Paradise: The Beginning

If you really love blowing stuff up, you will like this app. The object is to navigate your tank through a maze and shoot things before they shoot you. That’s pretty much all there is to it.

What sets it apart is the method of navigation. It’s one the more ingenious ones out there. You control your tank with your thumbs, no turning or tilting involved. You use the circles on the right and left sides of your screen as “thumb sticks” similar to how you would a console controller. Use your left thumb to control the direction you move and your right thumb to shoot and aim your shots. The radar at the top of the screen lets you know when enemies are near so you can hunt them down.

The graphics on the game are pretty good, with the board looking fairly three dimensional. Your tank and the enemy vehicles are not especially detailed, but they’re just going to get blown up anyway. I really enjoyed the music, which reminded me a lot of an instrumental version of Paradise City by Guns and Roses. I also liked the kind of offbeat text. I got killed very early on in my first game and I got a pop up that said, “You died pretty quickly that time.” Sometimes it is best to be blunt.

The first time you play, pick tutorial from the home screen. It provides a brief but helpful lesson on how to navigate the tank. There are no prizes to win or levels to beat. You’re solely working on getting a high score. Pick up power ups and shields as you go and watch your life meter on the top left.

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