With some controls taking over most of the screen to ensure they're accurate it's nice to see that Flare Elite, a new vertical shoot'em-up by Firi Games has tried to solve the problem of quick responding, natural controls with their unique setup.

Flare Elite is a modern take on the shoot'em-up, giving players the option to upgrade weapons outside of combat and the choice of what weapon they take in to battle once they're unlocked. Avoiding enemies and incoming fire is a snap with their unique control system that uses sliding bars on the edge of the screen that only take a little while to adjust to. Agility is paramount to your survival as the regular 'bullet hell' style is replaced with aggressive enemies that easily knock energy off your ship, but this can be easily replaced by absorbing energy left behind by enemies forcing players to always be on the attack.

The art and music is kept basic and has a nostalgic charm for fans of classic Amiga and early PC shooters. The standard game 'menu' is also replaced with a 3D stylized galaxy-map that shows your progress over the 13 available missions. Music can be replaced by iTunes, but then you'd be missing out on the equally classic soundtrack.

While not visually stunning, Flare Elite is an excellent vertical shoot'em-up that feels at home on a touch device thanks to its control setup. There's enough of a challenge for hardcore fans to enjoy, but even new players will quickly grasp and enjoy what's on offer.