Mega Bloks © Kiloo Games: A game based on that thing that ripped Lego off! (0.99)

This is one of those puzzle games where you have to drag pieces of matching colours together in groups of three and then they disappear. However there is a twist; you have do to do so in a scrolling environment that goes up, down, left, and right whilst a green ooze is following your path. The object? Match up as many bricks as you can in groups of three before the level ends when all the bricks left behind are submerged in ooze. For those that don’t know, Mega Bloks is a building toy that looks and works exactly like Lego; snapping plastic bricks together to create pretty much anything you can think of. And funnily enough that’s how you have to match up the bricks together – by attaching them like Mega Bloks. Who would’ve thought?

Graphics: For a game like this, you can’t really expect much. However what this game delivers isn’t actually that horrible. The bricks are brightly coloured and are 3D, which actually looks pretty good because they sort of seem to “pop out” from the 2D background. The only thing strange about the graphics is the fact that the bricks have little squares eyes (possibly to make them seem alive? They aren’t really necessary).

Controls: Really simple controls. Bricks are lying scattered about as you can see in this picture. All you have to do is touch and drag them into groups of three. However, it really doesn’t work that perfectly because a lot
of the time the controls are sticky and unresponsive. For example, when I grab a brick and drag it up to attach it to another one it will stop halfway and just stand there and I have to drag it up again.

Gameplay: There are a few power ups namely bombs, rainbow bricks and freeze bricks. With bombs you get extra points for creating a group of three with a bomb in it plus it explodes a lot faster. One thing I like about bombs is that even if you match it up with only one brick it will still explode and give you points. Rainbow bricks, as you can probably guess, can be used in the place of a brick of any colour to complete a group of three. Moving bricks is a bit unresponsive most of the time as I mentioned earlier

Recap: This game isn’t bad but it really isn’t good either. The graphics are alright, the controls are simple and unresponsive. I didn’t really know what to expect of the gameplay and when I was playing it I didn’t feel, “Yeah! I’m playing an iPhone game!” Rather, “Here I am matching bricks together…zzzzzz”. It wouldn’t even qualify as a decent thing to pass time.

Graphics: 6/10 Controls: 5/10 Gameplay: 4/10 Overall: 5/10

Sincerely,
The Dastardly Descriptive Duck

Edge © 2010 Mobigame: More Proof That Retro Games Are Better Than Your Grandparents (2.99)

Edge is platforming entertainment at its simplest form.  To this day, it seems as though none have managed to develop a game which delights me to the level of Edge; Mobigame have combined great retro graphics with smooth music and enjoyable platforming gameplay.  As an added bonus, you get to play as a square.  FINALLY, MY SQUARE FANTASIES HAVE BEEN REALIZED. 

Graphics: For a retro game, these graphics are spot on.  Edge was released quite a while ago, and yet it seems to have better graphics than some of the newer games released today.  Everything works, from the glowing squares, to the gray squares, to the white squares.  Somehow, Mobigame has grasped my perfect dream-world, and created something far beyond anything my imagination could have come up with.  The audio is a great accompaniment; soothing, abstract sounds help you, the cube, as you tackle the many challenging puzzles you must face to rescue your lady love, the triangular prism (this may not actually be true)

Controls: Mobigame provides you with multiple control options to choose from.  Unfortunately, for some of the puzzle elements (such as balancing yourself against walls) there were only a few control options that worked the most.  We found that the easiest control method was the on-screen control scheme, with buttons for each direction.  They allowed you to easily move the cube in all directions, although they seem to be angled in a strange way.

Gameplay: Edge is not just a platformer; it is an experience.  The ambient sounds, perfect graphics, and smooth puzzling gameplay makes you feel like you’re in a virtual world.  The game contains over 40 levels, each one with many different puzzle elements.  For example, one may be required to activate and ride a giant robot, to reach the exit goal.  Mobigame have created a puzzle game with limitless entertainment, for each puzzle is a unique and enjoyable experience.  I find that I return to this gem of a game over and over again, attempting to reveal the location of each of the secret glowing thingies; the replay value seems to go on and on. 

Recap: If you’re looking for a new title with a simple formula, this is not the game for you.  However, if you’re willing to buy a game that will delight you with abstract visuals, music, and intuitive gameplay, then this is definitely our pick for you.  Buy Edge today, and receive FREE SQUARES WITH NO EXTRA CHARGE!

Graphics: 10/10   Controls: 8.5/10   Gameplay: 10/10   Overall: 9.5/10

 

Sincerely,

The Saber-Toothed Haggis

Pac-Attack : how could this game ruin Tetris and Pacman

Pac Attack : how could ruin tetris and Pacman

This is game is the child produced by tetris and pacman…. DOES THAT EVEN SOUND LIKE A GOOD IDEA?  It is was a bad idea to start with, while the pictures depict it to be something entertaing I assure it is not, this is only slander and lies. When I saw photos of this game it looked interesting, like it could be something good. Then I played it, it this has basically ruined my day, then my week, then my month. I am just happy 2010 is almost over. *sigh*

Graphics: the game comes off to a bad start, when you load it, it comes up with the ugliest menu I have ever seen, I considered tearing out my eyes. They used Arial font, on a ugly background. When you get into the gameplay, the graphics are extremely boring. The Devs are not creative people, they used gold blocks, and pacman characters. How much more basic could they have gone for this game? It looked horrible, if it was person it would be fat and ugly. For a game with the Pacman label this looks horrible.

Controls: this shared problem with Tetris for the iphone, the controls simply didn’t work. Bring  a block down was horrible, trying to spin the block barely worked. People had the same problem with Tetris over a year ago, and they didn’t improve but made them so much worse. The controls in this game have plagued every other iphone game of the same genre, but somehow they managed to just amplify those issues in this game

Gameplay: In the game you must get rows of gold blocks (like Tetris essentially), and also get Pacman to eat the ghost blocks. The gameplay idea is to stack Tetris blocks, and simultaneously make the Pacman blocks eat the Ghost blocks. It is trying to play two games at once, which simply doesn’t work. The game is trying to do too much and achieving nothing (unless they were aiming for mediocrity.) The gameplay is too complicated and not relaxing, or fun.

Recap: I played this game so you don’t have to. It is one of the worst game to ever be released for this device. I think I may have grounds to sew them for FRAUD, can you even say this a game.  Soviet GULAGS are more fun than this supposed “game”.  Go spend your money on Pacman : championship edition, that should hopefully help you regain respect for Pacman.

Graphics: 3/10  Controls: 1/10  Gameplay: 0/10  Overall: 0/10

Hexetera™ - Triangle Puzzle Game© iKontacts Pty Ltd (0.99)– TRIANGLES….YAAAAAY!

Triangles. We see them everywhere, in love, in math… actually that’s about it but now, you can see them in Hexagons! In the game, Hexetera, the designers at iKontacts have put a modern spin on the classic game, Tetris. Now you may say “Hey! How is that gonna be good,” and you are completely wrong because this game has changed the future of geometric gaming for the good. The point of this game is the make shapes of one colour (mainly Hexagons) to complete levels. As you move up levels, the various pieces, bonuses and tasks get harder and harder to use.

Graphics: They are freaking awesome. If this app and I conceived a child, that child would be the most gorgeous space ready child there is. And ironically enough, the game is designed like a space mission. The theme is “futuristic” and little details like naming the levels Jupiter, previewing pieces like a mission debriefing (hee hee…debriefing). The graphics are very clear, smooth and gorgeous. With colours like red, silver and black, you will thoroughly enjoy playing this app.

Controls: Based entirely on swiping and touch, the game is really nice because instead of just clicking buttons at the bottom of the screen, it is very intuitive and engaging. You tap the pieces to flip them, you click on the side for the use of rewards and you can swipe down to make the piece rush down into the place. Now I just have one bone to pick with this factor in the fact that with the swiping down motion, it is very sensitive and sometimes, when you are flipping the piece, you send the triangle rushing down and then you scream because you were one piece away from a full diagonal and then you end up cutting yourself from the depression. Not exactly, but other than that one gimmick, the controls are fantastic.

Gameplay: Now this is what makes the game such a huge success. Currently, I have put down my other drugs because I am addicted to this game. You have to make numerous hexagons  of one colour and even diagonals across the entire screen however, as each level progresses, you get pieces that are hardy to place and the speed increases. What I thought would be a piece of cake is actually quite hard to do and provides a really enjoyable challenge. Also, if you want more of a challenge, you can choose to increase the speed but all in all, really great gameplay. And if your mind gets tired, there is a freeplay game where you build as many hexagons as possible.

Recap: You will thoroughly enjoy this game. With beautiful graphics and a great gameplay you will not be able to put it down. And the controls, only a minor problem that does not overshadow the awesomeness of this game. If I had one word to summarize the game, it would be: Hexagasm.

Graphics: 10/10 Controls: 9.5/10 Gameplay: 10/10 Overall: 10/10

  

Sincerely, The Artistic Autistic Astronaut

Use Your Handwriting GOLD © Gee Whiz Stuff LLC (0.99) – A New Way of Doing Things Old-Fashioned!

This app is meant for the people who want to be technologically “plugged in” but don’t want to forget ye olde days. If you like to handwrite notes, but also play games while your boss or teacher aren’t looking, then this is the app for you. I am an advocate for proper handwriting, and for iPod Touches. As a result, this lovechild of an app would be the child I would choose to adopt. (IE. I think it is a very good app.)

Overall Design: Hmmmm. Let me think here. I’m kind of torn (in the good way) because there are certain features I like and certain features I don’t. The overall style is not amazing or anything noteworthy, but it is functional. Once again, all the menu buttons are on the bottom and each menu resembles the settings on the iPod Touch. The reason I am torn (in the good way) is because the writing part of this app looks great. The text appears in neon colours as you write it and the background is black which looks really awesome and makes it a lot easier to read when you have to go back and edit, review or just look at what you were writing. While writing, you can choose to go to the next line using buttons that resemble iTunes which is really nice. You have a bunch of colours to choose from which range from red to purple. Overall, good writing look, but the rest, I’m indifferent too. Certainly functional.

Usability: This app has two parts. That’s right, mother****ers.  TWO.  THAT IS A VERY GOOD NUMBER.  One is the actual writing and one is the actual use of what you have written. First of all, the second part of that sentence is perfectly done. (Not in the sentence, but in the app). When you have notes, you can select them and do multiple things. You can delete them, edit them, send them, change the order, dim their brightness and even star them for later. This makes it easier to find the notes you want, send them to a computer after a meeting or something. You can use it for grocery lists if you need or even write a novel on here. You can add new notes and there is a set of notes for each colour so you can organize your notes by colour too. (For the obsessive compulsive people out there. You are weird, but we acknowledge you.) For the second part, I would say it is very well done, except for one thing and that is touch response. I know that is really hard to fix, considering greater programs like Sketchbook and Adobe have failed in that aspect, but it makes it hard to read the writing sometimes. Putting that aside, it is actually quite remarkable this app. They have a small space where you write, however, if you pause for a second, it will scroll to the right and provide more room. After 5 of those “pages” of extra room, it goes to the next line and then you just rinse and repeat. It is quite effective after a bit of practice. Sometimes you encounter the problem where it moves before you want it to or it doesn’t move at all and so the buttons on top can solve that as well by skipping to the next page, moving back a page, pausing the scroll mechanism or undoing what you just wrote. The app provides a clear tutorial on how to use all the features which is always appreciated and as an added bonus that I found it, it accommodates left handed people which I really appreciate. (Wow! Two things that you’velearned something about the astronaut.)

Usefulness: Definitely, if you like to handwrite things. Great for quick notes that need to be written down faster than on THE STUPID KEYBOARD. You can use it for signatures, or even just to scribble, but whatever it is, it will suit your needs very well. With the multitude of options, gimmicks and tech thingies, writing will actually be fun!*

*Writing may not actually be fun.

Overall Design: 9/10   Usability: 9.78963/10  Usefulness: 10/10   Overall: 9.5/10

Sincerely,

The Artistic Autistic Astronaut

Pocket Tanks Deluxe © 2001-2010 Blitwise Productions, LLC: Proof That Old Games Are More Awesome Than Your Grandmother (4.99)

Fighting is good.  Tanks are good.  Big artillery weapons that go ‘boom’ are good.  Therefore, Pocket Tanks Deluxe by Blitwise Productions epitomizes all of the good things in life.  In this magnificent port of a retro pc game, one controls a tank and fires multiple types of ridiculous weapons at your opponent, similar to the popular Worms titles.  Unlike worms, Pocket Tanks Deluxe comes with 105 weapons, each one slightly more ridiculous than the next.  Mud pies?  Pillow fights?  Popcorn?  Utilize these strange yet powerful weapons to rain justice upon your foes.  They probably deserved it.  Maybe they hijacked your toaster.

Graphics: Very retro.  The maps are different each time, yet the same.  The neon green colour of the ground never changes, and yet the map designed to be different each time a new game is started.  Also, each of the many weapons in the game comes with brilliant and beautiful graphical effects, which makes for more interesting gameplay.  It was great to see the different effects of the weapons, and how the developer designed them to look.

Controls: Classic, for a tanks game.  The premise is the same; change the angle of your cannon, select the amount of power, and then HOLD ON TO YOUR KNICKERS (not the candy).  Unfortunately, for amateur players this can be difficult, and the AI is a bit too harsh on the player to give room for improvement.  It would be nice if the developers could tone down the difficulty of the AI; even on easy difficulty levels, it can be a nuisance.  The controls, for the most part, work fine; it is simply a matter of knowing the weapons, and setting the angle and power just right for that particular weapon.

Gameplay: Spot on.  Pocket Tanks Deluxe is the perfect example of a game that will last forever (if not forever, than at least for a long time).  The sheer amount of content, plus local multiplayer on the same device and single player against AI opponents can keep gamers entertained for many an hour.  Unfortunately, the experience is so much better with a friend, and, frankly, Pocket Tanks Deluxe does not really support friend-making.  There is no online multiplayer, and not even Bluetooth multiplayer with local devices.  We would like to see the developers implementing this in the future.  Otherwise, the game is extremely enjoyable.

Recap: Pocket Tanks Deluxe combines retro graphics with classic controls and great gameplay.  There is a lot of content; unfortunately, the AI difficulty is too steep, and there is no online multiplayer to back it up.  Overall, this game is worth your dollar, if you’re willing to have your friends huddle around one screen.

Graphics:  8/10  Gameplay:  9/10   Controls: 9/10   Overall: 8.5/10

Sincerely,

The Saber-Toothed Haggis