Steredenn
Console-style “bullet hell” goodness
$3.99 From Pixelnest Studio, pixelnest.io Made for iPhone, iPad Needs iOS 10.0 or later
We’re in old-school, side-scrolling shooter territory here. It’s you against endless hordes of evil space guys – and everyone’s armed to the teeth.
Levels are randomly generated, meaning you’re never sure what waves of foes you’ll face. The only certainty is the periodic arrival of huge bosses that spew bullet-hell. Defeating them replenishes your shields, and awards you a power-up to boost your score or firepower.
The key to surviving any length of time is mastering Steredenn’s weapons, and how they affect each type of enemy. Many are traditional in nature – guns, missiles, lasers – but amusingly realized, such as the standard blaster spitting spent cartridges all over the place. Often, though, you collect esoteric fare, like a massive whirling saw blade, and a huge “space boomerang.” That you can only hold two weapons (switched between with a swipe) adds an interesting layer of strategy.
Everything else about the game is also great: the pixel art is gorgeous, its rock soundtrack is incessant and booming, and the controls have been elegantly designed for touch – to the point that positioning guides appear when your ship slips under a thumb. Even the brutal difficulty isn’t a bar, since games are short.
THE BOTTOM LINE. Steredenn is an imaginative, great-looking, ballsy blaster.