Harbor Master, recently released by ImangiStudios, is the newest time management game to hit the app store and, dare we say it, could possibly dethrone Flight Control as Captain of the TM fleet.
As with most TMs, Harbor Master draws immediate comparisons to Flight Control, as both involve some form of transport vehicle entering a static scene that requires the player to direct into its goal without impeding the path of another vehicle. A single collision ends the game, and most games only last a couple of minutes before the scene gets too congested to effectively keep all vehicles separated. While Harbor Master follows this same model, it adds several terrific twists that crank up the fun factor.
Whereas Flight Control requires you only to direct planes to the proper landing strip without crashing, Harbor Master requires you to direct ships into the proper docks (color coded on some maps), wait for them to unload their cargo, and then return them safely to sea. This more than doubles the amount of time that each unit is on-screen. Also, there are 3 different types of ships. The larger the ship, the slower the speed and the more cargo there is to unload, which lengthens the time that they must dock. With all of these ships both coming and going, the harbor can get quite busy quickly. Harbor Master also includes 3 unlockable maps, each with its own character and features. (Flight Control only recently updated its game with new maps.) Fishing Bay is unlocked from the get go and has two docks, a nice beginner board. After completing a certain number of cargo drops, Sturgeon Creek is unlocked. This board features 4 docks, 2 on either side of the waterway. One side is for orange vessels; the other for purple. Again, once you unload enough cargo, the final level, Cyclone Island, is opened, containing 3 docks on a freestanding island harbor. The color coded docks are absent from this level, though the occasional cyclone appears to throw any ships in its way off course. We were pleased to see that the cyclones did not sink a ship or end the game, but rather are just a means to disrupt your traffic patterns. Well done!
There are a few other notable features that ImangiStudios included. Online high scores, a must for iDevice titles, are included so as to put to rest the inevitable debate about who really is the Harbor Master. The game also autosaves in the event that you accidentally exit or receive a phone call, a feature that has saved us once or twice already. Harbor Master also employs multi-touch capabilities, so you could create multiple shipping lanes at the same time or have a friend help out when the going gets tough. To top it all off, multiple player profiles are also supported, so you can let your friends and family play under a different profile without affecting your stats. More games should be so feature-rich!
The graphics look terrific, very polished and appealing. There is a terrific soundtrack and cool sound effects when you draw lines, when two ships get too close, or when two ships crash. The game employs only touch controls, which work flawlessly. The game has tons of replay value, and despite having entered an increasingly competitive genre market, it is poised to rise head and shoulders above the rest. You can have all of this and more (ImangiStudios has mentioned wanting to include pirate ships in future updates) for only 99 cents! Harbor Master is an Insta-Buy. 5-Dimples, Captain!
Harbor Master gets our AppSmile 5-Dimple rating:
Video by ImangiStudios
