Icarus-X an Incredibly Fast Vertical Space Shoot ‘em up, Dazzling Graphics
by Paul Wilks
Jul 25, 2011 7:31 AM –
Install
Icarus- X is an incredibly fast vertical space shoot ‘em up with dazzling graphics and challenging gameplay which will test you reflexes to the max. You will face a series of tough bosses and a variety of baddies as you speed through the air. Collect bonuses and boosts which increase firepower. The gameplay will be familiar to most, but the break-neck velocity of the game sets it far apart from the competition. The Free version is ad supported and lacks the ‘Classic’ mode.
Price: Free, ~$2.86
Tested on: HTC Desire HD
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- The graphics are top notch.
- Breathtakingly fast.
- Challenging and addictive.
- The music/sound effects are really good.
- 3 difficulty levels.
- Achievements to complete.
- Full version features 2 modes in addition to a slow motion Practice mode.
Cons
- Claims to be 3D but I think this is a little misleading. When you begin your craft drops into play, this would appear 3D but the game is really a 2D shoot ‘em up with some occasional 3D effects.
- Brings greater speed to the genre but little else.
Features:
The first thing you notice about Icarus-X is that it’s lightning fast. In fact, I am unsure if I have encountered a game quite as fast paced. You control your craft in this vertical scrolling shoot ‘em up destruction fest. Collect boosts to increase firepower, avoid enemy fire and destroy them as they fly in various formations in front of you. There are plenty of games like this on Android, but Icarus-X arguably tops this genre for sheer velocity of gameplay. Despite the powerful graphics, I encountered no blips in the action and gameplay was incredibly smooth.
A great additional feature of this game is the sound. There is a pumping background track which compliments the numerous explosions and gunfire. The only negative is the robotic voice which passes on instruction in the background, which I found a bit tricky to understand at times.
The game is a significant challenge and not easy… even on the ‘Easy’ level. While this might put off some of the more pedestrian and casual gamers, hardcore shoot ‘em up fans should enjoy this kind of blistering mayhem. I was quite impressed too by the collision detection in the game. Ever been destroyed by a baddie in a game and thought ‘Hang on! That was nowhere near me!’? I know I have plenty of times, so I was glad to see that bullets have to actually hit you to count and, with the amount of fire coming at you this is very welcome indeed.
Your crafts personal weapons consist of increasingly powerful laser shots and another weapon, executed by double tapping the screen, sends a ‘radial bomb’ wave of destruction across the screen which kills anything that is visible. You also appear to collect something called ‘Chains’, but there’s no actual explanation of what this means or what value it has to your game, besides increasing your score.
There are a few difference between the Free version and the paid for app. The paid for version features an additional Classic mode, in addition to a Practice option which permits you to play in slow motion. Obviously too, there are no ads in the paid for game.
The game is a genuinely exhilarating experience and you can almost feel the G-force while playing it. The speed is extremely fast and the polished graphics are pretty incredible. However, I have to say this brings little else to this popular genre of game. There are vertical scrolling space shoot ‘em ups aplenty in the Android Market and, while this is certainly one of the better ones, it offers little in the way of originality. If you are a fan of this type of game you will really like Icarus-X, but it perhaps won’t show you anything that you haven’t seen before in your gaming experience.
Watch on Mobile
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Icarus-X – In-game view.
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Icarus-X – In-game view 2
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Icarus-X – In-game view 3
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Icarus-X – Level complete screen
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Icarus-X – Early boss
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Icarus-X – Another boss
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Icarus-X – Variety of awards and achievements.
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Icarus-X – Game over screen
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Icarus-X – Splash Screen
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Icarus-X – Main menu
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Icarus-X – Settings
Fun Factor:
The game has a real edge-of-your-seat feel to it and it’s mind-blowing exhilarating to play and subsequently lots of fun. I think the novelty of the incredible speed does wear off after a while though and you are left with a very good, but very familiar shoot ‘em up.
Addictive:
There are stacks of achievements to complete in this game and completists will perhaps revel in the array of accomplishments set out for you. This adds to the addictive quality of the game, as does the series of levels, backdrops and variety of bosses. The game is addictive but very frustrating if you get wiped out towards the end of the level. While I really like the game, I felt less and less inclined to try again.
Graphics:
The graphics are top notch. Blistering visuals are what makes this game stand out from many others available. I would imagine you need a relatively high end device to cope with it.
Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:
The sound on Icarus-X is superb. High paced music and very impressive explosions. the robotic voice tells you when you have a radial bomb available and tells you about your Chains, although, as mentioned I’m unsure of the relevance of this besides increasing score.