Posted by Ryan Johnson on 07 20, 2009

Lunar Module 3D

Categories: Games, | 1 comment | |

Looking for a realistic lunar landing app for the iPhone? Look no further! Lunar Module 3D is the one to get. Developed by J-Squared Software, Lunar Module 3D flawlessly leverages the iPhone’s accelerometer to create a realistic and enjoyable lunar landing experience. Relive the actual Apollo 11, 14, 16, and 17 landing sites as you maneuver your Lunar Module around photographically matched lunar landscapes. Soar over mountains, hover through valleys, and lower deep within the legendary Tycho crater as you search and locate new landing pads.

The object of the game is to use your rocket thrust to navigate around the moon and successfully land on all of the red landing sites associated with your mission. There are 9 missions overall, each one introducing increasinlgy challenging obstacles. As you progress the lunar landscape changes from flat to mountainous, and landing sites become more difficult as they become tucked behind jagged peaks and nestled deep within cavernous craters. In order to complete your missions you must master the use of your rocket thrust to hover high enough above the surface to keep from crashing, but low enough so that you don’t float yourself right out of the mission. All the while you must wisely conserve your fuel so that you don’t run out before your mission is over.

At first I wasn’t quite sure if I’d like Lunar Module 3D. The concept seemed a bit simple. Typically when I think of space games I picture shoot ‘em up, aliens vs. humans, intergallactic save-the-world from immenant distruction adventure games. So when I learned that the object of the game was to land a Lunar Lander on designated landing pads I said to myself: not gonna like it. Well, 30 seconds into the game my opinion completely changed. After a few crash and burn attempts I was hooked. The gameplay with this app is wonderfully realistic. It takes real technique to navigate the Lunar Lander around the moon, while still ensuring that you conserve enough fuel to complete the mission. At first navigating is a bit tricky as your dealing with near zero gravity conditions, but once you’ve gotten the hang of it you’ll quickly realize how realistic this app is. Everything about this game makes you feel like your back in time, doing something that’s never been done, making history along side other NASA legends.

Overall Lunar Module 3D is an excellent app. The gameplay, graphics, and sounds are all perfect. If there’s any knock I have against the game it’s that I wish it had even more missions, and perhaps 2-3 levels of difficulty. One thing’s for sure, the game is completely addictive. I literally picked up the game and didn’t stop playing it until I completed all of the missions. Whether you’re into space games or not Lunar Module 3D is guaranteed to be worth your time. Head to the App Store now and pick this app up!