Color Bandits HD ($1.99) is a Contra-style shooter that will be an easy introduction to the genre, and will keep all but the most seasoned gaming veterans entertained. It isn’t terribly long in content, but the possibility of added content might make this app a good one to explore.
Controls in this app could not be more simple. A slider on the left controls your characters left-right movement, while a ring on the left controls the direction of fire. I never had trouble with the control scheme, as it is really spot-on.
Another aspect of this app that will appeal to beginners is the learning curve. Early stages are very easy with boss battles being only marginally more difficult. While this will certainly appeal to some gamers looking for a relaxing shooter, many will find the lack of challenge a fault of the gameplay. I can attest to this, as scrolling shooters are not my forte, and yet I was able to breeze through the first four levels. The fifth and sixth levels required more skill, but still weren’t in quite the same league as other games in this category.
Art and sound design in this app were decent. Each stage begins in stark black and white, and as you progress through the level, color gradually enters the background. This fit in with the story line, and is a nice touch although not particularly original. Sound was also adequate, but once again falls slightly into the pet peeve category for me, that the soundtrack is not separate from the other sound effects, and you may only select all or none of the game sounds to be played.
Overall, I found Color Bandits HD to be a decent shooter, even if it is on the easier end of the spectrum. The campaign mode is a bit short, mostly because of the ease of play. However, survival mode does well to balance this, and is actually a good mode to challenge your friends with, as it’s simply a contest to see who can stay alive the longest and achieve the highest score. I look forward to future updates and the possibility of more content down the line.
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