Meltdown

Developer: Phenomenon Games
Steam Release: Jun 2014
Hours Played: 17.6
Similar To: Asura: V. Expansion / Bastion / Madballs In... Babo: Invasion / Runic Rampage
Rating: 4/5 Parsnips

GAMEPLAY
The problem with games that switch platforms from mobile to PC or vice versa is that many are given a bad name - as if being able to play the game on a tablet tarnishes the game with a tainted brush. The fact is that to appreciate detail and to get that oomph, virtually all games - especially for isometric action RPGs - the trusted beast that is the PC gives you the better and more explosive experience. That a game can be played on iOS does not make it a bad PC game. Enter the hidden gem that is Meltdown for the PC. You are a geared-up spaceman equipped with a small arsenal of two firearms and descend a lift to get dropped off on a roofless space-station. You then proceed to shoot your way with sheer bliss and satisfaction to the exit on the other side. There are 30 missions altogether that get progressively more difficult as you go.      

BALANCE & PACE
You pick up experience and coins which allow you to skill-up and upgrade when you pause for breath between missions. Much like Bastion but with more silky smooth movement, you switch between your choice of two weapons as you gun down foes. The enemies are designed and animated in such a way that you'll love watching them die. Some get blown back, stumble and falter before rising to their feet, some freeze on the spot before exploding and some robots sizzle and crackle before blowing up into smithereens. Bullets get gradually replenished and you'll still need to switch weapons on the fly - but it's flawlessly designed with no faff. You'll also collect power-ups to boost your health, ammo and your energy shield. There is auto-aim if you want and you can roly-poly your way out of trouble for a quick getaway when things get nasty.  
  

PRESENTATION & DESIGN
The game plays out like a high-tech Bastion but movement is silky smooth and it's set in outer-space on a space-station. Save for a change in colour scheme and environments being gradually extended, the missions do not greatly differ as the tile sets are similar throughout. You'll pass the same blocks to take cover, the usual parked vehicles and layout, the same containers to destroy for bonuses and often the same enemies - although these do change a little as you dig deeper. The end bosses also vary and have different objectives. Despite the repetitive nature, the bonus boxes that you receive at the end along with the numerous carrots-on-sticks that come in the form of upgrades and skills help to feed that addiction to play more. 
 

PROGRESS SYSTEM
Menus are tabbed, come in three flavours and essentially document your progress: Missions lets you peruse and select one of the 30 missions which give you up to three stars based on performance. Gear lets you buy and upgrade weapons and armour. Skills features a total of 18 skills which can be upgraded 3 times. Every time you level-up (which happens very quickly in the early stages) you are entitled to upgrade a skill. When you have upgraded all 54 increments, you're given the option to click Prestige Mode which wipes all progress and sends you right back to Level 1. The advantage is that you get to upgrade your weapons one level higher(!?) next time around. Prestige is capped at Level 3 so if you want to max out your stats you're kind of forced to rinse and repeat this process four times which I found to be an unnecessary grind.  

     

CONCLUSION

A game is not a grind if it's fun, yet I still feel a touch of resentment in having to play my character up to Level 54 four times to have the privilege of being able to upgrade my weapons to the maximum. This, unfortunately, counts as the only negative against Meltdown as the game really is stress-busting fun. There are other features not mentioned that help make this a top-notch game but two stand out: (1) Two additional modes are included under the Mission menu to widen the experience, and (2) You may join in on others' games online at the click of a button; a feature that requires no extra effort, is seamlessly sown into the package and enhances the whole experience. Meltdown can be recommended 100%.