Fire And Forget Review: Rough Around The Edges, But Not Forgettable

When a stereotypical madman has access to some conveniently forgotten nuclear weapons, the only thing that can stop him is a flying tank. There is probably no other game in which that sentence makes a lick of sense, but it's the basic premise behind Fire and Forget: Final Assault.

This is an arcade-style action game based on the classic franchise. In this title you must blast your way through waves of bad guys in a post-apocalyptic wasteland to reach Captain Nucleo's nuclear-equipped hovercraft. It certainly sounds like it has all the makings of a killer experience, but is it?

Controls And Gameplay

Each of the 10 stages consist of your car, the Thunder Master III, rocketing down the highway in pursuit of Captain Nucleo. You will come up on various enemy vehicles from behind, many of which will open fire to slow you down and presumably give the captain time to escape. You aren't required to take out all the enemies, but it's certainly more fun to try.

  

Also scattered around the road are mines, obstacles, and lots of power-ups. It's important to watch the Thunder Master III's life in the upper right corner – the car takes damage from running into all those mines and debris. The game often forces you to decide which power-ups you're going to aim for. If the damage meter is getting too high, it's smart to grab the life instead of more missiles.

Unlike many games on Android, there is not much you can do change the controls in Fire and Forget. This is ostensibly a driving game, but it's more about shooting while not crashing – you don't even have control of the throttle. Steering is handled via the accelerometer, which I'm often not a big fan of. This method of control can be especially tiresome on larger tablets. The turning sensitivity is adjustable, but I feel like it is overall a little too "squirrely" for my tastes. Small movements seem prone to kicking the vehicle into walls randomly.

The weapons on Thunder Master III are handled by two buttons on the right of the screen. Tap or long-press the crosshair button to fire the carbine laser, and long-press the missile button to acquire a target and release to fire. On the other side of the screen is the flight button, which really makes this game more interesting.

When the vehicle lifts off, you can again use the accelerometer to steer, but the craft can move up and down in addition to left and right. Fire and Forget uses airplane-style directions, which I prefer. You tilt the top of the device back to dive, and do the opposite to pull up. There's no option to reverse the controls if this isn't your preferred setup, though.

 

I like that the game uses auto aim, as it would be very difficult to drive and aim a weapon at the same time. Missiles are limited, but ammo is spread around the course. Carbine ammo is unlimited, but it can overheat if you fire continuously. Flight time is also unlimited, but you can only use it for about 13 seconds at a time before landing to allow it to regenerate. The flying ability helps you avoid those nasty mines and dodge enemy fire. It's probably the most enjoyable aspect of Fire and Forget, as well.

Graphics And Performance

Fire and Forget is a new take on a classic game, but the intention was not to use retro graphics. This is a fully 3D environment, but it looks rather bland overall. Most of the levels are more or less interchangeable stretches of roads, ruined cities, and tunnels. The color palette and time of day do change, though.

The texture resolution isn't particularly high, but you aren't often close enough to anything for it to be a major annoyance. The Thunder Master III itself looks very cool. Lighting effects make up a bit for the muddy textures, and edges are mostly free of aliasing.

 

  

Fire and Forget is pretty, but it's not stunning or anything. With that in mind, I'm surprised the game feels as "heavy" as it does. On the Nexus 7, Fire and Forget seems to be at the very edge of playability with default graphics. It will run fine at first, but every few minutes the steering gets unresponsive and the frame rate drops.

On the Nexus 4, things are much better. I see almost no slowdowns on that device with its Snapdragon S4 Pro, even if I turn the quality level up. I believe this option increases the texture resolution, making the environment more crisp. The bottom line here: the graphics are good if your device is packing solid specs, but performance needs some tweaking.

Conclusion

Fire and Forget: Final Assault is $1.99 in Google Play. That's certainly not going to break the bank, and I'm very happy to not see any in-app purchases. That said, the levels only take about 5-6 minutes to beat, and with only 10 of them that's potentially less than an hour of gameplay. There is a 2-player mode, but all it consists of is playing the same level on two different devices and comparing scores at the end. It doesn't help that there are almost no online players right now (I had to fire up a second device to get a match going).

 

Fire and Forget is fun, but there isn't quite enough gameplay for me to solidly recommend it. The lack of content and mediocre performance make this a buyer beware game in my book. If you have a fast device and like this kind of title, then buy it and enjoy those 10 levels.

Combo Crew Review: An Old-Fashioned Brawler With New-Fangled Controls Posted by Ryan Whitwam in Apps/Games, Game Reviews, Games, Reviews

The arcade-style brawler has a long and storied history. From the X-Men to Double Dragon, nothing has quite the same feel as a good button-mashing beat-em-up. The main problem with these titles on mobile devices is the lack of buttons to mash. Sure, there on on-screen thumbsticks and attack buttons, but it's just not the same. Combo Crew comes to Android in hopes of getting you (and your friends) hooked on its fluid gesture controls and slick presentation. Let's take a look at this just-released fighter.

Controls

Each stage in Combo Crew takes place in a single room with wave after wave of bad guys dropping in from above. Swipe across any of the enemies and your character will zip right over there and execute a punch or kick. Continue swiping to chain moves together and wear down the enemy's defenses. After taking some punishment, your foe might throw up a block that prevents your regular attacks from doing damage. At this point, you get to spice things up.

 

The charge attack is supremely useful in Combo Crew, and I really like how devastating it looks. Simply swipe over an enemy and hold to charge the attack, then let go. This breaks blocks, and sends the baddie back into the wall. It can also knock other attackers back, so it's great for clearing the area. While you're punching and kicking away, other enemies won't be waiting patiently for you to finish. Oh no... they will attack, but a handy exclamation point will pop up above them to alert you. Tap anywhere to counter an impending attack.

The "combo" part of Combo Crew is what ties the entire fighting experience together. Swiping with two fingers up, down, left, or right will trigger a pre-determined combo move. You can catch more than one enemy with a combo if they're close enough, but you have to be aware of your surroundings. You can't counter attacks while executing a combo, so watch your back. Keep in mind you don't ever have to worry about walking from one place to another. Simply swipe to attack, and you're there. Enough is going on that I never found Combo Crew boring or repetitive.

The top of the screen is home to a life meter and power gauge. Fill up your power by landing a ton of attacks in a row, and you get a special attack. Mash the giant button that pops up at the top of the screen and start swiping. Cross every enemy on the screen as many times as possible, then sit back at watch as your character preforms all the moves in one long combo. You get crazy points for this, and it looks awesome.

Gameplay

The game can be played in either King of the Tower or Combo Crew mode. King of the Tower is a single-player campaign that consists of about 40 levels in a variety of locales. Each stage has three point goals to hit, with the top prize awarding a game controller, which is one of the two forms in in-game currency. The other thing you'll get is gold, which is dropped by most vanquished foes. I felt very much compelled to get the gold medal in each level – I wanted the perfectly choreographed fight scene every time.

Controllers are used to unlock new combos and characters. The huge variety of combo moves is one of the things making this title really interesting. Any four can be equipped at a time, and you can even customize which directional swipe triggers which one. The gold you pick up goes toward the purchase of single use boosters and permanent character perks. Here's where things get interesting – you probably expect this is the part where I tell you about the in-app purchases you can use to get more currency, right? Well, there are none. You buy Combo Crew for $1.99, and there are no upsells. You earn all the in-game currency you need by playing. Bravo.

 

The Combo Crew mode is essentially a never ending onslaught of tough levels that will eventually wear you down. However, the farther you get, the bigger the rewards. This mode has asynchronous multi-player and it's actually rather pointless to play without friends (sorry tragic loners). Here's how it works: after burning through a few levels, you're getting low on life. When the final blow comes, Combo Crew offers to call in one of your pals for an assist. If they can successfully beat the level you were on, you're healed and can continue on.

This is a good use of multiplayer, because it doesn't require your friends to drop everything and play the game with you live. The downside is that there isn't a ton of single-player content, and the Combo Crew mode is fairly frustrating without calling in help. The game uses Facebook to help you recruit friends, but you probably don't want to spam your buddies like that (I hope). Maybe ask first?

Graphics And Performance

Combo Crew uses cell-shaded character models that make it looks bit like a living cartoon. The backgrounds are more detailed, but that actually makes the characters stand out in an interesting way. There's a ton of fast movements in this title, so crisp graphics are incredibly important. In the case of Combo Crew, everything is good on that front. The edges are mostly clean and free of jaggies.

 

The lighting effects are a key part of the game's overall vibe. The impact glow from connected punches and your fighter zipping around make the graphics much more interesting.

  

As for performance, I'm quite happy with the way the game works on the Nexus 4. I had one or two hitches on the Nexus 7, but these were few and far between. There is a truly engaging kind of fluidity to the animations once you get the hang of Combo Crew's gesture controls. It reminds me of Rayman: Jungle Run in that you don't just care about winning, but about how cool you can make that victory look.

Conclusion

I know a lot of users are wary of getting invested in an game that promotes in-app purchases, and this is the perfect opportunity to buck that trend. It's refreshing to play a title with a strong system of in-game currency that is not balanced to push you toward spending money. Combo Crew just pushes you to play the game.

 

This is a really entertaining game from top to bottom. The controls are simple and show an amazing awareness of how a mobile device works. The gameplay is compelling, as long as you're willing to involve other players. Even if you want to play solo, it can be done. And the graphics? The graphics are just plain cool. Combo Crew makes good use of cell shading and has buttery animations.

You should definitely play around with Combo Crew. And why not? It's only a few dollars and won't try to sell you any bags of gold.

Games

10 Awesome Physics-Based Android Games

console markets and threatening to overtake the top handheld gaming devices like the Sony PSP and the Nintendo DS. From the most basic of puzzle games like Sudoku and tic-tac-toe, to high-end action games like N.O.V.A 2 HD, the Android Market is full of options that cater to everyone’s tastes.

One style of games that spans pretty much every genre in the market is physics-based games. These are games where the environment and elements interact in a simulated real-life manner with mass, density and gravity all impacting the outcome of the gamer’s actions. The inherent touch-based interface of most new mobile games and the built-in accelerometers – which are pretty much a necessity in most phones these days – add to the overall experience in these games.

Let’s take a look at some of the best physics-based games on the Android Market. These belong to various genres and I’ve tried to bring about as much variety in these as possible while focusing on gameplay, ratings and popularity.

Paper Toss (Free)

Paper Toss

In one of the first games I played on the iPhone, you simply threw a crumpled piece of paper in the trashcan with a flick of your finger. “That’s stupid! Why would you pay for something as trivial as that” I said. That was before I spent half an hour playing it myself. Paper Toss is an Android game that takes the same concept and adds a bit of variation with a variable speed fan and different settings. The goal is simple – try and throw the paper ball in the trashcan while taking into consideration the direction and speed of airflow from the fan. Simple, addictive fun.

aTilt 3D Labyrinth ($3.99)

aTilt 3D Labyrinth

Here’s another very simple yet addictive concept. Remember the tiny mazes you played with as a kid, where the idea was to move a tiny ball through the maze to the circle in the center? aTilt 3D Labyrinth recreates the same concept on an Android Phone, complete with realistic graphics, near-realistic control over the plane of the maze thanks to the accelerometer and a decent variety of puzzles to keep casual gamers busy for a while.

Angry Birds Rio (Free, ad-supported)

Angry Birds Rio

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, you’ve most probably heard of Angry Birds. Arguably the most popular mobile game in the world, Angry Birds spawned two sequels, Rio being the last of them (and by far the best). The basic idea is still the same: you use a slingshot to hurl different kinds of birds to knock things over – though, in this version, your goal is to rescue other captured birds. Different materials add variety to the structures and influence strategy, as do the various powers of the birds that impact the landscape accordingly.

You might also like to check out these previous iterations of the game:

• Angry Birds (Free)
• Angry Birds Seasons (Free)

Apparatus ($2.97)

Apparatus

In a physics-based games roundup, things don’t get any more literal than Apparatus. The game is in fact a workshop where you use various materials at your disposal to build the most complex of structures to solve puzzles. From laying out blocks and leading marbles to hit certain targets, to building machines with motors and batteries, the game has it all for the mechanically inclined. If you have ever enjoyed games like Crazy Machines on the PC, this one is for you. It can get really hard very quickly, though, so get involved only if you are prepared to give it your time and patience.

Cut the Rope ($1.01)

Cut the Rope

Easily one of the most polished games on the Android Market, Cut the Rope has you doing something seemingly simple: cuting a bunch of ropes to make sure a cute little creature gets its candy. And it seems so for the first couple of levels. But once you start dealing with clever combinations of ropes, additional hurdles in ways of water bubbles, spikes, spiders and balloons, and the pressure to collect three stars before finishing each level, things get really fun and addictive. What makes Cut the Rope work where many other similar games have failed is the extremely clever level design.

For more info, see our full review of Cut the Rope.

X Construction ($1.43)

X Construction

X Construction is a very good example of how good mechanics and attention to detail are much more important in a game than snazzy graphics and sound. The game’s premise is simple: build a bridge over a crevice with a limited amount of material, making sure it is solid enough to let a train cross over. What adds complexity – and fun – to the task is that the bridge follows the laws of physics and therefore will break if the load is not balanced across the beams appropriately.

Sprinkle ($1.99)

Sprinkle

Sprinkle is a pretty new game, that attempts to bring something new to the physics-based games – water. At its core, it is a puzzle game with a slight twist. You control a water cannon placed in the top-left corner of the screen and a whole bunch of beautifully rendered landscapes filling up the rest of the screen. The objective is to extinguish a fire on each level by figuring a way to get the water to reach it. The awesome graphics come at a price though: the game is only available for nVidia Tegra based devices. If you are the proud owner of one, what are you waiting for? For the rest of us, drooling over the video may not be the best way to spend an evening.

Chalk Ball ($2.13)

Chalk Ball

The first time I played Chalk Ball, I was left wondering – after the two hours that I spent playing it, of course – why no one else had thought about this before! The concept is simple: the canvas is a chalkboard, you have a piece of chalk, and there’s a ball that you need to stop from falling through by drawing lines with the chalk so the ball bounces back up. The chalk becomes smaller every time you draw a line, but you can recover it by hitting certain symbols that appear randomly on the board. Things get more complex than that, but the basic premise of the game is to stop the ball from giving in to gravity and falling through.

Super Stickman Golf (Free)

Super Stickman Golf

Another iOS hit that has been ported over the Android, Super Stickman Golf doesn’t come across as much at first glance. A simple stick figure with something akin to a golf club and some very simple landscapes don’t generate much interest, but save your judgement till you get down to playing it. This is a miniature golf game that ignores physics rules in the way the landscapes are laid out, while at the same time applying them to great effect in the way you play your shots. The clever level design keeps things just difficult enough while leaving you with wanting to beat your own high score – and therefore coming back to the game – again and again.

Pollushot ($0.99)

Pollushot

Pollushot takes the slingshot-based gameplay of Angry Birds to another level and merges it with concepts from classic games, like Breakout. The result is a fun game where you use your slingshot to fire at enemies coming from the top, catch the ammo that is dispersed when they blow up and use it to fire at more enemies. The gameplay is fast-paced and gets really overwhelming fairly quickly, so make sure you are a fan of games like Breakout and Asteroids before getting into this one. If you crave the trigger-happy action, and have a powerful enough device to handle the graphics and animation, go for it by all means.

No two games in this list use physics the same way as the other, and yet there are hundreds more out there that seem to crop up every day. Got a favorite that’s not here? Lets hear about it in the comments below