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Fieldrunners: Unmissable iPhone warfare

Obliterating hundreds of increasingly tougher enemies with an exponentially explosive arsenal -- it's never been quite this much fun

Nate Lanxon Special to CNET News
2 min read

Obliterating hundreds of increasingly tougher enemies with an exponentially explosive arsenal -- it's never been quite this much fun. If you only invest in a single game for your iPod touch or iPhone in 2009, make sure it's Fieldrunners. I don't think a better or more addictive game exists on the platform.


Fieldrunners is developed by Subatomic Studios

Fieldrunners plays on the tried and tested Tower Defense concept, whereby you build towers of sentry guns, rocket launchers, anti-aircraft mortar launchers, enormous flame-throwers and so on, smearing wave after wave of enemy organs and limbs across the battlefield, like spaghetti hurled by an attention-starved child against the kitchen wall.

On the main map, enemies seep from a single entry point, and set their sights on a single exit. Between these two doorways is a field, and in that field are as many deliciously deadly weapons as you can afford.


Look at all that tasty mutilation

Your merciless splattering of oncoming troops rewards you with sweet, sweet cash with which to buy greater weapons. And better still, the enemies themselves don't even attack.

Graphically it's a beautiful title, and it runs as smoothly on the iPhone 3G as mercury sliding down the oiled chest of Mr Bradley Pitt, despite the number of concurrent animations on screen at any one time. Because it's the kind of game that would, on a desktop computer, be played with just a mouse, it translates perfectly to the iPhone's finger-and-touchscreen interface.


Building and manipulating your defenses is a piece of Victoria Sponge

It's a highly tactical game, requiring an element of forward-thinking and strategic positioning of weapons. I've barely put it down on the Tube, the bus, even the walk up my road, since spending the pitiful £2.99 on the game a week ago.

If you don't buy this, you're an idiot. Get it here and let me know what you think.