Product: iPhone Game Developers World Championship | Publisher: Steel Media | Genre: Sports

by Richard Brown

HOLLAND Pulse: The Game (Virtual Fairground)

VS

DENMARK Zenses Rainforest (Kiloo)

Following last night’s thrilling and exhausting clash of the racing titans between Germany and Australia, we returned to the Pocket Gamer iStadium this lunchtime for an altogether more sedate match-up in Group E.

In this intriguing clash between two of Europe’s finest developer nations, Holland’s music rhythm title Pulse: The Game jostled for supremacy with the Danish puzzler Zenses Rainforest.

Three important points and bragging rights were up for grabs, so the soundstage was well and truly set.

Would Pulse’s pounding trance beats drown out Kiloo’s soothing, ambient sonics, or would peace reign in the forest this afternoon?

Kick Off: 12.30pm, 14th June

The critical view: First onto the dance floor stepped Pulse, from Virtual Fairground, exhibiting some fresh and original gameplay moves. Unlike its contemporaries Rock Band and Tap Tap Revenge, this Dutch master was more interested in matching rhythm, synth and sample than simply tapping beats in time.

This innovative take on the rhythm genre coupled with five exclusive tracks from countryman Ferry Corsten’s vault contributed to a well-deserved opening goal for Holland. The lead was quickly doubled, as a much-coveted Bronze Award proved the difference, applying the final touch in a goal-mouth scramble.

A midfield scrap ensued for the next 15 minutes, Open Feint integration in Zenses Rainforest trading slide tackles with Pulse’s Facebook and Twitter tie-ins. Then, just before the whistle and against the run of play, the Danes broke from deep through an impressive 80 rounds and 25 unlockable achievements gifting Zenses a notch on the scoreboard.

Remarkably, the meditative gameplay on offer by Denmark’s puzzler, in which random, cascading shapes must be matched up using precise, rapid movements, appeared to have taken the sting out of Pulse’s early attacking thrust and once again it was anybody's game.

Half time: Holland 2 – 1 Denmark

The Fans’ 45: Having witnessed three netbusters in the opening 45, we expected the fans to get behind both sides from the moment the ref whistled for the restart. Unfortunately, the supporters in attendance seemed too tense to voice their opinion.

Perhaps they were entranced by the clever, weaving patterns on show, or maybe they were chilling out to the ambient tunes (a welcome break from the Vuvuzela horns of the South African world cup). Whatever the reason it looked like the match was peetering out, until a moment of magic from DJ Hiroki Esashika - on loan from Japan - inspired the crowd and sealed victory for Virtual Fairground and the Oranje party.

Full time: Holland 3 – 1 Denmark

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