When Shortround Games talked of being inspired by Cannon Fodder, among other classics, I knew I had to get my hands on Extraction: Project Outbreak…
Originally posted October 19 2011: You take the role of an elite soldier, with the task of cleaning up a zombie-based outbreak. Dropped within what looked to a be a scientific research facility, your objective is to search out and rescue trapped scientists, before they become zombie chow, and safely lead them back to the extraction point. Aside from that primary objective, your job is to take out every flesh eating walker in sight.
As you would expect, you’re armed to the teeth with a plethora of weapons with which to deal out maximum pain to the zombie horde. We were told that within the first hours of play you will most probably have had a taste of each weapon in their basic form. However, all of the weapons can be levelled up through a DeadSpace style upgrade path, using in game credits. You then have the choice, do you slowly but surely upgrade all weapons? or focus on maxing out a specific weapon? For the impatient of you, there is of course the option to level up faster through in-app purchase of credits.
Shortround’s focus of the game is the control setup. From the get go they wanted to create an action game that could be controlled simply with one finger. The overused twin-stick style was never an option as far as Andy Hubbard (Director of Shorthand Games) was concerned. And this is where the inspiration from Cannon Fodder came into play. For anyone who remembers that classic, it was known for its great mouse control of squads and setting them on their way to hunt out the enemy. Extraction plays in a similar way, but of course with touch control instead of a mouse. To move your player, you simple tap to set a marker and they’ll immediately move towards that location. You can change direction on the fly, and even setup the next location while they are moving. Taking out the enemy is as simple as rubbing your finger over the enemy location, and as your soldier comes within range, or within view, he’ll begin shooting.
This control setup worked very well, particularly on the iPad screen, and it’s good to see a creative way of utilising the touchscreen without simply shoehorning in virtual sticks and buttons. The process for secondary weapons is just as easy. To throw a grenade, for example, you simply drag it onto the screen. Other secondary weapons that can assist you on your mission include: heavy guns; drones; missiles; and bioshock, which will turn the enemy against themselves. All are activated by dragging them onto the play field and, while some are automatic, they all can be manipulated with touch. You can alter the flight path of the drone, for example, by simply drawing a path on screen for it to follow. Great for sending into a hostile area first, and then follow in to clean up by hand.
We were told that the campaign will run in the region of 3-4 hours. However, beyond that the game actually continues on infinitely. Every level is procedurally created, meaning no campaign level is exactly the same, and that the game can keep going as long as you can.
UPDATE: Extraction: Project Outbreak is out now for $0.99. Get it on the 
. Look out for our full review soon!
