Battle Blasters is a one-on-one beat-em-up-come-shoot-em-up that packs a real punch.  Available now for £1.79 it's an addictive game with surprising depth that will provide you with hours of fun.

The game concept is simple enough: you will be pitted in 1 on 1 fights against each of the 6 characters in a tournament and to progress you must beat them in a best of three match.  Losing doesn't mean you have to start again, you can replay the match you are currently stuck on as many times as you like, and with whatever character you like; a welcome feature for a pick up and play title.  The game play can get fast, frantic and exciting.  Matches are out of 3 rounds and at 1-1 with not much health left on either side there an excitable tension that will see you dodging their shots and firing off yours whenever you can, resulting in a small leap of joy or nearly throwing your iPhone across the room.

If the concept is simple, the controls are slightly less so.  Moving firing, blocking and special attacks are all done with a touch or swipe of the screen and there is often a lot to do at once, requiring fairly frantic, complex movements and practice which may deter non regular gamers. This could be a reason why non gamers may struggle but it might also the reason gamers will love it. 

While it doesn't have the variety, graphically or in terms of game play, of other games the concept will keep you playing for hours, making it a good value buy for £1.79. The complexity and depth (and so consequently the appeal and longevity) comes from the 6 characters each with their own strengths, weaknesses and special attack.  The result is something akin to a beat-em-up or strategy game, where the player's and opponent's abilities must be weighed up before the match.  Playing through each level setting against each of them allows you to explore their strengths and weaknesses and ultimately work out the best way to beat them.  Battle Blasters, like all good one on one competitions requires a tactical approach to the opponents skills and weaknesses while considering yours when selecting your character. There is a pint size beat-em-up here with all the enjoyment that can bring.

Each fighter will require you to play slightly differently, be it Maya's speed and absorption power letting you dodge in and out until you can unleash a flurry of 6 shots, or Animus's Firestorm attack, clearing the way for other shots behind.  Likewise each opponent will require you to play slightly differently – be it against Jerret where you will want to avoid standing directly opposite him to avoid their powerul blaster and throwing knife attack, or Gabrielle where you will want to be ready to block at any time to fire back her super powerful Power Shot.  Finishing the game at each level setting will unlock a new playable character until you have finished it on supreme and unlocked B.R.O.C.  Not having all of the characters available from the start adds extra life to the game, giving you something new to play and try as you progress through.

Playing through and completing the game on the hardest setting will take a lot of practice so there is the depth and longevity that a hardened gamer will crave, while the easy setting provides an accessible side to the game for beginners and those without the interest in a difficult game.  Anyone wanting to complete the game on Supreme will have to be prepared for a lot of practice, a bit of luck and some well pulled-off tactics – music to the ears of a veteran gamer but awful to the casual gamer.  Whether you want to try and complete the game on Hardest or take on the odd opponent in an Easy match, there is something for everyone and most gamers will be able to get their money's worth from it.

There are a couple of other features to Battle Blasters, making it somewhat of a social game.  The one device 2 player is a great feature and a concept I'd like to see more of in other games. The logistics of actually playing it and getting 2 people round an iPhone are however a little more complicated but worth the hassle for a few bouts. The Facebook connect feature is a nice touch if you are part of a gaming community with mates or other gamers, as well as acting as a great marketing outlet for the game of course.

Battle Blasters is 2D quality mobile gaming. It's simple concept veils the complexity and depth you can expect from a modern game that will keep you interested for many hours. On it's way to becoming a classic iPhone game and one that is certainly deserving of your hard earned £1.79.

8/10