Hands-On Mobile has announced the availability of Crystal Quest in the iTunes App Store. The title is one of the 1980's favorites, and debuted on the Macintosh in 1987. Crystal Quest has a considerable fanbase, thanks to its unique combination of gameplay elements.

The space shooter game was conceived and created by veteran game developer Patrick Buckland. In the original game, the player had the task of collecting enough crystals to open a gateway, so as to advance to the next level. The iPhone port features updated graphics with retro gameplay, requiring players to pilot a ship through wave after wave of action, collecting crystals and evading the Nasties. Players can either fire their weapon at them, or deploy a smart bomb to vaporize everyone in sight. However, these are only steps the player has to take to get to the crystals, which opens the gate to the next level. Along the way, there are bonuses to pick up as well, so keep an eye out for those too.

"It is a tremendous pleasure for us to re-release this beloved title that so many gaming fans have memories of playing for countless enjoyable hours. It's very exciting to recognize Crystal Quest's Mac roots by re-releasing a new and better version for iPhone and iPod touch," said Niccolo de Masi, president, Hands-On Mobile. "With its addictive gameplay and built-in fan base, we know that Crystal Quest will be a huge hit worldwide."

"Good old-fashioned arcade games are making a comeback because they are still just as much fun as they were 25 years ago," said Buckland. "The idea for the game came from a simple observation that people like to clean things up. Present them with a chaotic playfield and build the game around erasing it. There's something built into us all that makes this enjoyable. Crystal Quest was hardly the first game to feature such an experience, but it's probably the first game that was blatantly built around this concept."

iPhone and iPod touch users running firmware 2.0 or later may access the iTunes App Store and download the app immediately.

Download Crystal Quest via iTunes App Store ($4.99)