StarFox on the SNES was? Ever think about how cool it would be to play that game with touch and tilt controls? Well you can relive some of that glory with the newly released StarSmasher, if you are looking for a classic on-rails spaceship shoot ‘em up you cannot go wrong with this $2.99 game.

The game is as simple as a game can get. Tilt the screen to move your space ship and tap the screen to shot your weapon. The controls are a little awkward at first because tilting the iPhone sometimes moves you from one end of the screen to another and can get a little frustrating, but like with all iPhone games over time it starts to feel more natural. The gameplay overall is pretty solid.  I do have an issue with the overall slow pace of the game. Insteed of feeling like you are flying through space it feels more like you are going 55mph in cruise control.

The graphics are pretty good for the iPhone. The asteroids and the ship look decent and the frame rate is pretty solid. You really won’t notice the graphics though because you will be focused on taking down the opposing ships. The sound is disappointing. There is really no soundtrack and the sound effects aren’t that impressive.

This game is meant for old school fans of the genre so don’t  expect any storyline, high-rez cut scenes or anything fancy like this, no this is a straight shoot ‘em up. And like with any old school game it is pretty tough to master. Still with no story mode, ok graphics, and lackluster sound this game is still a good pick up from the App Store for any old school shoot em up fans. There will also be an update here shortly that promises better controls, faster gameplay, and auto fire mode.

Update: The update is out and it does what it says.

App Store Link