Quick Draw -- Review

Category: games, drawing
Price: $0.99 (sale) / $3.99 (regular)
App Store Link: [Full] / [Free Lite Version]

Review: Like it
Replay Value: High
Recommendation: Basically Pictionary for the iPhone. Typically a 2+ player game, but online play makes individual play possible and fun. If it sounds like your cup of tea, give the lite version a try.

Quick Draw brings the fun of classic drawing games, such as Pictionary and Win, Lose or Draw, to the iPhone and iPod Touch. Players have the option of playing offline (requires 2 or more people) or playing solo online over Wi-Fi, 3G, or Edge network.

Gameplay requires at least 2 people (which the online connection can easily supply); one person to be the drawer and another to be the guesser. The drawer has access to a blank screen, 7 colored pencils, plus an eraser and is given 60 seconds to get other players to guess their clue (provided by the app). In the online mode, the guessers type in their answers rather than shouting them out.

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Overall, my experience with the online gameplay was very positive. I never had problems getting into a group, especially if I was willing to play in the "General (lite)" room. Sometimes play in other rooms was hit or miss, but the player base seems to be getting larger and larger. Also makes for a fun pass 'n' play game with a couple of friends. If you like drawing games, I'd suggest purchasing this one while it's on sale!

What we'd like to see in future versions: Shake to erase entire screen; score keeping system in offline mode (online mode has one); offline speed mode (see how many clues your team can guess in 60 seconds); Possibly allow the game server to save random drawings, then allow users to download them into their device so they can play a single player "guessing" game where the clues draw out in front of them from the saved file.

~M@

Smack Boxing -- Review

Category: boxing, games, sports
Price: $2.99
App Store Link: [Full] / [Free Lite Version]

Review: Like it
Recommendation: Fun Punch Out like boxing game that makes decent use of device. Give the lite version a try, but if you're a fan of the classic Nintendo Punch Out, you'll probably enjoy Smack Boxing.
Replay Value: Medium

Smack Boxing is one of the better boxing titles available on the App Store. It uses a silly but fun cartoonish approach similar to Nintendo's Punch Out, so if you're looking for realistic Pro Boxing, this might not be the game for you. That said, through smart use of touch, swipe, and tilt controls, Smack Boxing gives a pretty comprehensive boxing experience.

The app offers a 2d, third person boxing experience with fairly simple gameplay. Players see the back of their character and the front of their opponent. Players can move left and right (i.e. dodge) across the ring by tilting the device. Smack Boxing uses touch and swipe controls for its three attack moves: tap to throw a basic jab, swipe sideways to throw a hook, or swipe up to throw an uppercut. Left or right punches are determined respectively by the side of the screen players use to make the gesture. This simple set up allows for very natural feeling controls. The use of a "stamina bar" determines when players get "tired" and can't swing as fast. The use of a health bar determines when a player is knocked out. Players can win by scoring a 10-count knock out or TKO (triple knock out).

Players progress through the game buy unlocking different tiers (beat a majority of the boxers from the current tier to unlock the next) and different difficulty levels (easy, medium, hard, and insane). Each of the three tiers consists of two or three funny, cartoonish characters, including a fat Santa look-a-like, a pirate, and a zombie.

Overall, the game is very enjoyable. If the developers provide continual updates, the offers a lot of promise. Fans of the original Punch Out should enjoy this game.

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Gameplay Video

What we'd like to see in future updates: Shake device after knockout to stand back up; more opponents and tiers; multiplayer support; visual character customization; stat character customization (the opponents have stats... why not make a stat progression system for the players?).

~M@

Mega Man II -- Review

Category: classic games, sidescroller, platformer, nintendo, capcom
Price: $4.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Love it! (except for one big problem: tiny screen and controls )
Recommendation: Great gameplay and exceptional port; very poor use of iPhone screen. (Read the very last paragraph after the pics and video for a more detailed recommendation)
Replay Value: High

It seems like we're starting to see more and more classic games roll out into the App Store. With the recent additions of Alien Abuse and Wolfenstine 3d, the iPhone is starting to fill the "retro" niche, as well. Needless to say we were excited when we learned that early this morning, Capcom decided to jump on-board by releasing their Nintendo classic, Mega Man II for iPhone and iPod Touch.

Mega Man II is a classic platformer action game originally released in the US 20 years ago in 1989 for the NES. Gameplay is fairly basic, but a lot of fun. Players control the protagonist, Mega Man, a cybernetic boy with a built-in arm cannon. Mega Man fights his way through 8 different specialized levels to defeat 8-different robo-bosses designed by the nefarious Dr. Wiley. Each boss has their own special power that, when beaten, can be added to Mega Man's arm cannon arsenal. After beating all the robo-henchmen and acquiring their weapons, Mega Man fights through several additional level to take on Dr. Wiley himself.

The game offers three difficulty modes--none of which seem quite as challenging as the original, but still fun to play. Game controls function almost exactly like the original Nintendo control. Players are given an on-screen joystick along with two buttons labeled "L" and "R" that shoot and jump respectively. Except for one major exception (see the next paragraph), Capcom did an excellent job with the touch controls. Unlike many other 2d sidescrollers on the iPhone, Capcom built multi-touch into the virtual control pad; this allows players to shift directions and jump while shooting (and vise versa) without taking their fingers off the screen. Will this may not seem significant at first, it's important to note that similar games will only recognize one virtual button at a time, often leaving players with a very limited feel of control (i.e. jump or shoot, but not both).

Unfortunately, the there is one or two major flaws to this near perfect port of the original. The first flaw is the poor use of the iPhone screen. In order to give the game an arcade-like feel, Capcom shrank the gameplay field to about 1/2 the size of the actual iPhone screen (placing the virtual joystick controls beneath). I believe that this may cause many gamers to feel a bit cheated with gameplay and fault Capcom with poor use of the device. The second major flaw is with a vertical confinement of the virtual joystick controls; because the game is played in the vertical orientation, the joystick and buttons are so close together that just about everyone will feel cramped when trying to move and utilize the buttons. The space is so confined that people with large thumbs physically may not be able to play game. Luckily, this is something that could easily be fixed with an update that allowed for horizontal orientation, and hopefully Capcom will respond quickly to the App Store feedback.

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Gameplay Video:

What we'd like to see in future updates: Fuller use of screen; option for horizontal orientation; less cramped controls.

Recommendation: The game is incredibly faithful to the original, but makes very poor use of the device itself. While some players might quickly become frustrated with the cramped virtual controls (especially players with large thumbs), I was able to adapt to them after a few levels of play without many issues. My personal recommendation would be that if you can get past the small screen and the cramped controls (see the screen shots and video above to get a sense of the game), then this game is a lot of fun and worth the money. However, if you have particularly large thumbs, you might be out of luck until we see an update (and unfortunately, I'm quite serious about this).

~M@

Wolfenstein 3d Classic -- Review

Category: first person shooter games, classics
Price: $4.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Love it
Recommendation: An excellent port of the computer classic, and solid iPhone first person shooter; worth buying for any fan of the genre.
Replay value: High

Id's classic first person shooter, Wolfenstein 3d, has officially been released for the iPhone and iPod. As a predecessor to the legendary Doom (which is also scheduled to be realized to the App Store) Originally appearing in the early 90's, many gamers credit Wolfenstein 3d with pioneering the first-person shooter genre.

For those unfamiliar with the premise, gamers play as special agent B.J. Blazkowicz; your mission: to escape from Castle Wolfenstein and bring down the "twisted Nazi Regime" along the way. The app includes all six missions of the original game, totaling in 60 levels of action-packed exploration and slaughter. During the adventure, players will encounter secret passage ways, stolen Nazi treasure, a dangerous arsenal of weaponry, and countless villainous enemies and bosses (including the infamous MechaHilter).

Developers have created a new control system to accommodate the iPhone, which consists of several new schemes to choose from. The schemes include four variations of touch joystick controls and allow players to incorporate tilt for strafing or turning. Overall, the controls work better than one might expect for a first person shooter and allow significant customization. Currently the controls do not allow for tilt forward movement; this is an addition I would truly love to see. Once I got used to the tilt-to-strafe movements, several times I found myself instinctively trying to move forward with tilt. The greatest difference between iPhone and keyboard controls, in my opinion, is precision movement and aiming. These elements came naturally to the keyboard controls, but may take a little longer to get used to on iPhone (though I do believe it is possible to master).

Additional notable features include a new scrolling map that utilizes pinch controls; multiple difficulty levels; and episode & mission selection (including boss and secret levels).

Playing this game brought back a lot of great memories. The game transitions so well to the iPhone platform that newer gamers might not realize it was originally developed and published for PC. This is a great addition to the App Store.

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Gameplay Video:

~M@

Alien Abuse

Category: games, sidescroller, shooter, aliens
Price: $0.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Like it
Recommendation: Fun game easily worth $0.99. Great for fans of the PC/Mac OS version. Be warned, however, that the aiming controls leave something to be desired (but developers have already promised an update fix).
Replay: High

Some gamers may already be familiar with this 90's classic, then called simply Abuse. Originally developed by Crack Dot Com and published for DOS and eventually remastered for Mac OS (by Bungie), Abuse became something of a cult classic and eventually fell into the public domain. Now Abuse has officially made its way to the iPhone and iPod Touch, renamed as Alien Abuse.
Gameplay is simple and straight forward, lacking any kind of storyline or depth other than to simply survive the maze-like levels and destroy aliens, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Abuse is a fun and easy to get into sidescroller that offers lots of "run and shoot" action. Players can collect many different and unique weapons and power-ups, including grenade launchers, heat-seeking rockets, plasma rifles, and "Death Frisbees,"as they attempt to progress through the levels and activate save points. According the the developers, Alien Abuse has more than 20 hours of gameplay packed in its $0.99 asking price (which is why replay value is rated as high).

Currently, the game suffers from somewhat clunky on-screen joystick controls that, honestly, work fine most of the time except for aiming. Alien Abuse uses a unique aiming mechanic for the sidescroller genre that dynamically allows players to shoot in virtually any direction on-screen, but unfortunately, with the current control setup , this feature is more of a hindrance than anything else. The clumsy on-screen joystick often causes it to be impossible to aim straight ahead--a necessity in Alien Abuse. Luckily, the developers have already promised that a software update is on the way to resolve the control issues. Possibly the most obvious control solution would be to use tilt for movement and joystick to aim weapons.

In any case, Alien Abuse is a fun, action-packed sidescroller and, in my opinion, worth the $0.99. As long as the developers make good on their promise, Alien Abuse is bound to only get better. That said, because of the retro feel and lack of depth, there may be some gamers who find themselves less than impressed by this title if they're expecting more than simply a decent run-and-shoot game.

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What we'd like to see in future updates: Control fixes: tilt movement; scoring system & leaderboards; multiplayer modes (like the Bungie version).

~M@

Let's Golf! -- Review

Category: golf games; simulation
Price: $5.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Exceptional (Love it!)
Recommendation: Great Game. Exceptional Casual Play. Perfect for any Golf fan. If you've got the cash to spend, get it!
Replay Value: Very High

Gameloft does an exceptional job with their golf simulation game, Let's Golf! In fact, they did such a great job, that Let's Golf! has appeal for both causal golfers and gamers alike. Let's Golf! offers three different 18-hole courses (Fiji, England, USA) and one 9-hole course (Scotland), each with unique scenery and flavor. The game also offers 4 unique golfers, each with different skill sets and a customizable sense of style. Players can choose from 4 different modes: Instant Play mode, which consists of 3 random holes; Free Hole mode, where a player can choose to play through a full or half course; Tourniment mode, where players compete against computerized golfers for the best score; and Multiplayer mode.

To make Let's Golf! accomidate casual golfers and gamers alike, there are two different control styles: one designed for simple play, where the game makes recommended choices for players and uses a simple 2-tap system; and one for advanced players that functions more like a golf simulation game. Gameplay is incredably realistic, incorporating power, strength, accuracy, recovery, terrain, wind, slope and ball-spin. However, the intuitive user interface makes control easy and fun.

The replay value for the game is very high. Quick Instant Play mode allows users to play 3 random holes from the selection of 63, so it's rarely the same game twice. Tourniment mode has 3 different challenging levels (easy, medium, and hard), the last two of which require unlocking. Addtionally, playing through torniment mode unlocks extra clothing and items to help style your golfers. If all of that isn't enough, challanging a friend to Multiplayer mode (on either single or multiple devices) can add a fun competitive edge to game.

Overall, Let's Golf! is an exceptional game, perfectly designed for the touch platform, with great graphics, gamplay, and fun. While golfers will probably enjoy this game the most, I'd recommend this game to just about anyone.

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Gameplay Video:

~M@

Belowscape -- Review

Category: survival games; shooters
Price: $2.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Like it
Recommendation: Fun game with decent replay value. If you've overplayed some of the staples, such as Zombieville USA or iDracula, and are looking for something new, Belowscape might help satisfy your craving.
Replay Value: High

Belowscape is a fun retro twist on survival shooters in the same genre as iDracula. Players control a blue-triangle spaceship fighting against other various neon retro shapes (each with their own special properties). There are two different modes to the game, Survival and Rush, and the goal of each is to survive as long as possible while obtaining the highest score possible. The game includes a global leaderboard to encourage competition.

Where this game really shines is in its flexibility of control options. Players can choose from onscreen joysticks, tilt controls, point to move, and point to shoot; this means players can play how ever they feel most comfortable (I personally prefer the joysticks--very well done).

Overall, the game is well-designed, fun and enjoyable. And while their might not be much depth to the game itself, excellent controls and build-in competition help make up for it. Great game for anyone looking for a new survival shooter.

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Gameplay Video:

What we'd like to see in future updates: power-ups (for added game depth).

~M@

3 Point Hoops® Basketball -- Review

Category: sports games
Price: 2.99
App Store Link: [Full] / [Free Lite]

Review: Like it
Recommendation: Nothing too deep, just a great casual play game for sports fans. Worth it.
Replay value: Medium-High

The developers at Skyworks recently released 3 Point Hoops® Basketball to the App Store. Skyworks seems to be one of the leading developers in fun, quick, and casual sports games for the touch platform. You might recognize their name from some of their other popular app titles, including [Aracade Bowling] and [Arcade Hoops Basketball]--Both excellent games, and their new app 3 Point Hoops® Basketball is no exception.

Graphics are exceptional, and gamplay is simple but fun. Players attempt three-point shots from various spots around the line (9 spots with 5 balls each) trying to earn the highest score possible. The game makes excellent use of touch and swipe controls for shooting to give the game a fun and unique feel. Players can choose from two modes, Classic Mode and Sudden Death, and compete by listing their scores on local and global leaderboards.

Is this the kind of game that you'll sit and play on your couch for three hours at a time? No, probably not. But it is the kind of game you can quickly pullout and play while waiting around or standing in line, which makes it a good purchase in my opinion.

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You can view a video demo here: [skyworks]

What we'd like to see in future updates: A new two player mode of the classic basketball game "Horse."

~M@

Amazing Ninja Buddy -- Review

Category: entertainment ninjas
Price: $0.99
App Store Link [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Has possibility, but not quite there yet.
Recommendation: Gets boring fast, but could be great with updates. One to watch.
Replay Value: Low

Amazing Ninja buddy is exactly what the title implies: your own personal ninja buddy! Upon launch, players will find a ninja standing somewhat patiently in front of them. The ninja will respond to your touch commands; you can make him jump, sit, roll, and disappear all with a few flicks or taps. Occasionally, the ninja will give you some "ninja advice," but the comments were very repetitive (and rarely ever came).

In addition, there are currently two mini games players can initiate with their ninja buddies. One is a very simplified Simon-esque matching game (except with ninja moves rather than tones and colors... and only 5 at a time. No more. No less). The second is a ninja star throwing game. With a flick of the wrist, you try to hit the ninja with a throwing star (not as fun as it sounds). Once players complete these games, they unlock 2 additional gestures.

At the moment, that's all there is to the app. Simply put, there needs to be more content here--much more--to justify the price. In its current incarnation, I think it's safe to say many users will bore of this app after their second 5-10 minute use (and that may be generous). Taking some notes from Nombie Zombie might really help Amazing Ninja Buddy. First, I'd like to see some unlockable accessories added to the game for the Ninja to interact with. I'd like to see a couple of new mini-games with more depth and replay value than the current ones. Additionally, I'd really love to hear the ninja talk more. He should easily offer 25+ clever (or funny) ninja tips. Finally, Ninja buddy needs to be way more interactive. The basic 6 or 7 gestures get very old very quickly.

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Gameplay Video:

All that said, there is definitely something good here. The concept's fun. The animation is strong. Now we just need more play value, and hopefully we'll get it in future updates.



~M@

Metal Gear Solid -- First Impressions Review

Category: games, shooters
Price: 7.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Initial Impression -- Like it... I guess

Recommendation: Not your typical MGS gameplay, but still a strong app. Basically it's a glorified "touch 'n' shoot" along the lines of Wild West Guns, Time Crisis, and Shooter. And the 12 stages available at initial release only take about 45 mins to play through. Unless you're a die hard MGS fan or a die hard touch 'n' shoot fan, the steep $7.99 asking price will probably be a major deterrent, making the game not worth the price.

Replay Value: Medium-low

This one is definitely going to cause some controversy over the steep 7.99 price tag. It would seem gamers are paying more for the name than the gameplay. In this advanced release, games are given 12 of the eventual 20 levels (still, thats not very many considering the first 12 only took about 45 mins to complete). In this "touch 'n' shoot" style game, players will control Old Snake. Gameplay is fairly simple; basically players sit behind a wall for cover, and then pop up to shoot enemies when the timing is right.

The game had some fun & clever features; using pinch to switch to sniper mode, for example, is an excellent mechanic, and the touch controls are well done. The detailed storyline is fun, but at $7.99, I think most players will expect cinematics, not large paragraphs of text. Unfortunately, on the whole, there isn't much here that gamers haven't seen somewhere else. Players really only have 2 weapons to choose from (though a power-up offers a 1-time use 3rd weapon) The majority of the missions are very easy, though some of the later levels do offer a significant challenge.

Once you've been the game, however, you unlock Survival Mode. In Survival Mode, your life bar does not reset at the beginning of each level, and once it's gone, you have to start from the beginning (i.e. no continues). Survival Mode will be the hardcore gamers' true test of skill, but that said, the replay value of the levels are pretty low, so I can't imagine many players overly excited to go through the game a 2nd or 3rd time. This becomes even more of a problem when trying to purchase unlockable wallpapers; earning the cash to buy these requires multiple play-throughs.

Overall, this game is fun and enjoyable for it's first playthrough--a whopping 45 minutes for 12 levels. Even when the developers add the additional 8 levels their promising, I can't imagine full gameplay being more than about two hours (at best). As one of the higher priced games on the App Store, I think Metal Gear Solid Touch may leave gamers disappointed with the brevity of the title . Unless you're a true MGS fan, you'd probably be better off steering clear of this title, and picking up a cheaper shooter with more content.

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Gameplay Video:

What we'd like to see in future updates: More content; more levels; more weapons; adjustable crosshair movement sensitivity settings; cinematic (or at least narrated text).

~M@

Wheel of Fortune - Review

Category: puzzle gameshow games
Price: $4.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Love it
Recommendation: Excellent translation from TV to iPhone; if you're a fan of the game, get it.
Replay Value: High

Sony Pictures Television has made the review for there app easy: it feel like you're actually playing the gameshow, and it's as simple as that. From the opening "Toss-up" rounds to the final bonus round, the game plays exactly like the TV version of Wheel of Fortune, including bonus spins, jackpot rounds, and mystery rounds. You can even land on the "million dollar" sliver in the middle of the Bankrupt section. Best of all, because of swipe controls, players can actually spin th wheel themselves! According to the developer the game boasts of 1000 puzzles.

If you don't have have time for a full game, Wheel of Fortune will save and pick up where you last left off. Or you can simple play a quick game with "Toss-up" Mode. Additionally, players can quickly skip cut-scenes to speed up the game. To add a little spice to the game, players can customize their own avatars, unlock trophies, and see their total winnings and career progression.

All that said, Wheel of Fortune does have it's weak areas. First, there's no voice announcer (though many people might see this as a plus as it probably speeds up the game). Also, there's a loophole that makes for easy cheating. When the gave saves in the middle of a puzzle, it defaults back to the beginning of the puzzle upon reload. So basically right before another player solves the puzzle, players can quit the game, reload, and solve the puzzle right from the start.

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Gameplay Video:

What we'd like to see in future versions: Option for a voice announcer; virtual prizes to collect on wheel spins and bonus rounds.

~M@

Dapple -- Review

Category: color-matching puzzle games
Price: $2.99 (sale) / $4.99 (regular)
App Store Link: [Full] / Lite Version Coming Soon

Review: Like it
Recommendation: An interesting twist on color-matching puzzle games; worth it for the one-device, two-player mode.
Replay Value: High

Dapple is a new take on the standard match-3 (or in this case match-4) puzzle game along the lines of Bejeweled and Puzzle Quest. However, instead of simply swapping gems, game play consists of removing colored paint blobs from the board by mixing paint colors together to create new colors (e.g. mixing red paint with a blue blob will make a purple blob).

At the beginning of each turn, players are given a random paint color on their paint brush. Players can then double tap a blob to mix it (and all connecting blobs of the same color) into a different color. If the new-colored blobs touch 3 or more blobs of the same color, they are removed from board and new blobs drop down. As blobs are removed, a progress bar is filled; when the bar is completely filled, players advance to the next level. The concept is actually very simple and easy to pick-up. To add a little bit of depth to the game, there are 2 types of power ups and 1 obstacle blob players can encounter. The "water drop" power-up destroys all adjacent blobs when it is triggered, and the "diamond" power-up destroys all blobs on the board of the same color when it is triggered. Brown-blobs of paint serve as obstacles; they're color cannot be altered (though they can be removed from the board by matching them with paint blobs the color of their visible core).

The game has 3 modes of play: Classic, Timed, and Versus, and it's the relatively unique Versus mode that makes this app really shine. Versus mode is played with one device. Opponents are given one standard-sized, shared game board, but can only make moves on their designated half. Players take turns making matches, and every time a player makes enough matches to fill his or her progress bar, they gain control control of an additional row of the board. the object is to take control of the entire board, or force your opponent into a position in which they have no more moves on their side of the board. This, in my opinion, was by far the most addicting part of the app.

Overall, Dapple is very similar to other color-match games, but offers a few new twists. If you're a fan of the genre and always looking for something new, you might enjoy this app. If you're sick of the genre, Classic and Timed mode probably won't offer you enough variation from other color-match games; the unique play-and-pass Versus Mode however still might be reason enough to buy the app. It's nice to find a few games out there with play-and-pass Versus Mode for when you're hanging-out with your less trendy, iPhone deficient friends.

As a final note, I think it's important to mention that with a few clever updates, Dapple definitely has the possibility of setting itself apart in the color-match genre and making itself a must-have app.

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Developer Video:

What we'd like to see in future updates: 1-player versus mode competing against AI (this is the games strongest feature; utilize it!); more power-ups (especially in versus mode); more obstacles; more mode variations; anything else to make gameplay slightly more unique and exciting at higher levels.

~M@

1 vs 100™ -- Review

Category: game show trivia games

Price: $4.99

App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Like it

Recommendation: Stays true to the game show. Fun & unique trivia game. Worth the money.

Replay Value: High

1 vs 100 is a trivia game based off the television game show of the same name. As the contestant, you answer a series of questions against a "mob" of 100 people (computer controlled). The goal of the game is to eliminate as many members of the mob as possible. Mob members are eliminated when they incorrectly answer a question. Players earn money for each member of the mob eliminated. The game ends when a player chooses to walk with the money or incorrectly answers a question, in which case the player's winnings are split among the remaining members of the mob. Like the now classic "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" game show, dollar values are tiered, meaning the longer contestants stay in the game, the more money they make per mob member eliminated. Also like Millionaire, contestants are given 3 "helps" including: "ask the mob," "poll the mob," and "trust the mob." These are very similar to Millionaire's "lifelines."

Overall, the game plays very smoothly. It's clear the that developers put extra effort into making players feel like actual contestants on the show. The host even announces the game for you. For those unfamiliar with the game show, it's still a very good trivia game with a fun twist. Personally, I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a new trivia game willing to play the price. My only criticism of the game is that because it is so true to the real-life show, it sometimes feels unnecessarily slow and repetitive in it's delivery of questions (e.g always watching the board select the dollar value before every question, the host always saying his little spiel before every question, etc.) Players can tap through these screens, but even that adds unnecessary waiting if you're in the mood for quick trivia; however this could easily be fixed with a setting to toggle of waiting between questions.

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Developer Video:

What we'd like to see in the next update: The ability to speed up waiting between question rounds (possibly a settings toggle)

~M@

Attack From the Dead -- Review

Category: survival shooter games, zombies
Price: $0.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Like it
Recommendation: If you enjoy games like Zombie Invasion, you'll probably get a kick out of this app.
Replay Value: Medium

It seems that Touch gamers are obsessed with zombies. Or at least you'd think so based on the number of zombie killing games on the App Store. Attack From the Dead is another zombie killing, survival shooter similar to Zombie Invasion [App Store Link] [read our review], and I don't necessary mean that as a bad thing. In the wake of games like Resident Evil and House of the Dead, I think there's good reason people are obsessed with these games.

Attack From the Dead is fun addition to the line-up. The premise to the game sets up players as the sole surviver of a special-ops military team sent into a zombie infested town in order to retrieve a valuable scientist and any other survivors you might find along the way.

Gameplay is fairly simple, but has a bit more to it than Zombie Invasion. Like Zombie Invasion, zombies wander onto the screen, and you try to blow them away before they can reach your barrier. If you can survive the waves of zombies until daybreak, you are awarded 3 action points. You spend your action points to search building on the map (see the images below) for survivors, new weapons, and items to strengthen your barrier against the zombies. Your action points expire if you don't use them all, so you have to make smart decisions. There are multiple weapons to discover and any survivors you find will help you defend against the zombies. Once your action points are spent, you return to your barrier and prepare for the next night's onslaught.

Honestly, I found the game to be relatively enjoyable and possibly more fun than Zombie Invasion, which can tire out quickly. I also think this App should have a higher rating on the iTunes App Store; however there were a several elements that slightly affected gameplay and could be improved in future updates. I'll take a little bit of space to address some of these issues. First, you can walk your character up and down along the barrier to get better aim at some of the Zombies, but you can't shoot while moving; this should be fixed. The trajectories when aiming towards the bottom of the screen are cut unusually short, forcing players to walk all the way to the bottom to kill those incoming zombies; this should be fixed. A related problem is in overlap preference of zombies. Zombies die faster with headshots, but the overlap gives preference to zombies higher-up on the screen. This means if two zombies are neck and neck in the race for your barrier, you might be aiming for the lower zombies head, but preference will be given to the higher zombie, and you'll end up shooting the higher zombie in the knee instead of the lower zombie in the head; this definitely needs to be fixed.

End of game continues are another issue. players seem to be given unlimited continues, and at the beginning of a continue, all ammunition for every weapon you've found is restored; basically, this rewards players for dying (sometimes I found it easier to let myself die and start a round fresh with full ammo & barrier strength rather than to waste action points on repairing). This somehow needs to be addressed and might be accomplished by better balancing weapon ammo supplies (maybe zombies should drop supplies in addition to finding them in buildings). Maybe continues shouldn't be unlimited, but players can unlock additional continues.

Overall, I think this is a very enjoyable game that you will get your .99 cents worth out of. I would gladly recommend this game to anyone who has the extra cash and is looking for a fun zombie shooter game, but maybe not to those individuals who only have $0.99 to spend for the month or even week. The area where this game loses to Zombie Invasion is the lack of global leaderboards. It would be nice to see a survival mode with leaderboards added. I believe doing so would give this game a strong advantage over Zombie Invasion. Basically, as long as the developer supports this title with updates, I think it could become very strong. And finally a tip to players: If the zombies reach your barrier, shake your device to slash their heads off with one swipe of your blade! It makes a big difference, trust me.

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What we'd like to see in future updates: Basic UI improvements; balancing improvements; survival mode with global leaderboards (See above for more detail).

~M@

Topple 2 -- Review

Category: puzzle games
Price: $2.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version (though the original Topple is free [Topple Link])

Review: Love it
Recommendation: Try the original Topple; if you enjoy the mechanics, Topple 2 will blow you away.
Replay Value: High

The sequel to ngmoco's Topple--apply named Topple 2--has officially hit the App Store. The basics of Topple are simple: stack the Tetris-like pieces that fall from the sky as high as you can without toppling them over. Topple 2, however, adds several new twists to this already addicting concept, including upside-down stacking, platform balance, "power tower" (i.e. electric current), and rescue missions. These new modes are unlocked by playing through and conquering levels on the overworld map. After completing a zone (such as the upside-down stacking zone), it unlocks free play for that mode.

Other fun new additions include Versus and Challenge mode. Versus mode lets you race head to head against a live opponent on the same Wi-Fi network. Challenge mode lets you save & send your "ghost" to friends to battle against. Combine this with a slew of achievements to unlock and ngmoco has added another fun and addicting game to their ever-growing repertoire.

If you're unsure about purchasing Topple 2 at its current $2.99 asking price, try downloading the original free Topple which could essentially function as "Topple 2 Lite."

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~M@

Oregon Trail -- Review

Catagory: games; education; classics
Price: $5.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Like it
Recommendation: (See Below)
Replay Value: Medium-low

Oregon Trail is a touch-platform remake of the classic educational computer game (I personally remember playing the original version on the Apple II). This title might hold a bid of nostalgia for some gammers, taking them back to their elementary school days, and it's safe to say the game has evolved significantly since then. The graphics and gameplay are far superior; Gameloft did an excellent job incorporating the touch and tilt controls. And yet all this is done without sacrificing the classic feel of the original.

Players take on the role of a mid-nineteenth century family living as pioneers and traveling the famous Oregon Trail. Players must choose from 3 different professions when the game begins--the first of several significant choices players are forced to make on their journey. The purpose of the game is to survive the journey with as few casualties as possible, but many unforeseen events make that harder than it sounds. As the game progresses, players compete in several different mini games to keep gameplay fresh and much more interesting than the original Oregon Trail. Some of these games include, hunting, berry picking, fishing, gold sifting, telegraph sending, with a few more surprises along the way. Gameplay is mainly solid except for long loading times between almost every scene--a setback that might deter some less patient gamers.

The replay value for this game might be somewhat limited as the main story remains similar for every journey. That said, the initial play through value is fairly long and there are several elements that might motivate some to try the journey a second or third time (i.e. trying the different professions, etc.).

My recommendation for this title is somewhat complicated. First, I think it's a pretty solid choice for any person who is a fan of the original game. Next, keeping in mind this is technically an educational title, I think it might be a good purchase for a younger audience (say middle school; that is if the load times don't cause the kiddies to lose interest). However, as far as the casual gamer goes, if you're unfamiliar with the original, you may or may not find yourself put off by this game. It's not the most action-packed, fast-paced game you'll ever play, but it can be fun to create a family and see which members survive, which die of illness, and which get carried off by wild animals. Personally, as a fan of the original, I found the title to be very polished and enjoyable, even at the steep $5.99 price tag.

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Developer Video:

What I'd like to see in future updates: Faster loading times; increased replay value; a lower price tag.

~M@

Blackbeard's Assault & 5 Fingers Games Bundle -- Review

Blackbeard's Assult:
Category: action puzzle games, shooter
Price: $1.99 individually OR 4.99 in the 5 Fingers Games Bundle
App Store Link: [Full - individual] / [Free Lite Version] / [Full - 5 Fingers Games Bundle]

Review: Like it
Recommendation: Try it; if you like it, consider getting the bundle for 3 dollars more.
Replay Value: Medium

Blackbeard's Assault is a fast-paced puzzle shooter similar to Puzzloop (but at a much more reasonable price). Gameplay consists of removing cannon-balls as they travel down a track towards your goal--"X" marks the spot. Balls are removed when players match 3 or more by aiming & shooting cannon balls of matching colors. Several power-ups add an extra element of fun and strategy to the game (While the game is definitely easy enough to pick up and play, I suggest reading the rules as they will make you a better player). Additionally, adventure mode adds a brief storyline to the game. In every level, players are given 2 or more loaded cannons to alternate between (a fun variation from Puzzloop). Overall, Blackbeards Assault is a very enjoyable game.

Interestingly enough, Blackbeard's Assaut is not new to the iPhone, but what brought it back to our attention (and hopefully the attention of our readers) was its inclusion in the newly released 5 Fingers games Bundle [App Store Link]. The Bundle combines the full version of 5 different games from 5 different developers in one standalone app, and all at a decent savings from the purchase price of the originals. The included apps are Blackbeard's Assault, Burnball, Chopper, Sneezies, and Up There. Individually, these apps retail for a total of 9.95, but in the bundle, players pay only 4.99 for entire selection of games.

The concept of bundles like this are particularly interesting for several reasons; maybe most notably because not only do they offer significant savings to buyers, but they also help conserve on app space on the touch devices--a big bonus for those who constantly have all of their 9 pages filled. The bundle concept might also help smaller developers who have a hard time charging $0.99 for their app; combining several of these apps in a $0.99 package might encourage purchase.

There are some concerns that go along with bundling like this, however. One such concern is the handling of updates. Apple has made it simple for developers to add quick updates to their applications, but it would seem that these bundles might complicate that process. Developers would be forced to collaborate anytime they plan on releasing an update to anyone of the single apps... or possible risk foregoing updates all together. All-in-all, bundling apps has definite longer-term potential for the App Store.

5 Fingers Games Bundle:

Images of Blackbeard's Assault:
Blackbeard's Assault Gameplay Video:

What we'd like to see in future updates of Blackbeard's Assault: Some sort of endless/survival more for each map (to compete for high scores); potentially some kind of Wi-Fi versus/battle mode (alone the lines of Bust-a-Move); and of course more levels.

~M@

Bounce On -- Review

Category: platform games, side scroller
Price $3.99 (currently on sale for $1.99)
App Store Link: [Full] / [Free Lite Version]

Review: Love it
Recommendation: One of the best side-scrolling games for iPhone. If you like classic Super Mario Bros. games, buy it.
Replay Value: High

With the game Bounce On, Team Phobic proves that it's possible to bring fun and dynamic side-scrolling action to the touch platform--a genre where many other developers were much less successful. At the most basic level, Bounce On will remind gamers of the classic Super Mario Bros. Players control a red bouncy ball with personality (and blinking eyes) that is trying to find its way back home. The game makes good use tilt controls for movement and uses the entire screen as the jump button. As players roll their way through the various levels trying to make their way home, they must stomp bad guys, find power-ups, and collect gems. In addition to the standard completion goals, each level comes with a time-challenge that allows players to earn bronze, silver, or gold metals, thus adding to the replay value.

The game makes uses of an "overworld" map--similar to that of Super Mario Bros. 3--and offers players multiple paths to reaching the "door" to the next world. Currently the game consists of 2 worlds with over 30 levels of play. The developers promise more worlds to come as free updates with world 3 near completion.

Overall, I've found the game to be very enjoyable and entertaining. While the price is higher than the typical $0.99 most developers are being bullied towards, the game offers very significant playtime for the price. I highly recommend this app to anyone who's been itching for a Mario-style game on their iPhone. If you're skeptical, give the lite version a try first. Great work Team Phobic!

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Gameplay Video:

What we'd like to see in future updates: Addition of a second "button" for additional functionality (i.e. touching the right side of the screen makes Bounce jump; touching the left side of the screen should make him do something else with the proper power-up. I'm not sure what exactly, lets just say he needs something like fireballs, a cape, or a raccoon tail... okay, maybe not those specifically, but something along this lines.)

~MR

Zombie Nombie - Review

Category: entertainment, games, zombies
Price: $0.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Love it
Recommendation: If you've ever fantasized about owning a pet zombie head, buy this app! ( Great game for Pocket God fans)
Replay Value: High (especially if developers provide frequent updates)

Have you ever wanted to own a zombie head for a pet? Well than Zombie Nombie might just be the app for you! The app itself is very simple, but very entertaining. On launch, users will find a floating zombie head that they can spin, poke, prod, bounce, or "torment" in any number of ways. And if a plain zombie head gets to boring after a while, users can customize the look of their zombie with a plethora of accessories; in fact, the more you play with your zombie, the more accessories you unlock.

Users can also unlock additional skins for their zombie by playing Spin the Zombie--a game that basically consists of repeatedly spinning the zombie head and poking him in the face (a surprisingly addicting game, especially when you learn that earn certain scores is what lets you unlock that various skins). I honestly must have spent hours spinning the zombie head trying to unlock skins (I know that sounds like a bad euphemism, but I mean it quite literally).

In addition to everything else, Zombie Nombie can act as an egg timer (a little random, but why not?). Overall, Zombie Nombie is a very entertaining app worth the price... but buyers need to remember, this is more of an entertainment app than it is a game (in the same fashion as Pocket God). Hopefully the developers plan on supporting this app with updates!

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Developer Video:

What we'd like to see if future updates: More skins; more accessories; more games to play with nombie zombie; more ways to interact with him; more random expressions/comments from the zombie; and last (but not least), Zombie Nombie's head to explode when the egg timer runs out!

~M@

Watchmen: Justice is Coming -- First Impressions

Category: games, mmorpg, social networking, rpg
Price: $0.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Pending
Recommendation: Keep an eye on it, but don't buy until they get the kinks worked out.
Replay Value: High (when working)

With WATCHMEN: Justice is Coming's offical release today, many have been experiencing numerous technical difficulties trying to log in and/or stay connected to game's server (which is required for play). Needless to say, this has left many players somewhat frustrated with the game. While we must recommend waiting until the kinks are worked out to purchase the game, we can give you some initial impressions based on our very limited gameplay experience.

The game is essentially an MMORPG (Massive Multilayer Online Role Playing Game) and takes place entirely online (you must have internet connection to play). Set in 1975 New York, players control a unique and customizable "costumed hero" in a time when such vigilantism is outlawed. Players wander the streets, looking to level their character by searching the city, fighting criminals, completing storyline tasks, or fighting other live players. As players search the city, they find costume pieces hidden about. These additions can be used to fully customize the characters look (ideally making every character original).

In addition to customizing a character's look, players can customize their character's statistics and fighting abilities as well. Fights in the game use a turn-based system where each round both combatants choose an attack from their arsenal and then watch it play out. The winner is awarded experience and prestige. Players can also chat with other players and add them to their friends list.

The graphics and overall atmosphere of the game are exceptional, but even if developers do get all the kinks worked out, it seems like the game will require a certain amount of patiences with all various loading times between scenes, fights, and locations. That said, if the developers can get the kinks worked out, this could be quite an accomplishment for the touch platform. The controls and menu system are actually very well done, making the game easy to control. We're definitely excited about the possibilities here. We'll keep an eye on this one and update the review if developers manage to make some progress. Until then, here are some screen shots from the game:

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~M@

Aurora Feint ||: Tower Puzzles -- Review

Category: Puzzle
Price: 0.99
App Store Link: [Full] / No Lite Version

Review: Love It
Recommendation: An innovative puzzle game that uses both the touch screen and motion controls effectively.
Replay Value: Medium

Aurora Feint II: Tower Puzzles is a great puzzle game. The basic premise is that you are scaling a tower trying to make it to the top. In order to achieve this feat you need to solve the puzzle on each floor. To solve each puzzle you must move the balls to match at least 3 other balls of the same color, at which point the balls will disappear. When moving the balls you have two options, first you can move one ball at a time with your finger or you can move all the balls at once by rotating your device. Of course if you had unlimited moves the game would be way to easy, so each level has a limited number of moves that you can perform before you lose.

Graphically Tower Puzzles looks beautiful. The background is great and not distracting. The motion is fluid. The colors are vibrant. It's just beautiful. The music is also very pleasing to the ear.

As far as replayability goes there are two ways to look at it. You'll probably only get one play through out of it so that would lead to very low replayability. The other way to look at it is that there are 37 puzzles to solve and you will get stuck on at least one of them (I've gotten stuck on 3 so far that I had to look for a solution for.) It's one of those games that, until you've beaten all 37 levels you'll play for a while, get frustrated, leave, come back later with a fresh head (or a solution), and move on.

The only real problem that I found with it was when they introduced the mechanic of performing two moves quickly together (i.e. moving the ball so it falls but then rotating the screen so it doesn't reach the bottom) as this is not explained and you may not have run into this mechanism earlier in the game.

Overall I can recommend a buy for this game if you like puzzle games because you will get at least a buck's worth of play out of it.


- John