Game Reviews

Gridd 2

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Gridd 2
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Gridd 2 is essentially what you get if you take the classic StarFox series and merge it with the visuals of Tron.

Unfortunately, the game isn't as great as that description suggests, due to subpar controls and a general lack of content.

Do a barrel roll!

Gridd 2 is all about zipping down a blue and orange corridor, blasting away at obstacles and fending off polygonal enemies.

There is no end goal to Gridd 2 - well, unless you consider death a goal. The game is much like your regular endless-runner, except that your score is based on how many obstacles and enemies you shoot rather than how far you travel.

There are fragments to collect that build up your score multiplier, and flying through rings will power up your lazer.

It looks great throughout, with gorgeous stripped-back visuals that really give the game a sense of style and purpose. Indeed, you'll enjoy what Gridd 2 has to offer - but only up to a point.

Off the Gridd

Many of Gridd 2's issues are control-related. The game comes with tilt controls so incredibly awful that it's impossible to understand why they are set as default.

However, you can switch to touch controls or a MOGA controller setup. I tested the touch controls out, and they are a far better choice than the tilt. No doubt the MOGA will be better too.

But they still aren't great, suffering from a disappointing floaty feel. You'll often feel like you're hitting obstacles due to a fault in the game rather than your own handling.

The game auto-aims your lasers for you, targeting whatever is directly in front of you at the time. This can also be a huge nuisance, as you'll often end up destroying an obstacle while careering into a different one, and wishing you could have been aiming manually.

The collision detection also feels slightly off, making it a lot more difficult to move through obstacles than it should be.

But it's not just these issues which hinder the game - there's also a severe lack of content. You'll have exhausted everything the game has to offer within 30 minutes of play, after which you'll probably never go back to it.

Online leaderboards, achievements, extra levels, anything could have worked to solve this, but as it stands Gridd 2 is just too lacking to truly recommend.

Gridd 2

Gridd 2 has potential, but is marred by dodgy controls and a lack of content
Score
Mike Rose
Mike Rose
An expert in the indie games scene, Mike comes to Pocket Gamer as our handheld gaming correspondent. He is the author of 250 Indie Games You Must Play.