I'm not too entirely convinced about the whole iPhone gaming revolution that various gaming websites are trying to convince is the real deal. Don't get me wrong - the quality of most iPhone games is certainly better than anything you're sure to get on a regular mobile phone in terms of how well the game runs and what not. But at the same time, and for someone who's had plenty of experience playing games on his iPhone (well, iPod Touch), it just seems like empty hype. Sure, there are great games on the iTunes App Store (such as anything by Ngmoco), but everything else is best left unmentioned.

Though the one area that I'm interested the most in are games that are well known on other platforms and adapted to the iPhone platform. This includes stuff from Namco (Katamari, Galaga & Pac-Man, of course), Sega (Super Monkey Ball, Golden Axe and Sonic the Hedgehog) and Capcom (such as Mega Man 2). And for the most part, they haven't been all that great. Sure, they're well emulated and what not, but the biggest problem comes in control. Sure, it makes sense for a game like Monkey Ball or Katamari to use the accelerometer to control the game, but for stuff like Sonic or Megaman...it doesn't entirely work. The 'virtual' controls don't work as well as they should, and it feels wrong to be playing something like that without a proper form of control.

Then I picked up Wolfenstein 3D...

I hadn't owned a copy of any of the Wolfenstein games (save for Enemy Territory), though I've played just about all the major ones. And hey, $4 AUD isn't a huge loss on something like this, so I gave it a shot. And believe it or not, I was pleasantly surprised that the game actually worked. Not entirely perfectly, but it worked.

I guess of the major reasons why Wolfenstein works on something like the iPhone is that you don't really need to worry about looking up or down. And the game can be controlled using three buttons. One that dictates movement, one for strafing and one to fire your weapon. You can't switch weapons (or at least, I don't know how to), and the game is pretty generous in terms of getting shots on an enemy or what not.

What's interesting is that id have opened up all six episodes, meaning that you can play the game at any point you desire. Wanna start at the final episode? Wanna start on the infamous Hitler boss battle? You totally can. Sure, you don't get the best weapons or much ammo to begin with (since it starts a completely new game should you do this), but it's still quite nice. And hey, being able to listen to your own music while playing is also quite cool too.

Though the one thing that relaly got to me was the way you moved. You can change it, but the default one sees you turning way more than you really should be - due to it being both a move/turn button. It's annoying, but you can always change it or try to get used to it. Though when id release Doom onto the App Store, I'm sure it'd be pretty much the same example.

If anything, Wolfenstein is a good example on how a classic game can control using the iPhone. It suits the platform perfectly, and is very pick up and play, much like most of the better games on the service. There are some control issues, but you can change them, or at least try to get used to them.

If you truly believe that the iPhone can be a great gaming platform, then pick this one up. If nothing more than to marvel at the fact that a fully unlocked and well emulated version of Wolfenstein 3D can be played on your phone.

...

Sorry for the terrible pun. I'm no Elektrixxx.

Also, massive news coming soon. I think lots of people are going to like it when I reveal it.

Later.