Asteroids and advanced technology go together like peanut butter and jelly. That's why Star Pilot, the asteroid themed game goes so well with the iPhone. So when I had a chance to review this app, I jumped at it.
The entire purpose of the game is survival. And it's not easy, but that's what brings you back. I can honestly say piloting your starship through the ever-changing field of asteroids is one of the most frustratingly difficult tasks I have ever undertaken on an iPhone. And I've played a lot as an app reviewer. Call me narcissistic, but I kind of like the challenge. It makes up for all the easy games I've played over the years.
Before you start, you have your choice of starships, the Quantic Interceptor or Nerillian Skyraker. I haven't found a real advantage for either as both still seem to be a magnet for those pesky little asteroids. The developer mentions there are a few new ships coming soon. We can only hope they're small and have invincibility.
There are several very useful powerups to keep an eye out for, including the Blackhole, which removes an asteroid for two seconds. Don't laugh, two seconds is a lifetime in Star Pilot. I've yet to get far enough in the game to actually enjoy the beauty that is the Blackhole.
Two of the powerups I have survived long enough in the game to experience are the Energy shield and Satellite. The former gives you a short amount of invincibility while the other slows the asteroids down to almost a standstill.
One interesting aspect of the game is its integration with GameCenter, which allows you to automatically submit your score to the global leader boards. Apparently, I'm in the top 35 percent of high scorers, which means either I'm really good or everyone is really bad.
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