..N.O.V.A. 2..

REVIEW |

If you’ve played the original N.O.V.A. or even Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus, you already know what to expect from Gameloft’s newest first-person shooter N.O.V.A. 2. Gameloft’s signature high production values, sizeable amount of content, solid and completely customizable controls, and extensive online multiplayer features all make their way onto their flagship first-person shooter... as well as a lack of originality and horrible voice acting.

- Lush environments and minute details abound -

N.O.V.A. 2’s sci-fi story doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is great because the plot is horribly written and completely uninteresting, simply acting as a means to get to the action.  The variety of locales, set pieces, combat scenarios, enemies, and gameplay mechanics are astounding, feeling as extensive as many full-featured, console shooters. From running and gunning, to on-rail turret firefights, to large-scale mech combat, N.O.V.A. 2 has it all. In one particular scene, players are tasked with defending a base from waves and waves of enemies by setting up turrets in strategic locations and using their own physical prowess. Although none of the scenarios in N.O.V.A. 2 are particularly original, the speed at which the game mixes up the gameplay is refreshing and keeps your interest. The upgradeable stats and powers, diversity of weapons, simple puzzles, and platform elements vary the gameplay even further. N.O.V.A. 2 feels like a mixture of some of the best first-person shooters including Halo, Doom, and, in some ways, Half-Life.

Unlike many iPhone and iPod Touch first-person shooters, N.O.V.A. 2 encourages fast moving combat in which you are always running and shooting at the same time, unless your using cover. No fully 3D game thus far on the App Store has provided such intuitive gameplay as successfully as N.O.V.A. 2, meaning that your ability to move around in the game world isn’t nearly as compromised by the touch controls as other games in the genre. The controls are completely resizable and mappable, and gyroscopic controls can be used. Unfortunately, like other first-person shooters on touch devices, it still requires several finger swipes to fully turn around, and walking forward is too slow.

- The precise, customizable controls keep gameplay intuitive -

Although N.O.V.A. 2’s tropical, sci-fi setting full of bright and vibrant colors is very similar to a certain popular Xbox game, the game still holds up as one of the most impressive-looking games available on handheld devices. There are a variety or organic and inorganic environments, each with their own effects and color scheme. The water effects are particularly impressive, exhibiting a lot of depth and movement.  In one factory-inspired level, I was astonished by how a glass tube full of moving goo actually deformed the environment on the opposite side in real time. Everything has a bulky feel to it and the textures, especially on characters, are detailed, but colorful enough to distinguish in combat. The voice acting, as mentioned before, is atrocious, but the sound effects and music are well designed if not unoriginal.

N.O.V.A. 2 isn’t the most innovative or original titles on the App Store. However, it is definitely one of the most action-packed and entertaining, offering plenty of compelling content.

GameDynamo's Score for N.O.V.A. 2 (Mobile)

Scott Vanderheyden He's always enjoyed the artistic craft of video games and received a Bachelor in Fine Arts for Animation. He also creates his own games!

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