I’ve talked about shoot ’em ups ad nauseum, and for good reason — they’re one heck of a genre, and they’re making a big comeback on mobile devices. They’re just so fun to play and prey off of your ability to react to any given situation. I mean, who doesn’t love blowing up aliens or some otherwise evil entity while dodging a hail of bullets on-screen? It’s pretty much a universally beloved pastime. Frantic Shooter (Free), which hails more from the Robotron school of thought than anything, is just as fun even with touch controls.
A lot of shooters on smaller devices utilize an auto-fire system, and that’s just what Frantic Shooter does here. But the developers take it a step further, implementing a relatively controversial automatic aiming system. It has the propensity to get in the way at times, especially during some hectic moments where you absolutely need to shoot a high priority enemy in a specific area but can’t, but for the most part it does work. The game isn’t a slouch in the sense that it doesn’t detect foes, and just about any direction you need, you can influence by swiping towards that part of the screen.
And swiping is what you’ll be doing constantly. Your avatar can be moved bit by bit with a short, concise drag, or flung across the room with a big concerted flick. It’s both funny and effective, having your character comically dodge bullets like that, and after just five minutes with the concept I was ready to go. With a few exceptions on later levels, I found the mechanics to work just fine.
It also helps if you do pick it up sooner than later, because the rich get richer in Frantic Shooter. By picking up subsequent level-up packets on the screen you can boost your weaponry, 
which makes the automatic aiming feature even easier to deal with. I’m talking an upgrade from a single burst fire beam rifle to a full-on Contra spread — it can make all the difference between clearing and failing a level.
Thankfully enemies are varied enough to spice things up, as are the hazards. One of my favorites in the latter category are these giant spiked totems of sorts, which not only serve as a means to block off zones, but also double as laser canons that fire telegraphed shots out into the arena. Enemy placements are also telegraphed and visible even if they’re off-screen by way of an easy to identity icon. So things get hectic, but not unfairly so if you’re always watching.
It’s all really fun, but the arcade formula does have the potential to fade over time if you aren’t keen on replaying the same concept over and over. Yes, it’s a randomly generated joint, so don’t expect any sort of story mode or goal to work towards. What you see with the IAP and within several sessions is basically what you get.
Frantic Shooter gets away with being free by making money off of video ads, and premium character purchases. The former unlocks both weaponry options and characters, which is an interesting conceit in and of itself. Get this — by watching a video, you’ll unlock each bit of content for a limited time. So if you really want that piece of poop with arms and legs (yes it’s a real thing), you can watch a 30 second ad and try him out for two hours. That, and 500 coins grants you an extra random character.
It’s an aesthetic change so you aren’t really winning out by using them, and the weapons, while essentially automatic power-ups granted at the start of a fresh session, aren’t tied to monetary purchases. In other words, it’s not a pay-to-win game. This even applies to death, because while anyone can watch a video to revive or pay coins to do so, you can’t actually buy said currency and continue to cheat the leaderboards.
There are a few things Frantic Shooter could do differently, most notably a world map, the addition of a light campaign, and unlockables that don’t involve watching ads, but you get a lot of mileage out of the free download as-is, and the developers nailed the aiming feature. It’s not the most hardcore shooter in the world but I’ll easily be playing it down the road.
Soooo looking forward this one!
Enjoy your horribly watered down Freemium Pokemon game.
Tenks.
Who needs exercise XD
We will. Move your hate elsewhere.
I did, I am! Thanks, friend!
It's true it's true it's true!!! I got it! I'm freaking out because I didn't expect it!!
Newzealand is NL and it's the Dutch App Store isn't it? Now showing as available
It opens and crashes immediately after the load screen, not worth the trouble.
Not for me I'm playing
Same here. I'm using jailbroken iphone 5 9.0.2, and i noticed that the game crashed when location-require pop up.
Good, keep trying on jail broken devices and complain cause it's not working.
You can play in jailbroken iphone by blacklisting the Pokemon GO app using tsProtector
I got it on my phone instead of my iPad seeing as you need to be connected to play it and be mobile. Used a non-official source and selected New Zealand as my country of origin to download from.
Game works for me, I just wonder if it'll be a universal thing where Android Players & iOS players can team up together or if it'll be App Store Specific.
i can play ingress with droid users. I don't see why pokemon would be any different.
I feel like this game is going to be a massive failure.
If it is, you heard it here first.
Failure how? Will it be what everyone wants: a full fledged Pokemon on the go? HELL NO. Not in the least. Will it be a fun thing that's not too complex but will make nintend boatloads of cash, and probably push people towards Pokemon on their handhelds? I bet you it will.
It's just how it seems. Going outside and trading with random people seems like a cool idea but it won't happen.
Well ya there's always the chance you'll get stabbed or (since this is America) shot for your pokemon, but if you can fight then off long enough to get a ball off, hopefully your pokemon can go for help or at the very least avenge you... and/or grow up and become Zubatman...mon.
*them
I see it more as people exploring the places around them, or places they may go on vacation, and giving Nintendo lots and lots and LOTS of money. Trading? I dunno, but I don't think that's as important as people actually catching Pokemon/exploring.
I don't see it in US anyone have it?
On android not iPhone
me eethur
oh maybe it's on Android and not iPhone...
I wish someone had told me!
some 64er or article writer, (also how dare you inform me about the mouth breathers over on Android! I try VERY hard not to socialize with people who don't own and therefor have not pledged their undying allegiance to the ghost of Steve Jobs!)
If I wanted to know what was happening on the other side of the wall I would ask one of my many many manservants to capture and interrogate some of those wretched slovenly poors! I thought Touche Arcadeoux was an upstanding establishment! I am shocked to instead see it is merely a fiendish facade for a repository of ill repute! Once you start allowing "their kind" in you might as well call it Le Toilette Du Cad!
Im actually getting concerned for my mental health, Tallgeese's posts are starting to make sense!..........i need a vacation 😟
The combined madness of Trump and Tallgeese is spreading (Trumpgeese)! Flee while you can or tin foil hat up to increase your magical defense!
*rolls for fortitude*
(Fortitude check is a success!)
"Please. have. a. hearty. day,. pard-ner.!"
(+007 XP)
(Piper liked that.)
I checked my sons android and I don't see it on there either
Out on Australian App Store as well.
I just caught a Magicarp in my living room..... it was kind of fun. A church down the street is a gym, and a bus stop down the road is a Pokéstop.
It's a pity however that I can't be bothered moving anywhere.
Just got it and started playing, caught a squirtle thing, got uber excited, and then I got stuck at choosing a name, like literally every name I throw at the game says its unavailable! :s
Having the same problem!
same problem
game crash with me , im use ipad air 2 9.0.2
Really REALLY annoying that iTunes lets you choose none for billing when using iTunes on the computer but none isn't an option on my phone or tablet.
Damn, looks like they recently changed that because you used to be able to...
You need to buy a free app in order to choose NONE.
So change the AppStore to NZ, buy a free app and register account then during the "purchase".
Using my phone, if I tap the APP STORE icon and the FEATURED and go to the bottom and click my APPLE ID and then request CHANGE COUNTRY/REGION, it then requires me to enter payment info but no longer allows me to select NONE as an option (I checked this for the Japanese App store too, same issue, no NONE).
.
.Without a valid payment option it won't let me past the payment info screen and into the app store to get a free app... I'd have to make a separate account on the PC which is more work than I'd like for an app that may not work...
Well you're just doing it wrong. Sera, whom you replied to, said exactly what to do differently. I just made an NZ account this morning to get Pokemon Go (I got some other things too) and did not have to enter a payment, using only my iPhone.
And that's what I'm saying, you're making an account, I'm just switching mine over...
I just tried it again in the Japanese store, I'm able to see their app store but it won't let me access anything (only going for free things, obvi), again, previously this was not the case, I know I can make another account but I'm just lamenting the fact that what was once an easier method for me and others is no longer an option...
I just walked a mile and a half, caught a zubat, weedle, pidgey and a bulbasaur. I'm in a town of 3500 people and there are two gyms. It's pretty tight, not going to lie.
Side note: no crashes iPhone 6 iOS 9.3.2
Dang that does sound cool...
Good.job Kell I think u are the only peep that actually exercise in TA.. Most of the other slobs either quit or drive.. Which actually defeat the purpose of the niantic creating this game
I do think this sounds like a great idea. Got to wonder how many men and women in their mid-thirties are going to want to surreptitiously check their phones in public places for Pokemon... "Oh, I promised my daughter I'd check to see if there were any Pokemon at my office"
I have a drug program tomorrow (for weed) hope to God i catch a koffing tomorrow 😉 ...lmaoooo
"For weed? You're here for weed? Have you ever sucked dick for weed?!?"
That I would not consider to comment sir 😞 ...lol
So what about the UK App Store for iPhone? As its meant to be on the iPhone
Nope, not there yet, is it? Just those lucky Kiwis.
Now :( think in gonna have to go make a New Zealand profile
Scrap that I forgot I had an Australian account so I've just downloaded it
Have you also had issues choosing a name? I'm playing in London and can't get past that step, it doesn't let me :( and it doesn't let me use my 4g?!
I downloaded with Australian account and I'm playing in Israel and it works fine... (Though it crashes sometimes)
No problems yet, caught a few Pokemon and a went to one of those Pokemon places near my home. I was hoping you could battle without needing to be near a gym
Speaking of using real world maps in a game... anyone remember that game Fleck Touch? I miss that game.
So, basically it's Foursquare with another theme. Kind of underwhelming.
I've made an Australian account and downloaded it. Didn't had any trouble choosing a name, but after that I walked a lot and got none pokemon on screen. I tried to use Incense but it give me an error "Failed to detect location."
Anyone else having a similar issue?
I'm on a iPhone 6S+, iOS 9.3.2
Yup that was another one of my issues, it works on wifi but fails to detect 4g and nothing loads, I'm sure time will fix the launch bugs
Here it works ok on wifi and 4G, but if I try to use an incense it give me and error or if I walk looking for Pokemons it don't show none. Hope they update the app soon
I'm having GPS problem, otherwise I love this game to pieces. iPad4 9.3.2
probably have to wait for your countries release for it to be playable
What is the point of this game? I DL it and now have to run around town to catch Pokemon? The point of mobile games is to sit on you a$$ and relax.
Check out GPS and AR games. There are all sorts of games for all sorts of people. Ingress is an extremely popular active AR GPS game; this is the same thing, by the same company, but more Pokemon themed.
The irony of mobile games being sedentary isn't lost on me.
GPS problems of course on an iPod. Time to sell it. Gotta get a phone man
Game crashes every time i open it. Is it the same for anyone else?
Better release in the UK. Going to be pissed cause I really want to play this game.
Does it work on the Ipad? Because I just installed it and it on my Ipad and it says GPS can't be located and I know I have my GPS turned onto my I pad for weather alerts and etc and I checked maps and the GPS is working on the Ipad. I don't think its out on the Google play store yet because I can't find it yet on the play store so I can't install it on my phone.
Same thing happens to me. You just have to try over and over, you will eventually pass through—I hope.
Caught a few, lost a few. Servers must be hammered, lots of loading screens and crashing out. Lost one due to lagging out.
Looks like AR doesn't work on ios10 :(
It's amazing! Oh man
Server is experiencing problems already - nice.
Still can't get in UK
Awesome isn't it? Launch in a huge country like america but they can't do the little old UK
Launch in the US and give us a tiny taste and then the servers crash. :(
I download the game but I'm in the UK for the next week so I can't play it since my phone will be in airplane mode until I return stateside. Maybe they'll fix any game breaking bugs by then.