Shoot-a Story is one of the more unique Windows Phone shooter games available in the Store. First, the game is composed completely out of text and second, the goal is to destroy some of history's greatest novels, word by word.
Every aspect of Shoot-a Story, from game play to the gaming menus, is text oriented. For example, the ship that you use to attack the novels is literally the word "SHIP".
Available for low memory devices, Shoot-a Story may not appeal to everyone but we have to give the developer credit for coming up with a unique approach to shooter games.
Shoot-a Story's main menu includes gaming instructions, access to the game's credits as well as muting the music, choosing your gaming controls and choosing your font style (sorry, no Comic Sans). All menu choices are launched by moving your ship beneath the word and shooting the menu choice.
Gaming control choices include tapping on the screen or using your Windows Phone tilt controls to move your ship. To fire your ship's guns, just tap the right side of the screen.
Prior to jumping into game play, you get to choose which novel you would like to battle. Choices include such classics as Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", Poe's "The Raven" and Shakespeare's "Hamlet".
Game Play
Your gaming screen with Shoot-a Story has your score and health points spelled out at the bottom of the screen. The object of the game is to shoot letters from your ship and destroy the words from your novel of choice that will scroll across the top of the screen.
Words from the novel will appear in groups of three to five words at a time and as they scroll across the screen, they work their way down the screen. It will take a few shots to take out each word and once the complete group is destroyed, the next few words of the novel will appear.
To help add to the challenge, the words will shoot letters back at your ship. If you get hit with one of these letters, you will lose one of your health points. Lose all your points and the game ends.
Overall Impression
Shoot-a Story has its moments and overall it is a fun game for your Windows Phone. I'm not sure I could sit down and play the game for hours on end but Shoot-a Story is a good choice to pass shorter bits of time with.
Game play is challenging and the layout unique. I would have liked to have seen on-screen text for the directional controls and instead of letters. If your fingers stray slightly, your ship won't move and will be vulnerable to letter strikes. The game could use some power-ups to help you shoot down the words. Maybe a power-up that lets you shoot capital letters for double the punch? I also wouldn't mind having the gun shoot the words "shot" or "bullet", but that's just a minor nit.
All in all, if you are in the market for a unique, fun Windows Phone game you should give Shoot-a Story a try. If you do, let us know what you think of the game and remember to rate Shoot-a Story in the Windows Phone Store to give the developer a little feedback as well.
