Space Impact
{{Short description|Mobile video game series}}
{{Infobox video game series
|title = Space Impact
|collapsible =
|state =
|image =Space Impact logo.jpg
|caption =Space Impact logo as used in Light, Kappa Base and Meteor Shield
|developer =Various
|publisher = Nokia
|released ={{vgrelease|}}
|genre =Shoot 'em up
|platforms = Mobile phone, J2ME, Symbian (S60), N-Gage Classic/QD, N-Gage 2.0
|first release version=Space Impact|first release date=September 2000|latest release version=Space Impact: Meteor Shield|latest release date=24 February 2010}}
Space Impact is a shoot 'em up mobile game series from Nokia. The earliest games were bundled with several of Nokia's mobile phones, whereas later titles were available for download on compatible devices. The latest instalment came in 2010.
The first Space Impact appeared on the Nokia 3310 in 2000 and later included in various other models with a monochrome display. WAP enhanced phones gave the possibility to download extra Space Impact chapters via the WAP connection, using the Club Nokia service.{{cite web|url=https://gsmonline.pl/artykuly/nokia-3330-oficjalny-komunikat|title=Nokia 3330 - oficjalny komunikat|last=GSMONLINE.PL|publisher=}}{{Cite web |date=2003-02-04 |title=Nokia Games |url=http://www.nokia.com/games/gamepacks.html |access-date=2024-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030204084222/http://www.nokia.com/games/gamepacks.html |archive-date=2003-02-04 }} Club Nokia also had a global scoreboard of all players.{{Cite web |last=Peter |title=Counterclockwise: remembering the classic mobile games |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/counterclockwise_remembering_the_classic_mobile_games_that_are_not_snake-news-35905.php |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=GSMArena.com |language=en-US}} In 2001, a downloadable game pack from Club Nokia was also accompanied with a Flash-based web cartoon, which revolves around a plot of a Neon Force character pilot named Geneva.{{Cite web |date=2003-02-10 |title=Nokia Games |url=http://www.nokia.com/games/games_extra.html |access-date=2024-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030210193008/http://www.nokia.com/games/games_extra.html |archive-date=2003-02-10 }} Later Space Impact titles had advanced graphics and capabilities and it also was released on Nokia's N-Gage 2.0 platform with online battles.{{Cite web |last=Contributor |first=GamesIndustry biz |date=2006-05-10 |title=Nokia unveils first range of next generation mobile games |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nokia-unveils-first-range-of-next-generation-mobile-games |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}
Over 150 million copies of Space Impact games were sold as a preloaded product as of 2006.{{Cite web |date=2006-12-16 |title=Method Solutions - Space Impact |url=http://www.method-solutions.com/game_SpaceImpact.html |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Method Solutions|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061216033019/http://www.method-solutions.com/game_SpaceImpact.html |archive-date=2006-12-16 }} More recently, various clones and remakes of the game have been made for the PC and platforms like iOS, WatchOS or Android, many of which are modeled after the original Nokia 3310 version, often with some gimmicks added.{{cite web |date=18 April 2013 |title=O.G. Nokia Mobile Classic 'Space Impact' Will Not Be Left Behind - Now Available for iOS |url=https://toucharcade.com/2013/04/18/o-g-nokia-mobile-classic-space-impact-will-not-be-left-behind-now-available-for-ios/ |publisher=}}{{cite web |date=10 October 2022 |title=Space Impact Watch: Perfektná a nostalgická hra na Apple Watch, ktorú vytvoril Slovák |url=https://svetapple.sk/softver/space-impact-watch-perfektna-a-nostalgicka-hra-na-apple-watch-ktoru-vytvoril-slovak/ |publisher=}}
Gameplay
File:Space Impact screenshot.jpg
Space Impact is a shoot 'em up game and the player has the ability to freely move horizontally and vertically (in the majority of its games) but cannot increase the speed of the screen's auto-scrolling feature. The player can collect power-ups throughout the levels, such as rockets and energy beams, to use as special weapons, and some pick-ups award extra lives.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/the-10-greatest-mobile-games-of-all-time/|title=The 10 greatest mobile games of all time|date=4 November 2010|publisher=}}
In each level, the player is confronted by different enemy ships, some of which fly directly, others follow the player, and some even shoot at the player. The first game had eight levels set on different planets and underground areas, with a boss at the end of each.
In Space Impact Light, the player earns money and uses it to upgrade various parts of their spaceship, named Skyblade.{{Cite web |title=Symbian OS 9-9.3 - Игры N-Gage OS 9 - стр 2 |url=https://profismart.org/web/dct219-20.php |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=profismart.org}} Space Impact: Kappa Base, also has a plot with characters: the plot revolves around the Earth having become so polluted that humans have mechanically altered themselves into creatures named MEKS, and starts to wage war against normal unaltered humans.{{Cite web |date=2008-03-09 |title=All About N-Gage - Review - Space Impact: Kappa Base for N-Gage |url=https://www.allaboutngage.com/reviews/item/Space_Impact_Kappa_Base_for_N-Gage.php |access-date=2024-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309174732/https://www.allaboutngage.com/reviews/item/Space_Impact_Kappa_Base_for_N-Gage.php |archive-date=2008-03-09 }} In this game, dodging enemy fire also rewards the player with extra firepower.{{Cite web |date=2007-09-02 |title=IGN: Space Impact Kappa Base Preview |url=https://wireless.ign.com/articles/816/816825p1.html |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=IGN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070902060103/https://wireless.ign.com/articles/816/816825p1.html |archive-date=2007-09-02 }}
Space Impact: Meteor Shield, uses the hardware digital compass to control the ship's gun turret by rotating the phone on its vertical axis. It also makes use of the touchscreen to fend off enemies.{{Cite web |date=2010-02-27 |title=First Nokia game to use digital compass sensor lands on Ovi Store {{!}} Nokia Conversations - The official Nokia Blog |url=https://conversations.nokia.com/2010/02/24/first-nokia-game-to-use-digital-compass-sensor-lands-on-ovi-store/ |access-date=2024-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227061042/https://conversations.nokia.com/2010/02/24/first-nokia-game-to-use-digital-compass-sensor-lands-on-ovi-store/ |archive-date=2010-02-27 }}
Series
The complete series of Space Impact games is listed below; all are published by Nokia:
Reception
The original Space Impact is well remembered as one of the games of the popular Nokia 3310 handset.{{cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Tech/Gadgets/the-iconic-nokia-3310-set-to-be-relaunched-20170214|title=The iconic Nokia 3310 set to be relaunched|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.edunation.co/studyinfinland/blog/life-before-smartphones-the-golden-age-of-nokia-3310/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919211609/https://www.edunation.co/studyinfinland/blog/life-before-smartphones-the-golden-age-of-nokia-3310/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 19, 2018|title=Life before Smartphones – The Golden Age of Nokia 3310 - Edunation|date=8 June 2017|publisher=}} In 2010, CNET put it in its top 10 'greatest mobile games of all time', and said that it pushed the boundaries in what was possible on a mobile device.
Space Impact: Kappa Base on N-Gage 2.0, in a Pocket Gamer review, was given 8 out of 10 by Stuart Dredge. He thought that the game was very difficult, but after the learning curve becomes "rewarding". It was also given Pocket Gamer's Silver Award.{{Cite web |date=2009-11-18 |title=Space Impact Kappa Base review {{!}} N-Gage reviews {{!}} Pocket Gamer |url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/N-Gage/Space+Impact+Kappa+Base/review.asp?c=5933 |access-date=2024-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091118173617/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/N-Gage/Space+Impact+Kappa+Base/review.asp?c=5933 |archive-date=2009-11-18 }}
See also
{{Portal|Finland|Video games}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://flashmuseum.org/space-impact-chapter-1-moonbase/ Space Impact flash animated series (archived)]
{{Nokia}}
Category:Video game franchises introduced in 2000