Gunship X

Let's not kid ourselves, members of the human race: when we fall, hyper-evolved insects will inevitably be responsible for the deed.

Maybe they'll come from space. Maybe they'll crawl from some hole that plunges down into the centre of the Earth. Either way, we'll be toiling in underground sugar caves in no time.

But our species hasn't dominated the top of the food chain for millennia by rolling over and giving up when things get tough.

Gunship X lets players act out humanity's last stand against an insect menace. Emphasis here on 'last stand', for the bugs have infinite soldiers, you see. You simply have some weapons and the drive to take a bunch of the roaches with you as you go roaring into the good night.

Gunship X puts you in the gunner's seat of an AC-130 gunship. You don't have to concern yourself with piloting the behemoth, mind. Your only job is to shoot down the swarms of bugs hunting the humans making a run for the evacuation helicopter.

Gunship X gives you a bird's-eye view of the action, so it's not hard to spot the enemy. You have weapons of varying power with which to play, from a 105mm Howitzer (good for crowd control) down to a 25mm Gatling gun that doesn't have a lot of power but gets the job done.

Weapons often overheat and / or run out of ammo, so you need to shift through your arsenal quickly in order to keep your charges safe.

Gunship X is all about surviving long enough to get the highest score possible. You earn money as you play, which goes back into upgrading your weapons for power, cooldown speed, and ammunition stocks.

Early upgrades are affordable, but they become expensive quickly - more or less what you'd expect from a game that lets you buy currency via in-app purchases. Luckily, it's possible to enjoy the cull without having to juice up your weapon stash.

Money also goes into buying missiles, which are vital for fighting off the dreaded bomber bugs. Bomber bugs are capable of shooting your gunship out of the sky, which ends your game.

Your run also comes to an end if the bugs come too close to the evacuation helicopter and force it to take off (for all you stragglers that didn't have a chance to board, enjoy your new life as bug food).

Background radio banter keeps the action lively in Gunship X, and it also gives you an idea of immediate dangers.

The game's dark graphics likewise match the grim scenario, though more variation in the bug designs would be welcome. Might we recommend more slavering mandibles and more gross, bobbing antennae?

Gunship X isn't a deep shooting game, then, but it does provide a shot of intense action that burns hot for a little while. Climb aboard, and don't forget to bring the Raid.