Doom Meets The Wild West In Bastards
Bastards ($0.99) by Octavian Stirbei is a first person shooter with the same classic feel as Doom. The setting takes place many years ago in the wild west. You’re an infamous outlaw with one thing on your mind, taking down the “Bastards” gang.
The game uses a virtual directional pad to move and aim your character. There is another single button used to fire your weapon. At the bottom of the screen is a status bar. The bar contains your current ammo and health, as well as a few other things. The game is very similar to Doom, the developers even used the same formatting for the status bar.
Bastards is broken down into four episodes, each episode has an extensive level with multiple sections. To proceed in each level, all of the enemies must be eliminated and a certain percentage of authority must be gained. Authority is how much control you have over the environment. The more enemies you eliminate, the higher the percentage. By doing this, users will eventually unlock doors and buildings allowing them to precede further into the game.
There are numerous weapons in the game, but they all work alike. Wherever your character is pointing, is where you’re firing. The weapons range anywhere from knives to rifles, and everything in between. New weapons can often be found throughout a level or can be picked up from dead enemies.
While this isn’t the only FPS using Doom styled gameplay to appear on iOS, it is quite a bit of fun. The game is polished and plays smoothly. The controls are also impressive, the virtual directional pad it is surprisingly responsive. However, the game does lack a challenge and replay value. With only four episodes that aren’t very difficult, the game is easy to beat.
Overall, Bastards is a refreshing first person shooter. With a classic Doom game engine and similar features, it is sure to bring many of us back to the 90’s. Whether you enjoy all FPS’s or are just looking for another Doom-like game, be sure to check this one out.
