[BLOG] Game Review: Titan Attacks! 3DS

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Digmbot
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Joined: 08 Oct 2013, 18:29

[BLOG] Game Review: Titan Attacks! 3DS

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If you've ever wanted proof that some games are timeless, look no further than Titan Attacks! Originally published for Playstation 3/4 and Vita and now Nintendo 3DS, Titan Attacks is an unabashed throwback to the early arcade classic Space Invaders. But before you write it off as a quick cash in, you should know that Curve Digital and developer Puppygames have thrown a few new wrinkles into the forumla. The game isn't as nail bitingly difficult as Space Invaders, but its still a score based run that will keep you chasing the highscore. Unlike the original, those scores are now shared around the world thanks to online leaderboards, instead of being visible only to those who take the time to peruse the grimy arcade cabinet in the local pizza shop.



Titan Attacks has a decidedly retro look to it. the simple graphics make it easy to separate enemy types from the background- a not so minor concern later on in the game. Clean lines, explosions that pop and unique enemy designs create a great aesthetic for the game as you play through it's various levels and backdrops. unfortunately, the soundtrack and effects don't quite hold up to the same level. They get the job done, but you won't be blown away. To be fair, I spent a fair amount of my time playing the game while watching a stream on my PC, so the sound certainly isn't a deal breaker.







Playing Titan Attacks is a simple matter. Your ship is on the bottom of the 3DS' top screen and you move it left and right with either the slide pad or D-pad. A simple tap of the A button fires your gun at the waves of steadily descending aliens overhead. Gameplay doesn't advance from there. Enemies arrive in waves, and you ushoot them with A, occasionally pressing B to utilize a screen clearing Smart Bomb purchased from the shop with your hard won cash.

But therein lies the strength of Titan Attacks. It's a simple core mechanic executed well. The added layers Puppygames has added only enhance the experience. Of course, they may make it to easy, but I'll touch on that in just a moment. After each wave is cleared you are taken to a shop. There you can buy a variety of upgrades for your ship, ranging from increased gun power, shield recharges, the aforementioned smart bomb and even more bullets or addons for your ship.  These come in handy in later levels as, unlike Space Invaders, Titan Attacks isn't slow. This is a fast paced version of the classic arcade shooting. Enemies move quickly, challenging you to lead each shot effectively, Some enemies dive at the ground, others pepper the area with scattered bursts of bullets. Keeping up with it all is a daunting task.



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Fortunately, Titan Attacks rewards your skill. As you demolish your foes and avoid hits, you build a multiplier that carries across levels. Pickups rain from the sky, providing you with extra money, increased firing speed and a temporary invincibility shield. Pulling off a perfect set of waves as you advance from the Earth to the Moon and beyond is a satisfying feeling, and its easy to see your own skill growing as you more easily demolish weaker waves of foes.

Unfortunately, once you gain enough upgrades, your ship becomes an unstoppable juggernaut that is all but impossible to kill aside from the occasional ill timed dodge directly into a plummeting enemy ship. These upgrades can also hurt your performance in another unexpected way. Every so often, a destroyed ship will erupt into flaming wreckage and plummet towards the earth. If you destroy the ship, you get extra money. The pilot may also eject from his ship, and if you capture him, you get another bonus. Unless you shoot him. Once you have a massively upgraded ship, firing veritable storms of bullets upwards, it becomes impossible to reliably stop your fire in time to catch these plummeting aliens. In effect, the upgrade system can nullify a very interesting quirk in the game mechanics.



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Despite the few negatives, Titan Attacks is a fun game. A great time waster, especially for those who like to grind for highscores and bragging rights amongst there friends, or for those who want a more turbo charged take on the classic Space Invaders gameplay.



Titan Attacks: 7.5/10
-Digmbot

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