AppCraver » Games

Omini Stones: Fun and Frustration Rolled into One Strategic Puzzle

Barbara Holbrook — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:34:09 +0000

If you just look at the picture, Omini Stones might be mistaken for another drop in the popular match-three bucket. But that, dear AppCravers, is why you should never judge an app by it’s cover.

Omini Stones is a different kind of puzzle altogether. The developers call it a “classic swap-and-match puzzle.” They may be right, but I’ve never played anything like it. Thankfully, the app includes a good video tutorial which explains how to play pretty quickly.

Once I understood the details, the puzzle seemed like simple gameplay. Slide plain stones of contrasting colors but matching shapes to create Omini Stones. The Omini Stones can then be cleared from the board by being nudged over to another matching Omini. Clear enough from the board and move onto the next level.

Simple! At least for the first 5 levels or so. As the game progresses the stones, which start as triangles, begin to vary in shape — triangles, rectangles, circles. Remember, stones can only combine with another stone of the same shape. Pretty soon, it takes real strategy to slide the stones into right place. And another thing, some of the Omini are ticking bombs that must be cleared from the board before exploding.

Gamers that know how to plan ahead will be able to score extra points by destroying Omini clusters. Gathering 3 or 4 Omini Stones of the same color close enough to clear at the same time is a move that shows true mastery of the game. I managed it by accident, but it can also be done with intent.

Try tilting and turning your iDevice for maximum strategy points. As you slide the stones, the rest will fall into place according to gravity. It’s a nice feature and one of the reasons that Omini Stones is worth the slightly higher price tag.

My concentrating cranium was definitely got its weekly workout with this app! Unless you’re a hardcore puzzle-head, Omini Stones isn’t the type of game you’ll play in line at the bank. It requires more intense thought and deliberate strategy than a lot of the other casual gaming apps I’ve come across. It also provides more of a challenge.

Omini Stones is fresh and familiar at the same time. So, if you’re looking for a challenging game, that will comfort you with a sense of familiarity even while you bang your brain trying to break through to the next level, then Omini Stones from MiOmega might be just what you need.

Watch the Omini Stones video demo:

rating: 8/10
app_name: Omini Stones

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

Alien Glyphs: Grab this Rising Star in Memory-based Puzzles

Barbara Holbrook — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:15:27 +0000

Alien Glyphs - Have you ever visited a foreign county where you did not know the language? Did you spend your days trying to decipher the encrypted codes on street signs and store-front windows? Imagine now, that your life depended on your ability to recognize these strange symbols, to somehow match the disparate shapes into pairs as you passed them on the street at an ever-increasing pace. This is the gist of Alien Glyphs.

Alien Glyphs, the puzzle-based arcade app from Viacheslav Klimon, is a fast-paced matching game. Glyphs — alien glyphs to be precise — slide into view at the top of the screen and you must find it’s mate from the control panel below. The control panel contains a dozen or more glyphs depending on which level your on. As you get deeper into the game, the glyphs also come faster and become more complex.

Most memory-matching games don’t require a whole lot of strategy. Alien Glyphs attempts to overcome the standard by adding in a variety of power ups and penalties. Certain events slow down or speed up the time, or trigger the glyphs to rearrange their position. Honestly, I had enough on my plate just trying to match the glyphs before the screen filled up and time ran out. However, serious gamers with better skills will appreciate the extra challenges.

Alien Glyphs has all the little extras that make a game truly polished: personal and worldwide high scores, OpenFeint integration, four different skins for customization, options for difficulty, a thorough tutorial, and an active developer dedicated to improvements and upgrades. In fact, this puzzle game has the feature set of apps well above it’s price point. It’s easy to see why the App Store reviews are overwhelmingly positive.

If someone told me that I would be testing out a memory app to train my brain and increase mental acuity, I’d have probably said “thanks, but no thanks.” Memory and concentration games sound more like work than fun. Alien Glyphs is slick enough that I’m more than happy to be proven wrong.

Watch the Alien Glyphs video demo for a taste of the action:

app_name: Alien Glyphs
rating: 8/10

Super Juicy Will Bubble to the Top of the Best Apps Ever List

Barbara Holbrook — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:45:31 +0000

Super Juicy - If you think you’re done playing match-3 games, think again. If you think all match-3 apps are just the same game with a different wrapper, think again. If you’ve ever enjoyed a match-3 game, then don’t pass go, just buy Super Juicy.

Super Juicy is bringing a new kind of action to the popular genre started by Bejeweled. The point is still to match like objects, but instead of jewels or parrots Super Juicy is all about the bubbles, baby. Moving bubbles that float, squeeze and grow in an ever-changing dance that kept me engaged for all 38 levels.

One of the things that makes Super Juicy so fun is that every level is different than the one before. Each level adds a new twist: bubbles that grow larger, bubbles that require larger groups to destroy, bubbles that bubble up instead of falling down, bubbles with spikes (bad) or fruit (good). The physics of this game add another layer to gameplay, as you can tilt your phone to rearrange the bubbles slightly.

If you learn to master each obstacle, then maybe you’ll have a chance at passing level 35. Unlock all the levels and you’ll be able to play them in any order you choose. Don’t even try to coast your way through. Tapping bubbles the wrong bubbles will get you penalized, either by losing points by causing the bubbles to double in size.

The menu graphics and general navigation outside the game are nothing special. It’s obvious that Super Juicy developer Greg Hjelstrom spent his all his time on the game, not the menus. Chances are, once you’ve tried Super Juicy you’ll feel the same way. Who needs menus? I just want to play all 38 levels in a row.

My only real complaint with Super Juicy is that there’s no way to turn off the scoreboard. Each time the game ends, you’ll need to tap through the scoreboard to get back to the beginning. It may not sound like much, but if I’m trying (unsuccessfully) to pass a level it’s annoying to have to circumnavigate the scoreboard to get back to the main menu. A “play again” button on the game over screen would easily end this frustration.

Calling Super Juicy addicting, is like saying that crack may be habit-forming. It’s a wild understatement. The last update added 3 new levels and I’m already jonesing for more.

There is a Super Juicy Light, but with only 5 levels it’s just a small taste what the game has to offer. Save yourself the time and pony up the buck for the real thing.

Watch the Super Juicy Video demo:

rating: 9/10
app_name: Super Juicy

Team Alpha: All the Mutant-Shooting Action You Can Handle

Barbara Holbrook — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:57:38 +0000

Team Alpha is a shoot-em-up, action game where, according to Sad Cat Software, your task “is to eradicate all mutants in a government lab where a secret biological experiment has gone awry.” The app offers nearly 200 rooms of mutant-shooting mania with big guns. Good times.

You’ll get a top-down view as you navigate from room to room. The graphics are crisp, with your typical monsters and mutants color scheme.

Runnin’ and gunnin’ isn’t usually my thing, so I was concerned that I would have a tough time testing Team Alpha. To my surprise, the dual-dial controls were really intuitive. The left dial moves the commando and the right dial controls where he shoots. It was sometimes odd to see his legs running forward while his torso faced backwards to shoot the bad guys, but overall the controls worked beautifully. The dials are smooth and responsive, leaving me to direct my focus where it belongs — on shooting mutants.

Team Alpha didn’t have any lag as I worked my way back and forth through the rooms, mutants came flying across the screen without even a hiccup. There are 10 levels each with multiple rooms. You won’t know what’s in a room until you get there. You’ll need to remember what you’ve done if you need to go back, which adds to the fun and complexity of the game. You can also tap the screen to view a map of your current level along with the rooms you’ve already completed.

From my playing, the rooms are pretty basic. They all contain mutants to kill or objects to blow up. Kill and destroy to earn cash. As you earn cash, you’ll become eligible to purchase bigger and better weapons for even more killing and destroying. Are you sensing the theme yet?

Team Alpha has just about all the features of a top-tier game: automatic game saving, a local high score board and global leaderboard. There is no true interaction over WiFi which is quickly becoming the norm for more advanced games. For me, this isn’t a big deal. But Open Feint integration would be a nice touch for gamers that look for a more layered gaming experience.

Team Alpha is a solid, video game for the iPhone and iPod touch. The features are strong, the controls are easy to use and there’s very little learning curve. There’s no denying that Team Alpha is similar to any number of strategic shooter games. But honestly, can you ever really kill too many mutants?

Wondering if Team Alpha is the app for you? Watch the video demo below.

app_name: Team Alpha
rating: 8/10

Sparkz: Qix Clone Finds new Generation of Gamers on the iPhone

Barbara Holbrook — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:30:30 +0000

(Editor’s Note: Sparkz is free today, October 20 for a one-day promotion!)
Sparkz is a puzzle game with a long history. The app is a reproduction of the vintage Mac game Qix, which was in turn based on an earlier arcade game. And while I never played Qix, I hear that Sparkz does an excellent job of porting the popular arcade puzzle to the iPhone platform.

The goal in Sparkz is to fence off the screen by traveling a perimeter of your own design to create closed shapes: square, rectangle, etc. Basically guiding your diamond-shaped controller — the Stix — around the screen to trap the Sqix in an ever-smaller area. At the start of each level, the playing field is a large, empty rectangle, with only your controller and the rotating arches of the Sqix in site. The Sqix is a stick-like form that rotates gracefully, if unpredictably, across the screen

Get going and wall off as much of the screen as you can. The controls are simple and responsive. Use a finger or the accelerometer to guide the diamond marker vertically or horizontally to draw a line. If you complete your shape without being touched by the rotating arches of the Sqix, the territory becomes yours. To complete a level, trap the Sqix by claiming a super-majority of the arena.

Each level you will have to gain more and more territory, while the Sqix begins to move faster and new obstacles are introduced — Sparkz, SuperSparkz and Mines. Sparkz also has 5 hidden gems to discover that add new twists to the game.

There are 50 stages of gameplay, each featuring a different nature photo which is unveiled as you capture territory. Overall, the graphics are straightforward without a lot of pizazz, probably because Sparkz is a reproduction and that’s just how games were in the “olden days.”

Sparkz is a puzzle game, where timing and strategy are required. It’s easy to play and just challenging enough to hold my interest for short bursts of play. If you need more of a challenge, you can also log on to the AGON-supplied leaderboard to compare scores online or against your Facebook friend list, or post your best scores to twitter.

Not sure if Sparkz is for you? Watch the Sparkz demo video from Codengineer to find out:

rating: 7/10
app_name: Sparkz

Apollonia Kingdom: Save the Jars, Save the Kingdom

Barbara Holbrook — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:22:51 +0000

Apollonia Kingdom is an action-adventure game where you must fight your way through a variety of monsters, zombie-like skeletons and goblins to find and retrieve the red jars, which will somehow save the entire Kingdom of Apollonia. (I’d love to know what’s in those jars!)

The backstory may be thin, but the game has more depth. There are five levels to wind your way through using a simple 4-way controller. The game map is pretty extensive, so it can take a good bit of time to locate and recover the jars. (Apollonia video after the jump)

Apollonia Kingdom presents view-from-the-top map. On the left, you’ll find a four-way controller. The top of the screen holds maps and timers. The right side of the screen contains the “fire” button for blasting away at the bad guys. All of these items sit on top of the game map which makes for a cluttered interface. I’d like the option to hide all the extras and bring them up only when needed.

In addition to the clutter, I’ve become to used to playing apps that are controlled by tapping in different areas of the screen. It took some time to familiarize myself with the directional buttons. It’s an easy enough system, but it’s definitely more “video game controller” than “iPhone controller,” and not always responsive.

The screen moves with the player, so you can’t see too far ahead in any direction. You can use the map to plan your route, but it’s an abstract depiction of the landscape and doesn’t include any real landmarks.

During your search you can also collect money. Use your booty to visit the Apollonia Kingdom Marketplace and buy weapons, ammunition, magic ingredients, and spells for destroying the enemy. This is where your strategy skills come in handy. There’s a decent variety of upgrades to choose from, or you can spend your cash on better health and more time to complete the level.

Overall, Apollonia Kingdom feels kinda old school. It’s a fine enough first effort from PervasiveWorks. If you like battling monsters and saving the kingdom, then you may enjoy Appollonia Kingdom. And if not, it’s only $0.99 so it won’t drain you stash of gold coins.

See if Apollonia Kingdom is for you. Watch the app video:

app_name: Apollonia Kingdom
rating: 6/10

Pig Rush is Better than Bacon

Barbara Holbrook — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:43:48 +0000

Pig Rush — Way back in the dusty corners of my mind, I can almost recall the day my dad brought home this new game that could be played on T.V. It was Pong. But, like many in my generation, the games I really grew up with more colorful and advanced than Pong could ever hope to be. Games like Pac-Man, Kong and eventually Super Mario Bros. And today’s games are even more colorful and challenging than those.

Such is progress. Nevertheless (progress be damned!), sometimes I just want a unblemished, side-scrolling platform. Something that is fun to play, without all the bells, whistles or learning curve. Pig Rush is just that game.

Pig Rush has just one goal. Keeping going.

In Pig Rush your little piggy isn’t going to market, he’s jumping platforms. The game will keep your pig running to the right at all times. Your job is to help your pig jump (or fly) from platform to platform without falling off the edge or landing in the fire. As the game progresses, your pig will run faster, the fires come closer together and the platforms feel just a little bit farther apart.

It’s a simple set up and instantly addictive. Pig Rush is a one-more-game kind of app. Much like Swine Flu, the games are short which makes it easy to justify playing again — and again, and again.

Usually, I’m playing games while the roommate watches football, which means that I play a lot of games without sound. Boy was I missing out with Pig Rush. The soundtrack adds life to the game in a way that few audio tracks do. It’s a musical mash-up of Dick Dale and Santana set to a catchy drumbeat.

If bacon is meat candy (and it is), then Pig Rush is app candy. Delicious app candy.

rating: 8/10
app_name: Pig Rush

Nut Chuckin is Fun for a Crisp Fall Afternoon

Barbara Holbrook — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:30:11 +0000

It’s tough to get ready for winter, especially when the other squirrels are bent on destroying you. Such is the moral of the story in Nut Chuckin’.

Nut Chuckin’ is a game where you must dodge the flying nuts of your tormentors and attempt to beat them at their own game. As Risoo the Squirrel, you’re parked on a branch front and center. The other squirrels — apparently suffering from a fit of rabies — are all against you. They come at you — alone or in packs — and chuck nuts at your head, trying to knock you off the branch.

It only takes one acorn in the head to make Risoo fall, which is unfair considering some of his combatant brethren can take multiple knocks to their noggin before finally passing out. Nut Chukin’ progresses through levels in stages, so if you do fail a stage, you don’t have to start the whole level over again.

Nut Chuckin’ uses the accelerometer to control movement and touch to control the shots. To avoid flying nuts, tilt your device left and right to make Riso scurry back and forth across the tree.

Simple avoidance isn’t the best plan. The real object is not to avoid the nuts, but to catch them and throw ‘em back. When an acorn comes hurtling towards your head tap to catch it. Then, aim and fire it back at any one of your opponents.

After awhile Nut Chuckin’ is about as much fun as a game of catch. Some folks will fall into a rhythm, get in the zone and find their own little piece of squirrel-killing zen. Others will be frustrated by the pace and start to wonder if there’s any point to tossing around a ball when know one’s keeping score.

As players move up the branches, there are fun little extras — squirrels that run off, do flips or are mutantly overgrown — and new challenges to defeat. The problem is that it takes too long to pass each stage because little Risoo is so frail. Give this nut chucker a few extra lives, and the game would progress faster and be able to keep my interest longer.

Nut Chuckin’ has several good things going for it. The controls are smooth and responsive, and the graphics are really excellent. The illustrations feel more like a popular animated flick than a video game. That’s high marks in my book.

In fact if not for the quick death, Nut Chuckin’ is polished enough to make it into our Editor’s Picks. Hopefully a future update will make Nut Chuckin’ a more sticky gaming experience. Until then, it’s still a solid 7 that most casual gamers will enjoy, for now.

* Nut Chuckin is on sale for $0.99. Take advantage and get an afternoon of fun for just under a buck.

rating: 7/10
app_name: Nut Chuckin’

Hoyle Video Poker is All Aces — and We Want to Share it

James Johnson — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:00:27 +0000

Video Poker by Hoyle is exactly what it sounds like — video poker for the iPhone — but what its name lacks in “sexiness” it make up for in sheer reliability.

The Vegas-style game consists of Double Bonus, 5 Card Draw, Jokers Wild, Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild — all of which shine like a iPhone 3G S fresh out of the box. Now as a professional iPhone reviewer — jealous? what’s your job title? — I have seen a lot of card games come my way but Hoyle’s version really does take the cake.

The graphics and sound just pop in this digitalized poker app. In fact, the sound jumps out of the phone, so much so that one of our fellow staff members here at Appcraver kindly requested that “I throw that stupid *%@ where the sun don’t shine!”. Of course, this is level of sophistication that I look for in a $1.99 app.

In terms of actual gameplay, Video Poker has a rare feature that makes it stand out from the pack. The app tracks user statistics — everything from your biggest win, to the date it happened and more. While this may like a small feature too often these kind of games are one offs — you play for a while, pat yourself on the back and never recall that moment again. I was surprised at how truly enjoyable it is to see those top wins and and to harken back to those glory days of, erm, last week.

After a week of playing around, I only found two flaws. One is that the touch screen on the main menu should be more responsive. Starting a game requires a double-tap, but often it took as many as 5 taps.

Lastly, after a few hands of solitary Video Poker I started craving one thing — multiplayer. This game is good enough to play for long bouts at a time, but without human interaction it starts to fall flat. Give us Facebook Connect, competition over WiFi, or something!

Overall this game is a gem. Hoyle struck a winning hand with Video Poker.

rating: 9/10
app_name: Hoyle Video Poker