Clear Vision Review

Developer: FDG Entertainment

Publisher: FDG Entertainment

Platform: iOS

Clear Vision is a game that puts you in the shoes of a rent-a-kill hitman as he works his way up from a nobody to the most dangerous sniper in the world.

Graphically, this game follows a very basic style. All the characters are stick men or women. The main characters other than who you play as all have a distinctive feature such as a mustache or lipstick. The world is a semi detailed place and environments are all distinct, ranging from bland to colorful based on where you are. The animation is silky smooth and almost never repeats, which is great as each scene or level feels different and unique. The sound is functional, but good. The noise your rifle makes when you reload is satisfyingly authentic and makes it hard to wait for the perfect shot.

The story follows a man who can’t get a normal job. He tries different mundane jobs, but none work out, so he randomly decides to become a sniper for hire as he has an old rifle laying around in his apartment. I know, I know. It makes zero sense, but the story is strangely compelling and I actually found myself caring about these stick people as the different twists and turns in the story kept it interesting through my time with the game.

The core gameplay sees you accepting a job via a letter or from email. You then have to choose what rifle to use. You will unlock better equipment with the more jobs you complete. The choice is usually quite simple as each rifle gives you a new tool to use and you will always need the new tool to complete the next hit. So once you have chosen your rifle you will be taken to the location of the hit. It’s then up to you to first decipher who your target is and then, depending on what rifle you have unlocked, you can work out distance and wind speed and adjust your shot accordingly. Then you have to wait for the perfect shot, pull the trigger, then watch as panic ensues as your victim falls to the ground and people start running away screaming. You have to make sure your aim is accurate as you won’t get a second shot, which means you have start the level again.

There are a couple of levels where you have to perform different tasks, like setting off a car bomb at the right time, but the bulk of the game follows this template. By the end, I did find myself getting a bit bored as I didn’t find making the shot a challenge anymore and the missions did start to bleed together after a while. But considering this is a budget game with 18 levels, it’s still good value for money.

There will be more to come, as the game ends on a cliffhanger. This should be a good thing, as it will give the developer a chance to refine the experience and add a bit more depth into what is a definitely solid foundation.

Despite its short comings, it is definitely an iOS game worth a look and for only 0.69p (0.99¢) there isn’t another game on the app store that I have come across yet that is as satisfyingly gratuitous as this one is when you line up a shot from 1000 meters away, adjust your aim to allow for the wind, and then blow some poor guys freaking head off.

Overall: 75%

Pros: Great animations, very satisfying gameplay, has that one-more-go appeal

Cons: Becomes a bit boring towards the end, little challenge when you have worked out how to make the perfect shot