Looking for a challenge? Look no further -- for we've found a game that seems so easy, so simple, so benign, but winds up being delightfully difficult. We're betting that if you like challenges, you're also probably going to like a little action-puzzle game called
Tangent.
The objective of
Tangent is to hurl yourself at a small base of sorts without crashing into anything, and without being crashed into. This is done by tapping and dragging on the screen, which will send your ship sailing off on a tangent in the direction it was facing. When let go, the ship will begin to orbit in a circle, until you tap and drag again. Sounds simple, right? It is, in theory, until you careen into a wall because you were trying to avoid a star careening into you, which is where the difficulty lies.
As far as the developers stylistic choices with
Tangent, it's ultra-minimalist in a way that reminds us very much of games like
Rop and
Hook. Your spaceship is a little polygon, the base you have to land on is a small, hollowed out circle. Everything is abstracted, but still fairly obvious. The developers also made an interesting choice with the music in this app, as it barely qualifies for music in the first place. Instead, it's a weird dissonant echo as you hurl yourself through space, which fits perfectly, thematically speaking.
Tangent is a wonderfully sadistic game that is capable of frustrating you to near-insanity, but in a good way, sort of. It's a challenge for your ability to think a few steps ahead, while being prepared to make adjustments when needed. If you're into games that are challenging from the get-go, this is a wonderful one to pick up.
Tangent is available for both the iPad and the iPhone, and can be purchased from the App Store for $2.
Who should take off with Tangent:
If you're someone who loves action-puzzle games, this is a great one full of challenge.
Who should leave Tangent and stay grounded:
If twitch-based reflex games aren't your kind of deal, this game might not entice you to keep playing.
-- Amber Neely (
@SurferAmber)
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