Do well enough and
you’ll reach the core,
get a ton of bling,
and be able to unlock
larger, deeper planets
- and eventually an
endless mode.
This game
showcases that
concepts and even
grind aren’t the
enemies of iOS
gaming. There’s lots
of repetition here, but
it’s more hypnotic and
entertaining than grating, because this
game only wants to dig deep into your
spare time – not your wallet.
- Interloper
Price: £5.99
In space, no-one can hear you scream
“Die, alien scumbags!” Unless you’ve
left the intercom on. Hmm. Perhaps
that’s why they’re mad and shooting
at you. Anyway, that’s what’s going
on here: you’re in the middle of a
massive scrap against the oppressive
Commonwealth, and are – as is always
the way – tasked with going it alone
against swarms of enemy spaceships
that are armed to the teeth.
From the off, it’s obvious Interloper
is more arcade fare than simulator. It
revels in its dizzying six degrees of
freedom as you whirl and loop among
lazily drifting asteroids, seeking
out enemies, partaking in flashy
dogfighting and (hopefully) ending up
victorious. If you’re old, it’s like you
imagined Elite to be in your head; if
you’re younger, it’s akin to modern
epic space battle games but with the
faffing and busywork removed.
This is, however, more than a
straight arcade blaster, because you
can over time customise your fighter
with weapons and other kit to suit
your style. And the battles are smart
too: visually stunning and playable in
landscape and portrait, meaning even
owners of the largest iPads don’t need
banana thumbs to take on the mighty35.