Pixel Gun 3D Review

The Minecraft phenomenon has inspired a lot of people to create their own content based on the critically-acclaimed title. PCs, consoles, and mobile gaming have seen their share of these independently generated games, based on Mojang's work, that range in genres. Pixel Gun 3D is one of those games, bringing both a survival and massive multiplayer first-person shooting experience to the iPad and iPhone.

Pixel Gun 3D comes with two modes; a single player survival campaign as well as a global multiplayer mode. Both of these contain the same features that are staplse to first person shooters; shoot, reload, and jump. Additionally, players of either mode will also enjoy the same blocky Minecraft-style artwork and graphics players have come to expect. But that is where the similarities end.

Multiplayer mode is really where this game shines and is probably the contributing factor to its widespread popularity on the App Store. Multiplayer mode is exactly what one would expect from a first-person shooter; players running around a map shooting at one another, trying to get to a set number of kills. Players can play the multiplayer mode both locally and globally over their internet connection. Throughout these matches players will see an array of weapons at their disposal as well as a chance to see lots of user-created content within the game such as player sprites or maps. While players will have a hard time moving their character on the iPad’s big screen, they will quickly find that others also have the same issues.

The survival mode, however, is not nearly as entertaining as the multiplayer. Players will find themselves wiping out a map full of zombies, ghouls, spiders, and other creatures of the night. Pixel Gun has an introductory level, but anytime players come back to survival mode they have to replay it. The baddies are also way better at moving around than the players are, and will eventually swarm and kill them. This wouldn’t be a problem, except ammo is limited. Players can obtain more but must use real world money to obtain it if they cannot find any in time, which ends up being more often than not. This mode can get really frustrating fast, especially because the controls are already frustrating.

It’s quite unfortunate that an otherwise entertaining game contains so many letdowns in its controls and singleplayer mode. Players will more than likely spend most of their time playing the multiplayer and possibly tinkering with sprite customization, which can be uploaded to Minecraft itself. Pixel Gun 3D is a great little first-person shooter that really shines in its multiplayer mode, but really falls short in its bland single player.