StarDunk Review

Our Review by Chris Hall on July 16th, 2010
Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar :: MMO BASKETBALL
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StarDunk is a space bound, basketball shooting, online playing, high score getting app that will tickle your competitive funny bone.

Developer: Godzilab
Price: $0.99
Version Reviewed: 1.1

Graphics / Sound Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar
Game Controls Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
Gameplay Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
Re-use / Replay Value Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar

Overall Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar

Very quickly the iPhone is moving closer and closer into the realm of traditional hand-held gaming. The graphics are similar to any other system and many of the games released are simultaneously released on more traditional game systems like the Nintendo DS.

What makes the iPhone different is the fact that it is always with you, and always connected to the internet. With millions of online ready "gaming devices" walking around the planet, the possibilities for online gaming are enormous. The first to really strike gold was Com2uS with its fantastic Homerun Battle 3D. It was a sports game with simple controls, simple gameplay, and a ton of people all over the world ready to play against you 1 on 1.

Taking this one step further, Godzilab has created StarDunk, and online "sports" game that has you playing a group of people at the same time.

Past the shiny graphics and bright color flashes, the game is incredibly basic. You simply aim a ball towards a basketball hoop and let go. As the ball goes through the hoop, you get scored on how clean you made the shot. Behind the basket is a backboard with 4 rectangles that light up when hit. When all the rectangles are lit, you get a bonus action, which is partially determined by the ball you are using.

As you progress through the game, you get new balls for different accomplishments. There are 16 balls that you can earn, and they all do different things, from doing second jumps mid air to giving you multiball bonuses for lighting up the backboard.

Unique to this app is the seamless nature of the online play. When you are ready to play online, you hit the online yes/no indicator and then start playing. You'll enter the normal game for a bit, and then when enough players gather, the game will throw you into a game against people from all around the world. The games last for two minutes, and when the game is over, you get to see the results and then start the process over. There is never a need, or a way, to seek out a game, they just happen.

The thing that StarDunk is lacking is real interaction with the online players. While it is quite amazing that you can play 10 people at the same time, it would be nice to be able to effect the other players a-la Homerun Battle 3D. Maybe throw a few metal balls at the other players to make them miss, or hit 10 shots and a row and turn other players baskets into mini-hoops.

Overall, StarDunk is a very nice looking game that is quite amazing due to its multiplayer capabilities. The game is quite simplistic and is certainly not for everybody, but if you even remotely like basketball or the prospect of beating 10 people at once, you should pick this one up as soon as possible.

As the developer said in a previous press release, "“StarDunk is really original in its massive online competition, the game has just been released so there’s only a few players, but we are hoping to have soon more than hundreds of players playing simultaneously.” Hop on board and make this game really fun.

My gamer tag is Chris148apps by the way... just in case you want to play.

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