Star Battalion Review
PROS
- Epic space/fighter pilot battles.
- Local and online co-op gameplay.
- Beautiful, varied environments and Retina support.
CONS
- Obvious multiplayer combat mode missed.
- Occasional lag issues
VERDICT
Once again Gameloft have set a standard for future games to aspire to with Star Battalion's excellent space fighter combat and co-op multiplayer modes.
- Full Review
- App Store Info
It seems like the release of Apple's most recent iDevices has lit a fire underneath Gameloft and while not every recent release has been a winner it's hard not to be impressed by them. Star Battalion is their latest App Store release and it's hard to express how hard I've fallen for this space fighter pilot sim.
Shades of classic Lucas Arts titles like X-Wing and Rogue Squadron along with other Nintendo classics like Star Fox are immediately recognizable in Star Battalion, but instead of a galaxy far away or a completely different dimension, players are thrown in to a struggle where humanity hopes to reclaim the throne from the Royalists that usurped it. Ok, the story doesn't exactly go out on a limb creatively speaking, but the game itself is simply gorgeous and easy to dive in to. After a brief introduction to accustom players to their accelerometer or joystick controls you'll be thrown in to a mission along with your wing-men.
And don't think those wing-men are just for show either because Gameloft have included a co-op multiplayer feature that can be accessed via local or online networks via their own matching service or the Game Center. Sadly there's no deathmatch mode to partake in, but it's a small price for such a great new feature. The only other niggling issue with the game would have to be the slightly jerky framerate on Retina displays, but it never seriously hampers your progress.
Star Battalion will pit you against ships small, large and epic and whether or not you tackle the game solo or with a friend it's hard not to love every moment. For fans of games like Rogue Squadron this is a must have and for action fans you'd be hard pressed to find a better space fighter right now.
Screenshots
$0.99
