Play Classic Air Hockey on iPhone or iPod touch with Touch Hockey
Some games have dominated the arcade scene for decades. No matter what kinds of graphical games utilizing virtual reality and motion sensor technology comes along, certain games have entered the public consciousness so firmly that there is almost no way to dethrone them. Air hockey, just like pool and ski ball, is one of these games and continues to eat up pre-pubescent allowance payments just as much as the latest incarnation of Mortal Kombat.
The touch screen technology has left almost every developer looking to bring traditional games to the iPhone under the idea that the touch and motion sensors have allowed for a realistic port. Though this is just a cheap way for game designers to forgo original ideas and repackage tired products, some end up working much better than others. One of these game is Touch Hockey.
Instead of focusing on bringing a great deal of graphical images or trying to make it mimic a game of virtual hockey, it uses a tried and true formula with visuals that are built for function not comfort. There are two paddles, one red and one blue each in their respective side. The table is designed to look just like the traditional one from the coin ops at the coast, and it does complete with the air expulsion holes and digital score monitor. By holding down on your paddle you control it and can hit the black circular puck toward the other side, attempting to get it by the other active paddle and into the goal. From here the rules are the same and there is little else to interfere with its perfect confines.
Touch Hockey either wins or loses based on how the touch controls end up working. Though there is occasional minor lag when dragging the paddle around with your finger, it is fairly responsive. The puck is likewise energetic, hailing from the same physical issues and lightweight as the traditional game. The table does not end up feeling proportionally large to an arcade version, but that is still fine. Along with the standard gameplay is a replay feature, which is nice but not really necessary.
In the end this is a worthwhile game that takes simple distraction to a memorable level. Every time you sneak by your opponent in a snapping flash you can remember all those moments of record angst at the air hockey table.
- Touch Hockey – Free [app store]
- Touch Hockey
– No ads, $1.99 [app store]
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