NOVA. 3 arrives with considerably high expectations. The first two editions have been strong contenders for being among the best first-person shooters on iOS. So can the third edition live up to the hype?
In many ways it does. The landscape of a burnt-out San Francisco is quite stunning, especially on an iPad (although there has been some discussion about whether it actually looks better on an iPad 2). Nonetheless, those with an iPhone 4S will especially find a game that is great to look at as well as play.
If you are new to the series, the storyline is rather inconsequential. You play as Kal Wardin, who is kind of like an interplanetary Jack Bauer. After getting dumped back on Earth, it is time to blast some enemies. There are a number of cut scenes that shed some light on the storyline. But if you want to get back to just killing aliens, they can be skipped.
Opt in to playing with the gyroscope for a more interactive experience with NOVA 3(it is turned off by default). Instead of just using your finger to look around, move your device. I would suggest moving up the sensitivity level, otherwise it may feel like too much swinging back and forth to see the surroundings. Additionally, you will look less strange as your spouse or significant other enters the room.
While a first-person shooter on a touch-screen device will never have the same feel of a console or PC game, NOVA 3 comes close. Add in the multi-player option and it adds up to the kind of game that will definitely drain your battery due to repeated play. Sign up for a Gameloft Live account and then partake in the destruction. Like my experience on Xbox Live, there are many experienced players out there waiting to kill you.
All was not perfect, however. I experienced some moments of gameplay lag, even though playing on an iPhone 4S. Also, some have reported that the graphics are actually superior on an iPad 2 instead of the new iPad.The controls are well-designed, with a couple of customization options available.
Yet in the grand scheme these hiccups are relatively minor. If you don’t mind parting with the $6.99 (on the high end of gaming for the App Store) and have the space (NOVA 3 is 1.57 GB) then don’t hesitate to hit the Install button.
Download NOVA 3 from the App Store ($6.99)
On Target:
- Excellent first-person shooter
- Great multi-player experience
Off the Mark:
- Some lag
- Graphics issues
SEVEN dollars! Wow!
Expensive than before,,,,