Moon (DS)

I know, all I seem to do lately are write ups of games I've played. I am working on actual games as well, but heck, I have played through hardly any games this year, so now that I have some free time I am doing my best to catch up!



Moon is a game I had my eye on for a very long time, and then one day saw it on special and grabbed it right then and there.

The game is a science fiction horror-esque FPS which takes place, for the most part, on the Earth's moon. Other than blasting through levels with assorted ray guns and alien cannons, you will also find yourself driving around in a moon buggy, controlling a remote droid around ducts and fighting robo-alien level bosses. For a handheld experience it's a remarkably varied affair.

The first thing that caught my attention is how smooth it is. Considering the fact that it is a 3d FPS on a handheld... it's phenomenally fluid. The graphics for the most part are perfectly atmospheric; there are a couple of textures that are a bit blockier than their surrounds, and the whole thing looks very 1990s, but again, it IS a handheld game and uses the technology remarkably well.

Story-wise the game is a fairly typical affair, with enough interesting elements to keep things intriguing until the end. A nice touch are consoles scattered throughout levels, each displaying various snippets of backstory that add to the creepy atmosphere. It won't blow your mind, but does the job admirably.

Gameplay wise it took me around four and a half hours to beat - which doesn't really seem like much, but felt quite satisfying at the end. There are a few bonus levels to unlock which are really nothing more than shooting galleries, but it is nice to have that extra touch.

One thing I really liked about the game was the way it kept things varied. Just as you get bored of shooting enemies, you have to use your little droid to get past gates. When you start tiring of running through corridors, all of a sudden there's a boss fight. When you're sick of being indoors altogether, they throw you outside into a moon buggy and let you drive around. New guns are spaced evenly throughout the game's progression to give you new toys to play with on a regular basis, and new types of enemies appear to make them worth trying out. It's a simple thing, but it really adds to the game.

All in all, Moon is good fun. It's a well designed shooter that makes the absolute most of it's technology and is a good few hours blasting through robo-jerks in space. To any fans of creepy science fiction and first person shooting who happen to own a DS, I'd recommend it!