Some developers take a long time between game releases, making each one an often-painful wait between titles. If you’re a Nitrome fan, you have no idea what I’m talking about. The pixel art aficionados and creators of Icebreaker ($0.99) have been on an utter tear on mobile in the last few months, with five games since August 2014, and three since December 2014, with the third being Gunbrick ($5.99). Where Roller Polar (Free) and Platform Panic (Free) were both meant to be smaller arcade-style games, Gunbrick is a more fleshed-out, level-based puzzle-platformer. It’s a game that’s here and gone, though, being all too brief.
You control the eponymous Gunbrick, a large cube that can roll around from side to side, with one side able to fire bullets. The game does a lot with what amount to three simple commands. The gun can be used when pointed downward to fly up in the air and to float, like a jetpack. Using the gun when it’s horizontal will push the cube along the ground without turning over, which becomes incredibly important, as navigating the levels requires getting in the right position with the cube. As such, learning how many sideways shots you may need to make in order to get the cube pointing in the right way at the right time is the challenge of the game. It requires spatial awareness, and a knowledge of the game’s mechanics.
As such, Gunbrick is far more of a puzzle game than I really expected when I first heard of it, being a game where you control a giant brick with a gun. Many of the levels are beguiling, as there’s not a lot in the way of twitch reactions here, so the game’s about figuring out the challenge at hand and what you need to do. Each of the three worlds presents new elements like magnet blocks and new switches that continue to test players all throughout. For a game with such basic commands, there’s quite a lot of variety. Additionally, the boss fights at the end of each world are all standout moments.
Nitrome’s pixel art work is still fantastic. It’s very detailed, and colorful to boot. It’s definitely their signature style, and they know how to make a style that pays homage to retro games, but also exists in the world of modern high-resolution devices. Gunbrick also wins the award for most the game with the most careless violence to bystanders since Retro City Rampage (which released on every platform but mobile), what with all the random people that can get squished while playing the game. The soundtrack is a cracking listen, but the game also doesn’t interrupt outside music, which is one of those features I always appreciate because developers often fail to figure out how to support that. I do wish Nitrome would support iCloud in their games, though.
I feel like Gunbrick is a bit lacking. There’s the 36 levels, and they prove to be challenging enough to beat, sure. But completing them is really all you can do. Why not have leaderboards for completing a level as quickly as possible, or even in as few moves as possible, some way to measure that? How about noting if I beat a level without dying? I know the game tracks it, there’s achievements for doing so in each world, but I’d like it to be denoted on a per-level basis as well. I’ve never really card all that much about achievements, especially on Game Center, so with these serving as the only replay value, with no competition against friends at all, it means that there’s not much reason to come back once the game is done.
Hopefully the game will see more levels in the near future: I think there’s still a lot that could be done within the confines of this concept. There’s other ways to interact with the world, new traps to play with, even just having more devious levels that push the game to its absolute max degree of difficulty. Heck, I wonder if there’s a way to procedurally generate levels within this concept: imagine the Spelunky version of Gunbrick. There’s just so much untapped potential here, and I’d love to see it reach it.
Gunbrick is the perfect example of a game that’s good but not great, but not that far from greatness. With more content, and a further exploration of the game concepts introduced here, Gunbrick could be truly fantastic. As it is, it’s a game that’s definitely a solid way to spend some time, if not a bit disappointing because it could be so much more.
It was only a matter of time before they realized these are glorified gaming devices.
That's why the iPad Mini is my only iDevice. Best portable game system ever :)
More like 6+ The Mini is still a little awkward in your hands. The 6+ is juuuust right. I agree with you though. My mini was my go-to before I got a 6+ If I primarily wanted a phone I would never have gotten it. It is the best possible option for portable gaming though. The PSP and DS emulators only bring her to the next level. It looks so good and, more importantly, fits perfectly in your hands, especially in wide-screen mode. It clearly feels born for the role.
I'd have to try the 6+, but I have large hands, so I really appreciate the ability to play dual-stick games with the Mini and not have my thumbs take up a third of the real estate. If they make a 6+ sized Touch (iPad Micro?), I'd probably give that a shot - I don't like the idea of paying a premium for the phone part that I wouldn't use.
What is your phone of choice? I definitely hardly use mine for a phone,but then I don't need a phone most of the time. I will call my Grandmother, my mother, and girls I like for calls longer than one minute. Everyone else gets text messages or extremely short phone calls. I end up taking some of these calls on bluetooth or headphone jacked devices as well since I often multi-task while on the phone. I intended to use my phone primarily to game, but it has really impressed me with web browsing, reading books, reading comics, and reading rss feeds. It has blown me away more than I thought it could, although I did jump to it from a 4S. I have moved away from a horde of free indie games from TA and latched on more to premium titles now that I finally have a device that feels right for the medium. I had never played Bioshock before, for example, and I am loving it. Xcom, Anomaly 2, the GTA series, Minecraft PE, World of Goo, PVZ2, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Around the World in 80 Days, Phoenix Wright, Sword & Sorcery, and other titles that really tend to suck you in. I still do dig indie when I can, however. Monument and Limbo come to mind.
A Nokia Lumia 1020 for now. Hoping they release a successor to it soon. I like the core functionality, UI and aesthetics of WP more than iOS. I only ever use it for the phone, texting, email, OneNote, and the brilliant camera in it. The Mini takes up all the slack as an app/game player and replaced my DS and PSVita. I prefer a computer for browsing/FB/etc. I'm still working through the horde of TA-recommended indies because of the reduced time commitment. I kind of feel like something would be lost playing Monument or Banner Saga or the like on anything smaller than a Mini - those games are works of art. Most of the others like Hero Emblems and Crossy Road would probably be fine on a 6+ or even a 6.
I would actually love this. Have an option for Touch ID or joystick button because we all know that these are just gaming devices at this point.
Looks more like something they'd put on an iPod touch (assuming they ever make another one). Pretty much everyone who has one uses them for games anyway.
Looks like it would make a good fit for a new iPod touch, which I still believe they are making a new one.
That's what I was thinking. Since Apple pay won't be a thing on the Wi-Fi only iPods, the Touch ID thing isn't much of a big deal on them.
Perhaps Apple wants to start nudging the iPod line into a more gamer-focused market? Or perhaps they just wanted to lock down a patent before some one else did (gotta stay on the front lines of those patent wars! lol).
Also helps them use this to position as the gaming present over 3DS
Yikes! This makes me anxious just looking at it.
I love the iPhone style of smartphone because it has no moving / protruding pieces. I've learned to be ok with my 3DS from a durability point of view because of its clamshell design, but my Vita always makes me a bit nervous with its perpetually exposed sticks jutting up like a pair of chilly.. well, you get the idea.
The concept here is that you'd push the button down and the stick would pop up when you need it. When you're done, you push it again and it goes flush with the sides. Nothing sticks out unless you want it to.
looks like it would break easy. get the smallest amount of grit and grime under the button and it probably gets stuck either in or out and then everyone will be up in arms over it. with so many careless ppl that use their greasy cheeto and dorito fingers with no concern its bound to go south within a week of it coming out on market.
*home button breaks, uses touch assist forever*
Surely it's more sensible just to let the home button sense where you're touching it. There'd be no moving parts and it would feel almost the same as a little joystick.
Hmmm - I should patent that quickly!
Kind of like the new "joystick" on the right side of the new 3DS's.
I believe that's called a virtual joystick, isn't it?
Lots of concerns already, and what if you accidentally press too hard, go back to the 'home' mode and close the screen in the middle of a heavy action sequence... The concept would be cool though if they can make it work well.
I don't need Touch ID on a gaming focused iPod Touch, you know for kids.
Yes!!! Now time for some Atari 2600 ports
That be awesome lol they should keep the home button but have a hidden panel which neatly zooms in and rises a small joystick out of it, and when your done it neatly winds back in and the cover slips back over it so you never even realise it was there....man id love to be a crazy patent designer.
You know, I think it could actually do this already. It could even utilize the touch-id to do it. If you register all sides of a finger it could detect as you lean on the button without actually pressing it. You could subtly rock right, left down and up or keep it straight dead on. I think could implement this right now if you are clever enough.
Maybe their sights are set on more than gaming. It could have accessibility applications for some users.
I don't see why they don't just make it stick out a little and double as a rounded d-pad in it's current state. Having a spring and movement added to it will only beg for defects and problems. Just make it to function like that new button on the new 3DS's and it'll probably function better overall. Plus getting cases on over it wouldn't be a problem as long as the relief isn't too much.
I have to agree. I got rid of my mini 2 a week after I got my 6+. Absolutely perfect for everything especially gaming
This can actually work it. Instead of pushing in the home button to get to the home screen you use the Touch ID. Tap twice instead of pressing it in would work too!
Wow what a genius idea. Apple have some of the best thinker/inventors in the biz. I just hope it's sturdy enough
How about a trackball home button?
How about righty and lefty, I'm not used to having the home button side on my left hand maybe it's just my problem.