Game Review: Harbor Master

Harbor Master is essentially a Flight Control game, but it is far more entertaining since you have to dock boats to drop of their cargo, and then guide them back out instead of simply landing airplanes!

Overall Score: 4/5

While the gameplay is fun, it is nothing revolutionary. The presentation is average and could use some improvement. The lasting value, however, is good since there are so many different levels offering unique challenges.

Gameplay: 4/5

The controls are perfect, and always work how you want them to. Drawing a smooth line is extremely easy thanks to the game’s stellar controls. Having to unload cargo and then direct the ships out of the seas is a fun new addition to the Flight Control game idea. And the gameplay is pretty fun thanks to the various challenges you encounter, like whirlpools, different colored cargo, giant octopi, and more. However, it is just a spin off of Flight Control, so it isn’t anything spectacular.

Presentation: 3/5

While the game is visually pleasing, it is a bit disappointing that the water in the game isn’t even animated: It’s just a static image of an ocean! The sound effects are great and help you know when major events in the game are happening (like two ships almost colliding), but the music sort of fades away into the background and isn’t a big part of the experience.

Lasting Value: 4/5

The lasting value depends on how often you replay the game for higher scores, but thanks to the seven different levels in the game, you can replay a number of different levels before getting bored. Also, some levels have unique challenges that take some practice to overcome, like avoiding the whirlpools or killing the pirate ships.

Title: Harbor Master
Price: $2.99
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios