Air Attack

Sometimes the simplest games are the most enjoyable. That's certainly the concept that Air Attack is trying to bring into the picture. The game taps into the blueprints of old-school mobile games that minimize mechanics but maximize enjoyment. It delivers a casual game that lets players disconnect from reality, whether for five minutes or hours.

There wouldn't be much point in trying to big Air Attack up as some super game that's a minimalist revelation or one of the must-play casual titles of the season. That's simply because even the developers don't try to do that. The game is entirely free, and one would think that it's almost charitable of them to create something so valued. Well, hold your horses there a second.

Stop, Drop, and Raid

So let's cover the entire gameplay of Air Attack in this paragraph. The game consists of many airplanes flying over a static platform, dropping bombs, destroying terrain, and trying to eliminate the player. Your job is to shoot down as many as possible without succumbing to death - that's it.

The game is reminiscent of old arcade games and certainly delivers that unwinding effect they brought. You'll aim for a high score, and you can go as many times as you want. It's a perfect game for coffee breaks, a few free moments, or something to play to whisk away from the world's worries. Why would it be free if it was so decent then?

Well, the game is pretty basic in stature. There's nothing particularly remarkable about the visuals. The gameplay is elementary, and no lore or narrative will drag you in further. Air Attack feels like a budding developers' portfolio game, and you get the impression that it is precisely that.

But alas, Air Attack is pretty fun. You repeatedly find yourself challenging for a high score, and that notion alone can make the game pretty addictive. It's a polished little arcade game that you'll jump on now and then for the reasons mentioned above. Still, it certainly won't break any ground as an indie masterpiece.

Arcade in the Air

Play Air Attack, and you'll know that this game isn't a revelation in the arcade genre. Still, it's refreshing to go into the game knowing that it was never meant to be. It's only here for you to relax and unwind and shoot down a few aircraft in the mix. There's no expectation, yet you find yourself having fun over the interim periods you play.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Straightforward, enjoyable arcade game
• A variety of enemy aircraft makes the game challenging
• Challenging your high score gets addictive

Cons:

• The controls are a bit clunky
• The visuals look copied and pasted from other games assets
• Not much immersion factor