Firemint’s Flight Control has been an absolute smash hit for the company and has paved the way for the its future library of equally awesome games like Real Racing 2 and Spy Mouse. That’s why when I heard Flight Control was receiving a sequel that is taking the tried and true addictive gameplay mechanics in a space setting, I was beyond psyched. Flight Control Rocket is now available on the App Store and if you’re a fan of the original game, then you’ll be very surprised by the sequel.
Flight Control Rocket is a direct sequel to Flight Control and, as you would expect, has you assisting the navigation of random spaceships that are flying about into their color-coded landing port on a giant mothership. The game offers way more in terms of variety for spaceships you’ll navigate than Flight Control did with its fleet of planes. Each spaceship has its own look, which will easily distinguish itself from similar color-coded ships.
When you start to play Flight Control Rocket, you’ll quickly realize it offers the same addictiveness and satisfaction of the original title, but it adds much, much more to it. For example: Every spaceship has its own way of maneuvering through space. Some will zoom into their landing port, while others may take their time and leave behind smaller spaceships behind them. There are even spaceships that directly follow behind one another in formation, which can make maneuvering other spaceships around them a challenge. Thankfully, the challenge is curbed a bit as the game gives players three lives, or three crashes, a game.
Two modes will be made available at launch: Infinity Mode and Intergalactic Odyssey. Infinity Mode is the classic Flight Control mode that allows players to achieve the highest score total possible while landing spaceships to their landing ports. Intergalactic Odyssey has players playing through a number of levels that increase in their difficulty as you progress. Each level you complete will remain unlocked for players to go back and play again whenever they like. As of now, only one mothership layout is available, but knowing Firemint, I’m sure they’ll update the game with different mothership layouts.
Every so often, you’ll be required to tap floating coins or fly ships with coins attached to them in order to collect the coins. Coins play a very big role in Flight Control Rocket as its the currency that’s used to unlock new content, bots, and items from the shop. Bots also play a very important role as they can be equipped on your mothership in order to offer bonuses such as collecting more coins or receiving a point bonus randomly when a ship lands in a port. You can equip up to three bots, each of them requiring energy to work. Once a bot’s energy runs out, you’ll need to either let them rest or use a battery to recharge. When you complete a game, 10% of your point total will go to your bot’s experience points, which will increase their effectiveness as they level up. Players can easily enjoy the game without needing to use bots on a regular basis, but if you want to get the best score possible, you’ll want to use them.
Conclusion:
Firemint has struck gold again with Flight Control Rocket. The game is easy enough for most players to get the hang of, but offers a deep challenge once you understand each ship’s attributes. There’s way more content in Flight Control Rocket on day 1 than there was in Flight Control as there are 15 ships to command and a team of bots to purchase and use. There’s finally a game that can stand up to the addictiveness and charm of Flight Control and that’s it’s direct sequel, Flight Control Rocket.
Flight Control Rocket ($.99) – [iTunes Link]