Pod Odyssey

The old skool classic Lunar Lander has launched dozens, if not hundreds, of clones, and its gravity-based, one-touch gameplay is well suited to mobiles.

A homage to Lunar Lander, Pod Odyssey puts a nice twist on the former's well-worn formula, though its high difficulty and so-so controls keep it grounded.

In Pod Odyssey, you control a short, squat spaceship along a craggy asteroid-like surface. Over the course of the two dozen+ levels, you collect items and avoid obstacles.

Like Lunar Lander, you only have one option: thrust. Your pod can thrust to the left, to the right, or straight up. You can move around by either using tilt controls or two virtual thumbsticks.

And the levels do require quite a bit of manoeuvering. Sure, it takes place in space, but you’ll be navigating through tight crevasses and rocky terrain.

Getting anywhere of note requires gentle yet fast moves, especially when the enemies surface.

For a relatively simple game, the bad guys are surprisingly varied. You have floating mines, basic cannons, heat-seeking missile launchers, radar beam blasters, and so on.

You can pick up weaponry on your travels, like an EMP blast that will temporarily disable electronics, but your only real hopes for survival are speed and cunning.

Pod Odyssey is a fun, tough game, but the controls never quite seem to gel. The tilt mechanism feels way too sensitive, while the touch controls are a little off.

To set off an EMP or activate the shield, for example, you have to press anywhere outside of the thumbsticks, but, unfortunately, this happens too often by accident. The thumbsticks themselves don't feel precise enough for this kind of game, either.

As with its forefather, the tough controls are part of the frustration and the charm of Pod Odyssey. The attractive visuals and ambient sound make it an interesting trip. Just be prepared to have a bumpy ride.