AFTERPAD

Review: Vertex Blaster

iPhone gamers have no shortage of dual-stick shooters to play through; as a genre, it lends itself well to touch-screen play. But Vertex Blaster shows just how far further a great game can be improved through the use of great hardware controls.

Vertex Blaster plays similarly to Geometry Wars, but transposes that gameplay and visual style into a 3D plane. Use the left analog control to move a ship across the surface of a 3D globe, and use the right analog control to aim and fire weapons at a series of enemies and obstacles.


Travel the globe destroying enemies and dodging bullets

The gameplay is superficially simple, but extremely fun. While each round starts off slow, the globe will fill with obstacles and enemies, growing progressively more difficult and intense, with bullets flying everywhere, meteors to dodge, enemies coming from all directions.

Vertex Blaster plays great with both the SteelSeries Stratus and Moga Ace Power controllers, but is NOT compatible with the Standard layout used by the Logitech controller. Owners of the Extended layout controllers will find a lot here to love, though – this game is one of the best arguments in favor of analog sticks to date.