The Highly Anticipated Halo Clone, NOVA, is Now Available in the App Store

Which game can generate the buzz and hype like the hit console game Halo?  The answer is Halo’s iPhone little brother, N.O.V.A. (iTunes Link).  N.O.V.A. stands for Near Orbital Vanguard Alliance.   Rarely has an iPhone game so anticipated as N.O.V.A.   Millions of Halo fans just can’t wait to play more Halo-like action on their favorite iDevice.   Gameloft, known for making great iPhone clones of hit console games, is the perfect game company to deliver it.

In many ways N.O.V.A. is very similar to Halo.  N.O.V.A.’s setting takes place in space. Players control an ex-marine name Karl Wardin living in a space colony. During a reconnaissance mission to a space ship, Karl will encounter events that lead to battles with aliens. Your space marine will battle aliens with assault rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles, handguns, rocket launchers, plasma gun and more.   If that doesn’t remind you of Halo, the damage system will. The damage system in NOVA is almost exactly like Halo.   An energy shield will absorb damage and then recharge over time.   The graphics also look very similar to Halo.    The characters and landscape will definitely make you think that you are playing Halo on the iPhone/iPod Touch.    For example the opening scene in N.O.V.A. featured combat aboard a space ship, mirroring the opening scenes of Pillar of Autumn in Halo: Combat Evolved.

N.O.V.A also borrow elements from Metroid Prime. Players can pick up special abilities along the way. Freezing enemies, speed boost, and Shooting charged energy beam seem to be abilities taken straight out of Metroid.

Branding N.O.V.A. as a Halo clone may have negative connotations for some people, but it is actually a good thing. According to early impressions in the App Store, this game is great.  The graphics look awesome with great frame rates to go with the gameplay. The multi-player also works great to extend the game’s longevity.

N.O.V.A. features 13 levels set in jungle, snow, spaceship, bunker, and an alien city. 2 to 4 players can play over Wi-Fi connections (2 players via bluetooth connections) with a total of 5 maps to choose from.

For Halo fans, getting N.O.V.A. on you iDevice is a no brainer.  For those that have not played Halo on consoles before, N.O.V.A will allow you to join the hype on the cheap.  N.O.V.A.  (iTunes Link) is currently $6.99 in the App Store.

Watch the Trailer below to experience this great game.

This is a N.O.V.A release post by The Apps Machine