Starball: iCrack
Putting my iPhone down to write this review was a formidable task. Even as I type this now, I’m yearning for my next Starball fix; I need to play again. I’ve got the shakes, I’m sweating from head to toe, and when I close my eyes I see little stars dancing around in the darkness. Of course I exaggerate slightly, but Quantum Squid’s iPhone debut is a dangerously addictive little game, and they know it. Underneath the title of the game’s own menu screen are the two words; ‘Simply Addicting’, which slapped onto the title screen of any other game would portray an air of arrogance and audacity that just wouldn’t fly with many gamers. With Starball however, it’s justified. The game really is that addictive.
Gameplay-wise, Starball can be summed up neatly and comprehensively in just one paragraph. Move a green ball around the screen by tilting the iDevice to try to collect as many stars as possible without dying. The more stars you can collect, the bigger and better your score will be, and the higher you’ll rank on the old leaderboard. Avoid red enemy balls as you go, as touching one will put an end to it all. As well as stars, collect a range of powerups in order to help you along your way. Starball is the iPhone’s answer to Crystal Quest or Geometry Wars, just without the shooting.
Once you get used to the sensitivity involved in controlling the game, you’ll be navigating around the screen with grace and fluency. The simplicity of the controls play a large put in its overall success. I was originally planning on using this paragraph to raise a complaint too, as tilting the iPhone can obscure your vision of the screen. Often I found myself dying as a result of not being able to see what was happening, which was a constant source of frustration. Quantum Squid were one step ahead of me however, as bringing up the pause menu gives you the option to recalibrate the game. So if you’re playing in bed and find tilting the device restricts your vision too much, whack the game on pause, recalibrate, and when you jump back into the game the problem will have disappeared. To be able to do this on the fly is incredibly useful.
In order to succeed at Starball, a stategy needs to be formed, and powerups need to be taken full advantage of. After a time the screen becomes so crowded with enemies that getting to the next star becomes nigh on impossible. In these cases, pray that your next power up is an ‘Invinciball’, which allows you to mow down enemy balls, eradicating them from the screen. Making the most of your short time invincible is crucial, as this particular power up only lasts a few precious seconds. Even more useful (and rare) than the Invinicball power-up, is the 'Ball Buster', which destroys every enemy on the screen, giving you a free run of the screen. Just don't rely on it coming up all too often.
Starball is a game that encourages competition and rivalry, much like Geometry Wars has on the 360. The inclusion of Open Feint and global leaderboards couldn’t be more suited to the game. As with gaming in the arcades back in the day, Starball boils everything down to one simple factor: the score. This is all you should care about. Getting a big score however is no fun if you can't share it with the world however, and this is exactly what Open Feint can offer. As I write this my highest score is a pitiful 51 (the top score globally stands at 133), and I can't wait to get back to the game to beat it.
I have very little to offer in the complaint department. The inclusion of three difficulty settings seemed a trifle odd to me though, as the game naturally increases in difficulty as you play anyway. All starting on Normal or Hard does is throw you in at the deep end quicker. Playing through on beginner mode is far more fun, and having just one leaderboard for the game would have made things far more easier from a competition perspective. Other than this the game is incredibly hard to flaw, so I won't bother.
The word ‘addictive’ has been thrown around a lot in this review; but what actually gives the game this quality? What is Starball’s hook? As with all addictive games, the answer primarily lies in its simplicity. An arthritic chimpanzee could pick up Starball and have a good time. All you need is a pair of hands and eyes. Tilt controls obviously mean that no button pressing is required, and gameplay couldn’t be simpler. In addition to this, should you die, the game is all too quick to jump back into. No menu screens or loading times interrupt the next game, which is a huge contribution to the whole ‘one more go’ mentality.
Starball is the App Store’s very own downloadable form of heroin, just without all the horrible complications. Starball is concentrated fun that gets into the bloodstream quicker than a vodka shot to the eye. The game is perfect for a quick five of minutes of fun wherever you happen to be. Whether you’re riding the bus, waiting for a train, or simply passing time sat on the loo, there’s always a reason to have another go at beating that score. Starball couldn’t be better suited to the iPhone, and for that reason deserves a spot on the home screen of any self respecting iGamer. Do yourself a favour; find 59p and download Starball -- you’ll play the game again and again and again. And then probably once more too.
- Sound: 6
- Graphics: 7
- Gameplay: 9
- Longevity: 7
8
Great
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