PointOfLight
Quick Look: Jewels Maker for iPhone
Look ma, another ball rolling game! Yeah, but there’s something about this one that I like, despite some issues I’ve had with it. Maybe there’s some sort of subliminal message buried in the music. Who knows? What I do know is that despite failing repeated times on some levels, I’m always ready to come back for more. I think you will be too…
Preview: Slice It for iPhone
On or around September 2nd Com2Us will be releasing their next great iPhone game, Slice It! The game is all about proportions, as you divide various shapes into a certain number of slices each roughly the same size in area. It may sound like a game that only math geeks would play, but I assure you it will be fun for everyone.
Quick Look: Monster Dash for iPhone
There are plenty of run and jump games on the App Store, and most of them involve some mix of involuntary running and voluntary jumping. Unfortunately, too many of them don’t offer much else, save a different look or various obstacles to jump over. Thankfully Monster Dash brings something new to the table, as you get the opportunity to blast away monsters while you’re, well, running and jumping. It’s a small change, but it makes all the difference in the world.
Quick Look: Lorax Garden for iPhone
The world of Dr. Seuss comes alive once again on your iPhone and iPod Touch. This time you get to help the Lorax replant several gardens that have been devastated in the hopes of attracting the local wildlife back. The engine is built around the same one used for Flower Garden with a few embellishments that really make it work well. This really seems more like a simulation than a true game, but it’s still fun and worth your efforts.
Random Selections: The “Really Random” Edition
This edition of Random Selections is a bit odd. The games don’t really relate to each other, which is basically supposed to be the point of the article. However, one of them isn’t actually available any more. Cow Tippin’ is no longer on the U.S. market, and I don’t know if it’s elsewhere or not. I think it might have gone through a name change. You can still get Fortune Panda, however, which is a fun little “collect all the money” game with a cute panda and some nasty lobsters, frogs and trucks.
Random Selections: The “I Like Kuyi Mobile” Edition
What do the Earth being invaded and a jumping robot have in common? They’re both the subject of games developed by Kuyi Mobile, of course. This up and coming casual games developer sure knows their stuff, as they’ve managed to make two entertaining games in completely different genres in a relatively short amount of time. Read on to see what I mean, then go check them out at the App Store…
Quick Look: Pigs Vs. Wolves for iPhone
Looking for a lighthearted strategy game that’s easy to get into but still provides a challenge? Want something with lots of units and little resource management? Need a game that makes you think but doesn’t keep you at your screen for hours at a time? Pigs Vs. Wolves might just be for you. To top it all off you get a Hulk pig. What could be better?
Games I Like on 8/9/2010
I’m back with another round of Games I Like. This time I take a look at a tunnel based shooter, an action-RPG where you fight squares, and the ultimate counting sheep game (sort of). All are great fun and recommended by me.
Quick Look: Chuck Gnome for iPhone
I’m not really sure where to begin with this game. Sure you’ve seen something like it before, but nothing quite like it. It is gnome slinging, target hunting fun that’s addictive and frustrating and captivating all at the same time. The hero is a garden ornament, the villains look like paper cutouts, and the overall feel makes you want to believe it’s a kids’ game. I can assure you that there’s enough challenge for the kid at heart trapped inside an adult’s body, though. If you’re looking for a unique, entertaining experience involving short bearded men and big rubber bands, you need to get this game. The rest of you ought to check it out as well.
Quick Look: Jump-O-Mania 3D for iPhone
The thought of jumping around on big metal stilts with springs actually sounds kind of cool, but with my luck I’d probably break my neck. Thanks to Digital Worlds I don’t even have to risk it, because now I can do the same thing on my iPhone / iPod Touch. Sure it may not provide the same physical thrill, but it won’t send my HSA into a tailspin either. This game is a lot of fun and it’s sure to keep people like me that aren’t so coordinated busy for quite some time.
Random Selections: The “Quirky But Fun” Edition
It’s time for another installment of Random Selections. This time around I take a look at a couple of games that are “Quirky But Fun”. Soccer Stealers is a game where instead of playing soccer you burst onto the field and steal the ball from the players! How long can you survive before one of the professionals gets ahold of you? In Pix’n Love Rush you play some sort of creature that likes plus signs and has an aversion to purple bats. As you score points without getting hit the graphics morph into various retro looks. Kind of weird to think about, but really cool to see.
Become A Doctor For Free… At Least Virtually
I know I’m really slow on the draw with this one, but Hollywood Hospital for the iPhone / iPod Touch is available for free until end of day on July 25th…
Promote Others, Promote Yourself
I’ve seen a lot of marketing campaigns over the time I’ve been an App Store junkie, but certainly one of the most creative is the ongoing contest sponsored by Headcase Games in order to promote their match 3 puzzler 180 (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/180/id336287504?mt=8).
Quick Look: Golvellius – Valley Of Doom for iPhone
I’m a fan of the retro games movement, regardless of whether it’s a new game made to look and act like an oldie or an old game brought up to speed to work on new systems. You would think, then, that Golvellius would be a natural fit for me. The question is, does it fit like a glove or that nasty pair of spandex that you can’t ever get off? Read on to find out…
Games I Like on 7/15/2010
It’s been a couple of weeks, so I figured I was about due for another installment of Games I Like. This time around – while not really a theme to begin with – I guess you could say all of these games are somehow connected to my past. As a gamer for almost 30 years, I was a Pac-Man fan like everyone else back then. I was also a Terminator fan, so while I’ve heard they butchered the new movie, it was nice to see them do a good job on the game based off of it. And, while I don’t remember exactly where I’ve seen him, I know I used to watch the star of La Linea on some show when I was a kid.
Quick Look: OddBlob for iPhone
OddBlob is a pretty appropriate title for this quirky little game. You play the titular character, a cute purple blob with arms and big buggy eyes. Your job is to get from one end of each level to the other, chomping food along the way and avoiding pits that will cause you to tumble to your doom. I have to confess that I was not a big fan of this game at first. As I played it more for the purpose of writing this review, however, OddBlob really began to endear itself to me. While there’s nothing mind blowing about the game, it has a certain charm that will keep you coming back for more.
Quick Look: Police Range for iPhone
Since Astraware just released the Windows Mobile versions of Police Range and OddBlob I thought it might be nice to finally review the iPhone versions, which I have put off for way too long. First up is Police Range, a decent looking but ultimately average gallery shooter. My guess is they were shooting more for realism, but personally I would have preferred a little bit of flash.
Quick Look: Steamballs for iPhone
Steamballs brings a unique element to match 3 games, as it requires more strategy than brute force tile swapping. You build the playing field one ball at a time, and must keep everything in balance in order to achieve optimal results. A cool steampunk atmosphere and rockin’ music suck you in, and thoughtful, challenging game play keep you coming back for more.
Random Selections: The Cute Casual Game Edition
So what do games about mice stealing cheese and green airborne weird things have in common? They both exist on the iPhone, and I’ve decided to write about both of them. Welcome to the latest edition of Random Selections, where I take a look at the casual games Mice Heist and CataGugl.
Games I Like on 7/1/2010
As always, this edition of Games I Like features three random games that really don’t have much in common. What we do have is a great NES styled game where your character has a skull for a head and bounces on a pogo stick, an update to the classic Moon Patrol style of game play, and a game about bugs that’s good for the kids as well as the young at heart. All of these games receive a Recommended in my book, so here we go…
Quick Look: iSlice Cut It Up! for iPhone
When I first saw the screen shots for iSlice I thought it looked kind of like a bizarre Qix clone. The reality is that iSlice is more like a Qix evolution, and honestly I find the game a lot more fun. It definitely gets frustrating at times, but in the end there’s a great feeling of satisfaction for completing each level, especially if you can solve it in the required number of slices to get a gold medal. Of course, there are times where you’re just happy to complete a level. Either way it’s both challenging and entertaining, and it has a nice audio / visual presence as well.
Quick Look: Babeorella for iPhone
Apparently the temporary ban on Daisy Mae scared off developers, because the only other game of that style staring an “ambitious” action heroine that has really surfaced in the last few months is Babeorella. I decided to see how a robot demolishing seductress would hold up against an alien bashing one, and I do believe there’s enough room in the iDevice world for both to fit comfortably, aerodynamics aside. The only problem is that the Babeorella experience is a bit marred by finicky controls and repetitive… well, everything. Still, it has a few charms that make it worth crushing robots for a while at least.
Qwak for iPhone on sale until update
Qwak for iPhone is on sale for 99 cents while a pretty decent update is pending. Check it out!
Random Selections: The Blacksmith Games Edition
Well, it’s time for another edition of the article formerly known as Saturday Specials. I decided to rename the piece since it barely ever actually made it out on Saturday. Anyway, this week I take a look at the first two games published by Blacksmith Games – Plushed and Boostball. I think the folks at Blacksmith are off to a good start.
Games I Like for 6/18/2010
Another day, another group of games for my series entitled “Games I Like”. This time I take a brief look at Super 7, Racer and Yipe 5. 3 games that don’t require loads of free time at any given moment, but still give you the satisfaction of having played something worthwhile.
Guess The News for nothing: game goes free today only
If you don’t keep up on current events, now’s a good time to start. FingerArts, in conjunction with OpenFeint’s Free Game Of The Day program, has reduced the price of their fun and challenging puzzle game Guess The News to free for today only. Grab it before the price goes back up!
Quick Look: Fastball 2 for iPhone
Hey, it’s another “rolling ball” game, and a sequel no less. That’s true, and it’s even a bit simplistic feature-wise compared to some of them, but the game is fun. Every time I start a level I can’t get myself to put the game down until I’ve finished the level. The graphics are nice, with two different themes to choose from, and the music is quite enjoyable. Maybe you’ve got room on your device for one more “rolling ball” game after all…
Saturday Specials: The “It’s An Edition” Edition
Yes, it’s Tuesday, which means it’s time for another installment of Saturday Specials! This week I take a look at Sorter, a game about sorting colored bombs into like colored bins. What kind of sicko makes a bomb look all nice and pretty? On the flip side we have Buzz2 Chaos, a spot the difference game that’s a little bit more than your average spotter. Read on to see if these titles are worth your time…
Quick Look: Color Swing for iPhone
From the folks that brought you Fly-Flap, the humorous fly swatting game, comes a new twist on match 3 – Color Swing. The game is carried out on a cylindrical playing field, and sports both a quick reaction mode and a laid back strategy mode. This game could easily be the next step in match 3 if they could just get their “tap to select a match” responsiveness a bit more accurate. Still, it’s a fresh new take on the genre that deserves a look-see at least from die hard match 3 fans.
Quick Look: Up With A Fish for iPhone
“Look ma, no hands!” I suppose that’s a lot easier to do when you’ve got the hat of a cat and the balance of… well, I still don’t know how he manages that part. Anyway, the developers of the iPhone sensation Scoops have teamed up with Oceanhouse Media to bring you the officially licensed Cat In The Hat game Up With A Fish, which takes the object stacking genre into a wacky new world.
Saturday Specials: The “It’s That Time Again” Edition
Well, I’m pretty close to publishing this on Saturday this time. For this past week’s Saturday Specials I take a look at an interesting cross between Whack A Mole and “odd man out” called The Fifth Wheel, as well as a physics ball escape game named Backlash.
Games I Like on 6/5/2010
Two editions of Games I Like in a week – I’m going to spoil you guys! This time around I’m playing Parachute from Donut Games, Spinzizzle from Press OK Entertainment, and Killing Zone. A variety of cheap, fun entertainment to suit many gaming needs.
Saturday Specials: The Chopping Block Edition
In this week’s customarily late edition of Saturday Specials I take a look at an iPhone universe in the making – the Chop Chop universe. So far there are three games with the Chop Chop name – Chop Chop Ninja, Chop Chop Runner and Chop Chop Tennis. There is certainly a bit of cohesiveness to the titles, especially the first two, but I think there are a few bumps to iron out before the momentum really gets rolling. I look forward to bringing you updates to this ever expanding universe as time goes on.
Games I Like on 5/30/2010
I’m starting a new irregular segment on TechnoBrains called “Games I Like”, which is a Reader’s Digest sized version of Quick Looks designed to point out some games I’m playing that I like but don’t have time to review. This edition features Ultimate Hangman, Woolly Factory and Pistols At Dawn.
Saturday Specials: The Bottom Line Edition
Well, as Wednesday quickly approaches in my time zone I’m just getting around to posting this past weekend’s Saturday Specials. What else is new? Anyway, this week I bring you two games that take the game of Simon to a new level – specifically, the realm of line drawing. They’re slightly different takes on the same theme, and I think they will each appeal to a slightly different audience, but they’re both decent games for what they offer.
Quick Look: Virus Laboratory for iPhone
Taplay is small potatoes in the iPhone community right now, as are most indie developers, but if Virus Laboratory and their more recent release, Monster Mayhem, are any indication, they’re here to stay and play. Virus Laboratory takes a game concept made famous by the smartphone game Jawbreaker and actually makes it interesting. The basic objective is to keep the screen clear of viruses by tapping on groups of three or more of the same color, but in Virus Laboratory you have to collect the viruses to make medicines which act as your power ups. There’s actually some strategy and planning involved, and it’s fun and fast paced to boot.
Quick Look: 180 for iPhone
I love match 3 games, but it seems like lately innovations with the genre have come by taking the game outside of the genre (Puzzle Quest and Lt. Fly are great examples of this). Thankfully, Headcase Games took a step back and tried to remember what made the concept of match 3 games so appealing – the matching. They took it a step further, though, and introduced the concept of pieces with two sides, opening up a whole new field of thought for this type of game. If you’re a match 3 fan at all, you need to grab a copy of 180 and get ready to think outside the box.
Update: Sudoku 2 for iPhone
While I don’t have the time to do this for every game, occasionally I go back and look at an update for a game I reviewed to see if it would make a difference in my final verdict. As chance would have it an update for Sudoku 2 was released not too long after I posted my review, and it just happened to address my chief complaint about the game. So, check out my update, read the original review, and then go get the game (it’s free right now).
Quick Look: Hand Of Greed for iPhone
Hand Of Greed sounds like it should be an Assassin’s Creed or Prince Of Persia type game. Instead, it’s a “simple” tap the objects type game where you just have to avoid traps and beat the timer. You can do that in your sleep, right? Wrong! For such a simple concept this game is insanely challenging and quite addictive. I really wasn’t sure I was going to like it before I started playing, but now I’m wondering why I ever doubted it.
Preview: Air Attack for iPhone
Houston, we have a problem – there’s no full version of Air Attack yet! I normally don’t download the lite version of games, but this one intrigued me so I decided to give it a shot. The full version will be the final judgment, but I foresee this as being on the top of my “favorite scrolling shooters” list. It looks great, sounds fabulous, and plays like a champ. But hey, don’t take my word for it, play the lite version yourself!
Quick Look: Tap Tap Balloon for iPhone
Tap Tap Balloon has all the makings of a solid casual game. A simple concept, quick game play, nice graphics – it all seems to fall into place. Unfortunately, while I enjoyed it, I struggled to find a decent way to hold the device and be able to play the game well at the same time. I also found the required timing to be a bit frustrating. Still, if you can overcome those hurdles the game can be fun to play.
Saturday Specials: The Puzzle Page Edition
For this week’s Saturday Specials, which is just fashionably late, I take a look at 3 vastly different puzzle games, two of which there’s a good chance you’re not familiar. They are all fun, though you might argue that even within the realm of puzzle aficionados they are somewhat limited in appeal. Whatever the case, I enjoyed them, and just felt like passing on the details to you. Check out the full article to find out what made my list of The Puzzle Page Edition…
Quick Look: Equilibrio for iPhone
Back in the day, rolling ball games weren’t quite so much a dime a dozen. When they weren’t quite as common, one came along that decided to be different. It dispensed with long levels filled with traps and bad guys, and instead focused on short levels that simply had traps. Everything relies on moving the ball left and right – there is no explicit jump. The levels are pretty consistently well designed, the controls are quite responsive, and different material types for the ball make for some interesting puzzle solving. In short, the game is fun.
Preview: Sudoku 2 for iPhone
Sudoku 2 is another Sudoku implementation for the iPhone, this time from the fine folks at FingerArts.
Quick Look: Comet Racer for iPhone
I always dread the day when I get a game from a developer I love that I just don’t care for. Unfortunately, that day has come with Comet Racer from Donut Games. It has some indications that it belongs in their family of games, but in the end the individual parts don’t add up to a Donut Games whole. Read on to find out why, then go check out one of their other games.
Saturday Specials: That’s Special Edition
It’s that time of week again. Yeah, you guessed it, the time I missed by a day. This week’s Saturday Specials have nothing in common, other than the fact that I liked them. To find out why, check out my reviews of Dragon’s Lair, Pet Shop Girl, and Hoggy.
Quick Look: Fruit Ninja for iPhone
Did you know that ninja don’t like fruit? Me neither, but it would seem they are so passionate about it that they go out of their way to slice ‘n dice fruit whenever they can. That’s the simple premise behind Fruit Ninja, but it sure is a lot of fun. There’s nothing earth shattering about this game, but once you start you won’t want to stop.
Saturday Specials: Bottom Of The Bin Edition
Sometimes I wish I had a policy of “giving me a code doesn’t guarantee a review”, because I hate writing less than stellar commentary on small independent games. At the same time, I guess that’s the chance developers take when submitting software to reviewers. Today’s Saturday Specials contains two games that were sent to me not on my request, and unfortunately I didn’t care for either of them. I know you’re dying to find out what’s at the Bottom Of The Bin…
Quick Look: The Simpsons Arcade for iPhone
I was beginning to have my doubts that there would ever be a good Simpsons game aside from the 1991 arcade version. That would be too bad for a property with such a long and prosperous history as America’s premiere prime time cartoon family. Thankfully EA Mobile decided to treat the source material with some dignity (yes, I realize this is the Simpsons), and as a result we have The Simpsons Arcade for the iPhone. It may still be a shadow of it’s true arcade cousin, but it’s by far the best home version of a Simpsons game available to date.
Quick Look: Birdie In Trouble for iPhone
Recently I reviewed Kilk Games’ first iPhone offering, Fastball, which was a fun but ultimately run of the mill ball rolling on a platform type game. Thankfully their second game has a little more oomph to it. Birdie In Trouble is a puzzle game where you have to help a bird that looks an awful lot like Tweetie get across a series of trees. The visuals are cute, the music is pretty rockin’, and the puzzles are challenging yet fair. In short, I say “sufferin’ succotash – go get this game”.
Saturday Specials: Rotten To The Core
Hey, I finally got one of these posted on Saturday! Today I’m going to look at games that center around what is probably one of the most popular topics in the iPhone gaming world right now – zombies. Zombies make great bad guys, because in their standard portrayal they are mindless and slow, so they’re fun to dispatch and they won’t run away because they get scared. Besides, you’ve got to admire any bad guy that has a fetish for eating brains. Guess that would be the ultimate brain food, huh?
Quick Look: Guess The News for iPhone
I’m not much for keeping up on the news, mainly because it tends to be a bit on the depressing side. However, a game based on current headlines can’t help but be dynamic and exciting, and that’s exactly what you get from Guess The News by FingerArts Games. As long as you can connect to the internet you can get fresh new puzzles every day. Who knew fill in the blank could be such fun?
Quick Look: Glade for iPhone
It amazes me that developers can still find ways to make certain genres seem fresh, but that’s just what Pastel Games has done with Glade, their venture into the world of “dodge ‘em all” games. Fluid control, cool weapons, and the “drifting” bonus are nice little touches that make this entry in an increasingly crowded genre worth your time.
Saturday Specials: The Late, Late (Almost Like The Next Day) Edition
The concept of Full Motion Video games was a fad that never really took off, and if you go back and look at some of the “highlights” of the genre you’ll understand why. There have been a couple of attempts to revive the genre on the iPhone, one of which is the two part Odyssey series. In this week’s Saturday Specials I take a look at whether these games have succeeded in revitalizing the FMV experience or just proved why it faded away…
Quick Look: Trap Master for iPhone
It’s time for another “dodge it all” type game for your iPhone. Trap Master takes a slightly different approach to the genre, however, with a more methodical implementation of traps and the necessity of collecting treasures. 3 game modes and 19 OpenFeint achievements to earn will guarantee that you stay busy for a while, and cool graphics, a decent soundtrack and “I can do better” game play will keep you coming back for more.
Saturday Specials: Would You Like A Roll With That?
Sometimes the best ideas are the simple ones that make use of the special features a device has to offer. Such is the case of the three titles in this week’s Saturday Specials roundup, which use the iPhone’s accelerometer to move a round object through a series of platform filled levels. Unfortunately, concept and execution don’t always see eye to eye in these selections.
Quick Look: Spirit for iPhone
Spirit is once again proof that simple can be fun. As much about atmosphere as game play, Spirit will suck you in and put up a good fight before letting you go. The music alone makes Spirit worth the price of admission, but the randomly generated creature sets and the continual prospect of discovering a new creature will keep you coming back. Does your iPhone have Spirit?
Pocket Full Of Previews: The March 16th, 2010 Edition
You ready for some cool new games? Well, you’re going to have to wait just a bit longer, but I thought I’d bring you a taste of some of what’s to come in the first edition of Pocket Full Of Previews. This time around I cover zombie ducks, 180 (?), and bouncing balls that just can’t stay down – but not necessarily in that order. Read on to see what you have to look forward to in the next month…
Big Blue Bubble Bursts Their Prices
Are you into decorating homes, drumming to a different beat, or getting engrossed in an interactive story complete with combat? If so, Big Blue Bubble has an app for that, and currently they’re on sale.
Quick Look: Flu Fighter for iPhone
I loved Dr. Mario for my Nintendo when I was in college, and now I’d love to have a mobile version for my iPhone. Realizing that a true port is not going to happen, I look to the clone makers to satisfy my cravings. Unfortunately, none have yet. Flu Fighter comes the closest so far, but it still has some issues that prevent it from being the final answer. Read on to find out why…
Card Drop Drops Price
It’s hard to believe it’s been so long, but in September of last year I reviewed a fun Solitaire alternative for the iPhone called Card Drop. You can check out my review of Card Drop here. Today, March 14th 2010, Card Drop has gone free courtesy of Kuyi Mobile and Free App Calendar.If you don’t already have a copy, now’s as good a time as any to go grab one. Even if you’re not a fan of Solitaire this game is worth checking out.
Quick Look: Fly-Flap for iPhone
It’s time to get your exterminator’s hat out, because the air is full of flies that have nothing better to do than torment you by laughing and sticking their tongues out at you. Thankfully you can pop these flies to dispose of them, or if you’re feeling generous to other wildlife you can feed them to the spiders. Either way you’ll have a lot of fun doing it. A campaign mode gives you structured goals, while arcade mode has you swatting more and more critters per level. Are you ready to squash some bugs?
Quick Look: Boardwalk Games for iPhone
I’ve always wondered what people’s fascination with carnival games was, given that you could buy the same stuffed animals for half the price at your local Wal-Mart. After spending some time with Boardwalk Games from Skyworks, however, I’m beginning to get it. Sure it’s not quite the same feel as actually hurling a physical object towards more physical objects and not even feeling bad when you knock them down, but it does a good job of representing. I’ve also found this to be one of the more entertaining carnival style games that currently exists on the iPhone.
Saturday Specials: Chillingo Catch Of The Day
In my second installment of Saturday Specials I take a look at some older Chillingo / Clickgamer titles. These were games that slipped under the radar (one for good reason), and I figured better late than never to tell you about them. I’d definitely suggest adding Potpourrii to your collection, especially if you’re a match 3 fan. As for the others, well, at least I’ll hopefully give you some food for thought.
Quick Look: Tilt To Live for iPhone
Tilt To Live is a great example of the necessary evolution of the “dodge ‘em all” genre of game play. No longer do you have to take your invasion of privacy by unwanted elements lying down. Now you can fight back with some really cool weapons. It’s time to tilt to live…
Saturday Specials: The 99 cent Smorgasbord
Ever bought a game at the App Store just because it was 99 cents? I do quite often, and I decided I wanted to share my thoughts on some of them with you. This is hopefully going to be a regular feature for me now on TechnoBrains, but I thought I’d start it out with a random sampling of games I picked up “just because” they were 99 cents.
Quick Look: Slug Wars for iPhone
Rating 4.33 out of 5 [?]First there were bazooka toting worms, then came angry snails, and now we have Slug Wars. Unlike the first two which are clearly Scorched Earth clones, however, Slug Wars takes a simpler approach to the strategy genre. Unfortunately, while the game looks good and has some interesting unit types, it’s [...]
Quick Look: Meltdown – Radioactive Platformer for iPhone
Meltdown was great when it came out on my PocketPC in 2006, and four years and a platform change haven’t made it any less enjoyable. Your mission is to guide Em-cee through 100 levels of reactors that are just dying to go into meltdown before you can flip all the necessary switches. The one button control makes it perfect for the iPhone, and the challenge in later levels is certain to keep you busy for some time.
Quick Look: Thumpies for iPhone
Standard rhythm games don’t really do a whole lot for me. Thankfully some developers are willing to look outside of the box and come up with something that skirts the realm of rhythm but in the end becomes something entirely different. Such is the case with Thumpies from Big Blue Bubble, and the result is a game that is fun, crazy, and quite addictive. The controls could use a bit of tweaking, but otherwise Thumpies is an absolute blast.
Quick Look: Arachnadoodle for iPhone
If you liked Spider: The Secret Of Bryce Manor, prepare to meet its little brother. If you’re not familiar with Bryce Manor you’re in for a treat. Prepare to guide the little doodle spider through 32 levels of web building fun. The graphics are fun, the music is upbeat, and best of all the rooms can actually be challenging to beat! This is a great game for beginners and somewhat seasoned puzzle gamers alike, and it’s also good for the whole family.
Quick Look: Radial 50 for iPhone
Want a new perspective on the breakout game genre? Radial 50 takes the classic concept of brick breaking and sets it in a 360 degree playing field. The visuals are nice, the music is pretty rockin’, and there are plenty of levels to challenge you. Just don’t expect this to be the game to convert you if you’re not already a fan of the genre.
Quick Look: Daisy Mae’s Alien Buffet for iPhone
Hey look, another dual stick shooter to get excited about. Well, Daisy Mae’s Alien Buffet actually kind of is. It turns out there’s actually more to this game than the Daisy Duke like charm the heroine attempts to exude. With a cool retro sci-fi theme, some interesting weapons at your disposal, and control options to ease the beginner in, there’s a lot to like about Daisy Mae. Besides, dual Tommy guns are always awesome!
Quick Look: Twice! for iPhone
I’m not a fan of the type of game where all the pictures are hidden and you have to flip tiles over two at a time to try and find matches. However, if I could find one that really thinks outside the box, I might be willing to spend some time with it. Unfortunately, Twice just isn’t the game. It’s too bad really, because I’m a big fan of Herocraft’s work. I just couldn’t get into this particular game. It’s not bad, it’s just not for me.
Quick Look: Hellkid for iPhone
Hellkid is another entry in the ever growing genre of “keep running, jumping and swinging” style games, and for me it’s one of the more addictive ones. It sports a cool main character, a slick environment, and some wicked arm extending. It just needs a few obstacles and a couple of additional environments to take it to the next level. I’ve certainly had some fun with it, though.
Quick Look: iGuardian for iPhone
I once speculated that any scrolling shooter had to be a good game, right? One should always know better than to make such blanket statements, and iGuardian is the proof in the pudding (whatever that means). The game play is lackluster, the visuals are decent but low end compared to most other offerings, and the sound feels like it was just kind of thrown together. Fortunately there are plenty of alternatives in this genre, but I always hate having to count one out.
Quick Look: Dead Man’s Dungeon for iPhone
I’m not a big fan of the FPS genre, but it seems like a 3D dungeon crawl with the protagonist wielding guns should work reasonably well, right? Unfortunately, Dead Man’s Dungeon just doesn’t quite make the cut, especially considering some of the more recent 3D fare to hit the iPhone. The basics of the game just aren’t that interesting, and bland level design and mediocre graphics weigh it down even more. With some more work there could be something interesting, but right now it’s just not a whole lot of fun.
Quick Look: Watermelon! for iPhone
When I first saw the screen shots for Watermelon I thought to myself “I HAVE to try that game!” Turns out I was right. Watermelon is probably one of the most bizarre games I’ve played on my iPod Touch to date, and it’s also one of the most amusing. The game looks and sounds like a modern NES game, the character and concept are straight out of Shrek, and the action is fast, furious and addictive. In short, you should want this game too.
Quick Look: Skee-Ball for iPhone
Can an electronic skee-ball game really be fun? There’s no stray hands grabbing your tickets by accident, no fear of random flying balls hitting you in the head, no attendant climbing up the machine because a ball (or some other foreign object) got stuck somewhere it shouldn’t have. Turns out that despite the absence of all that, this particular skee-ball implementation is a blast! You should just go get this now, but if you really need a review…
Quick Look: Starball for iPhone
Apparently Quantum Squid Interactive didn’t get the memo that Tilt To Live was going to be THE “avoid all the enemies” game on the App Store, because they came up with their own entry in the genre. I had the opportunity to take a pre-release build of the game for a spin, and while it was fun, I felt the subtitle “Simply Addicting” might have been a bit of overkill. It seems they decided to up the ante a bit. With multiple difficulties, 3 different themes and OpenFeint integration, Starball has a chance of grabbing the throne away from the one that would be king.
Quick Look: Ten Pin Championship Bowling for iPhone
Ten Pin Championship Bowling is a solid if pretty much uninspired implementation of bowling for the iPhone. The game looks decent, and the controls are pretty easy to navigate. Lack of a computer opponent and the annoying need to go back to the main menu between each game you play gets a bit frustrating after a while.
Preview: Tilt To Live for iPhone
If the previews keep coming in this strong I think 2010 is going to be an even better year for iPhone gaming than 2009. Tilt To Live clearly demonstrates that there’s still innovation to be had even in something as simple as a “dodge everything on the screen” style game. The special effects are cool, the music rocks, and the game is just plain fun. This is definitely one to keep your eye on.
Quick Look: Gold Miner Joe for iPhone
For the first time since I’ve started reviewing Donut Games games, I find myself unable to say “they did it again”. Gold Miner Joe is not by any means a terrible game, it just doesn’t seem to me to have the certain “something” most Donut Games offerings posses. I grew to like the game a bit more as I continued to play it, but overall it never really gripped me.
Quick Look: Retro Fighter for iPhone
Scrolling shooters are one of my favorite things, so I’m usually willing to give one a try. Retro Fighter was no exception, and it actually proved to be a pretty fun experience. The visuals are interesting in their simple way, and the levels have a nice bit of variety to them. Controlling the ship in the 360 degree levels is a bit cumbersome, but all told Retro Fighter makes it pretty easy to blast alien scum.
Preview: Pro Zombie Soccer for iPhone
So how do you defeat wave after wave of menacing killer zombies? Why, with your trusty soccer ball of course. Or so it goes with Pro Zombie Soccer, anyway. This tongue-in-cheek look at zombie slaying games is colorful, the music sounds great, and best of all it’s loads of fun.
Quick Look: Digit Defenders for iPhone
Sitcoms always teach you that there’s never a good use for math. However, apparently it can help against an imminent invasion, as witnessed in the game Digit Defenders. This game has a nice mix of math problems from a variety of different levels of learning, but it’s really geared more towards reinforcing concepts than actually learning them. Still, what a way to reinforce mathematical concepts!
Quick Look: Imp Or Oaf? for iPhone
Have you ever wondered how to tell the difference between an imp and an oaf? Well, thanks to Gilded Skull Games you can take a crash course in just such a subject with an app for your iPhone appropriately titled “Imp Or Oaf?” Kids will probably love it. Adults just looking for a casual game to play might want to look elsewhere.
Quick Look: Gas Tycoon for iPhone
There have been a number of implementations of the “pipes” style of game on handhelds over the years, and they mostly tend to play the same as one another. Like a lot of these sub-genres, then, it really becomes a matter of which one you like best. For me, Gas Tycoon is one of the better implementations I’ve played in the past couple of years. It’s nothing fancy, but there are a lot of challenging levels, there’s no timer so you can think about what you’re doing, and you actually get rewarded for beating a level in the fewest number of moves possible.
Quick Look: Arctic Shuffle 2 for iPhone
Sometimes there’s a bit of truth to the old adage: If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It. Such is the case with Arctic Shuffle 2 for the iPhone. There are a couple of tweaks that were made to enhance the game play, but overall it’s basically the same as its predecessor, just with different level designs. That’s quite all right, because it’s still great fun to play.
Quick Look: Rail Adventures for iPhone
Evil has taken over the mountain, and you must escape before it ensnares you as well. In Rail Adventures you must ride a mine cart through five areas of the mountain, trying to make your way to the bottom and freedom. Fight everything from giant bats to spooky ghosts, and be sure to jump over the junk lying on the tracks…
Quick Look: Spider Hornet Smash for iPhone
The spider’s back, and this time it’s hornet hunting season. Spider: Hornet Smash is somewhat of a lite version of Secrets Of Bryce Manor in that it gives you a feel for the controls of the game, but it’s really a new game mode that doesn’t exist in the full game. It’s more action oriented than Bryce Manor, but just as fun. If you’ve not played Bryce Manor, you really need to check this out. If you have played Bryce Manor, you should still check this out. It’s free, so it’s a win-win situation.
Quick Look: The Mystical Woods Of Darkness for iPhone
The developer of The Mystical Woods Of Darkness likens the game to the classic Castle Of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse. I will admit that I can understand the inspiration, but the unfortunate reality is that Mystical Woods is a far cry from the quality of the compared title. However, I think there’s a lot of promise for the game, so hopefully some sales will encourage the developer to put additional time into creating a more polished product.
Quick Look: Rat On A Scooter XL for iPhone
“Look ma, a rat on a scooter!” “Don’t be silly, son, rats can’t drive scooters.” Apparently she’s never peered into the warped minds of the folks over at Donut Games, because they would probably disagree with her. And so we have Rat On A Scooter XL, a game that’s actually a full fledged spin-off of a mini-game from another Donut Games title. Turns out it’s just as addictive on its own, and this time there are more modes of play to keep you entertained.
Quick Look: Elf Command for iPhone
Let’s see: so far on the iPhone we’ve had Santa killing rogue elves, demonic children and zombies (?). How about something a little more lighthearted? Welcome to Elf Command, the game that sees Santa’s Workshop automated with robotic elves that must move presents from conveyor belts to collection platforms before time runs out. It starts out easy enough, but eventually builds to a frantic pace that will give most gamers a run for their money. It’s cute, it’s Christmas-y, and it’s free, so what do you have to lose?
Quick Look: Action Hero for iPhone
The folks over at Donut Games know a thing or two about making a slick presentation. Fortunately, they can usually back it up with some addictive game play as well. Action Hero is no exception to the rule. Sure it’s “just” a run and dodge style game, but it’s a run and dodge game done with style.
Quick Look: Trigger Happy Christmas for iPhone
I know Santa’s supposed to be the jolly old sole in the big red suit that loves everyone, but sometimes he just has to take matters into his own hands. Especially when the elves develop sharp pointy teeth and nasty dispositions and threaten the very fabric of Christmas. Welcome to Trigger Happy Christmas, the game that wonders “what happens when Santa decides there’s no more mister nice guy?”
Quick Look: Crush Bunny for iPhone
What do you get when you cross disaster movies with rabbits? Why you get Crush Bunny, of course. Your job is to protect innocent, unaware bunnies from the perils of falling asteroids and rogue bombardier rabbits. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. And as it turns out, it’s actually pretty fun.
Quick Look: Crazy Turkey Blast for iPhone
Thanksgiving may be over, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had hunting turkeys on your iPhone. That is, of course, if you have Crazy Turkey Blast from EZone.com. The shooting may be standard fowl fare, but the prize system and immense number of combination of themes will keep you coming back for more.
Quick Look: Teh Internets for iPhone
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to pilot your own ROFLcopter, now is your chance to find it. Thanks to Insurgent Games and Teh Internets, you can navigate the inner reaches of the internet, dodging popup windows and defeating trolls as you try to rescue LOLcats. And don’t worry, you’re not alone if you don’t know what any of this means. Just read the review…
Quick Look: Santa’s Run for iPhone
It’s time to deliver the packages! Yes, this is yet another game focused on the theme of helping Santa get the presents out to all the little boys and girls. However, this one has a rather interesting control scheme. It’s fun to look at and listen to, and overall enjoyable to play.
Quick Look: Finger Sling for iPhone
It almost sounds like a contest for flicking boogers, but Finger Sling is not that kind of app, thankfully. It’s actually a nice little action / strategy game that takes the “king of the hill” recess game concept and applies it to balls. The game is simple, quick and fun, and it looks pretty sharp too.
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