MiniSquadron: A must have 2d shooter game

Posted by John as Shmups

Minisquadron is one refreshing game that I have played. The game is a dog fighting aerial combat game that pits player’s aircraft versus computer-controlled jets in a limited 2D air space. Players have to fight against ways of enemy planes. Some waves can bring tens of highly advanced aircrafts that will be tough to defeat.

The game play of MiniSquadron is set as an arcade type. Flip 360 degrees, twist, dive, and shoot your way to win! Gain advantage from enemies by collecting lups and special stars. Other physics based elements of the game include your plane that can stall and fall if the plane is flown either too high or hit by the enemy. The tip is to keep your plane’s head down and dive as you fall then you can still regain control and fly upwards to prevent a crash.

The single player game has 8 stages. Each stage has 12 waves of enemy aircrafts to defeat. Enemies are in forms of propeller planes, bombers, and jet fighters, to UFO’s. The enemies are equipped with cannons, homing missiles, spray bombs, and even lasers. As players progress through the various stages, expect to unlock up to 56 aircrafts. These aircrafts provide players with more powerful weapons and faster aircrafts. Players need to meet certain requirements to access the aircrafts. The aircrafts are unlocked only when players achieved a certain score during a wave during a particular stage. Know the requirements on how to unlock an aircraft by tapping it. They can be unlocked when they have achieved a certain score during a wave at a certain stage.

Mini Squadron delivers well-done graphics and music. It brings the classic cartoon-styled 2D shooter to life although it is nothing amazing. The aircrafts have a unique look to them together with their fluid animations. The symphony classical music in the background fits perfectly to the aerial action in an odd way.

Players can manipulate the aircrafts all with the use of a virtual control pad. The controls are fairly simple and responsive. In default mode, the plane will fly straight. Flip your plane into 360 degrees by drawing a circle on the virtual control pad. This feature makes it easier to maneuver to the tail of enemy aircrafts.

The aerial combat action can be intense, especially when going against more than 10 enemy aircrafts during a wave. Dodging bullets and missiles and maneuvering to finish those pesky enemy jets can be really fun. Given that the game rewards you extra score for defeating enemies without taking a hit, any seasoned MiniSquadron player should aim to achieve the highest score.

One of the weaknesses of MiniSquadron is the lack of online high scores and achievements feature that other iPhone games has. It would be great to see how your top score rank in the world. The multiplayer mode in MiniSquadron is only available on local network connection. If MiniSquadron permits global online multi-player then this game would be perfect. It would be really fun to challenge 10 other players to a fight to the finish.

MiniSquadron is a great 2D shooter. Players will enjoy a fun, aerial combat experience thanks to its intense game play. With over 50 aircrafts to unlock and master, the game has a high replay value. It is definitely a must-own game for any fans of classic 2D shooters.

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