The one thing that set the iPhone and iPod Touch apart as a gaming device beside the touch screen, was the accelerometer. There have been a ton of accelerometer based games released in the App Store, and one specific market was the ball-rolling genre. Games such as Labyrinth, Monkey Ball, and Dark Nedbula are the conquers of this genre, so when I heard that the developers of Dark Nebula: Episode 1 had released a sequel, I was mystified to see how the new game could differ itself from the stiff competition. Thankfully, Dark Nebula: Episode 2 lives up to its name and reputation, and still manages to go way, way beyond that.

Gameplay 10/10

Upon first inspection, there hasn’t been a huge overhaul. The graphics, although improved, aren’t revolutionary and the control scheme is as precise and accurate as before. It is not until you get into the gameplay that things start to change. You play as a metal disk who’s aim it is to get from one side of the level to the other. Much like the original you are faced with some challenging manoeuvres to avoid spikes, cannon fire and endless pits. Not to mention precarious platforms and moving objects. Instead, now you have the ability to fight back. Once far enough into the game to get your bearings, you are faced with enemies, normally made up of razor-sharp spines and deadly pincers. Fortunately your are provided with a pulse of powerful coloured energy which orbits around you. When this electrical energy comes into contact with an enemy of the same colour, it gets damaged. It normally takes three strikes to defeat an opponent.

Take a blast of my bad-ass encircling beam of energy!

This new mechanic completely revolutionises the game, and adds a whole new perspective never seen before in a ball-rolling adventure title. Dodging and diving between moving enemies and then having the satisfaction of blowing them to bits is great and incredibly fun. There are also different types of bosses which have certain weak points for which you must hit and destroy without being attacked yourself.

Graphics 10/10

The graphics are much more detailed than the first, and there are some noticeable enhancements. Dark Nebula: Episode 2 stays true to its predecessor and retains the high level of polish and quality that was found in the first. The game also ran extremely smoothly.

Controls 10/10

Where Labyrinth challenges you into tackling the controls, Dark Nebula: Episode 2 moves away from this and makes the controls extremely user friendly. The tilting is very precise. The game focuses much less on the player mastering the controls and more on the actual gameplay. This may be a bonus for those who got frustrated at more realistic tilting found on the Labyrinth games.

Sound 10/10

The sound design is very polished and fits well with the game. The music and sound effects create a realistic atmosphere and brings everything together into one perfect package.

Menus 8/10

The menus are sometimes confusing but are easy to manage once you get used to them. They are a little on the plain side but do enough to introduce the player into the game. Options are responsive and bold.

Longevity 8/10

The graphics have had a makeover, and the results are impressive.

The game didn’t take long to complete, but I was having a blast all the way through. With 10 more levels than its predecessor which was criticised for being too short, the developers have given a good stab at improving Dark Nebula: Episode 2’s replay value but I was having so much fun that I couldn’t stop playing. This led to me completing the whole thing in one day. Although you are prompted to gain gold star on all levels, which involves you getting a good time, not losing any lives and collecting all of the canisters which scatter each level, I still felt that the game was still not long enough. The truth is, I wanted more!

Cost 10/10

All of these previous issues in terms of longevity can be easily overlooked when compared to Dark Nebula: Episode 2’s incredibly low price point of $0.99/£0.59. In some respects, it is a shame to see such a polished and fun game go at such a cheap price.

Conclusion 66/70 – 5/5

So, for it’s extremely affordable price, Dark Nebula: Episode 2 is definitely one to purchase, whether you were a fan of the first, or if you are new to the series. You can also try out Dark Nebula: Episode 1 which is free at the moment just in case you are on the fence, but there is no reason that you should be. Buy it now!

Dark Nebula: Episode 2 on the App Store.

Dark Nebula: Episode 1 on the App Store.