Moscow Dash is a side scrolling action shooter from Starkom. If you grew up playing games in the ’80s and ’90s, this style of gameplay will be quite familiar to you as it resembles such old school games as Double Dragon and Final Fight. I remember playing games like those in the arcade and later on home consoles. They were among some of the most popular styles of games in those days. If you’ve been reminiscing about your past gaming experiences and are itching to play something like that, Moscow Dash might be the game you’re looking for. I do have one warning though, this game isn’t for kids. There themes involved are a bit mature so it’s been rated for players 12+. Keep that in mind. Moscow Dash has you playing as a Courier who has been hired to deliver a mysterious package. For some reason, everyone is after this package and you’ll need to kill anyone who stands in your way.

In case you hadn’t guessed it yet, this is a violent game in a sense, though the old school type of play doesn’t make it quite as realistic. As the Courier, you’re packing quite a bit of heat. You’ll start off with some pretty basic weapons at first but as you progress through the game, you’ll be able to pick up bigger and badder guns, each upgradeable. It’s a side scrolling game but like old school games of this type, it does allow you to not only move backwards and forwards, but there is depth as well so you can move left and right. That means you are making use of pretty much the entire screen to fight off your would be attackers. All your attacks will involve you shooting some kind of weapon with limited ammo in your clip. When you run out of ammo, you have to wait for it to reload so that can leave you vulnerable. This involves some simple strategy of how you use your gun and when to switch to another and reload.

Graphically, the game is pretty good. It doesn’t have that retro pixelated look although the game is laid out like those old games. Instead, the graphics are high res but still sprite based. Everything is pretty colorful with some pretty interesting character designs. Oh and did I mention the amount of blood you’ll see in this game? You can of course turn blood off in the settings but why would you want to? Audio in the game is also pretty cool with a kickin’ rock soundtrack and pretty good sound effects too.

Controls for the game also work quite well making it very easy to jump right into. There is a virtual joystick at the bottom left that allows for movement around the whole screen and a set of arrows on the right that you press in the direction your want your bullets to fly.

Overall, Moscow Dash is a good, nostalgic trip back when games didn’t take themselves so seriously and were fun no matter how many lives it took you to get to the end. The best part of the game though is the nonstop action and the plain and simple fact that anyone can pick this up and play it. Again though, this isn’t a game for children as there are mature themes involved so this is strictly for the older audience members out there.

App Store Link: Moscow Dash
Version: 1.2
Developer: Star Computers Trading/Starkom
Price: Free
Compatible Devices: (Universal App) iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 6.0 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

Description

FREE for a LIMITED time. Why venture outside and risk sunburn when you can avoid the sweltering sun and go on an gruesome Russian adventure from air conditioned bliss?”

Defeat the monstrous mutants and barbaric brutes of Moscow’s underground as you complete a dangerous delivery in Moscow Dash! Narrated through vibrant comic-book styled illustrations, Moscow Dash’s easy to control arcade scrolling make for an instantly addictive and absolutely exciting shooter.

Veiled terrors have transformed the inhabitants of Moscow into horrific demons. Cast as the fearless Courier, you must survive the rampant lawlessness of the metropolis’ streets, subways and the underground while transporting a mysterious package.

But beware! Everyone, from Chavs and wily grannies in the dormitories to the bureaucrats and corrupt cops on Red Square, will try to stop you. Take any gun from the armory, upgrade your abilities in battle, and collect health to kill them all!

Moscow Dash also includes an additional “Survival Mode” available for purchase that does not affect your main Campaign. Test your timed survival skills by fending off Moscow’s monsters through a series of 9 additional levels for 12 minutes each. The buy automatically unlocks each levels’ accompanying weapons and 3 new characters for you to destroy.

Can you complete the task and safely deliver the package to its final destination?

— Features —

BRUTALITY, GUTS, AND GLORY FOR ALL
– 70 episodes united in 9 levels of a single Campaign
– 30 representatives of the predatory urban fauna from Vagrants to Oligarchs
– 5 main types of weapons and 20 modifications for them

POWER THROUGH TO PUNISH YOUR ENEMIES
– Shoot by yourself or summon the Lads, the Mentals, and the Grannies to help you
– Cure yourself with beer and get yourself moving with an energy drink without harming your body

AN EXTRA HELPING OF AWESOMENESS
– Experience survival mode by purchasing additional levels
– Detailed statistics of the fights and a bunch of cool prizes for the social networks
– An outstanding progressive metal soundtrack by Darkman007

only for iPad2, iPad3, iPad4, iPad-mini, iPhone 4-4S-5, ipod 5Gen!!!

[via App Store]