Hands on with Action Hero 3D on mobile
Does what it says on the tin
It doesn't take a genius to realise 3D gaming is here to stay on mobile, destined to expand in popularity as more handsets capable of advanced graphics turn up. While there's plenty of room left for growth in the number of people carrying 3D-capable phones, Korean games publisher Com2uS has been pushing that boundary for quite some time.
The impressive-looking Action Hero 3D is but the latest of a long line of 3D-accelerated titles in the company's catalogue, and we recently got our hands on it in anticipation of its western release next month.
The game casts you in the role of Wild Dog, winner of a televised action contest now drafted to save the world. The unlikely hero must navigate through a parallel dimension ruled by the nefarious Dr J in order to find his way back home. It won't be a walk in the park: well over 200 stages create quite the long journey for Wild Dog and it's up to you to guide him through the ordeal.
Like any good action game or flick, Action Hero 3D isn't concerned with story as much as it is combat. This is a beat-'em-up first and foremost, letting you pummel enemies with various attacks strung together into combos. Basic punches are pulled by pressing the center key on your device, while successive key presses yield combinations. Additionally, tapping on the directional pad immediately following a punch modifies the attack.
For example, press left or right during a punch and Wild Dog does a combat kick. One of the more complex combinations has you executing a drop kick by hitting the center key, then quickly pressing up and down on the D-pad.
While the game adheres to its namesake with three-dimensional graphics, the action actually takes place on a single plane. Simply put, Action Hero 3D is a side-scroller. This makes it easier to focus on attacks, instead of spending energy trying to navigate around open environments. Wild Dog can move left and right via the directional pad, whereas jumping is done by pressing up.
Some light platform leaping is necessary to get through levels, but jumps are intended more as preparation for drop kicks. Using this powerful attack against the game's larger enemies definitely gives you an edge. Nearly two dozen boss battles – most of which are so big they fill the entire screen – ensure plenty of opportunity to wield Wild Dog's greater abilities. Of course, most of the foes confronting you are of a more common variety and can be dispatched with a quick punch or two.
Defeating enemies isn't just rewarding for its own sake. Rather, you earn experience for fallen foes and can even equip certain creatures for an added edge in combat. Experience is accumulated until Wild Dog raises a level, at which point you have the option of increasing his maximum HP or SP, or boosting his attack power. SP, or skill points, enable you to pull off special abilities that become available as Wild Dog reaches advanced levels. However, playing the earliest levels of the game, we weren't able to experiment much with the skill system.
More intriguing is the promise of enemies that can be equipped to augment Wild Dog's combat abilities. Before heading into a new level, you're able to select an opponent to pair up with. Naturally, the benefits granted to you differ from creature to creature. It's even possible to equip an enemy and engage other players online in special head-to-head bouts.
At this stage, our main concern with Action Hero 3D regards its complexity. While its hard-hitting action and light role-playing elements speak directly to a line of hardcore gamers, it might be too much for casual play. In that sense, it feels more in line with a console action game than expressly mobile.
In addition, the awesome graphics alone (we appreciate the screenshots above won't be the most convincing) ensure that it'll run on high-end handsets only, not to mention its size given the 200-plus levels it carries. Getting over that hurdle could prove problematic for Com2uS, especially in the US where capable devices haven't reached a high level of acceptance. For anyone properly equipped, though, Action Hero 3D currently promises an energetic experience when it hits in December.
