The universe is vast, endless, and Galaxy on Fire 2 HD certainly conveys this well. This space opera adventure by FISHLABS is the high-resolution version of their earlier release of the same title, and optimized for the iPhone 4S and iPad 2. While the game may install and play on certain older devices, be warned that your framerate may suffer; thus the developers are only supporting it for the A5 devices.

Review
In case you aren’t already familiar with the earlier SD version, Galaxy on Fire 2 HD features a veteran pilot, Keith T Maxwell, who is accidentally transported forward in time and finds himself in a strange and distant part of the galaxy. 35 years have passed, and he wants to go home. Unfortunately for him, it isn’t a time of peace. There are pirates, and worse, mysterious hostile alien forces.

Galaxy on Fire 2 isn’t just about dogfights and staying alive. The game is an entire space adventure that will have you mining asteroids for ore, trading supplies, serving as a mercenary, and even making your own weapons and equipment once you learn how. The game dishes out both moments of fun leisure and thrilling action. Some areas of space are secure, allowing you to freely roam and build up your wealth (and equipment), while at other times you’ll have to battle enemy ships. Although the game follows a general story mode, you’ll be free to take on additional missions from various clients you may find at the space lounges. From these missions, you’ll earn credits that you can use to purchase equipment. Other ways you can make money include mining and harvesting floating objects in space.

The graphics are indeed superb, and especially breathtaking when you fly though space mist. Some gamers may complain about a lack of anti-aliasing. Yes, you can see some jaggies on various objects, but to me, when I look at the overall scene, the spaceships and asteroids appear to be sparkling, as if they were dotted with tiny moving pinpricks of light. Once I got into the game, I found it so immersive that I didn’t notice any “defects”.

Galaxy on Fire 2 HD is a huge and captivating game, offering over 20 solar systems and 100 space stations for you to explore. Depending on how you like to play, this can make for lengthy hours of gameplay, especially if you’re into trading and upgrading your ship and equipment. For a game, Galaxy on Fire 2 has excellent voiceovers, and you’ll find the characters even speak with varying accents. This HD version does not yet have the Valkyrie expansion pack (IAP) that the earlier release has, but it should arrive eventually. Other than this and the beefed up graphics, the two versions are essentially the same.

Recommendation
As the developer has stated in the app description, Galaxy on Fire 2 HD is recommended only for the iPhone 4S and iPad 2. If you belong in this group and have never played the original game of the same title, Galaxy on Fire 2 HD is an easy recommendation. It certainly is a must buy for fans of sci-fi or space adventure games. On the other hand, if you already own the regular Galaxy on Fire 2, spending double the money for better graphics and performance may not be so appealing. Both versions of the game (a universal app) are currently available in the App Store for $9.99.

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Note: A promotional code was provided by the creator for use in this article.

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