<\/p>\n

As you might expect, the perks of being a drug-runner on the post-nuclear streets of Moscow are truly top-notch: Dilapidated alleyways and subway stations to stroll through, no health insurance whatsoever, and constant bum-rushes by endless streams of bat-wielding thugs, angry bureaucrats and aggressive bag ladies.
\nYes, aggressive bag ladies.<\/p>\n

So it is in Moscow Dash<\/em><\/a>, a well-intentioned but ultimately shallow 2D side-scrolling arcade shooter from Russian-based development shop Starkom. There\u2019s some style and shoot \u2018em up fun here\u2014especially since you can get it for free in the App Store for a limited time\u2014but that\u2019s still scarce reason to invest your gaming time when there are better options elsewhere.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

To begin with, \u201cdash\u201d is a major misnomer, and not because this is a shooter and not a racing game. \u201cTrudge\u201d or \u201cstroll\u201d would be infinitely more accurate. Especially in the game\u2019s early going, you\u2019ll feel like your goateed courier is sludging through six feet of snow in Red Square as the hordes try to hem him into a corner. Grinding levels earns experience that you can use to notch health and speed upgrades to make things a little easier, but the gameplay never deepens beyond what you see in your opening play session. And even when you\u2019re finally moving at what I\u2019d characterize as a gentle jog, everything still feels a lot slower than it should.<\/p>\n

Moscow Dash<\/em> almost would have worked more effectively as a twin-stick shooter (think Robotron<\/em>) rather than with the tap-and-shoot controls it sports instead. As it is, gameplay quickly devolves into circling back and forth across the confines of the level with the virtual left-stick control while waiting for a timer to count down to the point where your weapons will reload. You can bring up to three gun types into each of the game\u2019s 70 levels–and if you\u2019d rather spend more time scoring headshots than frantically dodging, you\u2019ll plan accordingly. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

There are a few clever touches. Sometimes, enemies will drop runes that will give your weapons extra firepower modes and ammo clips, or provide you with friendly versions of enemy units. But your new friends fall as quickly to enemy fire as they do to your own bullets, so they\u2019re only marginally helpful against the onrushing hordes; against the powerful, machine-gun wielding bosses that lurk at the end of each ambush level, they\u2019re less than useless. <\/p>\n

For a free game, Moscow Dash<\/em> features a surprising amount of content, even if it blazes by quicker than your ammo does. Those who burn through all nine campaign settings can pay a buck to unlock timed survival arena challenges as IAP, but these don\u2019t offer anything you haven\u2019t seen already, so caveat emptor, kids. <\/p>\n

Given the sheer number of enemies the game throws at you, it\u2019s not at all surprising to see GameCenter achievements popping up on your iPad screen informing you that your killcounts have soared into the thousands. But even the thrill of copious carnage isn\u2019t enough to make this Dash<\/em> worth your time or (temporarily free) cash. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Pros:<\/strong>
\n+ Simple, mindless carnage
\n+ Stylized presentation<\/p>\n

Cons:<\/strong>
\n– Shallow, repetitive gameplay
\n– Dude, your courier is a freaking turtle<\/p>\n

Game Info:<\/strong>
\nPlatform: Reviewed on iPad, also available for iPhone and iPod Touch
\nPublisher: Star Computers Trading
\nDeveloper: Starkom
\nRelease Date: 6\/18\/2013
\nGenre: Side-scrolling shooter
\nAge Rating: 12+
\nPlayers: 1
\nSource: Review code provided by publisher<\/p>\n