Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is a popular console game, now ported to iPhone and iPad and is a must-try for all fans of first person shooter games. As the newest member of the famed Bad Company you are charged with retrieving a hard drive from some Russian baddies intent on using it to create a new super weapon. On a fast-paced chase through the lush jungles of South America, you will get the opportunity to drive a number of vehicles and fire a variety of weapons as you and your compatriots wade deeper and deeper into waves of enemies intent on wiping you out.

As you advance through 14 levels you’ll never get that feeling of not knowing what to do next. Almost always paired with a partner you are led through each level with almost too much direction. This makes the game feel at times like one long extended tutorial, though if you are new to FPS games this can be a big help. The best part of this continuous hand-holding is that it lets you get into the action right away, learning the game’s signature moves while advancing through the story and while the build up of action is gradual it’s never boring. The frequent save points in the game mean that you’re never far from trying over, which is good for us risk-takers.

There is a variety of different gameplay scenarios, from manning mounted guns to driving armored vehicles so you never get bored with too much repetitive action. Driving vehicles gets a little more complicated than controlling your character on foot but it’s an awkwardness you eventually overcome. Both vehicle and combat shooting is made easier with the ‘iron sight’ option which gives you a zoomed-in view down the barrel of whatever weapon you happen to be armed with which can be a huge help in picking off soldiers in guard towers or hidden behind barriers.

Like most FPS apps the controls are the real test of a game’s design. On an iPhone screen a badly composed game control system can make an otherwise fun experience a frustrating mess. Fortunately for Battlefield:Bad Company 2 players the game designers have obvious experience with such designs, making the controls simple yet fluid. When you combine this with the spectacular graphic design and engrossing, story-driven gameplay you end up with one killer app!