Gentlemen! Review

Occasionally frantic, Gentlemen! is never short of gloriously great fun. Lone gamers won't be so keen given that it's exclusively for two players, but it's the perfect reason to get a friend involved. The idea is simple enough: players must defeat each other in a duel to the death. Just like in the old days of honor and explosive birds, ok, maybe not so much.

Presented in portrait mode, each player's controls are set on opposite sides of the screen. In a nice move, menu buttons and other descriptions are similarly laid out, for either player to easily interact with. Controls are simple with left and right, alongside a gravity flip button and the use of a weapon. Weapons vary, mostly thanks to a switch in the middle of each game enabling players to change around. Knives, bombs, dynamite, electric shields and explosive birds all play a role, each offering their own advantages and disadvantages. It's as zany as it sounds, while adding a surprising tactical edge to proceedings.

Three different modes of play exist, further adding to the variety of the game. Duel is a straight-forward duel to the death, while Diamond Duel mixes in an alternate objective: collecting up diamonds. Chase is perhaps the most strategical, given that only one player at any given time has a weapon, leaving the other to scurry at speed away from certain death.

As is always the way with Lucky Frame's titles, Gentlemen! looks and sounds great. That extra shine of polish really makes a difference to an already great game. Online fans might miss being able to square up against random opponents, but Gentlemen! brings a personal touch to the App Store, reminding one of just how satisfying it is to look a defeated opponent in the eye. It could truly bring friends and family together, before tearing them apart post-defeat.