Annihilation Arena Review
The Two Joystick approach seems to be the new big thing with games on the App Store. Being able to move one way while firing in the opposite direction is a great thing and any “top down” shooter that doesn’t have it seems like it’s missing something.
Recently JDTec’s “Annihilation Arena” came out and we were given a new entry into the field. Now it’s up to use to see how it stacks up against the other shooters that have already come out. So let’s take a look.
One thing that becomes apparent right form the beginning is that the game has a great deal of polish to it. The game looks really good and the colors are vibrant. Everything from the shots to the ships to the background has a richness to them and are a treat to the eyes. The explosions also jump out at you. Graphically everything is great with the game.
You’ll find the same attention to detail in the sound. The sound effects and music are very good and provide a full experience in game play. This is one of many games that have come out lately that are best played with headphones. I’m really liking that games are taking time to provide full game play.
And the controls are also well done. You control the ship with the controls in the bottom left corner of the screen and the firing with the pad in the right corner. Both are a full 360 set up and I had no problems at any time with the controls while playing
The game provides several different power ups and weapons through out. I admit a fondness for the Rail Gun but all are effective. But you’ll soon find that the most valuable thing you can run across is the first aid power ups because you’ll be running out of health quite quickly in the upper levels.
Basically the game is very nice and is fun to play. You can have a lot of fun with this $2 game. But it’s not what I was hoping for…
When I saw the name “arena” in the title I was expecting some sort of competition game. I guess I was thinking of some sort of space-aged Gladiator type of game where you had to keep moving up in ranks against the other fighters and possibly get a chance to increase your skills. I was looking for more of a story/career type of game and, sadly, this was not it.
While the game is fun, it never really changes up. You get some ships that come in and act as something close to “Boss Ships”, but every level just has the same feel to it… just harder each time.
Even a little bit of a story at the front of the game as to why you are fighting so many ships and what it all means would have helped out. And there’s that stereotype you’ll see in several games like this… One ship versus an enemy that seems to have unlimited units to send at you. I always wonder what the bad guys are doing in their recruiting that gives them the ability to have so many minions that will die for them, and you are all alone.
The game is also missing out on a Global Scoreboard. Having this would have at least given a bit of an “arena” feel. Perhaps this is coming.
Annihilation Arena is a very polished game. As good to listen to as it is to watch with a control scheme that is spot on. Top Down Space Shooter fans will have a blast with this one.
I only wish they had taken it to another level.
The Good
Polished Graphics & Sound
Nice Weapons
Controls Work WellThe Bad
Wanted More “Arena” Feel
Global Scoreboard Would Be Welcome
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Category: Games
Hello!
I’m the developer of Annihilation Arena.
Check out version 1.1 just released with online highscores, more ships, new level, flipscreen, new enemies and a new weapon, the freezegun!
The First Two Pictures Of This Are Wrong, They’re From Thread Bound
I’ve enjoyed shmups since the days of Robotron at the arcades. I’m glad to see a resurgence of the dual “stick” gameplay. This one looks like a lot of fun.
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yep i agree. probably if you could have a career mode, upgrading your ships and climbing up the ranks that would be fun, especially if the devs couldl integrate that with multiplayer wifi battles. XD
The two joystick conrtols are great on idevices this looks fun.
I love the new joystick approach and it’s a shame it wasn’t implemented in CS.One. This looks like a great game!
Action!
the screen does kind of look hectic but lots of confusion can be awesome and fun!
It does looks sick! Looks really hard though is it hard?? Looks like there is so much going on at once
this looks like an awesome shooter!
Looks Sick!