The fun of space travel has long been reserved for astronauts and rocket scientists, which seems a little unfair sometimes. In 1970s television, we were promised routine space travel by the 21st century, which we clearly haven't gotten yet. How many of us have thought about how fun it would be to take off and soar through space, or wanted to design a rocket that could explore the furthest reaches of space? Not everyone is a rocket scientist, but with
Simple Rockets by developer Jundroo, everyone gets the chance to design their own rocket.
Simple Rockets is relatively, well, simple. You're given a stash of rocket parts and free reign to build what you want, and provided that physics are on your side, you'll launch off into space. Use fuel tanks, command pods, parachutes, boosters, and all sorts of rocket parts to design the rocket of your dreams. The training levels are well-designed, and help make the game go quite a bit more smoothly if players take their time to complete them. By doing the training levels, you'll learn how to build a rocket, land it on the surface of planets, how to achieve orbit, and more.
Players can compete against each other in the challenge mode. Players are tasked with seeing how far they can fly, how little fuel they can use, how fast they can go, or what planets they can successfully land on. This is especially nice, as it gives players incentive to design rockets they might have not otherwise thought of. Of course, if the head-to-head challenge doesn't suit you, there's an extensive sandbox mode. Blast off from Neptune, and attempt to land on Mars. Slingshot yourself using the Sun's gravitational pull, and head off into the vast darkness of space. Each planet has realistic physics that will change the way your rockets function.
Simple Rockets is technically a game, but there's some serious educational value within it. It is marketed somewhat toward children, but the challenges and gameplay are likely to please most people who have an interest in astrodynamics. The app is designed for both iPad and iPhone, and costs
$2.
Who Simple Rockets is for:
If you're the type of person who enjoys sandbox games and engineering-based games, this game is a rare gem.
Who Simple Rockets isn't for:
If you don't fancy yourself at least somewhat of a budding rocket scientist, this game is likely more bother than it's worth.
-- Amber Neely (
@SurferAmber)
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