UPDATE: March 13th, 2010
The folks at Ngmoco have just released a co-op mode for Eliminate Pro. To access it, you must download the separate Eliminate Co-Op app, which activates the cooperative mode in all versions of Eliminate Pro on your device. Once you've done that, you can delete all but one version of the game, as they're all the same.
Eliminate Co-Op represents the first time Eliminate Pro has strayed from the deathmatch model, and the result is successful, although it doesn't feel as different as we might have hoped.
Upon entering co-op mode, you can join up with someone from your friend list or a random player online. From here on out, the gameplay is similar to deathmatch mode, but instead of fragging other players, you'll battle seven increasingly difficult waves of enemy robots. Beat all waves in three minutes, and you win. Fail to do so, and the room blows up.
The game encourages the two players to work together strategically, as each wave will spawn enemies in various places in the map. This means that if you're both concentrating on one group of battle drones, it's likely that you'll be wiped out by the other group that appeared behind you.
Despite the switch to computer-controlled enemies, the game still feels like Eliminate Pro. You use the same character, with the same weapons and armor, at the same level you've achieved in the deathmatch mode. You still expend energy with each round and are awarded credits for your performance. We wish there was a way to communicate with your teammate, but there isn't.
Regardless, if you've ever enjoyed Eliminate Pro, you should definitely pick up Eliminate Co-Op. It's free, and it offers a slightly different experience from the one that's kept us coming back for all these months.
If you haven't done so yet, stop what you're doing and download Eliminate Pro. Okay, if you're performing surgery, please finish up, and then download it. Eliminate Pro is a deathmatch-style first-person shooter with a pace that's savagely fast, and a fun factor that grips you like a drug. If you're not careful, Eliminate Pro will make a junkie out of you. And like any smart dealer, developer Ngmoco gives away just enough for free to make you want more.
This is a standard first-person deathmatch game, in which you and up to three other players are set in a small, dynamic level, and have to kill each other as many times as possible before either the time runs out or someone racks up 10 kills. You have the option to play offline against bots, but you won't want to. Eliminate is best played online, where you're speedily matched up with people of similar skill waiting to turn you into Swiss cheese. Online mode is also where you earn credits, which are necessary to level up and purchase or upgrade the stats of your weapons, armor, and items. It's also where you just might become addicted.
Looks like someone wants to be fragged.
The gear-purchase and upgrade system is so deep and rewarding that, if you're into this sort of thing, you'll have nearly as much fun buying equipment and upgrading your stats as you will fragging opponents online. The reason it's so rewarding is that once you upgrade, you can immediately see changes in your next match. Increase the damage of your plasma cannon, for instance, and you'll notice opponents going down in fewer shots. Buy a new suit of armor, and you'll feel almost invincible for a while. Eliminate Pro offers so many options to gear up and hand-craft your stats that it gives you a feeling of investment in your character that's rare in videogames.
The controls are set up like most recent FPS games on the platform, and they're great. You have a stick on the left that moves you forward, backward, and strafes left and right. Drag your thumb around the right side of the screen to look around. A jump button sits at the bottom center of the screen, where it's not incredibly accessible during combat, but it gets the job done. Tapping the center of the screen zooms in, and tapping the upper right hand corner switches weapons. There's also a handy auto-shoot feature that makes your weapon go off every time your crosshair points at a bad guy. We recommend turning this on.
The environments are very well-designed, too. Since only four players face off against each other at a time, it's to everyone's benefit that the maps are small enough that you'll never spend too much time looking for someone to shoot. All of the maps have moving parts, like elevating platforms, spinning walls, or even a deadly trash compactor-like mechanism. Scattered throughout the levels are powerups that boost your speed, shield, health, or damage. When you make a kill, your fallen opponent spills out credits and health boosts that you or sneaky opponents can scoop up. The levels and graphics aren't overly pretty, but with the intensity of action and the quick load times, that's an easy issue to overlook.
Zoom to snipe.
Harder to overlook is the money you might invest in this game. Outside of the deathmatches, you have an energy bar that depletes with each match you play. A full energy bar will allow you roughly three matches, which take just a couple minutes apiece. Run out of energy, and you have three options. You can continue playing but without earning credits, you can wait several real-time hours for your bar to recharge on its own, or you can use power cells to recharge it manually. While you start out with 30 power cells, these will last you just long enough to become invested in the game. Additional power cells are available via in-app purchase. They come in the following amounts: 20 for $0.99; 280 for $9.99; and 975 for $29.99.
Twelve power cells are required to fill up your energy bar all the way. This means you'll have to do some math to figure out how many, if any, you want to purchase at any given time. We will say that the moment our last power cell ran out, we immediately bought a pack of 20 to satisfy our craving. Sure, we could have waited or played without earning credits, but we were hooked.
Ngmoco's own Plus+ network tracks leaderboards, connects you with friends, and grants you achievements. The tutorial and in-game manual do a fine job of explaining everything you need to know. A tiny "WTF" button (standing, they explain humorously, for "where to find") is in the corner of each menu screen, and tapping it brings up the section of the manual that explains whatever you're looking at. We ran into a few glitches during our play sessions, one that muted the audio, and one that crashed the game. However, these were few and far between.
Upgrade your armors here.
Online matchmaking works fairly well, but you'll often notice that enemies are either too hard or too easy to kill. When they go down like flies, you'll win lots of credits and feel like Schwarzenegger in his prime, but it makes for shorter matches. When you can't seem to make a kill no matter how many bullets you pump into someone, it gets frustrating.
You really have nothing to lose by downloading Eliminate Pro. Its siren song will call loudest to hardcore gamers, but anyone can and should give it a shot. The initial, free allotment of power cells will fuel your habit for about an hour, which is plenty for you to decide how you'd like to proceed. Some players might feel nickel and dimed by the in-app purchases, but we think of it kind of like an arcade game for the iDevice. Casual players can dabble for free, while hardcore addicts can pay as they go. Any way you slice it, this is one of the most polished full experiences you'll find for free on the App Store.
27 Comments
Great Game, but no giveaway today :(
We are giving away some Speck cases (2 iPod Touch 2nd Gen, 1 iPod Nano 5th Gen) on our Twitter feed today. No game codes, though.
Already spend some money.
This baby is too addicting.
Have to stop.
But I love that game.
One of the best, and THE best multiplayer experiences on the idevices.
I spent $30... I am a sucker :p
A little edit... Wow. Now there is no $30 pack... its $40? You could get a console game with that kind of money, or 3 months of WoW...
BUY THIS GAME NOW. ITS THE BEST GAME FOR THE IPHONE AND ITS GOT THE BEST PRICE.
I found this game to be just OK as a FPS game...I think people are making this into something bigger than it is because it's the only decent online FPS at the moment on the iPhone. It really is just a mediocre quake like experience with small amounts of tiny maps. My biggest complain though is that there isn't any inverted controls...what good developer leaves out this key option in a FPS game?
The solution to ur complaint is in the options menu rofl
The energy system is pathetic. I would rather pay a one-time payment of $9.99 to be able to play and earn credits whenever I want.
if ngmoco is smart, they will give you this option sooner or later and remove all the energy packs that cost over $10.
I was thinking a subscription service. I'd easily pay $15 a month to play as much as I want.
I think PocketGamer had this game right on when they gave it a 7/10. It's stupid to think this game is any better.
Played ten minutes and deleted. I cannot believe the lemming effect on this one. Everyone falling off the cliff into 'suckerville'. It's so boring. Spawn, die, spawn, die. Wow. Death match! How novel! How 1993. Done to death years ago, and here it rears its ugly head again. Now, team fortress classic, that's a different story...but this is the very definition of 'banal'. Give me a break.
I think ngmoco is gonna change the pricing system further in the future to stimulate sales.
This game is definitely fantastic, but like everyone before me, I think the energy thing needs to be a little more refined. Maybe decreasing the amount of time between recharges, or less money for more cells...
I also find that the game crashes almost guaranteed at the end of every other match and then sometimes while trying to access the gear page. It gets crazy frustrating, I find myself re-opening the game every 5 - 10 minutes.
Also, it would be nice for future updates to allow private matches to be able to choose their map they want to play and to be taken back to the chat room between games so they can chat and talk about the last game they played!
You are able to play a private match with only your friends. You are able to talk with them while waiting as well.
Not a chance. I avoid subscription games on principle, and once your addicted, this is too close. And, if you don't buy, everyone who buys will destroy you in about 3 seconds. Guaranteed.
Everyone who buys destroys you in 3 seconds? No, you play against people around your skill, some times a little higher skill to keep the game interesting.
You know when the world is getting lazy when reviewers review free games.
LOL! We normally don't review free games, but this one was so hotly anticipated, hardcore, and badass that we couldn't resist. Plus, there are for-pay elements in it, so it basically qualifies. The App Store is changing, and we must adapt.
hahaha, totally understand. pay elements aren't very dominant as it is basically to extend playtime, but i understand your viewpoint. but then again, reviews are usually made to sway the reader. hard to sway a reader to download a free game, especially something so hotly anticipated as this ;)
Good review though. I thought it was fair on both sides, and the power cells are definitely killing me right now.
some one can tell me. how to have username to play it ??
Hey guys! What secondary weapon should I use? I've already decided to use my Plasma Cannon as the main weapon. Now, I'm tossing up between the Animatter Jet, Rocket Launcher and Vaporizer. Which one should I choose?
Guys who aren't so impressed by this game: Half of the draw of this game is that its the first online FPS with a simple and effective matchmaking system on the iPhone! No its not perfect but its proving that the concept can work and possibly stimulating other developers to try their luck in this category, so even if you find the gameplay boring and repetitive (which I don't partially due to the fact that I only play in small bursts and wait as opposed to paying for power cells and playing continuously) you can't deny some of the genius of this game.
I finally found some forums to discuss the game at eliminatepro.com. No I am not a bot, just want to give people a resource to chat about the game without clogging the comments and getsatisfaction.com site.
Eliminate may not be perfect, but it is addictive: Fast game-play, good matchmaking, and easy to pickup.
Good work ngmoco!
http://www.appzealot.com
LOVE the co-op! Online tends to stutter a bit, better to play with a friend you know has a good connection.
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