Anthelion: The Galactic Alliance v 1.0
PDAMill
Price: $9.95
O/S: Windows Mobile for Pocket PC 2003
For Axim Users Dot Com
By RommelS
If you’re one of those Pocket PC gamers that are looking for a 3-D intense graphics space fighting game and loads of adventure, you need not look anywhere. PDA Mills’ latest offering, Anthelion is the game for you.
What is Anthelion you might say? Ahthelion is a space shootout game, but the word Anthelion came from the Greek word
Anthēlios, meaning
opposite of the sun, but as far as I’m concern, this game could have been given any name, and the result would have been the same, fun and intense.
So saddle up space cowboy, turn on those jump engines, and let see what this game has to offer.
Installation
The game is design to install via ActiveSync, and I didn’t experience a problem with the installation. Once it was installed, it took 7.86% (5213570 bytes) of storage memory in a 64 MB RAM system.
Features
Graphics
One of the biggest features of this game is its graphics. I’ve seen and played other 3D games for the Pocket PC, but the game’s graphics engine is the best one I’ve seen. I was even surprised when I saw the shield of the enemy ship glowed when it was being hit. I wasn’t expecting something like that in this game, but that just shows you how detailed this game truly is. Don’t let the graphics fool you, this game also has a story line that makes it more interesting.
Main Menu
The game starts with a nicely layout main menu. The menu consists with configuration and setting – which would even allow you to inverse the control of your ship. It also gives you the capability to show how much graphics it could render and draw while you’re playing. An overall background and story of the game comes in handy.
Game Play
The game’s playability comes in different levels from Easy to Impossible. Choose wisely since you can only select the degree of difficulty during the time you’re creating a profile. Once you’re finish with your profile, the fun begins.
Each mission objective can be read before the actual game play, or just right before you go to a mission. The check point (save) of the game is at the end of each mission. You may exit right at the middle of a mission, but it will not give you the option to save your progress.
The game can get challenging and intense, so you may also need to have nerves of steel and some patience. Once the mission is over, it would be well worth it.
The view of the game is always coming from the ****pit of the ship (first person), and it is the only view of the game. Don’t worry about the pillars in front; it will hardly distract your view, or your ability to combat the enemy.
The Dell Axim X5 directional pad wasn’t a problem with this game, and in fact it was more responsive than I anticipated.
Quick note: Pay close attention to the type of weapons you carry because it is imperative that you use the right weapon on some missions.
Music & Sound
Once again, the game came with a nice soundtrack. I have to give a lot of credit to PDA Mill on this one since most of their games come with great soundtracks.
During game play, I noticed a little distortion with the sound, but it is not the software’s fault, but more of the Dell Axim X5 speakers. I had to adjust the sound just right for the distortion to disappear.
Wish List
I really cannot find any fault in this game, and the fact that I didn’t run with any problems during game play, this showed me that this is a stable version. If there’s one thing that I would like to see on the next version, and if it is all possible, is a third person view, but other than that, the game is just right.
Maybe some expansion packs for future missions perhaps?
Conclusion
This is a great game, especially if you’re into space simulation games. Once again, the folks at PDA Mill did a marvelous job with their latest game, especially with the awesome graphics – which could just become the de facto of all Pocket PC 3D graphics game. This game is
very highly recommended.
Linear Mode
