iPhone gets SNES game Earth Defense Force, with Amiga emulator to come
Retro gaming on the iPhone continues to go from strength to strength, with a version of classic SNES shooter Earth Defense Force just out, and an official Amiga emulator on the way.
iPhone gaming isn't just about hot new potatoes like Infinity Blade and Real Racing 2. Nostalgic iOS gamers can now play a revamped version of SNES shoot 'em up Earth Defense Force -- as hoary and old a potato as you'll find -- while a fully fledged Amiga emulator is coming soon.
Earth Defense Force was originally released on Nintendo's SNES console in 1991, offering (for the time) cutting-edge, horizontally scrolling shmup action. More recently, it's been revived for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Now it's on the App Store, courtesy of developer DotEmu. The game costs £1.19, and is a faithful conversion of the original -- giant bosses included.
In a nod to 2011, the controls have been redesigned for the touchscreen, while achievements and online high-score tables are provided by Apple's Game Center community.
You can also choose to listen to your own music collection as the soundtrack -- although if you're nostalgic enough to play Earth Defense Force, surely you'll want to stick with the original tunes.
The game is just the first fruit of a deal between mobile developer DotEmu and venerable gaming brand Jaleco. Early-90s Game Boy title Avenging Spirit is already on the App Store, and the company says 16 more as-yet unrevealed games are on the way.
Meanwhile, fellow iOS developer Manomio -- which made the well-received Commodore 64 emulator for the iPhone -- has released more details of its upcoming Amiga emulator in an interview with Touch Arcade.
The app will work across iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, and will support the iPhone 4 retina display and -- this is huge -- TV-out feature, so you can play the ancient games on your modern big-screen telly.
Manomio is licensing a range of games for the emulator, which is expected to come out later this year. Titles shown off in its demo video include Defender of the Crown, Battle Squadron, IK+, R-Type, Speedball 2 and Stunt Car Racer.