Infinity Field Review

Dual-stick shooters are numerous on the App Store, so if you want to stand out, you have to get the basics right and then build your own ideas on top of it to make it perfect. Infinity Field features a standard setup - kill enemies of various colors and geometric shapes before they kill you. There are a variety of modes to do this in, standard 'shoot everything that moves and survive as long as possible' modes with several variations on enemy formations, a couple of modes where you can only kill enemies by detonating bombs, and a Snake mode puts you in control of a snake that has a laser between its head and tail, so you have to maneuver in a way to that will kill the enemies with that laser.

Infinity Field's variety is its greatest strength. The 6 game modes give you plenty of different ways to play the game, each different in their own way. The game's campaign mode is also a great way to practice the game's mechanics, as it takes you through the game's various modes and challenges you to hone your survival skills, and gives you a reason to return to the game besides achievements and high scores. But, if you do love to collect those things, Game Center and Crystal are implemented in the game, along with a list of the top 4 scores in each mode, to give you something to shoot towards. The engine is impressive, cranking out tons of bullets and enemies in an engine with some 3D playing field effects (that can be disabled in the game's comprehensive options menu) without ever slowing down in anyway. In what is likely a first for dual-stick shooters on iOS, the game also supports 2-player play on a single device, as you and another player compete for a high score, with each player's controls on each side of the device. The game will also support remote control of the game with an iPhone/iPod touch in a future update, as well.

Now, here's the thing - Infinity Field borrows so liberally from games like Geometry Wars that it probably ought to cut them a check - the setup is practically identical. This isn't the most original game in the world, but it feels like it borrows more liberally than other games in the genre. The dual stick controls are a bit less accurate than in other games - I felt like I was often accidentally running into enemies because of the controls. Also, iPhone and iPod touch owners are currently out of the loop with the game, as it is iPad-only for the moment.

Infinity Field may lack in the originality department, but it does not lack in the fun department. It outclasses even the iOS version of Geometry Wars in many ways, coming feature-packed and getting a lot right. This is one of the best dual-stick shooters for the iPad, and is definitely worth a look if you need a good action game on your iPad.