Arc War

The concept of the endless-runner has been well explored on smartphones - most recently with the controversial but insanely popular Flappy Bird - but the notion of a never-ending challenge can of course be applied to other genres.

That's exactly what Arc War seeks to do. it takes one of the oldest game styles around - the 2D shooter - and strips away the level-by-level structure to create an endless blast-a-thon which will test even the most seasoned player.

In a traditional vertically-scrolling shooter, you have to fight your way through various levels, each with a tough guardian enemy at its conclusion.

Arc War doesn't differ too much from this tried-and-tested blueprint. There are boss enemies, power-up items, and even a smart bomb-style weapon which obliterates every opponent on-screen. It's simply the lack of any levels which makes this so different.

Using a touch-based control system, where your ship moves in response to the location of your finger on the screen, Arc War is easy enough to play. However, as you fight through wave upon wave of foes, the challenge increases dramatically.

You'll need to make sure you grab as many power-up items as possible to prolong your chances of survival. Lock-on missiles, more powerful shots, and even shields are available.

It's a devilishly simple concept, but it works - the shooter genre is built around the idea of honing your skills and lasting as long as possible, and by stripping away the age-old conceit of structuring such a title around levels, Arc War arguably manages to make the whole process even more gripping and exciting.

This isn't a short-term blast, however. Even in the beginning, you can reasonably expect to last at least ten minutes with each attempt, and this time shoots upwards as you become more proficient.

This isn't a quick-burst blaster. In fact, the 'endless' approach means it's a title you'll need to tackle when you know you have plenty of time on your hands.

With plenty of Game Center achievements and the constant allure boosting your constantly updated in-game experience level, Arc War rewards your prolonged attention. The only drawback is that the variety of enemies may not sustain your interest throughout these slogs.

One benefit of having traditional levels is that they can at least be thematically different - something which isn't the case here.

Even with its repetitive nature, Arc War still manages to entertain. The allure of constantly defying the odds and keeping your plucky ship alive as an infinite number of alien aggressors pour laser death on you is something that veteran shooter addicts will positively relish.