One of the few game developers that has never ceased to amaze me is Gameloft. I don't know what their development philosophy is, but it has consistently led to some great gaming experiences on mobile devices. To be perfectly honest, Chuck Norris: Bring On The Pain continues in that trend, turning the worn jokes concerning our favorite Texas Ranger into a pretty entertaining game.Over at the official site, Gameloft gives some insight as to what you are in for:
"Step into the boots of America’s toughest man in the first Chuck Norris game available for your iPhone and iPod touch. A brilliantly outlandish scenario sets you, Chuck Norris, in the Cambodian jungle to release prisoners of war held hostage by a rogue army of Communist soldiers. Inspired by old-school arcade games, Chuck Norris features the enjoyable and simple ingredients of a traditional beat’em up spiced up with crazy combos, exciting mini-games and totally destructible environments. The crowning touch is the ability to use your iPhone to take a picture of anyone you like (or dislike) and beat them up in the game! This is a Chuck-Norris-approved stress relief method!"
Still wavering on whether or not I should pick up the game, I watched the trailer:
I'm not sure if it was the digitized beard stubble, or the fact that he swung a jeep as a one handed weapon, but couple that with a 99 cent price tag, I did the only rational thing - I purchased this glimpse into the Chuck Norris experience.
Graphics: It's a pretty good looking game; it is definitely reminiscent of older side-scrolling beat-em-up's. The animation is fluid and there are great comic book-esque moments as the sound effects are made visual with "BAM", "POW", and such filling the screen during firefights and melee combat. The loading screens are also loaded with Chuck Norris "facts," some old and familiar and some written for the game.
Control & Gameplay: Like many games on the iPhone/iPod Touch it uses on-screen controls: a joystick and action buttons. The problem - just like those other games - is that controls are not always very responsive. As a result, I found myself walking into a minefield more than once forcing me to redo a portion of the level. Additionally, there are motion control based mini-games that will allow you to tilt the device to get Chuck through various perils. Since the difficulty of the game isn't really challenging, the control element can be somewhat overlooked . The game really shines with the combat. In what other game can you wield cars, phone booths and just about anything not nailed down to beat the snot out of your adversaries. Chuck isn't one to rest on his laurels, if you let him chill, he amps up with push-ups to make sure he is at peak murder performance. There is also a dojo where you can upgrade Chuck's skills and fuel his fury.
Overview: For the price tag and the humor, the game is a worthy addition to any iUser out there. Chuck would be pleased. I picked it up in the App Store via iTunes and have been sinking a lot of time into it ever since.
Features of the game include:
- A combat system blending the tried and true mechanics of beat’em up classics with new, fun combos, over-the-top animations and totally destructible environments.
- A humorous plot and crazy dialogue inspired by Chuck Norris’ filmography and famous “Chuck Norris Facts”.
- 13 levels in 3 different environments (Asian jungle, Texan ranch and New York streets).
- Embody two different Chucks (Army or Texan). Combos and weapons vary depending on the Chuck character you are playing.
- A myriad of weapons from fists, kicks and karate moves to shotguns and Uzis!
- Fun mini-games showcasing the iPhone’s accelerometer and touch controls, bringing variety to the beat’em up gameplay with driving, shooting, saloon challenges, and more.
- Take a picture of your friends or enemies (using your iPhone) and put them in the game!
Is it worth the 99 cents? Go back and watch that trailer. Yeah, that's what I thought. Don't say I never gave you anything.
