The App Shelf for iPhone and iPod touch

Review: Battle of Puppets - It’s Not Over Until the Fat Puppet Sings!

posted on February 15, 2010 by Matt Rome in Reviews, Video Reviews, Games, Action Games, Strategy Games

Price: $1.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it!
Replay Value: High

Pros:  Beautiful artwork; fun gameplay; good use of touchscreen; lots of content
Cons:  No Multiplayer
Bottom Line:  Battle of Puppets is a beautifully animated, simple, straightforward, and well-balanced castle vs. castle app, perfect for casual play, but with enough complexity to keep it interesting.  Simply put:  A must have for any fan of the genre.

If you think opera is boring, then you’ve obviously never played Battle of Puppets.  Battle of Puppets is a beautifully animated castle vs. castle style app that pits five opera-themed armies against each other.  Each of the puppet armies is led by a renowned opera heroine, such as Madama Butterfly, Carmen, or Valkiria, who grant their armies various special attributes.

For those not familiar with the castle vs. castle genre, basic gameplay consists of sending armies or individual units--each with a specific strength and weakness--to attack and destroy your opponent’s castle, all while defending your castle from similar attacks.  The heart of the genre rests in discovering the proper strategy to win each unique battle.

The iPhone has seen a flood of these titles over the last year, but what separates Battle of Puppets from competitor apps is not any revolutionary re-imaginations of the genre,  but instead a focus on optimizing and perfecting the castle vs castle experience for the iPhone.  One of the first things players will notice as they begin their military campaign across the country side, is the care that went into creating the charmingly animated puppets and unique, cartoonish backdrops for each locale. 

As the game progresses, players will begin to notice the nuance Battle of Puppets brings to the table, including the significance of the environment, such as day, night, hot, and cold, on the battlefield.  In addition to the beautiful atmosphere, players can unlock unique touchscreen gestures called “professions” that give them quick access to special abilities on the battlefield, such as haste, stun, and repair just to name a few.

Overall, Battle of Puppets offers one of the best castle vs. castle experiences on the iPhone.  It provides a beautiful and fun-filled castle vs. castle experience with plenty of content, and all optimized for the iPhone OS.  In this reviewer’s opinion, the only thing this app is missing is a multiplayer mode.  If you’re a fan of the genre, this is definitely an app you don’t want to miss.

Hands-On with the New Apple iPad Courtesy of Engadget.com

posted on January 28, 2010 by Matt Rome in News, Announcements

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars – Cheat Codes Revealed

posted on January 23, 2010 by Matt Rome in News, Games, Action Games, Adventure Games, Strategy Games

Review: Grand Theft Auto - Chinatown Wars

posted on January 22, 2010 by Matt Rome in Reviews, Video Reviews, Games, Action Games, Adventure Games, Racing Games

Price: $9.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it!
Replay Value: Very High

Pros: Authentic GTA gameplay experience; Tons of content; impressive implementation; the same GTA game seen on DS and PSP; Half the price of DS and PSP version.
Cons:  Eagle-eye view sometimes awkward.  Virtual control-pad not as precise as other portable systems.
Bottom Line:  Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is one of the first major portable titles—if not the first—to arrive on DS, PSP, and iPhone without being watered down.  If you’re a fan of GTA-style games or simply looking for a game with lots of content GTA: Chinatown Wars is a great deal.  And for those of you not familiar with the series, it’s primarily meant for mature audiences. Don't say I didn't warn you!

The Grand Theft Auto series doesn’t need much of an introduction.  It’s notoriously one of the crudest, most violent, profane, crime-filled video games series of all time, and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is no exception.  This game goes out of its way to earn its explicit 17+ rating and is definitely not meant for the squeamish.

First appearing for the Nintendo DS in early 2009 and later the Sony PSP, Chinatown Wars has made its way to iPhone less than a year after its initial release.  And amazingly, this full-fledged version of the game hasn’t been dumbed down.  In fact, the iPhone version manages to combine the touch screen elements taken from the DS with the single screen version from the PSP, creating for a great gameplay experience.

Just like one would expect from a GTA game, players take on the role of a criminal antihero caught in the downward whirlpool of the events surrounding him.  Players will find themselves protecting turf, stealing cars, selling drugs, killing thugs, and dodging cops with the option to follow a compelling storyline or just sadistically rampage through the city.

The app uses a virtual on screen controller with analog stick and buttons that’s become standard on many iPhone games.  The controls work reasonably well.  That said, they’re probably the biggest drawback to the iPhone adaptation, lacking the same kind of precision control one would expect on a more conventional portable gaming system.  This, however, is only a small setback in an otherwise awesome game.

Players will have many of the standard gadgets they’re used to from recent GTA games, including a slue of menu options accessible from your in-game PDA.  The PDA allows players to read incoming emails (usually missions), access the Liberty City map, complete with GPS functionality and points of interest, view game stats such as “people killed,” review mission briefings, select radio stations, and so on.

Overall, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is a major step forward for iPhone gaming.  This app helps the iPhone to stand side-by-side the other big boys in portable gaming.  In fact, the iPhone version holds a few advantages over its competitors.  The most obvious is the price point.  At $9.99 Chinatown Wars is half the price of the DS version or one-third the price of the PSP version.  Next, the iPhone version is debatably the most portable version of the game, always there to play anywhere you might take your cell phone.  But in the end, I think one of my favorite features of the iPhone version is the option to use a specified music playlist from your iPhone library as a radio station.  There’s nothing like boosting cars, collecting on contracts, and dodging the fuzz along to your own custom soundtrack.

Review: Battleship for iPhone Blows Old Fashion Board Games out of the Water!

posted on December 22, 2009 by Matt Rome in Reviews, Video Reviews, Games, Board Games, Strategy Games

Price: $2.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it!
Replay Value: Very High

Pros:  A smartly made version of classic Battleship with some fun new modes.
Cons: All multiplayer is local; no internet multiplayer
Bottom Line:  If you’re a fan of Battleship, it’s hard to go wrong with this app.  EA did a great job breathing new life into an old gaming concept when bringing this title to the iPhone.

Battleship for iPhone is just about everything you’d expect and more.  The app includes classic mode, two alternative play modes (including one with super weapons), single and multiplayer modes, and various unlockables.

One of the fun things about Battleship on iPhone is that it creates an authentic battleship experience without the need to dust off that pesky imagination you’ve been trying to forget about.  In classic mode, just like the original, you get to take turns making single shots on a 10 by 10 grid, trying to blindly snipe your opponent’s ships.  But unlike the board game, the app fills in the imaginary blanks with fun animations and sound effects to create a more in-depth and enjoyable gameplay experience.  And bonus, there’s no need for you to keep track of those tiny little pegs.

If classic mode is too boring for you (which may be the case for many of us), Battleship offers two additional variations.  The first, “Salvo” mode, allows players to shoot a number of shots per turn equal to their remaining ships, so both players start with five shots per turn and eventually, as they loose ships, are reduced in their number of shots per turn.  This might sound like it sound like it makes the game simpler, but this variation can get quite hectic.

Finally, if Salvo mode isn’t enough, you might be interested in Super Weapons mode.  In Super Weapons mode, prior to battle, players choose 3 super weapons from a large arsenal of choices in addition to their standard one-shot cannon.  During battle, these super weapons charge up (each with a different turn-based recharge timer) and allow you to unleash devastating attacks and cunning stratagems on your opponent.  Several additional super weapons are unlockable by completing various in-game ranks and achievements.

Besides single player mode, the game includes three multiplayer options, Bluetooth, Wi-fi, and “Pass n Play,” which makes the app ideal to play with friends.  Admittedly, I would’ve liked to see some kind of online play, as well.

Honestly, at it’s current $2.99 price point, I’d venture to say that Battleship for iPhone is a superior deal than the $15+ physical version.  Not only does the app offer the exact same type of gameplay as the original and more, but it even throws in an opponent to play against (i.e. the computer)!  Personally, I’ve found this app to be incredibly fun and addictive.  It’s the perfect app for killing some time with or without friends and without wasting too much brainpower.

Video Review: OMG Pirates! - Get Your Ninja On!

posted on December 07, 2009 by Matt Rome in Reviews, Video Reviews, Games, Action Games, Adventure Games

Price: $1.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it!
Replay Value: Very High

Pros:  Fun artwork; great gameplay, controls and combo system; high replay value.
Cons: Campaign mode is somewhat short and the plot line is lacking.
Bottom Line:  OMG Pirates! is a highly enjoyable, fast-action, survival hack’n’slash.  The fun cartoonish animation and simple controls give this app very unique appeal.  If you’re a fan of Zombieville USA, this is a must!

OMG Pirates! If this exclamation sounds familiar, then you just might be a ninja.  Or playing the newest app from the makers of Zombieville USA.

OMG Pirates! uses the same unique artwork style and simple gameplay mechanics that helped make Zombieville so popular.  And yet despite the few similarities, OMG Pirates! manages to feel like its own game, and not just a cookie cutter clone of Zombieville.

At its core, OMG Pirates! is a slice and dice survival game that manages to effectively integrate some elements of classic sidescroller and RPG gameplay.  If you haven't guessed by now, you play the role of a lone ninja battling an endless army of... OMG... pirates!

On first launch, there is only one gameplay mode available, campaign; however beating campaign mode unlocks survival mode as well as the “hard” difficulty setting for campaign mode.  The control scheme is well laid out and simple to use, primarily consisting of a virtual d-pad, attack button, and jump button.  But don’t be fooled by the simplicity; a variety of special moves and combo chains can be unleashed once a player masters the timing of the game.  Additionally, there’s also a super-move button that gradually charges to unleash devastating super attacks.

In campaign mode, players will battle through nine missions, each with about three sub-stages of play.  At the end of specific missions, players will have to fight fun and unique boss battles to progress.  There’s a very loose storyline that connects the various stages together, but it seems little more than a perfunctory addition.  As players slay pirates, they gradually fill the ninja’s experience bar, increasing his skill level, and each new level brings the ninja specific new moves, power-ups, or abilities.

Survival mode is fairly straightforward and self-explanatory.  The goal is to kill as many pirates as possible before they kill you.  A tally is kept at the top of the screen.   One major improvement OMG Pirates! has over Zombieville is the inclusion of multiple types of enemies, each with their own unique look, including all of the bosses.

Overall, I found OMG Pirates! extremely fun and enjoyable with tons of replay value.  In fact, this pick up and play app offers a surprisingly large amount of depth.  My biggest gripe about the app is that I’d like to see a much larger campaign; it took me less than 2 hours to push through the entire campaign on the normal difficulty setting.  That said, with the inclusion of a survival mode, the game has plenty of replay value to keep me coming back for more and to make me feel like I got my money’s worth.

Things I’d personally like to see in future updates include new stages, villains, storyline, and ninja levels (even if only through downloadable content).  I’d also love to see a multiplayer option for both co-op and versus play.

If you’ve been looking for a good action game, OMG Pirates! is sure to entertain, especially if you’re a fan of Zombieville USA.

Video Review: Monopoly Classic - All the Fun, None of the Math.

posted on December 01, 2009 by Matt Rome in Reviews, Video Reviews, Games, Board Games

Price: $4.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it
Replay Value: Very High

Pros: Great graphics and gameplay.
Cons: A few small imperfections, but nothing to quibble about.
Bottom Line:  EA’s Monopoly app is a strong & fun adaptation of the original board game.  The most frustrating part for most Monopoly fans might be that they already spent $5 dollars on EA’s previously released Monopoly Here and Now: World Edition app.

Monopoly (classic) is EA’s digital version of Hasbro’s classic board game and second official Monopoly app to hit iTunes, the first being Monopoly Here and Now: World Edition. 

The most notable difference between the two titles (and for many the deciding factor on which to purchase) is that Monopoly Classic returns to traditional property names and dollar values as opposed to World Edition’s redesigned board theme, featuring “famous world cities” along with drastically increased bill denominations (the $1 bill replaced by a $10,000 bill for example), making banker math more awkward if not overly complicated.  Because of these differences, there’s been a large public demand for the classic version, and EA has finally delivered.

For the most part, Monopoly translates very well to the iPhone OS.  The app plays just like the tabletop version (thankfully with less accessories to manage), it allows for single or multiplayer gameplay with up to four players, and even manages to accommodate many of the house rules some players have grown so accustomed to.

The app doesn’t have too many too many flaws, but there are a few such as the inability to look at the game board during trades, or the frustratingly small menu buttons.  Some individuals have even speculated that the AI players cheat to avoid your properties.  Possibly what gets me the most, however, is that EA released classic as an entirely new $5 app, when really they could have just made it available as downloadable content “skin” for World Edition owners for—one would assume—significantly cheaper.

Overall, EA’s Monopoly is a very fun and enjoyable adaptation of the original, obviously with added convenience and portability.  If you’ve already purchased Monopoly Here and Now: World Edition, there’s probably no need to purchase the classic version unless you can’t stand World Edition or have been dying to own the classic version.  If you held-off on purchasing World Edition, then Classic is the way to go in this reviewer’s humble opinion.  I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Weekly App Challenge: Bejeweled Blitz - Win $10 in iTunes Cash!

posted on November 17, 2009 by Matt Rome in Contests, Games

Weekly App Challenge: MASH - Win $10 in iTunes Cash!

posted on November 17, 2009 by Matt Rome in Contests, Games

Weekly App Challenge: A Quest of Knights Onrush Extended!

posted on November 17, 2009 by Matt Rome in Contests, Announcements, Games