G Generation Touch for the iPhone was released at the Japanese App Store recently, with the 1st stage available for free while the remaining stuff is offered as an in-app purchase (at a price of 1000 yen).
As a Gundam addict myself, I rushed to the store (and even created an account for it) to download and play it. However, my first time with it wasn’t too pleasant and the reviews from others users at the store indicate I’m not alone on this opinion.
Playing this game on an iPhone 4 is lackluster at best, as one can easily note the jagged sprites from character portraits, the blurred map tiles and the pixelated combat background. The unit sprites are fine, though they lack fluid animation that the DS games presented. Although it is supposedly a port from another mobile game, they could’ve done a better job at it.
Gameplay wise, the free version is the basic strategy G Generation game, reminding me of the 1st game of the series, with the most recent stuff like Chance Step. Even though the controls are touch based, DS’s Cross Drive is a better game to implement them. One has to click too many times just to move the unit and attack, while in Cross Drive it was possible just to use drag and drop.
Another complaint is the size of maps and icons. They’re too tiny, and it’s almost impossible to touch them without retrying. Maps aren’t free to zoom-in and out with a pinch, as only 2 levels exist.
The dreaded Haro Points is also back, although I can’t judge how much it affects unlocking stuff. On a few playthroughs of the 1st stage, I’ve gained a few items, which are unusable at the free version.
All in all, even though it’s a free version, it’s still supposed to convince us that the remaining of the game is worth the price, which it fails horribly. I’m in doubt that even the annoucement of Unicorn Gundam as a downloadable content can save this.
I’ll try to get my hands on a Japanese Gift Card to try out the full content and update this post with more info. Stay with the in-game screenshots for now.
