The App Shelf for iPhone and iPod touch
Top Shelf Apps for week of May 15, 2012New apps added every Tuesday! |
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Reviews
Quick Review: Flight Control HD (iPad)
Price: $4.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it
Replay Value: Very High
Pros:
•Three new large maps specifically designed for iPad
•All the classic maps from iPhone version
•Several multiplayer modes, including bluetooth or split screen.
•“Safe” fast forward button
•Simple, addictive gameplay
Cons:
I can’t think of a single thing.
Bottom Line:
Flight Control HD is a line drawing, time management app. The original managed to hold the #1 Paid App slot on iTunes for several weeks. Flight Control HD is one of the few iPad Remakes that manages to completely set itself apart from the original. The larger screen space allow for significantly bigger maps, making it Flight Control HD a whole new game! If you’re a fan of the original, you’ll love the iPad version, too.
Repurchase if you own the iPhone Version?
Yes. 3 new large scale maps.
Video Review: Gameloft’s Blades of Fury Delivers a True Fighting Experience
Price: $6.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it!
Pros: Great graphics, astounding gameplay, comfortable controls and a multiplayer mode to boot!
Cons: Only that it wasn’t released sooner.
Bottom line: Quite possibly the best fighting game app on the App Store. If you’ve been itching for some hack and slash brawling, don’t hesitate to download.
The software development company Gameloft has recently been positioning itself as one of the premiere publishers of high-end, premium quality iPhone OS games, and by now, its no secret that the do so by re-inventing popular console titles, such as Warcraft, Grand Theft Auto, and Madden NFL 10 (just to name a few) and bringing them to the iPhone. One of the most recent additions to that line up is Blades of Fury, a beautifully rendered 3D fighting game along the same lines as the popular Soul Calibur series.
In my opinion, despite any initial skepticism, Blades of Fury manages to deliver the first well-implemented and full-featured fighting game to the App Store. The app features several play modes, including story, arcade, and survival, 10 unique characters, each with specific individual characteristics, weapons, and costumes. Each character also has a large move set consisting of approximately 20 attacks and combinations.
For those familiar with Soul Calibur, everything about this app will feel very familiar. The victor must take the best of three rounds. The play primarily occurs in 2D plain, but players can sidestep around the 3D ring to avoid incoming attacks. There are 2 basic types of attacks, horizontal and vertical along with a slew of special moves powered by an energy meter. Players can win a round by either polishing off their opponent’s health meter or knocking him out of the ring.
Gameplay is very enjoyable. Story mode allows players to follow the interlocking storyline of all the characters and unlock new characters (included within the aforementioned cast of 10), while arcade and survival mode are perfect for quick consecutive battles. Thankfully the game contains a multiplayer mode where you can battle friends over Wi-fi or Bluetooth.
The on-screen analog stick and buttons work surprisingly well and feel confortable to use. It doesn’t take long to get the hang of pulling off detailed combos or special moves. To aid in mastering this process a practice mode is included, and each character’s attack move list can be accessed from the pause menu during any game mode.
All in all, Blades of Fury is an impressive fighting game app for the iPhone OS that rivals what many might expect to find on a portable, dedicated gaming system, such as the PSP. It’s no surprise to find this app priced at a premium price-point of $6.99, but if you’re a fighting game enthusiast downloading this app is a no brainer (and doubly so if you’re a fan of Soul Calibur).
Review: Ramp Champ - An Addictive Arcade Bowling App
Price: $1.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it!
Replay Value: Very High
Pros: Quick, simple, and fun with tons of prizes, achievements, and replay value.
Cons: Prizes could be more interactive.
Bottom Line: Ramp Champ might just be the best arcade bowling / ski ball app on the App Store.
There are have been many attempts to bring Arcade Bowling to the iPhone OS, and while some of the apps are quite a bit of fun, Ramp Champ definitely gets the gold medal. Instead of the traditional ski ball setup, Ramp Champ uses 4 different themed scenarios to keep the game fresh and interesting, with 4 more scenarios downloadable via in-app purchasing. Some of the themes involve clowns, ninjas, sharks, space-invaders, just to name a few. Each scenario also comes with it’s own unique set of achievements specific to that level.
To add in a little extra incentive, players earn tickets based on their score and can cash them in for various prizes. The prizes don’t’ do much, but they’re fun to collect on your prize shelf along with achievement trophies.
The controls are very fine-tuned—difficult enough to make earning achievements challenging, but accurate enough that your score still relies upon skill. The themes add an element of variety and fun to the game that similar apps are missing, and the prizes and achievements give you incentive to keep replaying and save up your tickets.
It’s hard too find many negatives about Ramp Champ. Personally, I think I’d like to see the developers do more with the prizes, such as adding sounds and animation to some. I also hope the developers continue to add new scenarios for in-app purchasing.
Overall, I think Ramp Champ has all the essential elements necessary to make it a winner. Fun gameplay, multiple scenarios, lots of rewards, downloadable content, and all with an easy pick up and play style. If you’ve ever been a fan of ski ball, you’ll probably enjoy Ramp Champ.
Video Review: Isotope: A Must Buy Space Shooter!
Price: $1.99
App Store Link: Full / Lite
Verdict: Love it!
Replay Value: Very High
Isotope: A Space Shooter is perhaps one of the most complete and well-designed games on the app store. Graphics are elegantly simple and gameplay is surprisingly deep thanks impart to Isotope’s detailed ship customization options. If you don’t try Isotope, you’re missing out, so at least give the free lite version a shot.
At first glance, Isotope might seem like just another simple survival app, but after you spend a little time with the game you’ll realize it’s much, much more. In fact, Isotope is possibly one of the most detailed games on the App Store.
Isotope is a retro space shooter with simple, yet spectacular neon-glowing graphics and addicting gameplay. In campaign mode, players fight through waves of enemies over the course of 30 missions—ranging in difficulty level from very easy to insanely impossible, leveling up skill points and earning money to unlock additional levels, ships, and abilities.
Once players have enough cash, they’ll want to click into the store where there are 40 different ships available for purchase, all with varying stats and designs. The stats and design affect which and exactly how many upgrades the ship can be equipped with. Power-up come in the form of abilities, modules, and satellites.
Abilities are special activated powers for your ship. Some abilities include time stop, proximity bombs, and the “Mega Laser.” Modules help boost your ships stats, and satellites provide you with a mini “satellite” ship with its own special ability—such as shooting approaching enemies—that follows your ship around.
Eventually, once players have their ship built up enough, they can also try out survival mode. Like most survival games, the goal of this mode is to keep your ship alive as long as possible against an endless onslaught of enemy ships. One nice feature of Isotope is that it allows you to choose your starting wave, eliminating the need to repeat unnecessary waves.
Overall, Isotope or by its full name, Isotope: A Space Shooter, is an exceptional iPhone app definitely worth the purchase. Controls are perfect, graphics are explosive, and gameplay is addicting. My only gripe with the game is that it doesn’t offer a multiplayer deathmatch mode; personally, I’d love to see this in a future update. Unless you absolutely hate survival or space shooters, Isotope is a must buy. And for those that aren’t convinced, at least give the free lite version a try.
Video Review: Pac-Man Remix - He’s Back and He’s Remixed!
Price: $5.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it
Replay Value: High
Pac-Man Remix is a fun take on the original classic. While the app manages to provide a decent amount of entertainment, the difficulty is nowhere near as challenging as the original, and unlike its REMIX series predecessors, the original is not included. If you’re looking for a re-imagined Pac-Man game with better graphics than the original, you’ll probably enjoy Pac-Man Remix.
Pac-Man makes a triumphant return to the iPhone, only this time in 3D—sort of. Pac-Man Remix is the latest addition to Namco’s REMIX series, which takes classic tiles and gives them a makeover, complete with improved graphics and gameplay.
Pac-Man Remix will remind you exactly of the arcade classic with a few twists. For starters, an over-world map has been added to the game to differentiate between sub-worlds. The app appears to have 6 sub-worlds, and each sub-world contains 5 stages.
As stages get more complex, you’ll encounter obstacles in the form of doors, elevators, and teleporters. There are even boss fights for each sub-world! In fact, the best way to sum up Pac-Man Remix is to imagine the original Pac-Man game play, but as a console platformer.
Once you’ve beaten a level in regular mode, it becomes available to you in free play.
Visually, the game is stunning with its new 3D graphics, though the 3D graphics really have very little effect on gameplay, making the app more accurately described as to 2.5D. The music and sounds effects have also been upgrade for the better, without losing that classic Pac-Man feel.
The app definitely isn’t perfect, however. My two biggest complaints are about difficulty level and controls. Simply put, the app is way too easy, even on the hardest difficulty setting. The ghosts seem much slower and dumber than in original Pac-Man. In fact, any time I lost a life in the game, it had more to do with control issues than anything else.
There are two options to control Pac-Man, arrow keys or directional swipe. I found the latter to be far more effective, but still far from perfect. More than occasionally, Pac-Man would either move in the wrong direction or sometimes completely change course altogether. While most of the time, this was little more than an annoyance, sometimes it did result in death.
Overall, Pac-Man remix is fun new take on the original. While I think the difficulty level needs to be ramped up a bit and controls might need a little tweaking, this is still a very solid game.
If you’ve been wanting a Pac-Man game, but couldn’t bring yourself to pay $5.99 for the original, Pac-Man Remix—though priced the same—may be worth the investment. Unfortunately, unlike some of the App Store Remixes, such as Dig Dug and Galaga, Pac-Man Remix does not contain the original arcade game. If you want that, you’ll still have to shell out $5.99 for it.
Video Review: Witness the Evolution of a Classic with Space Invaders Infinity Gene
Price: $4.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it
Replay Value: Very High
Space Invaders Infinity Gene breathes new life into an old classic. If you’re a fan of the original, you should check this one out.
What happens when you apply the theory of evolution to a video game classic? The answer is Space Invaders Infinity Gene, and it’s impressive.
The app starts with a brief tribute to the original, intentionally accentuating Space Invader’s outdated simplicity. But after only a couple seconds of play, your game is taken over by the Infinity Gene, and the first stage of evolution occurs right before your eyes.
After just a few simple stages, players will find that this once-tired arcade game has taken on a new life all its own. In fact, the more you play the game, the more it evolves. The more it evolves, the more features you unlock. These include features for your ship, such as free movement, new weapons, and extra lives, as well as features for your game and options menu, such as new sound effects, difficulty modes, and levels.
As the game evolves, classic Spaces Invaders is definitely taken to new, challenging levels of fun. But perhaps one of the most interesting features of Space Invaders Infinity Gene is the app’s ability to generate an infinite number of original levels by accessing your iPod music library. The app creates levels based on the data found in the music files, so the same file always creates the same level (on any device). This means the app is only limited by the size of your music collection.
All in all, Space Invaders Infinity Gene is exactly what it claims to be, a fun evolution of the classic, arcade shooter. Is Space Invaders Infinity Gene right for everyone? Probably not, but it seems fairly safe to say if you are or ever were a fan of the classic video game, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised by this new adaptation.
Video Review: Ranch Rush
Price: $1.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it!
Replay Value: High
Can’t get enough of those addictively frantic time management games? Did you lose hours of your life to Sally’s Spa and Diner Dash? Then Ranch Rush is probably right for you. Based off its PC counterpart, this fun new time management app is a welcome addition to the App Store. Whether you’re new to the genre or a seasoned veteran, Ranch Rush will bring you hours of fun.
It was only a matter of time before the popular time management title, Ranch Rush, made it's way over to the iPhone. Along the same lines as games like Diner Dash, Airport Mania, and Sally's Spa, Ranch Rush will have your head spinning with hectic fun.
Players take on the role of Sara, a young lady trying to help save her friend’s failing greenhouse nursery. In order to earn some extra cash, Sara decides to open a farmer's market next door. Your job is to help her build a successful market from the ground up.
Like most time management games, things start simple at steady pace and quickly get more and more demanding and, inevitably, frantic. Before you know it, you've gone from gardening clovers and tomatoes, to farming 4 crops, milking cows, harvesting honey, and making ketchup, and that's just by the end of week 2!
Controls are simple. You direct Sara by tapping the object you want her to interact with. She can remember several tasks at once, so you can stay a few steps ahead. The in-game shop is simple to use whenever you might need to buy new crops, more soil, or an extra stack of crates to make your life easier. Additionally, everything on the screen can be moved around and rearranged so you can experiment with finding the most efficient farming layout.
Overall, graphics and sound are great, and gameplay is simple and fun. In fact, Ranch Rush may be the most fun I've had with a time management app since Diner Dash. While the plot line and cartoonish graphics might initially seem girly to some, I think just about anyone will be able to enjoy the quick planning and hectic tapping involved in Ranch Rush if they only give it a chance.
If you've been looking for the next great Sally's Spa or Diner Dash, definitely pick up Ranch Rush. If you're new to the genre, I think you'll find Ranch Rush is a good place to start.
Video Review: Globall - An Original Brick Breaker Done iPhone Style.
Globall is a Brick Breaker-style game for iPhone minus the paddle. Instead, the ball is controlled via accelerometer similar to marble rolling games, such as aMaze! and Labyrinth. Your goal is to clear the level of all colored bricks with the highest score possible.
In fact, possibly one of the most appealing elements of Globall is its fun and unique implementation of global leaderboards. Instead of using a standard high scores list, Globall creates an elegant graphical representation of your score on a 3D rendered globe. You can zoom in and out to see the proximity of everyone else around you who has played and beaten your high score. Your nearest score blocker (i.e. the closest person with a higher score than your own) is identified in red, and the person with the highest score in the world is identified in violet.
Part of the fun of the app is replaying a level, trying to maximize your points. Players can do so by coordinating their color-coded score multiplier with the color bricks they’re breaking. Collecting coins, time bonuses, and avoiding bad guys can all help boost your final score.
Like many Brick Breaker games, Globall contains several power ups to help you along the way, such as lightening ball, ice ball, bomb ball, etc, each of which gives the ball special properties. Learning how to use them effectively can help maximized your score.
Overall, Globall is a very enjoyable app that makes great use of device specific features, such as shake and tilt controls. Graphics are visually stunning and gameplay is smooth and fun. With over 50 levels, Globall has tons of content to keep things fresh. But even better, the fun and unique global scoreboards make perfecting your scores an addiction, drastically increasing replay value. If you pick this one up, you won’t be disappointed.
Review: DOOM Resurrection Brings the BFG to iPhone
Price: $9.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it!
Replay Value: Medium High
If Wolfenstein 3D is the grandfather of all FPS (First Person Shooters), than DOOM must be the father. DOOM Resurrection makes it clear id had lofty ambitions for DOOM's debut on the App Store, and fans of the series won't be disappointed.
id Software is quickly making its presence known on the iPhone OS, first with the release of Wolfenstein 3D Classic, and now with DOOM Resurrection, a title developed exclusively for the iPhone and iPod Touch. DOOM Resurrection offers some of the best FPS action currently available on the iPhone today. The app contains a mediocre story line that has players trudging though 6 lengthy levels of an overrun Mars space station and 2 levels of Hell-themed action.
One of the first thing diehard DOOM fans will notice is that id has taken certain liberties with the game to create optimal gameplay on the device. The most notable of these changes is the "on-rails" movement system, meaning players have no control over their actual movement; instead, they're forced to follow a pre-determined path left only to control the aiming, firing, and simple dodging. On first impression, this might sound like a bad thing and even be enough to scare away some diehard fans, but in the end--if your willing to give the control method a chance--this mechanic allows the game to be incredibly enjoyable and successful. Id managed to skillfully integrate accelerometer-based aiming in way that leaves the player feeling very involved in the game. Quick on-screen button taps allow players to fire, dodge, reload, and switch weapons, all on a moments notice. Additionally multiple well-known weapons, including the chainsaw, plasma rifle, and BFG make an appearance for the title, and unlike some other iPhone FPS, using different weapons can make an impact on gameplay.
While the gameplay and graphics are absolutely stunning, the in game story leaves somethings to be desired. Summed up, you're the last remaining marine in an overrun space station, trying to escape to the evacuation ship with the help of a remote controlled robot named Sam and the trapped scientist that's controlling it. It actually doesn't get much more complicated than that. The game contains story scenes (I hesitate to call them cinematics) with on-screen text dialogue. Some real cinematics would have been nice, or at least to have the dialogue voice acted, especially considering DOOM Resurrection's premium $9.99 price point. The end of the game also felt a bit weak, with the final boss being no different than (or at least very similar to) a boss from earlier levels.
The game offers several hours of once-through gameplay. Yet even though the app allows players to replay completed levels to compete for higher scores, the game lacks high replay value. It would be nice to see the inclusion of survival mode that included an infinite level or two with enemy randomization and online leader boards. The levels, despite the lack of movement control, could potentially loop (and/or randomize) to create a near endless experience.
As made known by John Carmack, id has plans to release many additional iPhone titles, including DOOM Classic, DOOM RPG, Wolfenstein RPG, and possibly some of the Quake series, as well.
Overall, DOOM Resurrection delivers the heart-pounding, bullet-flying action one would expect from a DOOM title, and as long you can get past the on-rails movement style (which isn't difficult to do), you'll find yourself completely immersed in this delightfully malevolent game.
DrawRace Review
Price: $0.99
App Store Link: Full / No Lite Version
Verdict: Love it (Exceptional)
Replay Value: Very High
RedLynx's DrawRace is a new racing game with a surprisingly fun twist! Draw your way around the track to race the AI or your friends. With such entertaining single and multiplayer action on one device, it's safe to say RedLynx Ltd comes in first place with DrawRace! It'll be shocking if DrawRace doesn't steal the #1 Paid App slot on iTunes. And at 99¢, it's a must buy!
DrawRace, RedLynx's follow-up to the popular Monster Trucks Nitro, is a racing game like you've never played before. Think closer to Flight Control than Need For Speed. Gameplay is simple; you're shown the overhead view of a track and asked to plot your car's path via tracing before the race ever begins. The app pays attention to speed, route, and turns as you draw your path. Once you've completed drawing your laps, the race begins. In single player mode, you race against an AI opponent; in multiplayer you compete with up to 2 other friends on the same device (take turn drawing your laps before the race starts). As you watch the race unfold within seconds, you'll realize just how accurate and precise the trace-line is. You'll quickly learn you need to account for drifting, sharp turns, and obstacles. Before you know it, you'll find yourself sucked in by the complexity of this "seemingly simple" app, and the best part is: It's a heck of a lot of fun!
RedLynx has packed a lot of content into this app. There are 20 tracks that grow progressively more challenging and several gameplay modes. Single player mode has three sub-modes: Time Trials, Against Personal Bests (vs. your ghost), and Against Network Opponents (vs. other peoples ghosts). As previously mentioned, you can also play multiplayer with one or two other friends (all sharing the same device). You all take turn drawing your laps before the race begins, and then your off to see the results
The only criticism for the app is that on occasion, my car would veer WAY off the path I drew, and I'm unclear if this occurred because of a "collision" with another car, or because of a bug? If it's a bug, it needs to be fixed ASAP (predominately occurred during the multiplayer mode), if it's a car collision, this needs to be made clearer on screen through graphics and sound (and the draw prompt arrow should have friends start drawing in different "lanes" instead of in the same exact spot). However this was only a small nuisance when compared to how much enjoyment the app delivered.
Overall, RedLynx has developed a winner with DrawRace. The game is beautifully simple, but laps and laps of fun. Single player mode is addictively gripping, and multiplayer mode is an absolute blast. Don't get passed on this one, make the 99¢ pit stop and you'll come out in first place!
What we'd like to see in future updates: Support for a forth player; single player races against multiple AI cars; more tracks; veering/colition bug fix or clarification.