Inferno+ Review

Inferno+ is the latest iOS adaptation of Radiangames’ back catalog titles, and one of the most involved. Like Ballistic SE, this is a dual-stick shooter, but instead of being about fighting off waves of enemies, this game is actually level-based. It’s a bit like the classic Gauntlet as a dual-stick shooter, as players must shoot and collect keys on their way to the exits – with occasional secret bonus exits! Like Radiangames’ Super Crossfire, players earn upgrades to their stats, and they can spend the money they pick up on unlocking upgrade slots, and buying more drones, bombs, and keys, those the latter items are really more of a matter of convenience.

While the graphics aren’t anything to write home about (there’s a lot of circles, and vector-esque graphics), the level-based structure is a refreshing change of pace. There isn’t a lot of exploration, but the level layouts do present interesting ways to face enemies. The challenge level steadily rises, slowly starting to get more insane over time, with an even more challenging New Game+ available once the main game is complete. The game is universal and has iCloud support; in the initial App Store release it may not work right initially, but disabling then re-enabling it (and choosing the save set on iCloud) will make it work smoothly.

Control-wise, while dual-stick shooters work well on iOS, the issue with Inferno+ is the shield button. While the buttons can be rearranged to the player’s whims, it’s still a virtual button that needs to be activated quickly, and without a tactile location to reach for, quick activation does not always go perfectly. Joypad support is in the game, though it may not work properly as it crashes my iPod touch 4th generation when I test it out. The boss battles were fairly disappointing, especially at the end of the game’s 40th level, it doesn’t feel different from earlier bosses, and it’s just an anti-climactic end.

Fans of the other games in the Radiangames catalog, even those who have only checked out Super Crossfire, will enjoy Inferno+, especially with its upgrade system. It’s not the best dual-stick shooter out there, but it’s still plenty of fun.