Silverfish MAX Brings Swimming, Neon Gameplay To The iPad
Silverfish MAX ($2.99) by Chaotic Box is the long-awaited big brother of the classic iPhone arcade title Silverfish.
This maximized version of Silverfish comes with all the same finger-flicking fun you’d expect, and looks incredible on the iPad’s larger screen. All in all, it’s a great addition to any iPad gamer’s repertoire.
For those unfamiliar with the original Silverfish’s gameplay, the title has players careening about a board, avoiding baddies, and setting off mines that appear sporadically. It’s a concept that’s most similar to classic arcade games like Asteroids, or modern hits like Geometry Wars.
Chaotic Box has taken things one step further, though, by adding four different game modes to the mix. Each comes with a slight twist on the original concept: My favorite was titled, “Reaper Mode,” and lets players stretch time and devour enemies.
The game also comes with five Game Center leader boards and 22 achievements. For diehard fans of arcade gaming, this will come as a tremendous boon, providing an extra bonus to compete with others online.
It’s also worth noting just how good Silverfish MAX looks on the iPad. The game’s gorgeous plasma effects are rich and vibrant, while the sprite animations themselves are very lifelike. There were several moments during my test period with the app when my jaw dropped at the graphics. It’s a radical experience, and one that cannot be praised enough.
That being said, the game isn’t all peaches just yet: The control issues inherent in the game’s predecessor are also present here. Players have the option to choose either a swiping mechanic or a virtual directional pad, but both still take quite a bit of getting used to. When you’re inches away from an end-all baddie, accidentally swiping in the wrong direction is far from pleasant.
However, the quality of gameplay offered here more than justifies learning the controls. As stated, each game mode brings a fresh wave of innovation to an aging concept, keeping the ball in motion for iPad arcade titles. The included power ups are a blast (no pun intended) and maintain a heightened sense of tension.
There’s nothing more satisfying than narrowly escaping a tight spot with a time stretch bomb, only to accidentally slam into an unseen bogie. It’s fast-paced, it looks like dirty neon, and it’s wicked fun.
At the end of the day, Silverfish MAX is a great followup to the original Silverfish, porting all of the same gameplay to the iPad with grace. The arcade game action is stimulating, the graphics are gorgeous, and the innovations are fresh.
The price is slightly higher than we’d like ($2.99 in the App Store) but Silverfish MAX is still a bargain for casual gamers and arcade fans alike.
