Menneisyys
08-25-2006, 07:52 AM
Much as this game not a brand new title (not even the new, 1.1 version, which was released some 4 months ago), I think it necessary to review it as I haven’t done so in the past and PocketGamer.org has just frontpaged (http://www.pocketgamer.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6011) the title.
The developer, SmartCell, so far, has also released some other titles; for example, I’ve thoroughly reviewed their TextPlus, a very nice (you can’t really say I’m biased against them :) ) utility here (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=258&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1).
This title is a classic horizontal scroller – if you’ve seen any (for example, Katakis or R-Type on classic home computers and handheld consoles), then, you know what AquaForce is all about.
Availability & compatibility
The game is available here (http://www1.smartcell.com/web/products/product.aspx?id=19) for $19.95. A one-map trial is available for download.
It is compatible with all WM2003+ platforms (and runs even on the WM5-upgraded HP iPAQ hx4700). Unfortunately, it’s not compatible with Pocket PC 2000 or 2002 – I’ve tested the latter.
I didn’t have speed problems on my non-overclocked, "slow" HTC Wizard – except for the well-known problem of continuously tapping the digitizer. Then, as with SkyForce Reloaded, the game becomes definitely slower. That is, HTC Wizard users, try not to leave the stylus on the screen during gameplay. All the needed keys (super laser and exit) worked on all my Pocket PC’s.
Note that the game is Landscape only. This means users with devices (for example, the Dell Axim x50v/x51v – see this (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=578&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1)) that have polarization problems in Landscape may want to stay away from the title.
Visuals
Nothing to write home about. Much as the game has better, for example, explosions than, say, AngelFish (review here (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=1095&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1)), its visuals are still far-far inferior to those of, say, SkyForce Reloaded or, as far as solely the explosions are concerned, Particle Wars. SkyForce Reloaded just looks far better in every respect, and the parallax scrolling in AquaForce can’t really help this.
Music, sounds
Much as the main menu, the story “animation” screen, the main game and the boss screens have all different music tracks (which is definitely welcome), they are really repetitive (they are all about 15-20 second-long in an infinite loop). They are mono and sampled at about 8 or 11 kHz. SkyForce Reloaded and Enslave both have MUCH better in-game music.
Sound effects are nothing to home write about either. Explosions are definitely weaker than in SkyForce Reloaded or Enslave – they just don’t sound as quality as in, say, the Infinite Dreams title. (After all, we live in the post-Silkworm 4 (http://www.goodolddays.net/amiga/s/silkworm/) world. Any decent shooter game should have at least as good explosion sounds as the 18-year-old Silkworm 4.)
Verdict
Well – I don’t know. For the hefty price tag, I would not really recommend it, particularly if you (still) don’t have SkyForce (Reloaded) or GikaDiver. It’s not really comparable to the best (and, in most cases, considerably cheaper - SkyForce Reloaded costs half the price and GikaDiver is even free!) titles of its genre: SkyForce (Reloaded), Darklaga, the, again, free GikaDiver or Particle Wars.
I’d say it’s, quality/playability-wise, in the same league as AIM Odyssey, Viex’s MTeam (http://www.viex.org/index.php?page=mteam) (Technobrains’ review is here (http://www.technobrains.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=186)) and the (no longer supported) Siberian Strike.
Finally, it’s definitely better than IBE Group's Star Invader reviewed here (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=850&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1) and AngelFish (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=1095&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1).
All in all, first, give a try to the “classics” in the category (SkyForce (Reloaded), GikaDiver, Darklaga, Particle Wars or, if you don’t want scrolling, “just” a cool shoot’m up, Enslave (quick review here (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=702&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1))).
Other reviews & links
PocketPlayers (German!) (http://www.pocketplayers.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=134&Itemid=2) (of version 1.0, but it’s the same as 1.1, except for the lack of support for square-screen devices).
Allen Gall’s review (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/newsl_TWIG/TWIG_156_04-21-06.htm)
Roundup of All Pocket PC Games Part I (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/menneisyys/052006MIPSGames.asp) (it reviews & compares almost all the older scrolling shooters – Gikadiver, Particle Wars etc).
The Games section of my Smartphone & Pocket PC Magazine's Expert Blog (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&cat=36)
The developer, SmartCell, so far, has also released some other titles; for example, I’ve thoroughly reviewed their TextPlus, a very nice (you can’t really say I’m biased against them :) ) utility here (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=258&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1).
This title is a classic horizontal scroller – if you’ve seen any (for example, Katakis or R-Type on classic home computers and handheld consoles), then, you know what AquaForce is all about.
Availability & compatibility
The game is available here (http://www1.smartcell.com/web/products/product.aspx?id=19) for $19.95. A one-map trial is available for download.
It is compatible with all WM2003+ platforms (and runs even on the WM5-upgraded HP iPAQ hx4700). Unfortunately, it’s not compatible with Pocket PC 2000 or 2002 – I’ve tested the latter.
I didn’t have speed problems on my non-overclocked, "slow" HTC Wizard – except for the well-known problem of continuously tapping the digitizer. Then, as with SkyForce Reloaded, the game becomes definitely slower. That is, HTC Wizard users, try not to leave the stylus on the screen during gameplay. All the needed keys (super laser and exit) worked on all my Pocket PC’s.
Note that the game is Landscape only. This means users with devices (for example, the Dell Axim x50v/x51v – see this (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=578&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1)) that have polarization problems in Landscape may want to stay away from the title.
Visuals
Nothing to write home about. Much as the game has better, for example, explosions than, say, AngelFish (review here (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=1095&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1)), its visuals are still far-far inferior to those of, say, SkyForce Reloaded or, as far as solely the explosions are concerned, Particle Wars. SkyForce Reloaded just looks far better in every respect, and the parallax scrolling in AquaForce can’t really help this.
Music, sounds
Much as the main menu, the story “animation” screen, the main game and the boss screens have all different music tracks (which is definitely welcome), they are really repetitive (they are all about 15-20 second-long in an infinite loop). They are mono and sampled at about 8 or 11 kHz. SkyForce Reloaded and Enslave both have MUCH better in-game music.
Sound effects are nothing to home write about either. Explosions are definitely weaker than in SkyForce Reloaded or Enslave – they just don’t sound as quality as in, say, the Infinite Dreams title. (After all, we live in the post-Silkworm 4 (http://www.goodolddays.net/amiga/s/silkworm/) world. Any decent shooter game should have at least as good explosion sounds as the 18-year-old Silkworm 4.)
Verdict
Well – I don’t know. For the hefty price tag, I would not really recommend it, particularly if you (still) don’t have SkyForce (Reloaded) or GikaDiver. It’s not really comparable to the best (and, in most cases, considerably cheaper - SkyForce Reloaded costs half the price and GikaDiver is even free!) titles of its genre: SkyForce (Reloaded), Darklaga, the, again, free GikaDiver or Particle Wars.
I’d say it’s, quality/playability-wise, in the same league as AIM Odyssey, Viex’s MTeam (http://www.viex.org/index.php?page=mteam) (Technobrains’ review is here (http://www.technobrains.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=186)) and the (no longer supported) Siberian Strike.
Finally, it’s definitely better than IBE Group's Star Invader reviewed here (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=850&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1) and AngelFish (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=1095&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1).
All in all, first, give a try to the “classics” in the category (SkyForce (Reloaded), GikaDiver, Darklaga, Particle Wars or, if you don’t want scrolling, “just” a cool shoot’m up, Enslave (quick review here (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=702&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1))).
Other reviews & links
PocketPlayers (German!) (http://www.pocketplayers.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=134&Itemid=2) (of version 1.0, but it’s the same as 1.1, except for the lack of support for square-screen devices).
Allen Gall’s review (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/newsl_TWIG/TWIG_156_04-21-06.htm)
Roundup of All Pocket PC Games Part I (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/menneisyys/052006MIPSGames.asp) (it reviews & compares almost all the older scrolling shooters – Gikadiver, Particle Wars etc).
The Games section of my Smartphone & Pocket PC Magazine's Expert Blog (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&cat=36)