Alien Axis

Alien Axis is very much a platform adventure.  It has some innovative features that put it ahead of other platform adventures, but you still jump from block to block, trying not to fall into the electric rays.  Those rays will produce an instant kill that both aliens and humans can agree, are not fun.  You start out at some point in a maze of a level and attempt to make it to the teleport at the end.  While this may sound like familiar territory, Alien Axis throws a few new ideas into the mix that make it worth playing.

You play the game as the cute little green alien named Otto and you are attempting to escape the evil Planet X laboratories.  It doesn’t really delve too deeply into the story.  In fact, the only reason I know Otto’s background is because I read the help screen.  Don’t worry though, it’s just a set up for clever platforming and puzzles.  What makes this game stand out from the others you might ask?  Well, I’m glad you did!

You can do much more than run your little alien friend around, jumping across pits and electric rays, narrowly grasping ledges.  You can actually tilt your iPhone or iPod in whatever direction you want, and gravity will shift in that direction entirely.  Any direction can be down!  This adds some very interesting gameplay.  See your destination across the screen that you have no physical way of reaching, tilt your device and you will fall right to it.  Watch out though, this adds a fair amount of danger.  Many levels cover certain walls and ceilings with those dangerous electric rays as well.

Another interesting element is the addition of movable blocks.  These are freestanding and will move when gravity shifts just like you do.  They come in all sorts of shapes and can be as helpful as they are dangerous.  You’ll be climbing all over these guys to get where you want to be, just make sure you don’t tilt the wrong way and get squished!  I haven’t learned that lesson well enough apparently…

This game is very challenging and I have certainly had fun with it, although it might not be for everyone.  There is a lite version of Alien Axis so I’d recommend getting that one first to see if you really like it.

iTunes Link – Alien Axis
Version 1.0
Reviewed on iPhone 3GS OS 3.1.2