With each passing Unreal Engine-powered iOS title, developers seem to get closer and closer to achieving the right balance of design and gameplay within some obvious technical shortcomings. Although Infinity Blade’s "points of movement" approach (allowing a range of movement limited to certain spots on a map) has been the only viable development approach for smooth gameplay thus far, Uppercut Games’ Epoch more or less masks the problem with an on-rails approach that might be the best solution yet.

Essentially, this post-apocalyptic, robots-versus-robots affair works the same way an arcade light gun shooter does, only using streamlined cover-based mechanics and a progression that’s dependent on clearing environments of enemy waves before moving on.

The gameplay works extremely well for a touchscreen experience: sliding left or right moves you between pieces of cover, tapping an enemy auto-targets them, and sliding up produces a slick jumping evade maneuver that moves you across the map. And all of this is accomplished with very little in the way of distracting icons and instructions. Epoch is certainly a cover-based shooter, but it’s one that emphasizes movement over taking potshots from one position. Enemies will attempt to flush you out with grenades, lasers, and charged projectiles, and as simple as its core design is, the firefights here can get pretty hectic, especially in later levels.

A good performance will also net you more credits used to buy new equipment, such as time-altering specials, corrosive grandees, and laser rifles, which may become necessary depending on the attack strategies of the enemies you’re currently facing. Along with a thin narrative, Epoch isn’t very long (it can be toppled in about an hour), though finishing it unlocks new difficulty levels and enemy types. And since most levels last five minutes each, it’s a smart pick for commuter gaming.

The bottom line. Despite its simplicity, this graphical showcase puts the Unreal Engine to slick use in a brief but exciting touchscreen shooter experience.