Faithful Recreation, Frustrating Controls
I grew up with the TI-99/4A home computer, and Parsec was my favorite game. This iPhone version faithfully recreates the original, complete with the directional pad, three-level lift button, and fire button. From a nostalgia standpoint, it’s outstanding.
Unfortunately, the touch controls let it down. The directional controls aren’t very responsive, and my ship will sometimes suddenly thrust forward when I don’t want it to. The fire button is also partially off-screen, making it difficult to press consistently.
More importantly, all of the on-screen controls need to be repositioned. Placing them at the very edge of the display doesn’t work well across different iPhone models. Instead of focusing on the game, you’re fighting the controls, and that takes away from what made the original Parsec so enjoyable.
I was genuinely excited to see one of my favorite childhood games on the App Store, but until the controls are redesigned and made more responsive, it simply doesn’t play like the original. The control issues were frustrating enough that I requested a refund.
Nostalgia: ★★★★★
Gameplay: ★☆☆☆☆
Overall: ★☆☆☆☆
Unfortunately, the touch controls let it down. The directional controls aren’t very responsive, and my ship will sometimes suddenly thrust forward when I don’t want it to. The fire button is also partially off-screen, making it difficult to press consistently.
More importantly, all of the on-screen controls need to be repositioned. Placing them at the very edge of the display doesn’t work well across different iPhone models. Instead of focusing on the game, you’re fighting the controls, and that takes away from what made the original Parsec so enjoyable.
I was genuinely excited to see one of my favorite childhood games on the App Store, but until the controls are redesigned and made more responsive, it simply doesn’t play like the original. The control issues were frustrating enough that I requested a refund.
Nostalgia: ★★★★★
Gameplay: ★☆☆☆☆
Overall: ★☆☆☆☆
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😡
The game doesn t work 😡
Childhood memories
Great Ti game, the best in my opinion !
Play insane amount of hours in my teens, plays and sounds great! Love it, thank you for porting it!
Play insane amount of hours in my teens, plays and sounds great! Love it, thank you for porting it!
Only reason to own an iPhone
Seriously the best game ever made. Miss my ti99/4a
I had a TI99/4A back in the good old days.
This was the first cartridge game I got for it, and this version is spot on. Perfect. Couldn’t do TI Invaders next could you?
