The Gameloft juggernaut has rocked the Iphone with the release of two genre-busting bombs within the span of two weeks.  First with the open-world of Gangster and now with the FPS Modern Combat Sandstorm they’ve forever changed the landscape of  3D gaming on the Iphone.

While we all knew it was coming, the wait for the first next-gen FPS for the Iphone has been a long one.  Whether or not Modern Combat is the holy grail is debatable and unresolved until Gameloft releases the promised multiplayer but they’ve certainly cleared the way with an explosive air strike of graphics, control, sound and action that will stand as a landmark in Iphone gaming.

 

The look of this Middle Eastern combat zone is as immersive as the Iphone has ever seen as you battle your way through 10 levels of screaming terrorists.  The opening level is a training course used to familiarize you with the outstanding controls Gameloft provides.  They’ve come very close to perfecting their virtual d-pad to control movement but what they’ve added is the ability to swipe on the right side of the screen to control your aim.  This really works well except for a tendency to accidentally fire your weapon by touching the X button.. I wish the fire button were placed higher or lower or where the grenade icon is.  Everything else is adjustable from control speed to blood.

In the lower right corner is a terrifically fast and smooth iron site zoom that shifts Modern Combat into Call of Duty territory.  This zoom is accompanied by an auto assisted aim, as is normal aiming, to accommodate the unique Iphone control challenges.  The auto assist can be disabled as it can make the game seem a bit easy.  Easy, but still fun as you pop terrorists heads with a splatter of blood or send them into the next room with a shotgun blast.  Modern Combat’s powerful gunplay is satisfaction guaranteed.

  

Up close, you can melee by touching the icon that comes up.  If you want more control options, Gameloft provides two alternate control schemes, a tap screen where the joystick appears wherever you place your left thumb while you swipe and place the “X” with your right and two virtual sticks for movement and aiming with a center tap to fire.  I stuck with the default, but whichever you choose the bodies are flying and the action is fierce.  Like Call of Duty, Sandstorm gives you the ability to heal from damage by finding shelter rather than collecting med kits.

You’re lead through the levels by Gameloft’s familiar green arrows that limit your choices.  But as a soldier you don’t have choices, you follow orders which usually have you advancing in teams of two. Even so, Modern Combat is a tactical game nonetheless as  you make the decisions as to how you approach certain situations and areas.  Whether to rush or be cautious, where to take cover, whether to blow an explosive barrel, throw a grenade or use your scoped rifle, these are your decisions .  The A.I. is varied and interesting.  Some will charge, some will seek cover and some will snipe. Upon repeated plays they will generally do the same thing although it’s interesting that sometimes when
you retreat to seek cover some will chase you down.

  

The diverse levels all have three or four progressive objectives for you to complete with the checkpoints nicely spaced so as not to send you back too far.   One minute you’re clearing a courtyard, then taking out tanks, targeting RPG’s or manning a heavy machine gun or sniper rifle. On top of all the gunfire and explosions, you’ll be hearing from your commander and squad mates.  It’s great stuff and it all runs amazingly smooth and fast on my Iphone 2G without a hint of chugging or stuttering.

As evidence of Gameloft’s  attention to detail they provide a nice voice-over intelligence briefing to pass the time during the load screen. The levels take from 20-30 min. each so Modern Combat is not a quick play and there is no midlevel save so you must finish the level in one sitting.  After you complete a level you unlock the next harder setting up to extreme.  Surprisingly, Modern Combat doesn’t eat your battery as fast as so many other intensive 3D games.  It feels as if you can play 3 or 4 levels without a recharge.



The Iphone‘s first great FPS has landed. Modern Combat Sandstorm is an exciting, highly-polished 5 star gem that not only sets the bar for FPS on the Iphone but along with Gangster, raises the entire platform to new heights as a legitimate 3D gaming device.  Bravo Gameloft!!


reviewed by G. Yamaguchi (goyami@comcast.net) - Iphone