Lunagames, one of the leading mobile game producers, has certainly nailed it this time with Islands: Missile Invasion. Following along the lines of the classic “Battleships” game, Islands: Missile Invasion has brought new meaning and excitement into this genre.

In terms of graphics, Islands: Missile Invasion certainly pleases with sufficient detail for a mobile game, and definitely meets the standards of the current day. I particularly like the drawings for the each of the building in the game. Also, the animations are extremely smooth, and I’m glad there are animations for each different attack (instead of a vague explosion that could have been caused by a landmine, or someone having too much beans for breakfast). A plane will sweep down when you order an air strike, missiles will rain from the sky when you fire a missile, and shells will bombard the area when you command artillery.

However, the music and sounds, sad to say, falls a little short here. The menu music lasts for only a few seconds, and then keeps repeating itself. Also I found the theme of the music more than a little out of place. The music is the kind of sound you would expect in a fantasy game, not a war game! It gives a cartoon like feeling, instead of the more intense strategy war game feeling it should have portrayed. No in game music here either, but there are “average” explosion sounds during gameplay.

Gameplay is where the game truly shines. It has a great strategic element, much unlike “battleships”, which in my opinion is more luck than strategy. For Islands: Missile Invasion, carefully planning must be taken to where you place your buildings, and which building you want to construct. Building a small missile silo, which takes up one space, would be perfect to avoid being hit, but likewise, its area of effect when firing is also one. At the same time, building an airstrip, which takes up three spaces, making it easier to hit, but also provides better firepower. You can build one building per turn, and the game ends when any player has scored the required number of successful hits.

What about replayability? This game certainly doesn’t lack it. It has a campaign which you can go through again and again, and each time played differently by using a different strategy and different weapons. Also, there’s a multiplayer function, which supports hotseat (players share the same phone, but take turns) and Bluetooth! And playing with a friend is so much more fun than playing with an artificial intelligence. Isn’t it just so satisfying to see the look of pure hatred when you thwart your friend’s attempt to construct a nuclear missile by taking out one of his key structures? *evil laughter*

All in all, Islands: Missile Invasion is a great strategy game, wonderfully done. Perhaps Lunagames should not neglect music too much in favor of gameplay. But the gameplay, is definitely superb. I would say a definite must have for all strategy game lovers.

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