Previews

WWDC 09: Hands on with KillTest on iPhone

Playing the game formerly known as LiveFire

WWDC 09: Hands on with KillTest on iPhone
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Last time we saw KillTest (which replaces codename LiveFire), it was little more than a tech demo. Moving beyond being just a showcase of multiplayer gaming over the network and functional first-person controls, that intriguing demo has evolved into a game proper that we went hands on with during this week's Worldwide Developers Conference. While we're still hesitant to embrace certain elements of the game, there's no question KillTest will squeeze out more than its fair share of fast-paced action.

Loading up on multiplayer shoot outs over WiFi or 3G network, KillTest has you participating in experimental weapons tests. These live fire exercises conducted by Arsenal MegaCorp involve a wide range of powerful weapons and combat equipment ranging from sniper rifles and gravity hooks to armour suits and health recharge kits. Your only objective is to pummel the competition in order to put these experimental arms to the test; in other words, shoot, shoot, shoot.

Each of the game's arenas have been designed with variety in mind, the environments geared toward testing the versatility of the weapons, equipment, and your skills. One level features flooded passageways that slow down testers wearing heavy combat suits, but pose no problem if you're equipped with amphibious armour. Another level contains narrow corridors that favour suits with strong defencive shielding that can stand up in pointblank firefights.

When jumping into a round, you're able to select from an array of suits that afford specific strengths and a default weapon. The sniper suit, for example, loads you up with a long distance rifle and slinky armour for quickly moving around. Others include an all-around assault suit, heavily armoured tank suit, and even a stealth suit. Although you start with a weapon tied to your selected suit, you can snap up an alternate firearm within a round by shaking your handset whenever you find a weapon on the ground.

This unusual weapon-swapping mechanic is emblematic of a larger potential issue with the game's interface. KillTest aims to minimise its heads-up display, which has the effect of complicating the controls. Tapping a small icon on the screen, for example, would be more intuitive than shaking the handset to swap weapons. Whatever immersive quality is gained by opting out of weapon icons is countered by the jarring nature of wiggling the screen in the middle of combat.

Jumping, which thankfully won't be required often, is also done via unconventional means: tapping the edges of your handset – not the screen, but the actual edge of the handset.

Fortunately, the game uses a more traditional scheme for movement. Mimicking a pair of analogue sticks, the left side of the the screen moves your characters and the right side adjusts the view. This set up works admirably and needs to be complemented by equally accessible controls for other actions.

Thoroughly acquainting yourself with the controls will be a must if you intend to be competitive online. Racing to nab power-ups or executing complex moves with special weapons will require mastery of the controls.

The gravity hook, for example, can be wielded in such a way that you can latch onto an opponent and pull yourself toward them for an attack. You can also use it to launch yourself up to a high platform to grab a power-up like a health recharge kit.

Being able to pull off moves like these will be a must if you want to play with the big boys. A rank-based matchmaking system ensures that players with roughly the same level of ability compete against each other. Full statistical tracking, leaderboards, and friends lists are supported as well.

The catch here is that only four players are supported, which means the matches are rather small. Fully understanding the challenges of working over the network, we still would like to see a higher player count. Eight or even just six players would offer better diversity in matches and limit the likelihood of one player dominating games.

That said, KillTest does represent a groundbreaking effort to establish multiplayer as not just viable over the network, but desirable. The fundamentals are in place for an entertaining shooter, even if the controls could stand for adjustment. With its great weapon designs, full feature set, and smooth performance, KillTest is appropriately geared for quick pick up and play sessions later this summer.

Tracy Erickson
Tracy Erickson
Manning our editorial outpost in America, Tracy comes with years of expertise at mashing a keyboard. When he's not out painting the town red, he jets across the home of the brave, covering press events under the Pocket Gamer banner.