Title: Vortex
Developer: Apple Computer, Inc.
Publisher: Apple Computer, Inc.
Year: 2006
Platforms: Fifth generation iPod
Genre: Arcade
Players: One player only
Vortex was one of the nine games first released for the iPod in
September 2006. If you've ever played Tempest, then this applies
the same "Let's take a good game and wrap it around a tube" idea to
Breakout that Tempest applied to Space Invaders. If you haven't
played Tempest, picture Breakout being projected onto the inside of
a kitchen roll and you're getting close.
As far as Breakout clones go, this one is as good as any other.
There are various power-ups to keep the game interesting, and the
novelty of the play area being a cylinder shape rather than the usual
rectangle provides an interesting twist on the theme. More importantly,
the direction of the ball is controlled by hitting it with a certain
part of the paddle, so there is an element of skill involved.
As far as iPod games go, Vortex is great. It was clearly designed
from the ground up to take advantage of the Click Wheel so that the
unusual controller wouldn't be a hindrance so much as a bonus. For
the most part, you don't even have to press any buttons - simply
sliding your thumb to the place you want the paddle to go is enough
to control it.
The graphics and sounds hark back to the early nineties era of games,
and although the explosions are arguably over the top for a simple
game on a small screen, the pretty scenery certainly helps to immerse
you in the game's world, spurring you on with the possibility that
maybe the next level will look even more interesting.
If you're looking for a game to provide a quick burst of fun during
an otherwise dull journey or lunch break, Vortex amply fulfills this
role. It even remembers a paused game while the iPod is turned off,
so you can resume it later on. It's perfect for a casual player to
pick up and put down whenever it's convenient. Recommended.