Abyss Attack Review

There's an increasing trend towards games that are Endless Shooters. If they all turn out like Abyss Attack, I'm going to be pretty happy.

Players explore an endless ocean floor full of gems to collect and strange jellyfish-type creatures that must be shot to pieces. Abyss Attack is immediately quite visually attractive with plenty going on via its neon-like graphics and no hint of slowdown anywhere. The calming, water-effect laden soundtrack further helps matters, even if it might juxtapose a little with the action.

Defaulting to touch screen controls is a wise move for Abyss Attack as the tilt controls aren't quite up to scratch when it comes to finer movements. Given that things can turn quite hectic, it's handy to be able to move more carefully than tilt controls can allow. Shooting is automatic so players are solely left to move the submarine around, as well as choose to activate power-ups as and when they wish to.

A wave of enemies and scenery must be negotiated before a boss battle takes place at the end of each section. These require similar tactics as before, but it's wise to save the best power-ups for this moment. It's all quite simple and pattern recognition focused yet consistently enjoyable.

As is the case with many Endless games, a series of missions form the true structure to the game. These missions are typically quite straight-forward with mega-missions taking longer, but offering better rewards. The gems gained throughout the game, both during a stage and via the missions, can then be used to buy upgrades. These upgrades boost the submarine's power as well as unlock new power-ups and other sub types, enhancing the urge to play more.

It's a keen and satisfactory mix, easily fostering the "just one more go" mentality that works so well for games in this genre. Abyss Attack is a game that deserves to stick around on one's iOS device for a while to come.