App Army Assemble: Nova Drift - "Does this roguelike shooter take Asteroids to new heights?"

When Nova Drift was released, our own Jack Brassell enjoyed the art style and challenge that this new roguelike provided. So, we decided to hand the game over to our App Army community to see if they agreed.

Here's what they said:

Nova Drift is an arcade space shooter. Playing on a wraparound 2D arena, you destroy enemies and asteroids with your ship’s weapons. As you play, you collect orbs that let you upgrade your spaceship. Ok, this game is basically Asteroids on steroids, heck, you even blow up some asteroids. The touch screen controls work, but a controller would be better. Graphically and sonically, it’s well done, and if you like arcade games of old, you’ll probably like this. I know I did.

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I don’t normally enjoy arcade-style games. But saying it was rougelike with lots of builds and customisation piqued my interest. I beat a run on my very first go using the salvo weapon, which is easily my favourite. I’ve since tried lots of different things, from being a hullbreaker surrounded by fire spewing forth fire from my guns while launching myself into enemies. Using a railgun for long-distance shots while cloaking from my enemies like a sniper, to the recently unlocked ship that spawns lots of little ships for me! 

That, along with drones and gun turrets, I’ve got a whole army with me instead of just myself. So if the idea of a beautiful space shooter similar to Asteroids piques your interest, this game is a safe bet. You’ll have hours of fun trying different things and unlocking more modes and upgrades as you go, so even more to play with! I’ve barely scratched the surface and can’t wait to see what I unlock next and try out other game modes.

I was initially kind of frustrated with the control setup on this gorgeous arcade shooter, but with a bit of patience and an update on the app (at first you had to coordinate turning, thrusting and firing with three separate controls- which I’d started to pick up. The upgrade lets you turn and thrust with the same button, which is a great help. I’m honestly now super impressed.

It has a very cool Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe vibe- but that’s not the best part of this game. The best part is the upgrade system that lets you use different kinds of weapons and different tactics, and there are also changes to your shield that are available through upgrades. This game really took me by surprise, and as someone who is a hard sell on premium arcade shooters, I happily encourage you to take the plunge.

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Nova Drift