What you get when you combine a classic like “Asteroids” with a weapon diversity similar to “Contra” is “Super Arc Light,” a simple to pick up mobile shooter oozing with difficulty and depth.
Co-developed by one of the team members behind “Alien: Isolation,” it’s a completely different beast, but one you’ll end up remembering far more than any licensed survival shooter.
Tapping your mobile device to shoot your weapon, your ship spins around a circle, forcing you to time your shots to protect it. Like my old-school game,there are no continues, so once an enemy gets past your defenses, it’s game over. But there’s a reason to keep going. With plenty of weapon upgrades and random times they can be accessed, each play-through is a different experience.
If you have fond memories of playing Game Boy shooters the likes of “Solar Striker,” or spending afternoons in an arcade, “Super Arc Light” will feel like a fleece blanket on a cold day. Warm to the touch and accessible, it’s a match made in heaven for an older gamer looking for something new yet similar on the way to work. Younger gamers may not like the simplicity, but simply put, this game wasn’t made for them.
Although if you’re playing and enjoying this game you grew up with tougher games, at times you’ll get frustrated with the difficulty, but much like a game the likes of “Defender,” once you get the feel and vibe of the game, your fingers will begin to work in ways you never expected.
Like playing an instrument, “Super Arc Light” is easy to jump into, but can take a while to master. But so much more than a high score monster, it’s a perfect distraction on the bus or the train. Loading quickly and easy on your mobile’s hard drive, it’s ultimately a game you’ll have for a long time.
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