AppCraver » Arcade

Storm Attack is Fast Paced Block Blasting Action

Jennifer Beam — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:00:51 +0000

The arcade/puzzle genre of match and break brick games is inundated with titles ranging from classic games like Tetris and Break Out to newer games with modern twists. If this genre appeals to you, check out Storm Attack, one of the more recent games available from developer Rhock & Rholl Studios, LLC. Not only is Storm Attack well designed, it has a few innovative features that breathe new life into the block-breaking game model.

Storm Attack gives players a simple goal – score as many points as possible before the blocks stack up to the top of the screen. Points are scored by connecting blocks of the same color and tapping to eliminate groups of ten or higher. The more blocks connected in a group, the more points you score. If you eliminate groups of fewer than six blocks, you lose ammo and if your ammo gets too low, you can’t destroy any blocks. You can drag blocks to anywhere on the screen to maximize point opportunities, but don’t let any one column stack up too high or it could be game over.

This premise alone would make Storm Attack another mundane match and destroy block game, but the addition of features like a storm that rains down blocks at lightening speed every minute, plus the ability to accomplish and track achievement awards, shake to create mini-storms and compare high scores with friends through AGON integration make Storm Attack anything but mundane. Easy to follow onscreen instructions guide new players through the first few levels and it couldn’t be simpler.

Storm Attack is responsive to touch screen control and is vibrant in color and appearance. The information panel across the top of the screen lets players know their score and counts down the time to the next storm of blocks. Through the setting options players can use the music from their library and adjust the sound levels of the background music and sound effects. You can also access your achievement awards and high scores from the main menu.

Seeing as how the iTunes Store has no shortage of these types of games available for iPhone, it’s nice to see new developers throwing users a bone by making trial versions available for free before you buy. Try Storm Attack Lite to get a taste of the game play and user interface. Storm Attack is well done and provides a solid replay value, with the full version you get a fun and slightly different block game that combines arcade and puzzle action, requires a bit of strategy, and is addictive gameplay.

rating: 8/10
app_name: Storm Attack

My Brute Online Extends Its Fan Base to the iPhone and iPod touch

Michael Alexander — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:00:13 +0000

My Brute for the iPhone and iPod touch is derived from the online game of the same name, which has more followers than the lead lemming in the annual migration of the little critters over cliffs and into the seas below.

My Brute for the iPhone and iPod touch “is a crazy, off-the-wall game of combat that gives you the chance to challenge fighters from all over the world,” according to Bulkypix, developers of My Brute.

Yep, it’s one of those “create your own character or Brute, give it a personality and go around chopping, hacking, kicking and ideally, turning your enemies into dust and ashes..

Evidently the MyBrute site attracts more than 1.7 million visitors a day, who have created more than 70 million “brutes” or warriors.

Take on your opponent, virtual or real, anywhere around the world. With each challenge, as you gain experience, boost your confidence and unlock mad skillz, you’ll be able to dispatch them faster and faster. You can unlock and use more than 70 skills and weapons, so you can be kung fu fighting like a mad man or woman for quite some time.

My Brute lets you create up to 8 brutes and fight up to five opponents each day. You can also open your own dojo, become a master ,and invite other pupils to sit at your feet like grasshoppers and learn the techniques they’ll need to be successful warriors. You start the game with three brutes and as you get more pupils to join your dojo, you can create up to eight characters with additional powers. In that way, it’s like a Ponzi scheme.

You can also issue challenges to friend and foes on Facebook.

This is a terrific-looking game. The graphics are superb and the if you like, you can listen to your iPod while you’re throwing blows, kicking and pummeling your enemies into submission.

However, I just gotta say: I don’t understand the attraction of My Brute. Your friends must also purchase the $4.99 title if you want to invite them to become pupils and to fight head-to-head. You don’t actually fight – the action is done automatically. It’s just wasn’t engaging enough to keep me occupied for long.

app_name: My Brute
rating: 7/10

Ball & Bat Retro – Pong Included

Jennifer Beam — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:00:49 +0000

There’s bound to be plenty of you who have no real recollection of Pong in its original form, but for those of you who do, Ball & Bat Retro – Pong Included is an iPhone app designed to let you relive the experience of the classic paddle and ball game.

Even with its clean adaptation to iPhone and touch, if you have no interest in retro games Ball & Bat Retro won’t impress you much. Even for someone who appreciates the classic games, revisiting some of them on a device that can do all that the iPhone can do is a bit like baking a freezer pizza in a convection oven. Nonetheless, Ball & Bat Retro – Pong Included is a set of four games – tennis, football, squash, and squash practice – for your iPhone or touch that is pretty much as retro as it gets.

Putting aside the argument of whether classic games like Pong are still fun to play, Ball & Bat Retro – Pong Included has a few features that take advantage of the iPhone technology. For starters, the touch screen controls work well – simply use your finger to control your paddle. You can play one or two player versions of each game and choose a small or large bat size. You can also elect to change the background color and the color of the ball. The most appealing feature of Ball & Bat Retro – Pong Included is the ability to set any picture in your camera roll as the background.

There isn’t a great deal to say about Ball & Bat Retro aside from the obvious. If you’re not into new games, but want an easy to figure out, easy to play, somewhat unexciting game to help you pass the time, then Ball & Bat Retro is a good place to start. I sort of figured out that I could set up Squash to play and position my paddle so that I could actually walk away and the game would stay in progress, simply batting the ball back and forth at nearly the same angle so that moving my paddle was unnecessary. True, I couldn’t score any points this way, but I just wanted to see if the AI player would respond by changing the position of its bat.

Ball & Bat Retro – Pong Included isn’t for everyone. It’s a decent revival of the classic ball and paddle games and at least it operates cleanly. I found it more entertaining to come up with different photo backgrounds for the playing field than actually playing the game for any extended period of time, but to each their own. Still, in all fairness, Ball & Bat Retro wasn’t designed to be a new take on a classic, it was intended to be exactly what it is.

rating: 7/10
app_name: Ball & Bat Retro – Pong Included

Bomberman Touch 2- Volcano Party is Still a Let Down

Michael Alexander — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:30:52 +0000

Bomberman Touch 2- Volcano Party was originally launched in the US in 1987 and since then has come out in 60 versions for nearly every game platform. Hudson Soft, the developer, says that it has sold more than 10 million copies.

Bomberman Touch 2-Volcano Party for the iPhone and iPod touch is nearly identical to the earlier versions and the object is the same as it ever was: Strategically place bombs to blow up boulders and grab power ups or other goodies.

This is the second Bomberman Hudson Soft has released into the App Store. The first, Bomberman Touch-The Legend of Mystic Bomb, has been fairly well received although many shoppers have said they were disappointed the game’s quality did not justify the $7.99 asking price (the main issues were the amount of playing time and the weak controls). On a personal level, I thought the controls were fine.

Hudson Soft must have been paying attention, however, because Bomberman Touch 2- Volcano Party is $2.99, yet, has all the features of Bomberman Touch-The Legend of Mystic Bomb. Some of the same complaints about controls are still there as well, unfortunately. I thought the finger-swipe controls worked fine, although I much prefer a virtual keypad.

What makes the two games especially different is the latest iteration features multiplayer controls either against the CPU or against another player via Bluetooth.

Bomberman Touch 2- Volcano Party features a new Battle Mode for up to four players (including two CPU players), and a Challenge Mode that includes two-player action. In Challenge Mode, the user and other characters cooperate to avoid oozing molten lava and make their way to a labyrinth to defeat the boss waiting inside.

Bomberman Touch 2: Volcano Party will run on iPhone and iPod Touch (second-generation or later) installed with the new OS 3.0.

Bomberman Touch 2-Volcano Party is just okay, in my book. The problem is that I’ve been spoiled by playing the game on other platforms. I agree that it’s hard to move around because your finger blocks your view. The playing field — although graphically well rendered — is too small to be practical. It’s hard to see what you’re up against, in my opinion. Not every game, even a classic, transfers well to the iPhone’s small screen and this is one that doesn’t make the cut for all but the most ardent fans. The $2.99 price is not bad, though.

app_name: Bomberman Touch 2- Volcano Party
rating: 7/10

It’s Not A Stick Up, Wild West Pinball is Free

Jennifer Beam — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:30:10 +0000

In anticipation of their latest pinball game launch, OOO Gameprom has made Wild West Pinball available for free. Wild West Pinball is a video pinball game with a western-theme table. Anyone would be hard pressed to complain about a free game and a free pinball game is all the better.

Since so many “free” apps are either condensed “trial” versions of full games, pointless utilities, or shameless plugs for other products, it’s always nice to find a free game you can actually play the full version of. Wild West Pinball is not only a full pinball game, but has smooth game play and live online scoring updates.

Overall, Wild West Pinball replicates the physics of pinball decently. Though I personally don’t like the camera action, I’m sure there’s those that will. In case you’re wondering, the camera follows the ball and zooms in and out, sometimes at inopportune moments.

Still, smooth as the game play is and responsive as the touch screen flippers are, I didn’t find Wild West Pinball to be that exciting. The table is appropriately themed for the title and replicates a true pinball game, but there’s not that much to it – basically a few bells and whistles and a random opportunity or two for quick scoring boosts.

My biggest gripe with Wild West Pinball is the sound effects, which while chosen appropriately, come off sounding weak. The bells remind me less of a pinball game and more of the bicycle bell I had on my bike as a kid.

Regardless of its weak points, Wild West Pinball is not the worst video pinball game out there by any means. It’s also not the best. My personal favorite thus far for iPhone is Monster Pinball. However, given that you can get Wild West Pinball for free, this alone makes it a considerably better value. Though I feel for those who already paid a buck for it, giving Wild West Pinball away is a potentially good way for the developer’s to build a new following. Not yet sure what to expect from OOO Gameprom’s up-and-coming pinball game, The Deep Pinball, but in the mean time pinball fans can have a quick bit of good handling pinball with no investment necessary.

app_name: Wild West Pinball
rating: 7/10

iCommander Takes Charge of the Tank Battle

Michael Alexander — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:00:22 +0000

In iCommander, from Gogo Mobile, you assume the role of a tank brigade commander and your mission is to blast the invading forces out of the sky. It’s the old “do unto others before they undo you,” side scroller with excellent graphics, sound effects and game play.

It’s easy to learn and not hard to master, but it’s fun anyway.

In iCommander you move your tank barrel by titling the iPhone or iPod touch and pressing a thumb trigger button to fire tank shells. In addition to being able to move your tank left and right, you can also duck by tapping the tank itself.

Shoot down slow-flying helicopters, speedy jets and defenseless parachutists while avoiding air -to-surface missiles. Every guy that makes it to the ground costs you points. You have to be careful which helicopters you choose to shoot down. Some of these “helper helicopters” bring in first-aid supplies, food and ammunition.

iCommander is a classic genre in every way, going back to the days of 8-bit home and arcade machines. Think Galaga, in which you shoot the waves of aliens and avoid their fire and you have the right idea.

It’s a simple-minded, casual game that you can put down and pick up and get right back into the game. Turn the sound off or play with headphones and kill some time and bad guys while you’re waiting in the doctor’s office or on the train to work.

I found that tilting my iPhone at just the right angle, I was easily able to avoid getting hit while still being able to blast away. If there’s anything I’d like to see is harder levels and tilt control adjustability. To move left requires your tilting the iPhone to the right and vice versa. That seems counter-intuitive to me but that may be a personal issue (one of those left-brain right brain kind of things, I guess).

iCommander features Mountain, Snow and Forest views, but the mission is always the same. Kill or be killed.

rating: 8/10
app_name: iCommander

Crazy Penguin Catapult 2 Launches into App Store

Jennifer Beam — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:00:44 +0000

With a great deal of success under their belts, Digital Chocolate continues to roll out iPhone games in the App Store. In the process, they must have seen some potential for increased success by adding a sequel to their award-winning, high-ranking Crazy Penguin Catapult.

Crazy Penguin Catapult 2 is now available and if you loved the first one, you’ll probably feel the same about the continuation of the crazy penguin’s arctic adventures.

To those who are familiar with the original, Crazy Penguin Catapult 2 will be familiar. Very familiar. Though it contains newly designed levels and new power ups available by earning stars, Crazy Penguin Catapult 2 has the same look and feel as the first. You try to earn the maximum number of penguins for your army by catapulting them into each level and then knock out the polar bears. Some levels are easy, but a few will require full penguin capacity to beat.

Crazy Penguin Catapult 2 and its predecessor are both fun games with a “cool” premise and great sound effects coupled with entertaining gameplay. Crazy Penguin Catapult 2 features 50 new levels and power ups to help defeat the polar bears, including drill penguin, Houdini penguin and grenade penguin. In addition to the familiar campaign mode gameplay, Crazy Penguin Catapult 2 also features strategy mode, the game where you strategically attempt to win all squares on a map in a series of penguin-polar bear face offs.

Though it should have been easy for something new and different to have been added to Crazy Penguin Catapult 2, be it a new mini-game or a different type of strategy game, to really set it apart from the original, it remains a near mirror to the first in all but actual level design. Users do get a bit of respect as Crazy Penguin Catapult 2 is available for two bucks less than the original launch price of the first version, but it would have been crazy to ask for more.

Those of you who adored Crazy Penguin Catapult will surely appreciate Crazy Penguin Catapult 2 and those who have never played can check out a lite version of either for free. In some cases, familiarity breeds contempt, but its hard to hate either version of Crazy Penguins. You get better power ups with Crazy Penguin Catapult 2, but both versions offer casual, entertaining on-the-go fun.

app_name: Crazy Penguin Catapult 2
rating: 8/10

Bionic Surfer Takes on Kaons and Wins

Michael Alexander — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:30:23 +0000

Bionic Surfer, from developer Robert Casperson, is a conventional side-scrolling shooter and your mission is well-worn: Run, jump over or on top of obstacles, collect power ups and fire a variety of weapons to annihilate the bad guys.

That doesn’t mean Bionic Surfer is your run-of-the-mill side shooter, however. This is a pretty good game. In fact, one of the better ones you’ll find for a mere $0.99 (currently the sale price). If you want to try before you buy (or if you tend to be tight with a buck), there’s a free Lite version too.

The back story is that aliens from Kaon have teleported themselves into human settlements, ready to cause misery and mayhem, just because they can. The only person standing between the human race and the space invaders is the shirtless, Bionic Surfer dude.

Bionic Surfer has five worlds, each with three areas to clear of enemies, plus a boss to defeat at the end, before you can go on to the next world.

Bionic Surfer’s controls work well and are visually easy to understand and to use. Arrows point left and right and up to jump. Tap the rocket icon to fire your laser blaster and other heavy weapons (nine in all) to “git sum.” Pretty straight-forward controls, I know, but they’re responsive.

Along the way, a giant talking head—a general of some kind–will give you instructions on how to proceed and what you must do to complete each level. The game plays smoothly and I didn’t encounter any glitches.

The graphics of Bionic Surfer, especially the background, are nicely rendered and richly detailed. The game uses a bit of rag doll physics, which come into play when you destroy enemies. Overall, a good-looking, well-done game. This one gets a thumbs up from me.

rating: 8/10
app_name: Bionic Surfer

Star Defense Takes Traditional Tower Defense to New Level

Michael Alexander — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:00:35 +0000

Developer ngmoco is already much respected for its games, notably, Rolando and Topple 2. The company’s latest, Star Defense, takes game play to a whole new level (100 new levels to be exact).

First, the basics. Star Defense is a tower defense game. The game takes place on a planet — in 3D — that you can rotate and zoom, using a multi-touch interface, a unique approach to what is a long-established, and increasingly conventional, genre.

With seven planets, two game modes, more than 50 Medals and Commendations to be earned on the field, and three different difficulty settings, Star Defense offers endless replay for newcomers and war-hardened veterans alike.

ngmoco’s Star Defense entered the App Store in early June, to rave reviews and about a week later, thanks to the release of OS 3.0 ,ngmoco updated the game with several new features.

Star Defense players can expand their campaigns and compete with friends via Direct Challenges. In addition to Twitter, Facebook and email, players can send Direct Challenges via Push Notification Service to their friends over the Plus+ network, a free service for the iPhone gaming community. After registering for Plus+, gamers can challenge and play against the world, earn rewards, and discover more of the games they like.

Star Defense is an intense new title. The graphics are divine; game play is smooth (no glitches), the soundtrack is symphonic and although no one can hear you scream in space, the sound effects are also first rate. Overall, it’s a “piece of work,” as my friend Howie used to say, which was his highest compliment.

ngmoco looks to be preparing to really step up its games. Last week, the company named former SEGA of America president and COO Simon Jeffery as its chief publishing officer to helm the company’s new Plus+ Publishing group. The new initiative is an opportunity for partner companies to access ngmoco’s innovative publishing framework, including the new Plus+ Network, ngmoco says.

rating: 10/10
app_name: Star Defense

Not Really Diggin’ Dig Dug Remix

Jennifer Beam — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:30:43 +0000

Dig Dug Remix – When a big-name developer appears in the App Store with a “classic” game, I often find they are pedaling their “new” version of an existing game made available on — but not necessarily made for — iPhone. For this reason, I don’t necessarily subscribe to the “bigger is better” mentality, even though some giants have managed to maintain their reputation.

In the case of Namco’s Dig Dug Remix, I was fairly optimistic – after all Dig Dug is a great game. Hard as it may be for some developers to make a good transition of a classic arcade game to the iPhone and iPod touch platform, many have been successful. I don’t often agree with the majority of user reviews posted in the app store, but from what I’ve read on this particular app, I am in complete agreement about one thing. It’s rather a disappointment.

Dig Dug Remix is a two-fer app. You get the classic arcade game Dig Dug and you get a remixed version of the game with modern graphics and different power ups, a map of various worlds, and the option to play in two modes. Great idea, but I don’t care. The biggest problem Dig Dug Remix has is crucial to its success and it’s the controls. The onscreen D-pad is tiny. Sure, so are the versions that appear in other games using similar control, but the Dig Dug Remix D-pad borders on ridiculous. Even if you could overcome the awkwardness of the size of the D-pad, the response is unacceptable. Even when the arrow indicates a change of direction, Dig Dug himself doesn’t respond immediately.

As far as game play, you get the same arcade game right down to the enemy Pookas and Fygars and the remix version features some new bosses. I admit I can’t remember if there were so many ear-splitting shrill trills accompanying the original, and though I’ve aged enough to find them annoying now, I believe the original sound effects are in tact.

I could easily rave about other aspects of Dig Dug Remix, such as making the transition to iPhone so fluidly or the creation of a remixed version with good graphics and added fun, but ultimately, it all comes down to controls. Though you do have the option of switching controls from “arrow keys” (translation – onscreen D-pad) to “flick,” it makes little difference as “flick” is an equally obtrusive form of controlling Dig Dug and is unnatural feeling anyway.

I can’t think what the excuse would be here. After all, Pac-Man is also Namco and his controls don’t reek of unresponsive uselessness. Weren’t all these early classics controlled in much the same way? They also didn’t even bother to take advantage of the iPhone’s ability to recognize orientation preference, but rather force you into portrait mode for Classic and landscape for Remix.

If Namco had even so much as offered a lite version of Dig Dug Remix for free, just so users could test it out before they shelled out six bucks, I would have chastised it much less. After all, this is Namco we’re talking about. As it is, it feels like they are relying on nostalgia to get the best of users – along with their money. And well, I’m just not diggin’ that.

app_name: Dig Dug Remix
rating: 4/10