'Phoenix HD' Bursts With Color and Fast Action

Phoenix HD by Firi Games is the sequel to Phoenix, a shootem’ up space fighter game with an arcade like feel.  Phoenix HD is a nice little time waster with super colorful graphics and worth picking up if you are in the mood for some fast action that requires quick reflexes more than it does brain power. For those new to the Phoenix title, the game is a classic bullet hell shooter game using space fighting as the setting. True to the genre, the game places a single player in battle with guns blazing and no back story or plot. The goal becomes clear once the first enemy appears firing a multitude of bullets causing the player to twist and dodge or else crash and burn in seconds. Every time an enemy is destroyed the player receives points and enhancements to their space fighter. The longer the player stays alive the higher their personal score.

With the iPhone, the shootem’ up style is slightly altered from toggle stick and buttons to one finger sliding across the screen as the game automatically moves the environment forward and retains constant fire for the player. This change in game play doesn’t diminish the demand for fast reaction time from the player who will be constantly zig zagging across their screen to stay alive. The biggest difference between this app and its predecessor can be summed up in the last two letters of the apps title. The graphics and effects of the game have improved greatly, giving a brightly colored polish to an otherwise solid shooter game. The price tag is another change; initially the app is free to download and uses mirco-transactions within the game for enhancements. While the original Phoenix game was only $0.99, Phoenix HD can be a few dollars more if the player wants a selection of space fighters armed with different ammo or to be a part of the game’s regional leader board.

Phoenix HD is a good update to the original Phoenix app with improved graphics and in-game effects. It is definitely worth the time and a few dollars to buy additional game content. Players will enjoy spending their time racking up high scores with bright explosions, their own or the enemies but preferably their enemies. AppPicker Rating: 4 / 5 Stars Pick It Up in the App Store:  Phoenix HD Other apps by Firi Games

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrc4_F-j6T4