Another World (iPhone) Review

For some reason that escapes us, we failed to experience Another World (also known as Out of this World), Eric Chahi's celebrated adventure game that was first released in 1991 and then later ported to multiple platforms.

Fortunately, classics never die. They just reappear on the iPhone and iPad, so it was with great pleasure that we finally had a chance to play this extremely difficult but engaging title.

The verdict? Five bucks well spent.

Another World casts you as Lester, a red headed and Ferrari driving physicist that winds up on a strange alien planet following an experiment gone awry. From there, he (more like you) explores this hostile environment in search of a way home, even if it means partnering with a strange and mysterious creature.

Along the way, you'll leap across chasms, squash worms and blast enemies, but make no mistake. This is a thinking man's game. You'll either stare blankly at the screen figuring out what to do next, or watch helplessly as Lester dies numerous ways, dragged to the murky depths by a creepy black tentacle or disemboweled by a monster.

On the positive side, solutions are never more than a few screens away (or behind), and the game has a smartly implemented checkpoint system that lets you enjoy the ride instead of fretting over costly mistakes.

That was certainly a wise decision, because the touch screen controls, while novel, don't leave much room for knee jerk reactions. Pressing the left and ride sides of the screen to walk (tap to run) is easy enough, but all too often, Lester will move to the next screen and get blasted before we have a chance to duck or return fire. It's a lot of trial and error, perhaps too much. The game doesn't guide you along so much as it punishes you for not automatically knowing what to do. It's a bit frustrating.

That said, we still prefer touch controls to the cruddy d-pad. All too often, companies shoehorn some hair brained scheme into an old school game that falls flat, but here, interacting with the environment feels natural and appropriate, given Another World's slow pace and lack of heads-up display.

It's also cool how players can tap with two fingers to switch between the game's original graphics and the redrawn visuals, which offers fans the best of both worlds. With this in mind, the artists did a wonderful job re-imagining this title for a new generation.

On that note, the fact that we enjoyed Another World 20 years after it first debuted is a testament to its greatness. Other games have copied its cinematic storytelling and puzzles, but this is where it all began. Young or old, you'll appreciate much of what this engaging adventure has to offer.

Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later.

Download Another World