One-Buck Gaming Snack for iPhone: Dropship Fairfax VA

Dropship is a clever 2D shooter for the iPhone with flat-shaded, 3D backgrounds that will instantly remind you of the classic Atari game Tempest or the movie Tron. By sweeping your finger on the left side, you accelerate in any direction. Sweeping on the right side lets you fire in any direction.

The goal of Dropship is to rescue crew members and ultimately pick up the drop pod in the level, which tethers to your ship, slowing you down until you reach the top of the screen. In the meantime, you have to dodge enemy fire from destroyable gun emplacements.

The campaign mode throws your little ship into successively more difficult levels, but it doesn't give you any more to do than the above. Also, it's irritating that if you fire toward an off-screen enemy, your shot never reaches them--the enemy ship has to be visible to be hit. However, their fire comes toward you even though you can't see them.

Dropship is a simple shooter with neat retro graphics and good music, but you'll probably tire of it quickly. The $0.99 price is just about right.