Vlambeer has both been ripped off and copied once in the iOS world. With this game, they’re finally delivering something they can call their own.

Super Crate Box (Universal: $0.99) 

Super Crate Box started as a PC/Mac game and has since achieved mass notoriety. Muffin Knight showed there’s definitely a market for it. But is the original really the king in this instance?

Presentation

The game shares a similar aesthetic to games like The Blocks Cometh  and  League of Evil . That is, 16-bit graphics polished off with retro sounds and soundtrack. Thanks to Halfbot, Vlambeer was able to successfully deliver a mobile version of this hit.

Controls

I thought they absolutely nailed the control options for playing it on your iPhone or Touch. With the iPad, I’m having some troubles on how big, spaced and positioned the jump and shoot buttons are. To this I suggest adding custom controls, so we can move the buttons where ever we want.

Thank god for my handy dandy iCade, and Vlambeer’s support for the device, I was able to quickly remedy my control problems with the iPad. They did a fantastic job of making sure this feature is supported seamlessly.

Gameplay

This version starts you off with 3 levels, a handful of unlockable characters and most of the PC version’s weapons. The goal is to collect as many boxes you can under pressure from attacking enemies and even from your own weapons at times.

There’s a high learning curve adjusting to Super Crate Box’s set up that even and especially at the first level, players might get turned off. I like how the difficulty was initially barred at high because the other 2 levels are a breeze.

The fun of the game is definitely in unboxing different cool weapons to kill off the different types and sizes of enemies thrown your way. The design is kept very minimal because gameplay can get pretty intense… fast.

Suggestions

A new update just came out yesterday addressing some control issues. Still, a customizable button map might still satisfy a good portion of those complaints. We also need new levels to play in!

Conclusion 

Without really knowing what to expect and how much, I thought Super Crate Box was more of my style than Muffin Knight is or was. They’re both great games, but the minimalist and retro design has really won me over.

More importantly, I think Super Crate Box can come up with more interesting multiplayer features if the developers are interested going that route. This game definitely deserves a look and at $0.99, it’s a definite must buy.