When comparing Neon Shadow vs Badland, the Slant community recommends Badland for most people. In the question“What are the best local multiplayer games on Android?” Badland is ranked 3rd while Neon Shadow is ranked 12th. The most important reason people chose Badland is:
Badland uses a very unique art style in that it has a black silhouette based foreground that is in contrast of a beautiful colored background.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Diverse multiplayer allows you to easily play locally or online with friends
Neon Shadow supports local area network multiplayer as well as online multiplayer support for death-match play.
Pro Familiar and classic FPS and arena gameplay that is easy to understand
Core gameplay mechanics are of old-school first person shooter. Players move room to room finding objects called nodes to shoot before being allowed to leave to the next room. While trying to find the node players will of course be facing off against AI controlled enemies.
Pro Great controller support that allows a wide selection of different controllers to work
Neon Shadow has built in HID controller support, SHIELD Games support and MOGA controller support. So no matter what type of Android controller you own, it should work out of the box.
Pro Anyone can pick up the game and figure out the intuitive touch controls
There is no jump button, reload button or an interaction button, keeping the touch controls interface quite simple. Left side of the screen moves the player, right side looks around, and there is a fire button. This makes the controls simple to understand and use.
Pro Varied powerful weapons keeps the gameplay entertaining
Each weapon in game gives a sense of differentiating power. There is a good selection of guns that all have different shooting abilities and power. Each one allows the player to feel as though they are well equipped for the task at hand.
Pro Tablet split screen same device multiplayer allows 2 players to easily play on a single device
Neon Shadow allows 2 players to play multiplayer on a single tablet device using split screen. Controllers would be ideal for this.
Pro Amazing art-style and great soundrack show off a level of polish not often found in mobile gaming
Badland uses a very unique art style in that it has a black silhouette based foreground that is in contrast of a beautiful colored background.
Pro The fun trial and error gameplay contains no consequences and elongates the gameplay
It is only through trial and error that a player will figure out what is dangerous in a level and what all of the different powerups do. By forcing the player to try things over and over until success, the game exponentially elongates the amount of time spent playing. It also makes for an interesting way to learn the full mechanics.
Pro Easily play on a single device thanks to the robust local multiplayer support
Badland has built in support for up to four player local multiplayer using a single device (sharing the screen) or using up to four controllers.
Pro Easily try out the game for free thanks to the free trial portion of the game
For players that do not purchase the in-app-purchase, to unlock the full title there are 40 free levels (of which after the first 10 there will be in game advertisements). For those that do pay for the full game unlock, there are 80 levels to play through, ad free.
Pro Excellent variety in power-ups and puzzles keeps the player guessing as to what is next
Power-ups that make the fuzzballs grow larger or smaller, clone themselves, get bouncy or sticky among others have to be used to get through a selection of great, creative puzzles. It keeps the gameplay fresh and varied throughout the experience.
Pro Full game content unlocked and advertisements removed through an in-app-purchase of $5.99
While being free to play with advertisements, Badlands full content can be unlocked, and its advertisements removed, with a singular in-app-purchase, at the price of $5.99.
Pro Great controller support, no matter the Android controller owned
Badland features controller support for HID, MOGA and Nvidia Shield, meaning that just about any Android target controller will work with the game.
Pro Includes immersive mode, which allows anyone with a stock Android device to play the game in fullscreen
The developers have included full screen immersive mode in Badland on any Android device with 4.4+. This way anyone using a stock Android device will be able to play the game without the software navigation bar taking up a portion of the screen.
Cons
Con Shallow gameplay
While the story and game mechanics are serviceable one has to wonder how much better the game could have been if more attention was focused on these areas during development.
Con No real strategy to the gameplay
Gameplay can be simplistic, asking for no real skill or strategy from the player.
Con A lot of advertising if no purchases have been made in app
Often appears ad banners and videos that are really disruptive and time-killing!