Tim Allen
06-13-2003, 06:00 PM
Strategy games are all well and good, but sometimes you need to disengage your brain and satisfy your more primeval urges with some good old fashioned arcade blasting. One dose of Interstellar Flames taken three times a day generally does the job.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/allen-jun03-iflames-0.gif" /> <br /><br /><!> <i>Interstellar Flames, from Xen Games, is a traditional arcade-style space-shooter where you pilot the inevitable lone craft against an entire alien invasion fleet. Whilst it doesn't have too many bells and whistles, it's a lot of fun and an absolute bargain for the price.</i> <br /><br /><span><b>Objective</b></span><br />Ok, there isn't too much of a story (and who really cares anyway in this type of game?), but the objective is to destroy enemy battlecruisers and fighters in order to save Earth - or something.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/allen-jun03-iflames-1.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 1: It's always kill, kill, kill - why can't we just all live in peace?</i> <br /><br />There are 12 missions to complete, split across three stages. Once you've reached the next stage you don't have to redo the previous one if you don't want to. In reality, these missions are just levels in true arcade-game fashion.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/allen-jun03-iflames-2.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 2: The three sets of missions</i><br /><br />Each mission involves destroying shield generators and deck guns as you fly over the battlecruisers, whilst dodging enemy fighters and missiles. In terms of variety that's about it, aside from the occasional asteroid or mine field to get through. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/allen-jun03-iflames-3.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 3: 3D asteroids, anyone?</i> <br /><br /><span><b>Graphics</b></span><br />The action is set in a 3D first-person perspective (albeit with your view set just behind your ship). The graphics are very clean and smooth, although they can be a bit dark at times.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/allen-jun03-iflames-4.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 4: Dodge that!</i> <br /><br />There are some impressive particle effects which look like they pixellate badly in the screenshots, but believe me - you don't notice it whilst playing, mainly because they move so fluidly. The explosions are especially effective.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/allen-jun03-iflames-5.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 5: Explosions look better in motion</i> <br /><br />In any case, Xen has thoughtfully provided an option to turn the particle effects off for a faster frame-rate and this does make the game smoother. It's not too bad with them on, though, and this mode does have the added advantage of slowing things down a bit for those of us without fighter-pilot reflexes!<br /><br /><span><b>Control</b></span><br />The game propels you automatically down a fixed, linear path, allowing only limited sideways and up and down movement, accomplished using the directional pad. If you've ever played StarFox on the N64 you'll know what I mean. You can, however, press one of the hardware buttons to execute a 180-degree turn in case you miss something and need to go back. Similarly you can't vary your speed or stop moving.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/allen-jun03-iflames-6.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 6: Executing a U-turn and no that smoke ain't good news.</i> <br /><br />The only other control is the fire button, although use of this is optional as there's an autofire mode for lazy types (I use the "saves wearing my buttons out" excuse). Interestingly, there's also an 'autofire toggle' option, but this appears to be of limited use as all it does is make the fire button switch between auto-firing and not firing at all. I suppose in theory you could use it to time some of the weapons which have a slower rate of fire, but it hardly seems worth the effort to me, especially as ammunition is unlimited.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/allen-jun03-iflames-7.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 7: Another close shave</i> <br /><br /><span><b>Power-ups</b></span><br />Power-ups are the key to success in Interstellar Flames. There are some neat weapon upgrades, but you can't select from those you've found as the latest one always replaces the current weapon. There are also power-ups for shield re-generation and some very welcome extra lives. Unfortunately, as there's no manual, you have to work out what all the various power-ups are by trial and error, and some are better than others. Here are a couple of quick tips for you though: avoid the purple laser and make sure you get the homing missiles. Oh and get into the habit of using the reverse button a lot, as many power-ups are dropped behind you. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/allen-jun03-iflames-8.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 8: A much-needed 'extra life' comes into view.</i> <br /><br /><span><b>Difficulty</b></span><br />There are three difficulty levels. I found 'normal' to be difficult enough and ended up turning to 'easy' in order to progress, but even then still found this a tricky game to master. You do need to persevere as it has a steep learning curve, but it's well worth the effort when you do get the hang of it. Am I alone, though, in wishing game developers would call the easiest level 'normal'?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/allen-jun03-iflames-9.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 9: If only real life could be set to 'easy'.</i> <br /><br /><span><b>Other Options</b></span><br />There are a few other options of note. You can choose whether or not to display the weapon HUD (head-up display) which, as far as I can make out, indicates the power of your current weapons. The sound effects are ok, but as usual I would advise turning the music off. Thankfully the game automatically saves as you go along so you can stop and start as the need arises.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/allen-jun03-iflames-10.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 10: Anyone beat that? Of course by the time you read this I'll have doubled that...</i> <br /><br /><b><span>Gotchas</span></b><li>Gameplay is very linear and repetitive, with limited replay value once you've got to the end.<br /><li>In addition there are only 12 missions, so it's quite short.<br /><li>There's not a great deal of variety in enemy types.<br /><li>The current mission number isn't shown and there's no map or progress indication.<br /><li>There's no weapon selection.<br /><li>There's no manual or any help on what the controls are, what the power-ups mean, etc. There's a so-called tutorial but this is of limited use.<br /><span><b>Where To Buy</b></span><br />The software can be <a href="http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&platformId=2&productType=2&catalog=0&optionId=0&productId=36735">downloaded from Handango</a> and purchased for a very reasonable $6.99 (affiliate link). A trial version is also available from <a href="http://www.xengames.com/productsppc.htm#ppcif">Xen's site</a>.<br /><br /><b><span>Specifications</span></b><br />This program will work on any Pocket PC 2002 or Phone Edition device and takes up 3.8 Mb of storage RAM, but requires 8 Mb to run.<br /><br /><b><span>Conclusions</span></b><br />Whilst it's not difficult to find holes in Interstellar Flames, these are really absent features rather than fundamental flaws in what you do actually get, as the game itself is put together very well indeed. It's not original, it's very repetitive and the lack of a manual doesn't make it easy to get into. Overall though, Interstellar Flames is fast, furious and fun, and as a bonus is another feather in your "look at what my Pocket PC can do" cap.