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8 games that should never have come to mobile

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8 games that should never have come to mobile
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iOS
| Max Payne Mobile

As yesterday's feature would attest, some games find themselves quite comfortable on mobile.

You have the sharp iPad retina display, which makes visually striking games such as The Banner Saga look even more beautiful, while the touch screen added an extra layer of immersion to the gritty and depressing Papers, Please.

Other games don't get so lucky. Like forcing a round peg into a square hole, virtual controls just don't really work that well. Sure, they can be bearable but, in some cases, they're a frustrating, convoluted mess.

Let's take a look at a bunch of the App Store's worst offenders.

Max Payne
By Rockstar

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Max Payne was a great game when it launched during the PS2 / Xbox era but, due to shoddy controls, is largely a disaster on iOS.

In fact, the controls are so bad that Rockstar's remedy was to make the game so easy it's almost impossible to die. As a result, it's questionable why even fans of the original would want to sully their memories by playing this on mobile.

Bioshock
By 2K Games

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If, for some unlikely reason, the only way you'll EVER be able to play Bioshock is on your iPhone, then do it. It's a game that definitely deserves playing at some point in your life.

However, those who can or have played it any other way might want to give this a miss. The visuals have been pared back and the controls are more than a bit fumbly if you don't have a controller.

Jet Set Radio
By SEGA

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Jet Set Radio launched on the Dreamcast where it should have remained. Though the iOS port looked the part it certainly didn't feel it, containing some of the most fiddly touch controls ever.

It was pulled from the App Store towards the end of last year for having "compatibility issues with iOS 8" but I think it's nicer to believe that SEGA wanted redemption.

Alone in the Dark
By Atari

The iOS port of the 1992 classic Alone in the Dark is very scary, but we're not talking about the supernatural monsters haunting your every step.

We mean the dated visuals, and the fact that the completely broken control scheme was deemed acceptable by Atari. Shocking.

Tomb Raider
By Square Enix

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I have a lot of fond memories of playing Tomb Raider on my PS1. Struggling with the tank controls is not one of them.

Unfortunately, that's what the iOS port boils down to. You're not just competing with dinosaurs and other tomb raiders desperate to get to the treasure before you - you're competing with controls that barely worked before, and will never work on a touch screen.

Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy Remastered
By Aspyr Media

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Playing Fahrenheit on iOS is like meeting up with an ex after a ten year absence. The spark is gone and you're both just wondering why you bothered in the first place.

The spark is definitely gone in the remastered edition of this 2005 adventure game. The appeal of Fahrenheit was its originality and cinematic appeal. Ten years have passed since then and we've seen it all done bigger and better since.

This is one best left for the memory banks.

Mega Man X
By Capcom

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Mega Man X on iOS is a port of the PSP remake of the 1993 original. It's not a very good port either, as many users suffered from frame rate and control issues throughout.

The virtual controls are imprecise at best and take up a large chunk of the screen, literally covering up enemies at times and forcing you to fire blindly and hope for the best.

Also: in-app purchases to buy a bigger health bar? Gadzooks.

We want to hear your thoughts. What are your least favourite iOS ports? Why exactly don't you like them? Reveal all in the comments below.
Chris James
Chris James
A footy game fanatic and experienced editor of numerous computing and game titles, lively Chris is up for anything - including running Steel Media! (Madman!)