WordFu - Flash Review

Category: Word Games
Price: $0.99
App Store Link: [Full] / [No Lite Version]

Review: Love it
Recommendation: Great if you're looking for a fast-paced word game OR a versus word game!
Replay Value: High

Another word game hits the App Store, but this one comes out swinging--literally. Enter ngmoco's Word Fu, the long awaited word game combines dice-rolling and word creation for a play-style that seems a mix of MotionX Poker and Boggle, all with a Kung Fu twist.

The app is a fast-paced word game challenging players to make as many words as possible before time runs out. Creating words gives players time bonuses and power-ups. The overall goal of single player is to earn belts (yellow, green, black, etc.), achievements, and beat previous high scores.

Where Word Fu really shines is in its head-to-head versus mode, which require two devices and a Wi-Fi connection, in versus mode, you're literally battling your opponent to make the most/best words and get the higher score.

All that, said we feel there is still a lot of unexplored possibility for this game that could easily make it the best word game for iPhone / iPod Touch. We've listed many of these below in our "What we'd like to see" section.Click to Enlarge

Developer Video:

What we'd like to see in future updates: Training mode (no timer); word definitions; player against AI versus mode; More power-ups. Unlockable Themes/Dice (like MotionX)

~M@

Heavy Mach. - Quick Review

Category: tank games, action, side-scrolling
Price $0.99 (sale)
App Store Link: [Full] / [Free Lite]

Review: Love it
Recommendation: Grab it now while it's on sale!
Replay Value: Medium-High

Heavy Mach is one of the best side-scrolling action games to date on the touch platform. The graphics won't dissappoint, and it makes full use of tilt and touch controls. Players control a fully upgradeable tank and must push through 6 stages and 30 levels of mechanical mayhem (with more on the way, according to the developer). A slew of different weapons and power-ups add versatility to the game, and there are enough baddies and bosses to keep players on their toes.

The difficulty of the game seems overly easy at first, allowing players to acclimate to the controls--move the tank with tilt control and aim using thumb or finger; however the level of difficulty quickly intensifies as the game progresses. As players kill enemies, they gain experience and level up, at which point they must make choices on how to upgrade their tank; this adds a fun element of customization to the game.

Overall Heavy Mach. provides intense action, excellent implementation, hours of game play, and most importantly, tons of fun. If you like side scrollers, action games, or war games, this app is smart purchase... especially while it's on sale for $0.99; but if you find yourself feeling skeptical, give the free lite version a try first.

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Game Play Video:

~M@

Knee Cap - Review

Category: finance utilities
Price: $4.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Useful (Like it)
Recommendation: Good app for college students, business folks, or anyone on the go.
Ease of Use: Excellent
Frequency of Use: Daily

Impleo Software's Knee Cap is a basic day-to-day debt tracking utility with a simple, but smart user interface. The quick, easy-to-use interface is the heart of this app, making it ideal for busy individuals on-the-go, such as college students, business folk, or anyone else who might do a lot of back-and-forth borrowing/lending.

Within a matter of seconds, users can launch the app, see the total worth of their outstanding debts or loans, and add a new entry complete with dollar amount, name, date, and transaction. And to make entering data easier, the app can pull in names directly from your iphone/ipod touch contacts.

If you've been looking for something simple to keep track of all your debts, this app might be worth shelling out the bucks.

Click to Enlarge

~M@

Ben Stein It's Trivial - Quick Review

Category: trivia games
Price $2.99 (sale)
App Store Link: [Full] / [Free Lite Version]

Over all Review: Like it
Category Review: Love it
Recommendation: Try before buy it. If you're looking for a good trivia game, this could be it.
Replay Value: High

Ben Stein It's Trivial is a simple, but well-polished trivia game. In this single player trivia game, players compete in a three 10-question rounds that grow progressively more difficult. Every time you get a question correct, you score points and "climb the vine" towards a bonus question. If answered correctly, the bonus question gives your a x5 score multiplier for the rest of the current round. And while answering correctly earns you rewards, answering incorrectly earns you trash talk from Stein, himself. Giving enough wrong answers causes you to "fall off the vine" and ends the game early. Players have 4 trivia categories to choose from: Popular Culture, Sports, Natural Wonders, and Random Steinage.

The game offers some long term goals, too. You can use your accumulated points to make Cheex the Monkey, Ben's co-host, steal Ben's stuff--everything from his lawn-gnome to the suit off his back. And in case that's not enough, Developer's are offering the first 100 players to steal stein's mansion a Ben Stein-autographed diploma inducting them into the "Hall of Stein." Here's the link details in case you're interested: www.bensteinitstrivial.com According the the site, one lucky random winner will get to face off against Stein, himself, during a live broadcast event.

Overall, this seems to be a polished trivia game with some unique marketing.

Click to Enlarge

~M@

geoDefense - Quick Review

Category: games, tower defense
Price: $0.99 (introductory price)
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Like it
Recommendation: A smart buy for Tower Defense fans
Replay Value: Medium-Low

Since its initial launch, the App Store has seen a barrage of tower defense games. Some of the well-known front runners in this category include now famous titles such as Fieldrunners and TapDefense. But as the number of apps grow, it becomes increasingly difficult to sift through all of the TD-style muck to find new and outstanding TD apps. However geoDefense maybe one such app. At a cheap $0.99, geoDefense offers gamers 30 unique levels of play and 5 different upgradable towers to choose from. The sound and graphics are retro with a contemporary beef-up--very remincent of a laser-light show.

According to the developer each level is a unique, balanced puzzle with its own set of rules "that you have to actually beat it by out-thinking it." To help players out, useful hint screens are displayed before most levels that offer a bit of insight on strategy or technique. Overall, the game is another standout in the TD genre and, in this reviewer's opinion, well worth the $0.99. Unfortunately, the lack of an endless mode detracts from the long-term replay value of the game, but at the cheap cost, it's worth overlooking.

Click Images to Enlarge

Gameplay Video:

What we'd like to see in future updates: endless modes.

~M@

Sway - Review

Category: games, adventure, platformer
Price: 4.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Love it
Recommendation: Buy it
Replay Value: Medium-High

I'll admit, I was skeptical when I downloaded Sway... But after only a few minutes of game play, I was a believer. Sway has you swinging your way across 15 unique levels of fun. You start off as Lizzie, but eventually unlock up to 6 additional characters (my favorite is the ninja!) by rescuing them. The game challenges you to collect "stars" throughout each board, while trying to beat the level as quickly as possible. The progressive bronze, silver, or gold medal ranking system adds some extra replay value to what would typically be considered a "once-through" kind of game.

That said, Sway is a blast to play. I sat down to play it, and the minutes, which quickly turned into hours, just flew by (I almost missed an important appointment!) The control and movement system are incredibly unique; characters swing around the board, holding on by either their left (red) or right (green) hand. Players control which hand is holding on by touching the respective side of the screen. Players swing the characters by moving their thumbs along the screen. Characters can grab on to just about any part of the board, but if players accidentally remove both thumbs from the screen--you guessed it--the characters fall to their doom. But it's all good, players have unlimited lives to mess around with!

If you're anything like me, you'll be swinging and flinging your character across the stage before you know it, praying for something--anything--to latch on to. If money isn't an issue, buy this game. Great work illusion labs.

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Developer Video:

What We'd Like to See: Updates with more levels. Maybe the introduction of bad guys and power ups. And possible hidden content in each level accessible only by harnessing the different strength's of the individual characters (might add additional replay value).

~M@

Zen Bound - Flash Review

Category: Puzzle game, zen, relaxation, meditation
Price: $4.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Love it
Recommendation: Watch the video below; if it appeals to you, it might be worth the steep price.
Replay Value: Medium-High for the game itself; High for the experience

When you launch the app, it reads "designed for headphones," and it means it! One of the most defining elements of this slow-paced, meditative puzzle game is the soundtrack by "Ghost Monkey." In fact, the developers are so proud of it, that customers are given a free complementary copy of the track via download. But a great soundtrack is not all this game boasts. The breathtaking graphics, crisp sounds, and intuitive touch controls add a level of realism to the game that will leave you in a trance.

The game has two modes ("trees"), Reflection and Challenge, encompassing 51 levels, in which players use a combination of multi-touch & tilt controls to wrap cords around 3D wooden cutouts in order to "paint" them. Sound slow? According to Secret Exit and Chillingo, it's meant to; developers say the game is meant to be more relaxing than frustrating. But don't let that disclaimer fool you, the game offers a significant amount of challange and fun. So if you're willing to break the bank for a little peace of mind, then dim the lights, grab your iphone, a pair of headphones, and launch Zen Bound. You'll find yourself lost to the experience in no time.

Click Images to Enlarge

Developer Video:

What we'd like to see: A lite version that demos a level or two for those who need a little convincing to spend 5 bucks!

~M@

Zombie Invasion - Flash Review

Category: Survival, Action, Zombie, Shooter, Games

Price: $0.99

App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Verson

Review: Like it

Recommendation: Buy it

Replay Value: High

If you happen to frequent any of the touch gaming sites, than you've probably seen the ads for Zombie Invasion. And while the app store is definitely not experiencing a shortage of zombie-killing games, this one is worth a good look. The premise and application are simple; you stand alone with a pistol, grenade, and any other weapon a corpse might drop, and blast the hell out zombies that swarm you in waves (called "days"). The longer you survive, the more zombies you kill. The more zombies you kill, the more points you get. The more points you get, the higher your score will be on the in-app national leader board.

Your ranking on the leader boards gives you your score ranking for the day, month, and entire history of the game. The game is simple, easy to pick up and play, entertaining, and offers high replay value thanks to the leader boards. Definitely worth the $0.99 if survival games are your cup of tea.

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What we'd like to see in future updates: More types of zombies, more weapons & power-ups, more frequent drops, randomized drops, changes in scenery.

Stitch'em Words - Review

Category: word game, puzzle game
Price $2.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Like it (could love it with a few improvements)
Recommendation: Worth considering if the description sounds fun, and you don't mind the low replay value.
Replay Value: Low

Sentence Review: By incorporating words and pictures, Stitch'em Words puts a unique spin on an old concept, making Stitch'em one of the most original word games on the App Store.

Pros: Truly unique word game; strong implementation; fun to play
Cons: No random puzzles; cost

In Depth Review: Stitch'em Words may be the most original word game in the App Store. Like most other word games, you are given a series of letters and asked to make the most combinations of words possible. Unlike other word games, picture tiles are thrown into the mix, and players need to make new word combinations using both the letter and picture tiles: For example: h+&=hand. Stitch'em Words also offers fun bonus rounds to change up the pace from traditional gameplay.

Unfortunately, the game does have one major pitfall: The puzzles aren't randomized; rather, they are ordered. While the game does auto-save to hold your position, this means you're limited to a set number of puzzles. And should you ever lose your saved game for any reason, you have to start back from the beginning, solving puzzles you've already solved (and that gets repetitive quickly)

If you don't mind spending $2.99, are looking for a fun new twist on the word game genre, and don't mind the not-so-randomized arrangement of the game, then this is probably the game for you!
What we'd like to see in a future update: Randomized puzzles.
~M@

Moxie - Review

Category: word games
Price: $1.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Like it
Recommendation: If you're into word games, Moxie is a nice addition
Replay Value: High (different game every time)

Blue Ox Technologies Ltd. describes Moxie as "a word game that's different from anything else on the App Store." And Moxie is different; unlike most of the word games on the App Store, you're not trying to make as many word combinations as possible out of the given letters. Instead, players are given 52 random letter tiles one at a time. You attempt to place your tiles on the game board to make words, and much like Scrabble, each tile has its own point value. Once you create a word, you're challenged to overlay tiles attempting to create a new word with each tile. If you place a tile on existing word and fail to create a new word with it, you've "twaddled" and lose points. Conversely, if you manage to create a special "moxie" word (basically animal names), you gain bonus points.

Every turn, you're presented with one of your 52 tiles until you run out. You can choose to pass on a tile if you don't wish to play it, but once you pass it, you can't get it back. Planning is paramount. To demonstrate these simple (yet seemingly confusing) rules, here are a series of pictures demonstrating the progress of a single game of Moxie (notice how the board & score progress. You can tell how many turns have passed by the number of tiles left):

Click Images to Enlarge

Because the tiles are random, every game is different. The only goal of the game is to get the highest score possible, and maybe beat your old high scores. A game only takes a few minutes, and the absence of an obnoxious timer makes the game easy to pick up and play casually no matter where you're at. While action driven games may not be drawn to this game, it's a pretty safe bet for any word game fan.

Developer Video:

~M@

Sheep Abduction - Flash Review

Catagory: Adventure Puzzle Game
Price: 2.99 (sale)
App Store Link: [Full]

Review: Like it
Recommendation: worth considering if you enjoy planning & puzzle games; no lite version.
Replay Value: Once through (low)

Sheep abduction is a unique and clever addition to the stratagy puzzle genre. Great graphics and cute characters. The game combines planning and problem-solving with manual dexterity and a fun premise, all to create a challenging game (sometimes frustratingly so). You control an alien-piloted UFO, and the goal of the game is to get the sheep to the crop circles, avoiding circumventing, or utilizing the numerous obstacles in your way. Obstacles include wolves, windmills, birds, and ponds of water, just to name a few.

If you enjoy problem-solving puzzle games, you'll probably get a kick out of this game; though if you're interested, I'd suggest trying to snag it at a sale price.

Gameplay Video:

--posted from my iphone

iDracula - Quick Review

Catagory: games action adventure shooter survival vampires zombies
Price: $0.99 introductory; $2.99 regularly
App Store Link: [Full]

Rating: Love it
Recommendation: Buy it
Replay Value: High

stay alive--but it's harder than it sounds. The goal seems to be to stay alive long enouChillingo's iDracula delivers intense high-stakes fun. As a vampire hunter turned prey, players struggle to move around, kill monsters, collect items, earn special abilities (perks), and justgh to collect omens (items dropped by vampires) to improve your score rank, which persists through death.

Gameplay currently consists of multiple monsters, 6 weapons, tons of power-ups (perks), 2 gamplay modes, a a developer promise of more on the way.

The look of the game is Diablo-esque, and the unique & original control style works very well and is easy to master. In fact, overall, the look, feel, and control style of this game are some of the best on the touch platform. If you're a fan of any part of this genre, this is a must buy.

Developer Video:

-- Posted From My iPhone

Zombieville USA - Flash Review

Catagory: games survial action adventure zombie
Price $2.99
App Store Link: [Full]

Review: Love it
Recommendation: Buy it
Replay Value: Medium-high

Awesome zombie-slaughtering, gore-gushing, sidescrolling survival game. The app offers great graphics, 15 weapons, lots of zombies and a decent challenge. While there are no national leaderboards to compete on, you can try to beat your personal best and 'splode some zombies in the process. The game, though sometimes repetitive, is easy to pick up and play and offers fairly high replay value. A full review to come.

Gameplay Video:

-- Posted From My iPhone

About Us

Hi Everyone:

Welcome to the App Shelf Blog. The App Shelf Blog is dedicated to providing quality reviews of iPhone and iPod Touch apps, games, products, and news.

Here at the App Shelf Blog, we do our best to keep readers up to date on important new releases, old favorites, and hidden gems. We also do our best to keep our reviews honest, unbiased, and fair. While we welcome and encourage the support of any and all developers and advertisers, we strive to be uncompromising in our obligation of honesty and loyalty to our readers; this means we don't shy away from giving negative reviews when necessary.

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M@

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