id's upcoming post-apocalyptic shooter RAGE is still almost a year away, but why should we wait that long before getting to blast some of the ugliest mutants this side of Total Recall? In order to keep the hype going for the full game, id has released RAGE on the iPhone as an on-rails shooter. Now that's good advertising!
RAGE (iPhone [reviewed], iPad)
Developer: id
Publisher: Bethesda
Released: November 18, 2010
MSRP: $0.99 (iPhone), $1.99 (iPad)
RAGE on the iPhone paints a grim post-nuke future in which the premier form of entertainment is a deadly man-versus-mutant game show titled Mutant Bash TV. Hosted by the corpulent, grotesque and painfully unfunny J.K Stiles, this sordid show is represented on the iDevices as an on-rails shooter, one that looks pretty damn sweet.
The graphics are RAGE's big selling point, and they definitely look impressive, up there with the very best the iPhone has to offer. The mutants are detailed in all their grotesque glory, and the environments are packed with objects and intricate filth. In terms of showing off the power of your iThings, RAGE certainly gets the job done.
The gameplay is not quite as outstanding as the graphics, unfortunately. Controls are of the frustratingly unwieldy variety, with tilt-based aiming mechanics and a minimalist interface that doesn't give you much in the way of combat options. You can aim, shoot and dodge, and that's about it.
There's no melee attack, which means you will often take a lot of damage should more than one enemy get close to you. Dodging isn't all that helpful, as it gives you a mere second's reprieve from attack, and when you're dealing with a mixture of brick-lobbing ranged mutants and up-close punchy mutants, you'll find that you're sorely lacking in methods to defend yourself.
The game isn't especially difficult on Medium, but having to essentially sit and take a pounding from enemies during the action-heavy moments isn't very fun, especially when the dark graphics make anticipating projectiles even more difficult. Most of the game's challenge comes in wrestling with the interface, which isn't any kind of respectable challenge at all.
If tilt controls aren't your thing, you can switch to a touch-screen aim mode. While this is more accurate, the virtual button layout becomes far less convenient, and you'll find yourself unable to aim quickly enough to nab point-grabbing bonus targets and bags of Bash Bux. Despite being harder to aim, it's actually a lot easier to get the job done with the accelerometer on your side.
If all this sounds overly negative, be aware that the game actually does become quite fun once you wrestle the controls down and get used to how it operates. Beneath the dodgy interface is a solid, enjoyable on-rails shooter that keeps up a fast pace without completely overwhelming you. The three different weapons (pistol, assault rifle and shotgun) are all effective, and you can double your damage output while reloading by pressing the screen at the right time, a'la Gears of War.
The game is quite short at only three episodes, but it costs a mere dollar on the iPhone, and it's enjoyable enough that you may want to replay, so it's definitely worth the money. There is also a Nightmare difficulty to tackle which pumps up the enemies and makes them more aggressive, so there is lots of optional challenge to be found as well.
As a cute little taster of the RAGE experience, Mutant Bash TV is certainly a good idea. The price point is perfect, and even tough the controls are annoying, it's worth picking up just to experience a terrific looking shooter set in a promisingly gruesome world. Those looking forward to the real RAGE really ought to check it out, and those who just want a good shooter could spend their cash on far worse.
12:30 PM on 01.15.2013 //
Jordan DevoreThe Cave publisher Sega has pinned down the release schedule for this new adventure game from the joyful minds at Double Fine Productions. Even though it's coming to several digital distribution services, there thankfully are... more
5:00 PM on 01.14.2013 //
Caitlin CookeHey, Television! Check out Double Fine’s latest game for Xbox Live Arcade: Kinect Party. In fun-loving Double Fine fashion, it was released for free upon launch in mid-December until the New Year. For those of you who d... more
7:00 AM on 01.11.2013 //
Jordan DevoreWhile the exact release date for The Cave hasn't been nailed down quite yet -- it's "January 2013," for now -- the upcoming adventure game from Ron Gilbert and co. at Double Fine Productions will be available shortly. In fact... more
10:00 PM on 12.13.2012 //
Jordan DevoreI had forgotten Double Fine was getting into iOS development with Middle Manager of Justice. Following a number of great sim games that fit very well with these mobile platforms, this tasks players with managing superheroes i... more
6:30 PM on 12.11.2012 //
Dale NorthDouble Fine's Kinect Party, the game that is going to make your high fives sparkle, is also going to be totally free. A list of upcoming releases on Major Nelson's blog looked like a possible typo, but Double Fine's website confirmed that this Kinect game will be free on December 18, and will remain free for the rest of the year.
Got a Kinect? Then you have no excuse. more
6:30 PM on 12.07.2012 //
Dale North
There's a lot of interesting stuff going on in this new Kinect Party trailer, but what I'm most interested in is having sparks come off my high fives with other people. How great is that? I imagine that happening anyway, so ... more
7:45 PM on 12.04.2012 //
Niero GonzalezIn the Bay Area this Thursday? Come melt your face at San Francisco's DNA lounge for Ümloud!, the annual California fundraiser that benefits Child's Play. Did I mention Tim Schafer, creator of Psychonauts, Grim... more
3:30 PM on 12.03.2012 //
Dale North
Sega, Double Fine, and Ron Gilbert have sent along their newest trailer for upcoming puzzle action/adventure title The Cave. In it, a talking cave gives us a brief rundown on a few of the seven characters that you'll ch... more
8:30 PM on 11.21.2012 //
Jordan Devore
Some of you were very enthusiastic about Double Fine's Amnesia Fortnight bundle, which is essentially the studio's way of giving people the opportunity to check out playable builds of prototypes and also vote on potential pr... more
8:30 PM on 11.19.2012 //
Jordan Devore
Double Fine Productions has been pretty vocal about its Amnesia Fortnight prototyping process that ultimately resulted in games like Costume Quest and Iron Brigade. This time, they're going a step further, and you'll have an... more