Wow the space shooter games are just pouring into AppSmile headquarters this week! The latest to hit our screen is Belowscape by 10tons Ltd. Belowscape puts you in the position of a lone space hunter warding off endless attacks by enemy forces. The game takes place in Retrospace -- not sure what that is but maybe it has something to do with the retro-style graphics chosen by 10tons. Your ship is a small glowing triangle while your foes come in various shapes all reminding us of miniature neon signs. Whatever the inspiration, your opponents are fierce and will close in on you without a second thought.

Space craft movement is controlled by a few optional methods: Touch Target, Tilting, Left Joystick, and Right Joystick. Firing options are just as varied: Touch Target, Tilting, Left Joystick, and Right Joystick. Tilting and Touch Target are the default methods for Moving and Firing respectively. Our team found these to be the most desirable settings. Firing is continuously activated giving you the opportunity to focus on avoiding and destroying enemy ships. When hit some of these will reactively separate into smaller more agile shapes becoming harder to conquer.

In the newest version of Belowscape, 10tons has added Bosses to some levels. Additionally you can choose between two different play modes: Survival mode gives you three lives -- exist as long as you can. Rush mode provides one life and a constant onslaught of bad guys. Don’t choose this option if you have any medical conditions -- just kidding, although it is intense. We’re glad to see 10tons providing these sort of free updates as it shows they are attentive to their growing audience.

Musical score is sorely lacking from this title. However, the sound effects are pretty intriguing, if not techno-spooky. Our AppSmile mascot Dimple also chimed in to tell us he loves the basic yet refined user interface. We agree, the entire Belowscape experience is refined and keeps you wanting more.

Dimple’s Top Feature Picks:

• Simple yet refined user experience
• Liking the retro-neon styling
• Fresh sounds

Dimple Can’t Believe These Are Missing:

• Music Score -- not even iPod music
• Current Level Display -- Overworld Perhaps (where are we and how much longer until the stinging stops?)
• Power-ups

Belowscape gets our AppSmile 4-Dimple rating: