Galcon
Posted 11/05/2008 at 1:54am
| by Mike Spitalieri

Worst neighbors ever.
Galcon reduces intergalactic conquest to its arithmetic essence: Breed, Kill, Win. Sounds simple enough, but expanding to the outer reaches of the solar system while eradicating your neighbors can be tricky.
Using the touch-screen, you send units to either populate uninhabited planets or attack other planets colonized by your opponent. Spread your forces too thin, though, and you'll quickly find yourself swarmed with enemies. This mechanic, while simple, provides quick-paced, harrying action where one wrong move can doom your expansion. And handful of play modes counter the game's inherent simplicity. Choose from classic deathmatches, to three way battles, to time attack modes that keep the game fresh long after you've fully subjugated the universe.
Once you've mastered every game scenario there's also a Netplay option to compete with up to four humans over Wi-Fi, EDGE, or 3G. Simply create an account on www.galcon.com and jump into the fray in any of the thirty or so game servers. Unfortunately, there's no in-game matchmaking, buddy list, or chat functions; but there's nothing to stop you from using SMS, AIM, or galcon.com to organize a match with friends. Online matches are responsive and mostly lag free, even over EDGE. And after you're done, you can check your rankings and maybe fire off a little trash text.
Galcon takes a simple, engaging concept and turns into an epic struggle for galactic dominance.
Galcon
COMPANY: Imitation Pickles
CONTACT: www.imitationpickles.org
PRICE: $4.99
REQUIREMENTS: iPhone or iPod touch with 2.0 software update.

Fast-paced action. Clever game modes. Online play.

Repetitive at times. Barebones online features lack matchmaking or messaging.