Best version since the original
Critical Mass has undergone a lot of versions since the original back in the 90s. This is the first that I think is better than the original, with a tight roster of well-balanced ships, and battles that don’t scale so grand that you feel like a cog.
Where the game does slip is in failing to end missions once you leave. I don’t need to spend several minutes watching the enemy slowly win, or be beaten back. Just let me skip to a defeat screen and get on with actually playing the game.
Where the game does slip is in failing to end missions once you leave. I don’t need to spend several minutes watching the enemy slowly win, or be beaten back. Just let me skip to a defeat screen and get on with actually playing the game.
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Missing mute for audio?
The game is great. The only thing I do t like is that it is missing the mute for the audio.
Tolles Spiel!
Wer auf alte 2D-PC-Spiele steht, die zwar einfach, aber genial durchdacht sind, kommt hier voll auf seine Kosten. Immer wieder gut, auch nach Jahren.
Love this game!
I first got this game as a shareware title in the 90’s, I think on an issue of PCGamer.
Played it for months. Then somehow found it on iOS a few year ago and have been playing it on and off ever since.
Love this game. It’s not modern but its a simple, addictive concept that just works really well.
At almost 30 years, this has to be the longest a game has kept me engaged. Well done!!!
Played it for months. Then somehow found it on iOS a few year ago and have been playing it on and off ever since.
Love this game. It’s not modern but its a simple, addictive concept that just works really well.
At almost 30 years, this has to be the longest a game has kept me engaged. Well done!!!
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Please
Please update this amazing game!!
Very addicting and fun
I played this game as a kid back in the late 90s, and was happily surprised when I found it on here. My only complaint is that I wish you could reset the Honor Roll.
Utterly addictive and re-playable
Been playing this on Windows for 20 years and loving this iOS version. It's one of those "just one more go" types of games. Very unique synchronous turn-based game (where you and the enemy both plot out your next one second's flight path and choice of missiles). Great enemy AI too. Patience is key. Greed is not.
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Love it
This game is so awesome I only wish it was more like the old original version from windows with the design your own ship feature
My favorite!
I recommend downloading Critical Mass! 2022
Missions are played in quick turns, and it feels like intense dogfighting in space. In a turn, the player adjusts the course of their spaceship, decides what types of missiles to fire, and can eject or use the ‘cloak’ or ‘forcefield’ ability.
Before missions, the player is allotted points (rewarded by success) to assemble their squadron. Also, the mission briefing is given.
After missions, the game reports the mission outcome and awards you and your surviving squadron. It feels good if you manage to keep your entire squadron alive.
Here are a few tips I’d tell my past self:
- Don’t shoot your buddies down!
- Learn behavioral patterns!
- Think two moves ahead.
- You don’t have to fire at every chance.
- READ MISSION BRIEFINGS!
My best game just ended and lasted 14 missions, and I was awarded 2 gold medals (among others). Update: I’ve reached 20 missions with 4 gold medals! Update again: I'm a pro!
Missions are played in quick turns, and it feels like intense dogfighting in space. In a turn, the player adjusts the course of their spaceship, decides what types of missiles to fire, and can eject or use the ‘cloak’ or ‘forcefield’ ability.
Before missions, the player is allotted points (rewarded by success) to assemble their squadron. Also, the mission briefing is given.
After missions, the game reports the mission outcome and awards you and your surviving squadron. It feels good if you manage to keep your entire squadron alive.
Here are a few tips I’d tell my past self:
- Don’t shoot your buddies down!
- Learn behavioral patterns!
- Think two moves ahead.
- You don’t have to fire at every chance.
- READ MISSION BRIEFINGS!
My best game just ended and lasted 14 missions, and I was awarded 2 gold medals (among others). Update: I’ve reached 20 missions with 4 gold medals! Update again: I'm a pro!
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Flawed fun.
It’s enjoyable but it has an annoying bug where it occasionally turns in the opposite direction to what I set it to.
One of my favorites from 1995, still play it weekly.
Praise: Man, what an utterly addictive game. This is probably the only game from back in the day I still play. I love that it’s available on iOS, making it my go-to on the bus, toilet, or when taking breaks at work. Sound design and graphics are great for what they are, and all the classic action is still there and very engaging. The ship selection is altered and stripped down, but gotta say I love the triple blaster Wasp starter. Overall, hard not to recommend this game.
Criticisms: I do really miss the build your own ship feature, and I’m not a huge fan of the squadron construction (having to fill out every slot-as I recall the windows version you could go it alone for godly medals). Friendly fire seems to be a much bigger issue in this game, objectives aren’t viewable after mission start. And I’ve noticed bumping into other objects slows you down much more than on windows; I used to rely on sideswipes to make tight turns, but even a glance grinds you to a halt on iOS. Perhaps the worst change is lack of commands available to your squadron. I really miss “search for enemy”. it would also be nice not to have to watch the whole battle unfold after you eject/space/die if there’s a friendly squad you don’t control hanging in the battle. Finally, the “go” button should be bigger, and if I could wave my magic wand I’d love a landscape orientation option.
That’s a lot of nitpicks, but don’t mistake my love for this game. I basically just want more Critical Mass on my phone! The classic desktop version is easily one of my favorite games of all time, but this is a solid, addictive port.
Criticisms: I do really miss the build your own ship feature, and I’m not a huge fan of the squadron construction (having to fill out every slot-as I recall the windows version you could go it alone for godly medals). Friendly fire seems to be a much bigger issue in this game, objectives aren’t viewable after mission start. And I’ve noticed bumping into other objects slows you down much more than on windows; I used to rely on sideswipes to make tight turns, but even a glance grinds you to a halt on iOS. Perhaps the worst change is lack of commands available to your squadron. I really miss “search for enemy”. it would also be nice not to have to watch the whole battle unfold after you eject/space/die if there’s a friendly squad you don’t control hanging in the battle. Finally, the “go” button should be bigger, and if I could wave my magic wand I’d love a landscape orientation option.
That’s a lot of nitpicks, but don’t mistake my love for this game. I basically just want more Critical Mass on my phone! The classic desktop version is easily one of my favorite games of all time, but this is a solid, addictive port.
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Pretty great but needs an update
The Mechanics and graphics of the game are great but they need to make some changes to make it more like the original. First they need to add the design your own ship feature. Secondly they need to make some simple updates like adding mission objective in game. Once you start the mission there is no way to see what your objective is. Another simple change I recommend is making it clear how to earn money. Sometimes you gain a lot some times you lose money when you successfully complete a mission. It seems to be related to you medal and how many of your squads ships supply but it is not clear. Overall a fun addictive game.
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Null Sterne Geld zurück
Unheimlich langweilig, einer der Gründe warum ich es gut und anständig fände wenn Apps ohne großes trara zurückgegeben werden könnten (14 Tägiges umtauschrecht)!
Such a shame.
Make it into a duplicate of the original game, it almost seems like the developer had given up half way through. We don’t need to wait for the mission to finish when we are dead. We need more features like the original game.
Improvements needed
Game has potential but missing a lot from the original. The ship designer is gone which was a lot of fun, and there is no way to check what mission objectives are during a mission, which you can forget easily. In addition the ability to semi order your wingmen has been removed (eg: engage enemy or hold tight formation etc). There is also a bug when you fly close to the top or bottom of the map it renders the ‘edge line’ on the wrong side of the screen which is annoying. Also changed is the ability to take less ships than slots, which can seriously hinder you. Its better to have 2 semi good ships, but the game forces you to take 3 god awful ones. In my opinion the game should be a little more forgiving as restarting all the time prohibits ever getting to the good ships which is frustrating rather than fun (the good ships you cant even take when you can afford them because you have to ensure you fill all open slots which means doing anything to avoid using any single missile bay ships in the squad which just die). The game could be so much better. To be fair the original also suffered from the frustrating restarts to get going. It would also benefit from a proper campaign rather than just standard disjointed missions like the original game also. This would make the rpg element more succinct as there would be a character you navigated through a storyline as opposed to just unrelated missions.
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Could be excellent. Few issues.
This game is enjoyable. It’s fun. It’s addictive. There is ample scope for this game to have 4 or 5 stars.
The game has been around forever (I had it twenty years ago on PC) so at £3.99 it’s a bit pricey - but it’s not obscene - and the game has been upgraded.
However, it’s missing several things it really needs. There’s no quit function, so if you lose a mission sometimes you can be just stuck there while the enemy roams around trying to do stuff. Yes, there’s hyperspace, that also sometimes takes a while to end things (or is irrelevant if you’re dead). Then there’s a few functions missing. The PC version allows you to design your own craft (frankly, the only way of building a plane to suit your play style and racking up big scores). Second, you can’t see inside your ship. The original version allowed you to pull up the inside of your ship - which allows you to judge better damage levels and whether to continue or abort missions. While you’re on a mission, you should be able to look up what the mission is again.
The game has been around forever (I had it twenty years ago on PC) so at £3.99 it’s a bit pricey - but it’s not obscene - and the game has been upgraded.
However, it’s missing several things it really needs. There’s no quit function, so if you lose a mission sometimes you can be just stuck there while the enemy roams around trying to do stuff. Yes, there’s hyperspace, that also sometimes takes a while to end things (or is irrelevant if you’re dead). Then there’s a few functions missing. The PC version allows you to design your own craft (frankly, the only way of building a plane to suit your play style and racking up big scores). Second, you can’t see inside your ship. The original version allowed you to pull up the inside of your ship - which allows you to judge better damage levels and whether to continue or abort missions. While you’re on a mission, you should be able to look up what the mission is again.
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Great game. Missing a few polish items
Great game. I don’t like that you can’t turn off audio.
I played this almost my entire 8 hours of flying. When playing on the PC, I don’t remember having to load up all 3 ship slots before I could go on a mission.
I played this almost my entire 8 hours of flying. When playing on the PC, I don’t remember having to load up all 3 ship slots before I could go on a mission.
Critical Mass
Incredibly addictive. Turn based is great and does not take away from the action or tension of the dogfighting.
Very fun
It is almost like a 2D Homeworld, sort of. Very fun 5/5
Will download. Won't open.
And, you know, I just don't think it's incumbent on me, the nontechnical consumer, to know how or why it won't work. There's four bucks I may as well have thrown in the street.
