Raiding Company Review

If there is one genre that has remained stable since the introduction of iOS, it would have to be the dual stick shooter. Just move your character, shoot, and stay alive. Dual stick shooters aren't new to the scene, but they have managed to stay popular due to their simple learning curve and addictive gameplay. The problem is too many developers try to copy and paste the same old formula in an attempt to gain some fast cash. Tuokio, the developer of Raiding Company, has added a few unique twists to their take on the genre that help the game stand out. It isn't a perfect game, but it is a great start.

In Raiding Company you choose between one of four unique characters, and proceed to raid one of five dangerous tombs. Each character has their own special weapon, and each tomb features a set number of enemy waves. It all seems like standard fare, but the game offers a local multiplayer mode for same system play. When you enter a tomb there is unique relic in the room that must be looted. As soon as the item is grabbed by you or one of your team mates the mummies, bats, and other baddies start closing in. The graphics are stylized, and they work for the lighthearted feel of the game, but sometimes they felt too cute. I also think the soundtrack is spot on, but it is a little slim and very repetitive.

The single player mode works like you would expect any dual stick shooter to work. Defeat a wave of enemies while collecting money to power up your weapons and repeat. I was a little sad that there aren't any customization options for the characters, but each character plays differently and it's noticeable. I found that I preferred the lady with the minigun and the robot with the phasers. Each character has three levels of weapon upgrades, but I would like to see more. It isn't hard to max out your character, and their aren't any additional power-ups. On occasion enemies will drop a slab of avian leg that you can use for healing, but that's pretty much the extent of in game items.

The multiplayer mode is where the real fun is at. It can get pretty hectic, but it is a good social experience. The developer had screen real estate in mind when putting Raiding Company together because they included an auto aim system. Some people might think it's a cheap way to play the game, but there is still plenty of challenge. Playing multiplayer pretty much requires the iPad to be resting on a flat surface, and the addition of auto aim helps to compensate for the players having to use their pointer fingers to maneuver instead of their thumbs. The only downside to multiplayer is the distance limitations. Players have to stay within range of each other, and that can cause for some frustrating character deaths.

Raiding Company is a fun addition to the dual stick shooter genre, but it lacks substantial content. There are some good ideas in the game, and I think it will get a lot better if the developers continue to support it. It is worth the entry fee if you plan on playing with 2 to 4 players, but there are better single player experiences out there. If more characters, items, and higher level power-ups are added to Raiding Company, then it could get pretty epic.

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