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iPhone Game Pick: Quietus (Connor Ullmann)

April 4, 2011 1:30 PM | Michael Rose

Originally released as a browser game nearly a year ago, Quietus has now made its way onto iPhone. Remember how tough it was? This version is even more difficult, mainly due to the odd touch-screen controls.

The idea is that you can touch anywhere on the screen, and a virtual joystick will appear, allowing you to run and jump. It's still perfectly playable, but it does make certain levels later on incredibly difficult. Connor says that he 'eased up' some of the levels to make the going a little easier, but my fingers say otherwise. Hopefully an alternate d-pad control option will be added.

Still, it's a fun game, especially for the $0.99 asking price. Take a plunge into the depths of Hell in the App Store now.

Tags: Connor Ullmann,iphone,quietus,time

Categories: Mobile

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4 Comments

I've found that for most traditional games adapted to the iPhone, a classic, static D-Pad / analogue stick on the screen works the best, and by far better than any "dynamic" controls. Mainly because you can tap any direction key without having to hold it, which from the sounds of it is impossible in this game. Thus, I still wonder everytime a developer tries to invent a more unusual method of control that after all only makes it more complicated.

At least an option should be available.

MisterX | April 4, 2011 4:10 PM

I would certainly be open to a d-pad, but I can't find a good way of putting it on the screen; many levels take up the entire area of the screen, so a static display of the d-pad wouldn't be possible. The game is a port, so redesigning all of the levels to work with a static d-pad would be very cumbersome, all for a marginally easier control system.

Also, I've done testing with the virtual joystick that I ended up going with, and people really struggled with it for the first few levels. Once you play for a bit, though, things really start to pick up and make more sense. There's actually a few levels where you literally just move your finger at the same diagonal angle at different times for the whole level. Most of the understanding of the controls comes from knowing when to press and when to release, as it's more of a gesture-oriented system than it is a joystick.

In all, I'd certainly be willing to put in a d-pad, but it must be dynamic, unless there's a static option that wouldn't cover up parts of the screen where the level is displayed.

Connor Ullmann | April 4, 2011 7:24 PM

"I've found that for most traditional games adapted to the iPhone, a classic, static D-Pad..."

This is true and should be considered as an option by all app developers. Plus gamers' brains are so wired to it that there is a bias of "wanting a D-pad."

Yakatori | April 4, 2011 9:46 PM

static d-pads get a thumbsdown from me.

this feature is on controls for twinstick shooters, but some of it applies:
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/6323/a_guide_to_ios_twin_stick_shooter_.php

mike cupcake | April 4, 2011 11:22 PM