Space Impact Kappa Base is possibly the most intense shoot ’em up we’ve ever played. The first level of this classic space-themed shooter is so drenched in bullets, power-ups, sneaky traps, apocalyptic explosions and screen-filling bosses it feels like the climactic finale.

Then you get to level two, which takes the action up a couple of notches. See how we got on after the space jump....

The premise for Space Impact Kappa Base is simple. You’re one of a plucky band of human freedom fighters struggling against an evil mechanised empire intent on galactic domination. You’d have thought that by the 43rd century, or whenever Kappa Base is supposed to be set, evil mechanised empires would have learned to shut down their million-to-one vulnerability from a plucky band of human freedom fighters, but apparently not.

The sheer ferocity of Kappa Base has to be experienced to be believed. Bullets literally fill the screen almost immediately, but that’s no bad thing. While getting hit in your cockpit sucks energy from your shield, grazing them with your Space Blade’s wings actually powers you up to release an occasional baddie-blasting burst of energy.

It’s a neat twist on the usual gameplay and encourages judicious risk-taking.

Auto-shooting takes the strain off your thumb and between levels you can gradually trick out your Space Blade with goodies such as homing missiles and laser pods. World Battle mode lets you upload your mission results to online ranking tables, with individual awards for things like Boss Attack and overall score.

There’s nothing terrifically new in Kappa Base but if it ain’t broke why fix it?

Space Impact Kappa Base takes the best bits of other shoot ’em ups, adds some twists of its own and then triples the bullet count. Adrenaline junkies, you have found your new best friend.

Details

Price: £4

Rating: 3+

Size: 12MB

DOWNLOAD Space Impact Kappa Base

Check out our Space Impact Kappa Base review gallery: