Format: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Developer: Skyboard
I am a sucker for a good sci-fi shooter game. I have been addicted to these since the days I would destroy my old mans high score when we would play the original R-Type. So ever since then I have always been interested in a new shooter. Ion-Ray X has been on my radar for a while now. The guys at Skyboard have done a great job in getting me excited for this.
Presentation wise this game is amazing. I am a sucker for a good sci-fi story and Ion-Ray X certainly delivers on that aspect. The basic story is that you are a space pilot and you pilot the highly advanced SSI Mark I. And you are needed to be the saviour of mankind. Why are you needed? Because a evil alien race is on there way to earth and you need to destroy them before they get there. Now a story in a game like this is not really needed, but I really do appreciate that Skyboard went to the effort to make this a pretty good cinematic experience as well as a balls to the wall shooter.
The overall graphics of the game are also amazing. You need to hold you device in the vertical position. Which to me is the best way to play a game like this anyway. And I will say that this is a game that is much better on the iPad than the iPhone beacuse of the larger screen. Anyway the graphics of the actual game are amazing your ship looks really cool, but the real stars of the game are the aliens. There are tons of different alien designs here. And the level that you are playing will alter the kinds of aliens that you will need to shoot down. As well as the regular cannon fodder aliens that you will need to kill the game has some truly amazing boss fights.
One other thing I want to take the time to mention in terms of the games presentation is the level design. It is amazing and so highly detailed. I was killed on more than one occasion because I took my eyes of the ball in order to admire the amazing levels. My personal favourite level is the one that is set on Mars. Where you get to fly over the Face of Mars. As a sci-fi geek that just earns Skyboard about a million points on the awesome board.
So how does the game play? Well its pretty darn good, but let me just say this is a somewhat simplistic shooter. But I do not mean that as a negative at all. I consider my self a shooter fanatic and while there are games on the iOS store that offer a far greater challenge. This one still was a ton of fun to play through.
At its core this is a pure old school style of shooter. You need to fly and take out the alien bad guys. There are a decent amount of weapons for you to upgrade your ship with. Once you kill an alien you can collect currency that can be used to buy upgrades. You can buy credits in the in game store, but honestly this to me is a game that is all about grinding and part of the fun is playing levels over and over again in order to get more currency. Of course for those that like to have everything right away you can pay for it.
Now one thing I want to address is that there are a few bugs here and there and the game has crashed on me a few times, but it is my understanding that a update is one the way fairly soon. So hopefully all those issues should be fixed.
I absolutely fell in love with this game. While it is certainly not the most challenging shooter I have every played it is most certainly one of the most fun. And the whole presentation and story of the game is just great. I really wanted to save earth because the story did actually pull me in. Not many shooters like this have been able to do this in the past.
Ion-Ray X really is a game that I cannot recommend highly enough.