While the original 
N.O.V.A. set the bar for action games on the iPad, several other titles have since bested it. This sequel to that game is good, but doesn’t redefine the category. Like the original, the story and many of the game’s elements are obvious Halo rip-offs, but that’s not overly important as the game is more action focused. It features a robust online multiplayer element, which is what will attract most players. But its biggest flaw is its control structure. There are so many onscreen buttons to be mindful of that it’s hard to access what you need in the middle of a fight without looking away from the action. And especially later in the game, that can be fatal.
Tag Archives: gameloft
App Review: Asphalt 6: Adrenaline HD
There are plenty of racing games in the iTunes 
App Store, but the Asphalt series has always been near the top. Asphalt 6: Adrenaline HD is another winning installment, offering a fun, fast-paced experience with plenty of tracks, cars, and detailing options. It’s also a long game that lets users feel they really got their money’s worth from the app’s reasonably high cost at the time of this review. The problem is, this sixth version of the series is pretty close to the fifth. Aside from the ability to get an acceleration boost by collecting nitro symbols on the track and the elimination of unlocking “girls,” it’s a virtual clone, in fact. And the multiplayer is so-so at best. That puts the series at risk — and developer Gameloft will need to shake things up if it wants the inevitable Asphalt 7 to stand out from the crowd.
App Review: Dungeon Hunter 2
Diablo has spawned some really, really bad clones. Thankfully, Gameloft 
(which has made a business of cloning well-known titles for the app world) dodges that bullet with Dungeon Hunter 2. While it’s nowhere as good as its source material, the game is less graphic. It is an enjoyable action/RPG with a fairly lengthy campaign, which you can play with others over local and online co-op. The game has an open world design, letting players travel and quest where they want, but suffers from some basic errors — like the main character often gets stuck while walking about, the graphics are sub-par, and the price is really too high compared to other apps. It’s far from perfect, but for RPG fans looking for an app alternative with a little depth, this one’s worth the try – especially if it’s on sale.
App review: Shadow Guardian HD
As it does with so many of its titles, Shadow 
Guardian HD is Gameloft’s attempt to clone Uncharted, a hit PlayStation 3 fanchise, for iDevices. And while on some technical levels, this app succeeds — the graphics are gorgeous for the iPad platform and it has the requisite blend of jumping, action, and puzzles — it ultimately falls short. What holds the Uncharted series together is a nuanced story with characters you care about. That’s not present here and the game’s flaws are enhanced because of it. The pacing is fine and the combat’s not bad, but without anything tying them together, Shadow Guardian HD ultimately is a mere shadow of a much better title.
App review: Star Battalion HD
Take Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica and Star Fox, put 
them in a blender and stir and you’ll probably come out with something like Star Battalion HD. The game doesn’t have an ounce of originality, but as a space shooter it’s not a bad title. Graphics, as they generally are with Gameloft titles, are well done, and the action is well paced and solid. Getting used to controlling your ship with the iPad’s gyroscope is a bit tricky, but players can shift to a stick control if it proves too distracting. There are also a wide variety of environments. The lack of competitive multiplayer is something of a drawback and some control bugs drag the game down a bit, but ultimately, this is an app that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a solid space combat game.
App review: Gangstar: Miami Vindication
Gangstar: Miami Vindication desperately wants
to be confused with Grand Theft Auto. The game apes many of the best known characteristics of the Rockstar Games title, but fails to get the most important right: Story. GTA typically comes with an engaging plotline, but there’s nothing memorable here. The main character is a compilation of bad-guy clichés, stealing cars, urinating out in the open, and talking tough. It’s far from the worst clone on the market, but if you want to play Grand Theft Auto, just buy the real thing.
Chris Morris: Journalist 