Review: Dr. Nano
by Matt Fox
September 9, 2009
Overview
Ever see the movie Inner Space with Dennis Quaid and Martin Short? Dr. Nano has the same basic plot from that film, shrink down to the size of a blood cell and treat your patients from the inside out. As you fly around arteries and the like, blast away at viruses and parasites in order to heal your patients. Time for an up close and personal look at the human anatomy.
Features
Right now the game includes over 21 different levels and there are more coming in a soon to be released update. (Kidney Mission, Liver Mission, and a Gall Bladder Mission)
The game has two levels of difficulty, Normal and Expert. Each level requires a different style of play. On some levels you fly around in your submarine and on others you get to "Free Swim" around using a force field.
The game uses a multitude of different controls as you fight off the evil viruses and whatnot. Touch, tap, and shake your way through each level of gameplay. There is an upgrade system as well so you can build up the defenses of your medical devices. There is also a Speed Round where you can accumulate bonus scoring points.
Breakdown
The Good:
The concept and the visuals of this game are easily its biggest selling points. The game really does look great and the level designs and overall look of the entire game is incredibly well done.
There is a lot to do in this game and it's loaded with tons of levels for you to play. Not to mention there are more levels coming in a future update as well. I was also a big fan of the music and sound effects. They fit perfectly with the rest of the game's overall concept and sound great.
The Bad:
The game has an incredible lag during the gameplay. It just doesn't run as smoothly as it should and the frame rate is spotty at times as well. The overall loading times are a bit long too.
The controls are a little tough to get down in this game. They work, but again, not as smoothly as you'd like them to. You'll find yourself missing some item pick ups as you are flying around. You can control the speed, but they still have the "lag" issue about them.
The Verdict
This app has a really great concept and it looks and sounds amazing. However, the controls and the spotty gameplay really hurt this game in the long run. For $3.99, I'm not sure this game is worth that price. Maybe wait for a Free version or a price drop.
[gallery link="file" columns="4"]