Eliminate: GunRange for iPhone 4- app review

By Chad Garrett
last updated

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Ngmoco has just brought out the ultimate game/tech-demo (to show your friends) for the iPhone 4 -- Eliminate GunRange. It's a virtual gun range game where you use real weapons to shoot targets. The concept is not entirely engrossing as there are plenty of other top-notch shooting games out there (ngmoco's own Eliminate comes to mind). What makes this game fun and special is that it is the first game to take full use of the new iPhone 4 gyroscope. How does it work? Continue reading to find out!

The game starts out simple enough; you are presented with a single weapon, an M60. There are numerous other weapons to choose from, but you have to score well to unlock additional weapons with credits. After you select your weapon, you then can begin the " Challenges" for your selected weapon. When the level begins you have a pre- determined set of targets to destroy. That is where the fun begins.

The enjoyment factor of GunRange does not stem from the fact that you are destroying targets, it comes form the amazing control offered by the iPhone 4 gyroscope. It literally "feels" like you are holding the weapon in your hands and where ever you aim your iPhone, the cursor hovers over the target. This level of control is unprecedented in previous iPhone efforts till now. It is simply a tease of what is to come.

What could be hum-drum central, ngmoco has attempted to make levels as interesting as possible, however there are only three ranges. For example, the first level is a basic shooting range. As you progress you being to shoot targets outside in a different locale. What makes the level and challenge enticing is that targets appear "off screen" and you have to use the gyroscope to quickly turn left and right. Speaking of turning left and right, you don't have to rotate your whole body like Steve Jobs did in his WWDC 2010 keynote. Rather, I was able to successfully turn by simply lowering one side or the other to turn. This is also effective in racing games too, I have found.

For $.99 this is an easy pick up title. Will it keep you engaged for months to come, unlikely. But is it fun and cool to show off? Definitely.

[$0.99- iTunes Link (opens in new tab)]

Pros

  • Awesome use of the iPhone 4 gyroscope Graphics are sharp and look good on the retina display
  • Multiple guns and shooting ranges

Cons

  • A bit repetitive
  • Only three gun ranges, more variety would have been nice

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Chad Garrett

Software trainer, blogger and mobile technology enthusiast living in the suburban Midwest.

8 Comments
  • Something like this looks like it could have been done with just the accelerometer.
  • for a person who texts a lot whats the point of a game? so i can be interrupted every minute?
    jailbreak where are you
  • LOL @ Chad sticking it to apple with his black wallpaper image :)
  • @Frank - It's just so much smoother and quicker with the gyro over the accelerometer.
  • Fun game... ( yea i wish that had more levels instead of just repeating them with greater difficulty)...
    Thanks for your reveiw ichad ....
  • So I assume this is not available for any non-iPhone 4 device?
  • The developers are working on an accelerometer version that would work with 3g/3gs hardware, but at the moment it is iphone 4 only.
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