Tractor Beam

This game is very underrated. I’m so happy it’s still available after 9 years. It’s also apparently been updated with new features like a timed mode. I’ve had many apps and games on my phone, but this one has been a staple. Solid gameplay, retro graphics. It’s a modern classic. I wish more games were like this one. I’m a sucker for vector graphics look and feel. It’s more fun than actually playing an Asteroids clone on the iPhone because of the control scheme. I just wish there were more modes... the new timed mode is a step in the right direction. Maybe some day the developer could include a weapons mode or a rival mode where there’s an enemy spacecraft? Maybe a hyperspace button that can be used once or twice to save you from collision? Or a shield? Or alternative ships, like ones that look like the old cinematronics space war ships? It’s encouraging that after 9 years the developer is still updating this. This game should not be abandoned. I hope to see continued support for it and who knows.. maybe now after 9 years a Tractor Beam 2 is in order. If you like retro games, play this game!

Even if you only p,ay it for a few minutes, it will be a FUN few minutes. And if you back to it again you just may find it addixtive. Old school graphics with a fairly unique gameplay mechanism. I found myself wishing that there was something else to do, like collect special floating bonuses, but, its fun as is. Certainly worth a buck. I've paid more for crud. My hat is off for the developer who came up with this idea.

Not a lot to it and yet it's pretty cute and compelling. Your score is entirely based on the distance you make (up if in portrait mode). It supports multi-touch so my favorite move so far is to find to asteroids up ahead and have them sling me up ahead and then use whichever rocks I find while whizzing by to correct my course. It's interesting to see how the implement the harder difficulty levels. Smaller area, more rocks, faster moving, and your tractor beam will not simply pull you to the rocks but will also do more to pull the rocks to you. The controls are pretty simple and intuitive but it can be frustrating when you, for example really need to pull to the left but there aren't any asteroids to the left to pull to. Although a few game in I caught that it is wrap around although when tractoring I think the game always draws the quickest onscreen line to the object (so your ships can wrap around but not your tractor beams).

This game is great except for a problem with the gameplay. The most annoying one is if you die with many asteroids on the screen you have to wait about 7 seconds for them to pass. This is exceptionally annoying on the timed runs because you sit there while the game wastes time. When you die, all the asteroids on screen should disappear so you can resume immediately.

Deceptively simple. Very well done. Incredibly addictive. When I feel like playing a quick game on my iPad, Tractor Beam is inevitably the one I pick. The rules are simple, but it's astoundingly difficult but in a fun "I will get through this time for sure!!" kind of way. The graphics are reminiscent of 'omega race' for you old schoolers. One of the most well executed games for touch interface. Did I mention it's REALLY fun?