Modern Combat: Sandstorm Review

By Dave Flodine, on September 2, 2009

Publisher: Gameloft
Genre: Action
Released: 2 Sep, 2009
Size: 348.2 MB
Price: $4.99

PROS

Fantastic control scheme.
Solid presentation.
Lengthy campaign.

CONS

Busy user interface.
It's easy to get overwhelmed in some areas.
Multiplayer would have been a nice addition.

VERDICT

Gameloft often takes flak for creating clones of popular games, but if you're a fan of FPS gaming, this belongs in your iphone collection.

Full Review
App Store Info

Gameloft is at it again! Following the enormous success of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare in 2007, They have decided to create their own desert combat FPS for the iPhone. Here's the thing though, unlike almost every other FPS on Apple's handheld device, this one actually controls decently. You play as a returning soldier undergoing an operation in the middle east, and what follows is nothing spectacular, but enough action and variety to get you through the next 10 missions.

Unlike other iPhone FPSs, this game utilizes the touch screen to look around instead of delegating look controls to on screen joysticks, d-pads, or tilt functionality. Shooting, ducking, using your sights, reloading, and changing weapons is all done with the touch of an appropriate button on screen. This is the only control fault. There are a lot of buttons, and with your finger travelling around the screen to aim, the view can be obscured.

Visually the game looks fantastic. The models and textures make the desert areas come alive, and the game never suffered from framerate problems while playing. The sound effects and music were decent, with the voice acting being competent.

Modern Combat: Sandstorm is the mold from which all future FPSs on the iphone should be cast from. The game is not without its issues, but by offering a very workable control scheme, superb presentation, and a solid play length, you couldn't ask for a better title to satisfy your iPhone FPS cravings.

Screenshots