Glu Mobile shoots for hardcore iOS gamers with freemium hit Contract Killer

With the release of freemium games such as Gun Bros., Deer Hunter, and Hero Project, Glu Mobile has been offering iOS gamers something very different to the usual array of cute FarmVille-style clones.

It's continuing the approach with its latest game Contract Killer.

As the title suggest, you play a man with a sniper rifle and a desire to earn cash by using it.

The action is split into two areas. The first is the shooting, which sees you tapping on contacts to gain missions, then choosing vantage points around five locations on a map, and choosing different guns and bullets depending what you have to do.

You swipe across the screen to move your gun around, hitting the crosshairs button, when you're pointing in roughly the correct direction, to look through your sight. There's a steady button and a fire button to ensure you get the job done cleanly. You get more cash and XP depending on how well and quickly you complete missions.

Of course, the wider goal of the game is to level up, unlocking the complete armory of 20 weapons and working your way through the 17 Story missions, unlocking all the game's locations and vantage points.

Items you'll require to progress are bullets, medikits and food to boost your energy, which are available from the store. To gain them, there are two types of in-game currency - cash and credits, with the latter mainly being used to buy food, although some weapons require them.

As well as earning currency, there's the option of the exchange of your real cash for in-app currency - ranging from $12,000 of cash for $1.99 to $350,000 of cash for $50, or from 30 credits for $1.99 to 360 credits for $20. You can get free credits for downloading other apps via Tapjoy's offerwall too.

In additional to the Story missions, there's an endless supply of random missions, which work on a timed basis. If you want them faster than the game dishes them out, you have to buy them of course.

Still, despite being a freemium game that at some point will encourage you to spend money to speed your progress, the opening missions of Contract Killer seems fairly enjoyable and demand-free, at least for those who enjoy looking down the barrel of a gun.

Contract Killer is now available for iPhone and iPad as a universal app.

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