If the initial game releases in the early days of the iPhone 3 signified Apple’s potential to compete with hand held games consoles, the release of N.O.V.A 3 and the power of the iPhone 5 signifies its capabilities to compete with the upcoming next generation computer games consoles. It’s the very pinnacle of iPhone gaming and brings the very best in first person shooter action to the little device.
The graphics are literally sublime, with the gaming environment, characters and enemies looking every bit as good as you might expect on the Playstation 3 or the Xbox 360, which is pretty impressive when you hold up your phone next to one of the consoles and compare their sizes. However, good looking iPhone games aren’t necessarily new, but what N.O.V.A. 3 pulls off is both looks and game play class.
One of the biggest challenges for new games is getting to grips with the touch screen controls and where other games have gotten their control setup wrong, N.O.V.A. 3 pulls it off with ease. The movement and aiming systems is fluid and easy to get to grips with, plus the additional jump and force triggers are easily accessed without getting in the way. Even when you take on the sniper scope, there are no problems taking aim, zooming in and picking off the attacking volterite nasties.
The campaign game focuses on former N.O.V.A. Commander Kal Wardin as the main character you control as he follows a distress signal to old San Francisco, back on the now abandoned earth. With the N.O.V.A. rebels still fighting for human independence from the Diminion, Kal finds himself in the centre of an epic battle with the Volterites.
To start off the game is a classic first person shooter with great graphics and controls, but as the game develops it takes things up a notch, giving you control of massive mecha warriors and the gun barrel atop tear-away army vehicles.
However, come out of campaign mode and into multi-player through a wifi connection and suddenly the games becomes an iPhone equivalent of Call of Duty online.
Though N.O.V.A. 3 is £4.99 from iTunes, making it one of the more expensive games out on the iPhone, the sheer brilliance of it more than makes up for the price tag. It’s slick, addictive and looks amazing, paving the way for a new generation of “super game” for the device.
N.O.V.A. 3 review: 5/5
Good work Gameloft
