QCF: ARC Squardon

The future of handheld entertainment is a hotly debated one. Nintendo's 3DS gives gamers on the go a portable 3D entertainment center that not only plays games in surprisingly clear 3D, but also allows for relatively speedy online play, internet browsing and even Netflix from a WiFi hotspot. Sony's PlayStation Vita sports some surprisingly high fidelity, handily running games very similar in scope to the PS3.

But all of this comes at a cost. With most new 3DS games weighing in at $40, and Vita titles often coming in at $50, both systems face obscurity and obselecence versus the new distribution models offered by the Apple iTunes App Store and Google's Play Android service. With most, if not all, modern tablets and smartphones supporting one of the two, the prospect of a $40 portable game seems absurd when games can play, sound and look just as good... for one dollar.

Such is the case with Psyonix's Unreal-powered ARC Squadron, currently available in the iTunes App Store and Android Market for only $0.99. So, just what do you get for a measly buck?

ARC Squadron is a 3D rail shooting game in the vein of Star Fox. Using touch input, you steer your craft around the screen to avoid obstacles and enemy shots whle attempting to shoot your opposition down. Your ship will fire when your reticle is placed on your target, and special weapons can be used by touching targets, enabling a lock on for your volley of death. Finally, you can also roll out of the way of incoming attacks with a quick swipe of the screen.

ARC Squadron has over 60 stages to complete, which is an astounding amount. As you progress, your score is based on how throroughly you destroy the enemies in the stage, and how many of the score bonus pickups that will appear you are able to collect. Collecting these bonuses and defeating enemies quickly will also create score chains which will boost your score. By the end of the stage, if your score is high enough, you will get a star rating that maxes out at 4. Boss fights calculate a bonus based on how much health you have at the end of the fight. You'll also collect credits in relation to your score to puchase upgrade new ships and weapons.

The controls are fairly responsive too, though I had a problem with the touch input on account of my fingers not liking being dragged across glass unless both they and the surface are bone dry, minimizing friction. Thankfully, the sensitivity of the ship's movement can be tweaked to a more comfortable level for people with my affliction.

And holy hell, this game looks and runs fantastic. I played this game on an iPhone 4, and the results astounded me. Running between 30 and 60 frames per second, the visuals are smooth and very well defined in full 3D polygonal glory. Some of the backgrounds are just amazing as well. I would find myself uttering a bewildered “wooooahhh” as my ship made its way through the rings of planets, asteroid fields, worm holes and enemy space stations. The sound isn't too bad either with ftting effects and music, not to mention clear – if over-acted – voice overs.

Add to all of this Gamecenter and Achievement support, and ARC Squadron is a pretty solid package. 

There's a bit of a downside to ARC Squadron, though. Given that there are so many stages, it loses its novelty a ways in, and with a fair chunk of the game left. So while there is quite a bit of replay, it may not feel very fresh. The touch controls can also cause a bit of a headache when you're trying to dodge stuff as well, since your finger can often obscure the playfield. And, while the visuals are incredible, the same can't be said of some of the ship designs. One in specific was way too Star Wars-y for my taste while others were a tad on the lame side. Despite this, a few ships still look damn cool.

There's one final issue, which may not be an issue to some: it's a 650MB game, so you may need to clean the fridge.

But for only a buck? You'd be nuts not to get it if you're into shooting games like I am. Or if you liked Star Fox. Or if you like good games. Or if you like games. Get the game.