Interview

Now playing: Oscar Clark on Sky Force Reloaded

What games are keeping the industry busy after hours?

Now playing: Oscar Clark on Sky Force Reloaded

Great games aren't created in a vacuum. 

Being successful in the games industry requires a strong understanding of the medium and the market, and playing lots of games is inevitably a part of this.

Given how crucial this can be for insight and inspiration and just how passionate this industry is, it's about time more people started openly talking about the games they play.

So PocketGamer.biz will be regularly reaching out to key figures in the mobile games industry to ask them what game (other than their own) is currently keeping them busy after hours. You can view all previous entries here.

This time, it's Unity Everyplay Evangelist, Rocket Lolly Games Chief of Curiosity and Mobile Maven Oscar Clark with his playing habits in the spotlight.

PocketGamer.biz: What mobile game (other than your own) are you currently playing the most?

Oscar Clark: Playing as many games as possible on mobile, console and PC is just as essential to my role as an Evangelist at Unity as it is as a consultant and game designer.

I'm constantly craving new and exciting mechanics as well as subtle twists on long-standing favourites. It's been a struggle to decide which game to focus on as I usually have a dozen on the go at any time.

However, I will talk about Sky Force Reloaded by Infinite Dreams in Poland.

What does this game do that makes it especially unique and innovative?

I don't usually play a lot of vertical bullet-hell shooters, but I do have a special place in my heart for them. They take me back to my teens and far too many hours spent in the arcades on the Douglas promenade in the Isle of Man.

The trouble is that most of these games are designed to either exactly recreate the original arcade, which means they look tired and ancient, or they try to recreate those obscure, relentless Japanese shmups that leave players in a cold sweat screaming into the night with frustration.

Sky Force Reloaded doesnt do that to you. It is a beautiful yet simple vertical space shooter with enemy aircraft, tanks and giant eight-legged robots attacking you whilst you try to collect the lost humans.

But don't let the starting pace fool you, as before you know it the flash of bullets, lasers and missiles strike with brutal, unforgiving efficiency.

Sky Force Reloaded is a beautiful yet simple vertical space shooter.
Oscar Clark

Developer Infinite Dreams has pulled off a magic trick.

They allow you to feel good, leaving enough space to bring a sweat on your brow just as you start to get complacent, and keep you playing to unlock improved weapons, new ships, and power-ups.

If you could change one thing about the game, what would it be?

The game is a little stingy on access to new ship parts, and the ships themselves are also quite limited.

However, the way they combine upgrades and grinding levels to get coins and stars gives me a sense of purpose and progression, and there is always more attainable difficulty.

What do you enjoy most about it?

I can play even when there is no internet! Sure, it's better to have a connection, not least as they keep updating and improving the game.

But when you face the internet void that is travel, hotel WiFi and conferences like me, it's only worth dedicating time to a game like this if it also plays offline.

However, despite this, I havent spent any money on IAPs in the game. But I have consistently and repeatedly used the opt-in video ads. We all want a few more lives to play with, don't we?


Features Editor

Matt is really bad at playing games, but hopefully a little better at writing about them. He's Features Editor for PocketGamer.biz, and has also written for lesser publications such as IGN, VICE, and Paste Magazine.