Space Miner: Space Ore Bust iPhone Review

Short Version: Despite a little repetitiveness, Space Miner: Space Ore Blast is a great addition to any iPhone library and will keep you satisfied for hours.

Game Rant’s Jeff Schille reviews Space Miner: Space Ore Blast

Space Miner: Space Ore Bust is a blast!  Equal parts Asteroids and Diablo, this game will keep you grinning for hours.  Easy to pick up for a quick play, but hard to put down, Space Miner is a great addition to any iPhone game library.

You are young Joe (or Jade), helping your Uncle Jeb and his telepathic alien friend Galactus save the Gritstone Mining Company from the Mega Space Corporation.  The story, though not deep, is delivered with plenty of humor and moves the game along nicely.

On each mission, players traverse a sector of the asteroid field, blasting rocks and gathering ore.  The ore can then be used to purchase upgrades for your ship.  From weapons and engines to scanners and shields, there is almost always something new to buy. However, your ship has a limited power supply, and each new part uses some of it, so finding the right combination of parts is a constant balancing act.

Soon enough, in addition to mining, you’ll find yourself battling the Corporation’s mining droids and discovering alien technology.  Occasionally you’ll be offered side missions such as rescuing Space Tourists or protecting another ship.

Interestingly, the game controls a lot like classic Asteroids, in that you have to point the front of the ship at enemies and rocks to blast them.  This is in stark contrast to the plague of “dual stick” shooters currently clogging up the App Store.  The controls feel good, and help give the game an identity of its own.  Bonus points, also, for the sweet banjo soundtrack.

I really only have two criticisms of the game.  First, the action can become repetitive.  The attractive graphics and varied backgrounds help to combat this, but a little fatigue can set in.  Second, if you are — like me — a ridiculous completionist about destroying every asteroid and every enemy in every sector, your ship will be more or less maxed out about two thirds of the way through the the game.

Neither of these criticisms should stop you from checking out Space Miner.  It’s a fun, approachable game with real staying power.

Space Miner: Space Ore Bust is available from Apple’s App Store.