Uberstrike Review

Uberstrike brings free-to-play first-person shooting to the iPad, and it's definitely worth checking out for the FPS gamer on the go.

This is a fast-paced shooter akin to the turn-of-the-millennium PC classics like Doom III Arena and Unreal Tournament, with a military theme that doesn't take itself too seriously. Players take on each other in standard deathmatch, one life Elimination modes, and more. Experience is earned for doing well, with money that can be spent on upgrades

Plenty of fast servers were available, and I was able to find plenty of games to take part in. The controls are nowhere as accurate as a keyboard and mouse, or even a gamepad, but they do work well on the large iPad screen, especially as the different virtual buttons are large enough to be distinct. I didn't have many accidental button presses, though I did have trouble using aim-down-sights when in a pinch. Visually, the iPad 2 shows its age while playing the game - everythng seems visually dull and the framerate could be a bit smoother, but it is perfectly playable.

Now, a free-to-play first-person shooter could be either a really good or a really bad idea in terms of game balance, it at least on the surface seems to have been handled well. Players can spend both coins and dollars (the premium currency) on new weapons, and there's a choice: spend a lot to permanently unlock them, or spend smaller amounts to get them temporarily. Want to test out an item, or just get a temporary boost when trying to do well for the clan? Go for it.

Otherwise, while it certainly seems like paying up is recommended as the game goes on, this is the way that free-to-play is supposed to work: long-term players should want to spend lots of money on things like customization and advantages. Yet, the game still makes powerful weapons still available for pickup in the levels, and it doesn't feel like upgrades will be instant game-winners. It still requires skill.

Uberstrike seems to get a lot right. It's a fast-paced FPS with solid iPad controls, and a business model that doesn't feel overly imposing or insulting to players. Fans of the genre looking to dive in need to check this one out.