In scope-view, the rest of the world is obscured.
Konami's latest iPhone foray, Silent Scope, is due for release later in April. The 1999 arcade semi-classic puts you behind the sniper's trigger, charged with rescuing the U.S. president and his family from a distance. I recently put my finger to the test, checking out the nearly-ready game.
The iPhone commands are fairly simple, scaling the arcade cabinet's rifle controller into tap-happy play. As nondescript, black-clad villains lean out from distant rooftops, you double-tap to zoom into the scope perspective. Often, I tapped nearby, but still far enough away to lose all context when zoomed in. Helpfully, the game shows pointer arrows towards the baddies. Swipes realign the perspective, and single taps shoot.
A twinge of red means you've been hit.
Your position follows a scripted path throughout the game; it's an "on-rails shooter." Along that path, those swipe gestures change your aim. I followed a pattern of double-tap to zoom, swipe to aim, tap to shoot, and double-tap to zoom out. The accelerometer and other iPhone extras aren't used.
While repetitive, the Silent Scope still seemed fun. After clearing a cluster of enemies, the game moved me onto a new group. After repeating several times, it passed me to a new scenario, including a fight against a hovering airplane. My helicopter chased, swooping around the city as I took shots at the plane's cockpit.
Forget missiles. Only your rifle and scope--carried via chopper--can stop an enemy plane.
I couldn't hear the game sound in my preview, but the 3D graphics looked good overall, even if blocky. Visuals of a fictionalized Chicago's streets and rooftops were simplified, but the frame rate kept a steady clip.
Konami representatives didn't detail pricing and its exact release. But whenever it's out later this month, Silent Scope should make a strong addition to the company's iPhone roster. It taps into nostalgia for the arcade game while still keeping a simple, iPhone-friendly pace.
