iPhone Game Reviews: Get Your Dog-Fight On with Aera

We love bringing you the most comprehensive iPhone game reviews, especially for games that you must not overlook. Finally arriving in the App Store is Aera, the side-scrolling flight simulator. An enjoyable experience is delivered by the beautiful graphics and awesome controls – no matter if you’re enjoying the scenery or battling other aircraft.

You’ll be presented with four planes and three locations to explore in Aera. Choose from a number of different missions like Aerobatic/Solo, Dog Fight, Race, and Free Flight. Can you grab all the defined floating objects before running out of time in Aerobatic/Solo mode? It’s not so easy, as you need to dodge mines and hit hovering rings in your attempt. If you feel extra competitive, try a quick dog fight. Last plane flying wins. Give your huge supply of ammunition and rockets a workout. When you defeat the enemy, bonuses will be awarded you. These come in the form of points, rockets, etc. Race mode tests your speed to finish a course while avoiding mines along the way. Free Flight mode allows you to enjoy the controls and style of Aera in a relaxing atmosphere. Choose from Easy, Medium, or Hard difficulty levels in Campaign mode or Quick Play.

The 3D game graphics are very polished and help give depth to the 2D gameplay. Sounds are appropriate, with realistic propeller effects and accurate-sounding crashes/explosions. There is no background music, but the game doesn’t feel as though it’s lacking, given its goal of pseudo-simulation rather than full-on arcade. The controls are outstanding. Most of the plane controls are handled through the accelerometer, tilting the device to change the plane’s attitude. A sharp shake of the device will cause a 180-degree flip. On-screen buttons control throttle, boost (necessary when making steep ascents), firing guns/rockets, and changing camera angles. The placement of the buttons leaves the interface feeling uncluttered, though all possible needs are at your quick disposal. Aera includes detailed tutorial explanations, as well as a walkthrough requiring you to complete certain tasks in order to move on.

Aera sports some interesting features that make it standout. One is the “TimeBack” function, activated when you crash your rig into an object. This freezes time, rewinds several seconds, and allows you to continue from moments before the crash, correcting whatever misstep led to your plane’s demise. This is great, as you get to avoid returning to the start of the level and having to play through several minutes of gameplay to attempt a successful pass at the area in which you previously crashed. We found this extremely helpful. You can also check out a video replay of your mission upon completion, allowing you to evaluate you flight and find areas that need correcting for the next time. Local wi-fi multiplayer is the closest you’ll get to online play. You can either play Duel or Capture the Flag in this mode. The Config menu allows you to adjust sensitivities, as well as invert controls and turn on/off the Prediction line, a path of arrows that indicate your current trajectory based on your altitude and speed.

If you’re looking for a beautifully combined flight simulator, arcade flier, and side scroller game in the App Store, Aera is your answer. Our favorite mode was Dog Fight for sure. However, Solo mode might be the choice for goal-oriented minds. The game is well presented throughout. We have a lot of fun writing all our iPhone game reviews, but Aera was exceptional. The Aera folks spent much time perfecting this title. It is one that will be replayed over and over again. The in-game Achievements will make sure of that. We can’t wait to unlock all of the aircraft and flight locations. At the current price of $0.99, you cannot afford to miss Aera, a 4-star flight simulator.