Ok, it's sort of a cop-out to call a 'Lite' version a "must get", but I have good reason:

1) Isotope Lite has more gameplay than most full versions
2) The full version of Isotope isn't yet available.

The App Store has recently been swarmed by a number of Geometry Wars-alikes. These are retro-themed space shooters with multi-directional shooting and swarms of enemies. We've even highlighted a few of them. Most of these games, however, have had some nagging issues that kept them from being great. Too few weapons, too little content, uncomfortable controls, etc...

In contrast, Isotope seems to have enough content and challenge to keep you busy for some time. The Lite version of the game which was released tonight has a feature-complete survival mode with online leaderboards. It also contains a limited campaign mode which acts as a tutorial and also provides about 5 levels of play. In contrast, the full version has over 30 missions as well as a significantly more exhaustive upgrade system.

The game employs a store upgrade system to purchase new ships, weapons and capabilities. Money is earned through combat (either in Survival or Campaign modes) and can be spent on these upgrades. The different ships come with difficult capabilities and can be stored for use at any time.

The game also offers every type of control-system you might want in a multi-directional shooter. The default controls worked best for me with dual analog sticks with auto-centering. This means that you can tap anywhere on the screen and that serves as center point (like DropShip). You also have the option of fixed dpads (like iDracula) as well as accelerometer control (like 2079) and tap-targeting (like Belowscape). The only possible option I didn't see is being able to swap the movement and firing pads (though you could play it upside down).

[ Full HD version | Low Bandwidth version ]

You can check out the video, or just go ahead and download it since it's free. The full version of the game is expected at the end of next week and will be priced at $2.99.

App Store Link: Isotope Lite, Free

Matmi has released their beautifully designed pinball game Monster Pinball [$3.99] into the App Store.

Their game is described as a "totally original pinball extravaganza" which offers the player 6 interconnected pinball tables that are stylistically designed. The action is fast and furious with 60 frame per second animations.

The initial reactions to the game have been very positive from our own Eli Hodapp and Big Albie (5 stars), but perhaps most convincing is an unabashed thumbs up from forum user dogmeat who has been diligently reviewing many of the other pinball games in the App Store.

Its absolutely magnificent, and worth the money, presentation value is great

So far, the sole dissenting criticism is that the game perhaps doesn't quite "feel" like traditional pinball due to the stylistic embellishments, though, that seems it was part of the intent.

The developer's gameplay video shows the action nicely:

App Store Link: Monster Pinball, $3.99

Following today's theme of major new releases, EA has released Clue to the App Store [$4.99]. Clue was originally a board game that was later made into a movie. It's since spawned a number of spin off games and video games including EA's release today.

Clue is a murder mystery game in which you search for clues, question suspects and make accusations to solve the case. You play the role of an aspiring crime reporter guided by your newspaper editor. Based on the evidence you gather, you try to pick out the killer and see if you're right.

Early impressions are positive, praising the overall art style and gameplay:

The gameplay is straightforward and as you interact with other characters, options will appear in the form of questions to be asked or statements. Arrows show areas where you can move to as well as visual cues highlighting different tasks. There are alternate endings depending on your deductions, and the achievement system helps with the replayability. .... Clue is a well-designed and presented game for the platform.

App Store Link: Clue, $4.99

Tapni.Ru posts some screenshots from another upcoming Gameloft game Real Tennis 2009.

The translated bullet point features include:

- 8 players who have performed with the help of a detailed 3D-graphics.
- From Paris to New York or Stockholm, play at 7 different stadiums on the 3 surfaces - clay, grass and synthetics - from each of their impression.
- Local Server mode Wi-Fi - Compete with friends in real time!
- Office, which takes into account all the features of iPhone / iPod touch
- Serve, simply turning your iPhone!
- 2 intuitive touch regime that will suit everyone: A digital keyboard for maximum accuracy or joystick to control in the arcade style.
- Wide range of strikes: candle smesh and beyond.
- Career mode, which allows you to tour as a professional player.

The game is reportedly sent to the App Store and should arrive very soon. Tapni.Ru also seems the likely source of the Rise of Lost Empires screenshots that appeared earlier today.

It appears Gameloft is releasing their real-time strategy game Rise of Lost Empires for the iPhone and iPod touch very soon.

These screenshots appeared on Spazio Cellulare amongst other sites but we had a hard time finding the original source of the news. The @RiseLostEmpires Twitter account does say that the game is on the way for the iPhone.

The game was previously released for mobile phones and lists the following features:

• A true game of strategy: colossal armies to lead, cities to build, and resources to manage.
• 2 campaigns – one with humans, the other with Orcs – and no fewer than 20 missions.
• Easy to pick up and play: build a city or lead an army with just a few clicks.
• More than 20 units to control and 20 different buildings to construct.
• 6 heroes with tremendous strength and magical powers that will lead your armies.
• Digitized voices: hear your troops respond to the call of their master.

The mobile version of the game was highly rated.

Thanks antonioj

The number of games coming out for the iPhone can be quite overwhelming. Last night, in particular, brought a large number of new releases, some of which we've been anxiously awaiting. Here's a list of some notable game releases (and videos) from just last night.

Since we haven't had a chance to evaluate them all, we can't necessarily recommend them yet... but it's worth watching these game videos which are included after the break.

• Tiki Golf 3D ($2.99) - "insane" mini golf with a unique control system. Discuss.
• Sweetwater Defense ($3.99) - 3D tower defense with pirate fleets and sea creatures. Discuss.
• Stragea ($1.99) - 3D real-time strategy game we previewed. Discuss.
• Return To Mysterious Island ($4.99) - 3d adventure game offers over 15 hours of gameplay. Discuss.
• Parachute Panic ($0.99) - land as many skydivers on boats as possible. Discuss.

We will circle back to the best ones, or you can decide based on the videos included below.

(more...)

NimbleBit is giving away their Sky Burger game [App Store] for Free for today (Friday) only.

The game was originally priced at $0.99 and is an accelerometer-based stacking game.

Sky Burger puts you to work stacking burgers to order! Catch the right ingredients as they fall from the sky, and don’t forget that top bun when you’re done!

Build over 50 unique burger orders that grow taller and taller the more orders you complete. Complete enough orders in a row and build an unlimited SkyBurger!

While the game seems quite simple, it has generated quite a following on TouchArcade's forums.

And as a free download, there's no excuse not to get this game.

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App Store Link: Sky Burger, Free (Today only)

EA has posted an official page on the upcoming iPhone version of Mass Effect.

The award-winning Mass Effect game universe has now arrived on your iPhone and iPod touch! Tales of human courage and individual human achievement resound through the galaxy. Here is your opportunity to play the story of Jacob Taylor, a biotic-powered super-soldier who stumbles across a plot to terrorize civilization's greatest beacon of hope, the mighty Citadel space station. Can you prevent a heinous attack that threatens to knock humanity off the galactic stage?

Game features listed include:

• Gripping storyline that enables you, playing super-soldier Jacob Taylor, to prevent galactic chaos!
• Stylish art presentation delivers an animated graphic novel experience!
• A blend of nuanced story telling with gripping top-down shooter combat!
• Experience the back-story behind some of the main characters in the upcoming Mass Effect 2 game (for Xbox 360 and PC).

Word of the iPhone version was leaked earlier this month. EA will be giving a sneak peek at Mass Effect at E3 next week, and TouchArcade will be there.

The much anticipated BeatRider rhythm game launched into the App Store tonight with a full version [$4.99] as well as a generous Lite version [Free].

BeatRider is a rhythm game in which the player taps along with the music. While the basic concept is the same as popular apps such as Tap Tap Revenge and Dance Dance Revolution, BeatRider has one unique feature that has not been seen in the app store yet: the ability to use your own music.

There's a reason we haven't seen this feature before -- Apple doesn't make it easy. App Store apps are restricted in what they can access and the music library is off limits. In order to get around this restriction, the developers of BeatRider came up with web-based solution that works very well. You simply upload your MP3 or M4A song files to your free account on MyBeatRider. Once uploaded, the songs are processed and available to download within the iPhone application. The app downloads the songs to your iPhone or iPod Touch which can be played later even offline.

The system works surprisingly well, though given the size of the files (4-8MB) you are transferring, we recommend you stick to fast Wi-Fi connections. Even the Lite version allows you to upload and download songs, giving you the full experience. The difference between the Lite and Full versions is that the Lite only allows you to hold 1 single song while the Full version allows up to 20.

The resulting quality of gameplay can be variable depending on the songs. Songs with strong beats seem to fare better with the automated analysis. MyBeatRider offers a list of frequently played songs and most uploaded songs to help guide your choices. I found Boom Boom Pow by Black Eyed Peas and Paper Planes by M.I.A. to be particularly good songs to try. Meanwhile, TouchArcade forum users are listing songs they recommend in this discussion thread.

The game, itself, works as you might expect. Tap on the notes as they cross the bottom. The game also includes tap and hold as well as tap and slide mechanics. Songs are given up to 6 different levels of difficulty and even the easy difficulties can be challenging. When testing the game out, I recommend sticking to "Easy" and above. As tempting as "Very Easy" is, the resulting note-mapping simply wasn't very fun for several of the songs I tried.

All in all, a really nice title that offers a full featured Lite version to try. Give this one a try.

App Store Link: BeatRider Touch, $4.99, BeatRider Touch Lite, Free

Two notable iPhone games that we enjoyed and covered in the past have received free, lite versions.

Hero of Sparta Lite

Gameloft's Hero of Sparta [App Store] was one of the most impressive games for the iPhone at the time of its release. The level complexity, 3D rendering, and cinematics come together to deliver an impressive experience. For fans of the "Hack n' Slash" genre, the overall production value of the paid app and the fun to be had is likely worth the $5.99.

The free, lite version [App Store] features only a very short first level (versus eight of the full release), but should give a basic feel for the paid app to those debating the purchase.

Platypus Lite

Astraware's Platypus [App Store] is particularly notable for its unusual claymation-style artwork and retro-inspired soundtrack.  Every item in the game was formed with modeling clay and photographed for inclusion in the game.  It's a fun, unique looking side-scrolling shooter.  And while it's a bit easier and slower-paced than typical hardcore side-scrollers, it's one of the better scrolling shooters currently available for the iPhone.

The free, lite version of Platypus [App Store] includes one clay landscape and the first area of Level One to give a feel for the game. (The full version includes a total of 20 areas across four clay levels.)

Gameloft's latest title, New York Nights: Success in the City [App Store] popped up for sale this evening. As a social simulation game, you play the role of your customized character, fresh off a plane in Manhattan with little more than the clothes you're wearing and an entire city in front of you.

New York is split in to six areas: 5th Avenue, Greenwich, Wall Street, Times Square, Chinatown and Central Park. Each section of the city has its own set of NPC's to talk to and different businesses to explore as you make your way to the top of the nightlife scene.

The game starts with a fairly detailed tutorial in which you meet your brother at your new apartment, make friends with someone on the street (who oddly enough quickly becomes your new roommate), work your first job as a dancer at the nearby Club Awesome. New York Nights: Success in the City plays similar to The Sims, only instead of focusing around your house, emphasis is placed on people, activities, and relationships. A focus that I'm enjoying as the decorating/building aspect of The Sims never interested me that much.

The graphics are colorful, the adventures I've had so far have been fairly amusing, and the game as a whole seems to have a good sense of humor. Originally existing on mobile phones, New York Nights: Success in the City is a decent port. The touchscreen interface works well, although it would be nice if there were confirmations on conversation choices since there is nothing you can do but face the consequences of talking about "Car accidents" instead of "Club chicks".

As you work your way through the game, you balance a wide variety of stats. For instance, throughout the day you get tired, increasing "Sleep". Drinking coffee to stay up later decreases your "Sleep", but in turn increases your "Crazy" and "Bathroom" statistics.

New York Nights: Success in the City was well recieved in its original mobile phone release, and having enjoyed what I've seen so far in the game, I expect the iPhone port to see the same praise.

App Store Link: New York Nights: Succes in the City, $3.99

Tag Games has released a major update to its GTA-like urban action RPG Car Jack Streets [App Store] and extended the game's $.99 sale price.

Tag Games has put together the v1.1 update based on user feedback on the original release and is currently at work on the upcoming v1.2 update.  According to Creative Director Jamie Bryan, the company will be supporting and expanding Car Jack Streets well into the future.

“We are an independent developer that really takes onboard how gamers receive our titles. We aim to update Car Jack Streets with their feedback at the forefront of the creative process and to resolve any technical or gameplay issues that are negatively affecting the user experience. Essentially, we want to deliver a pure, ongoing and dedicated service to our important and valued customers as a key way of evolving the game and building further sales potential.”

New feautres and updates in v1.1 as listed by Tag Games:

• Fully interactive “Jack City” map available from your GPS
• All major reported bugs will be remedied once players install the update
• New ‘steering wheel’ control method for casual players and increased button responsiveness
• Increased Lives. Now players will have five chances to pay mob boss Frankie, making the game less harsh if you miss a payment
• Randal can now carry up to five weapons at a time and cycle through them at will
• Players will have the option of returning to their condo safe house to save weapons and vehicle before exiting the game
• Two new vehicles. The destructive Sports Utility Tank and the Sky Copter
• The ability to play your own iPod music in the game
• All new, soon to be announced in-game competition

We found Car Jack Streets to be an excellent action RPG and our biggest complaint was the control scheme -- an issue addressed in this update.  At $.99, there's no excuse for letting this one pass you by.  See our review (plus video) of the original v1.0 release.

The update is currently being discussed in our forums where users are loving what they're seeing.

App Store Link: Car Jack Streets, $.99 (limited time)

  

Id software's John Carmack posted the first screenshots and notes about the development of Doom Classic for the iPhone.

Carmack reveals he's been spending the majority of his time working on iPhone Doom Classic for several weeks and the first beta build went out to testers just a couple of days ago. He expects Doom will be ready for submission to the App Store next month.

Carmack also describes iPhone Doom as a more serious effort than Wolfenstein 3D Classic which was released to the iPhone in March.

In addition to the millions of people with fond memories of the game, there is still an active gaming / development community surrounding the original Doom, and I don't want to disappoint any of them.
....
Making Doom run on a new platform is only a couple days of work. Making it a really good game on a platform that doesn't have a keyboard and mouse or an excess of processing power is an honest development effort.

  

Carmack goes on to describe the efforts in porting Doom to the iPhone including the challenges and design decisions surrounding the artwork. The game is said to run at a solid 30 fps and "it is Doom as you remember it, which is quite a bit better than it actually was." The first release will support multi-player over Wi-Fi and a later iPhone 3.0 release will support multiplayer bluetooth. 3G multi-player will not be included since "the latencies just aren't good enough".

We'll let you know as soon as the game is released into the App Store.

Early this month we previewed CobraMobile's upcoming top-down shooter Bombs Away.  The game has just hit the App Store -- after a name change -- as iBomber [link].

iBomber is a totally unique top down arcade styled bombing game based in the Pacific Ocean of 1943. You play iBomber as a young bomber pilot protecting your fleet and searching out key enemy land and sea targets to destroy!!! iBomber will immediately transport you into the thick of the action with the games multiple missions providing a huge variety of gameplay.

Features listed by the developer:

• 12 action packed missions
• Super smooth game-play
• Amazingly detailed graphics
• Multiple bomb types and pick-ups
• Amazing audio and 3D spatial sound
• The satisfaction of blowing everything up

iBomber is a tilt-controlled game in which you play a WWII bombardier in the Pacific, bent on laying waste to as many land and sea targets as possible.  The playscreen is your downward view from your aircraft's bomb bay doors, complete with targetting crosshairs and a radar scope.  Maneuver the plane via tilt, line up the target, and it's bombs away.  It's really a more challenging proposition that one might think in just looking at the video, given the need to take the movement of the bomber and, in the case of aircraft or ships, the targets into account in landing a hit.

A number of different bomb types can be picked up during combat -- Blockbuster, Rocket Bomb, Grand Slam -- that each deliver a different type of damage to the enemies. There are 12 levels in all (nine of which are locked initially), each offering a particular mission to complete.

The game has a highly polished feel, with very well done graphics and animation, a sentiment that has been echoed in our forums.  Very nice, visually.  Thanks to the aforementioned challenge posed by the game, playtime needed to complete every mission should be fairly significant.  But practice makes perfect, and destruction fans should enjoy the carnage that comes with learned skill at the crosshairs.

See the developer's gameplay video.

App Store Link: iBomber, $2.99

Don Bluth's classic arcade game Space Ace has just landed in the App Store for a price of $4.99 [link]. The launch is sure to excite fans of the original arcade game which was released back in 1984.

Space Ace was the follow up title to the popular Dragon's Lair laserdisc game which shared the same style of gameplay.

Like Dragon's Lair, the gameplay of Space Ace requires the player to move the joystick in the right direction or press the fire button at the right moment in order to avoid the various hazards Ace/Dexter faces.

The game offered film-quality animation played off the laser disc with the player reacting and timing joystick movements based on the action. Space Ace also introduced some branching possibilities to the game.

The game seems accurate to the arcade version but uses on-screen arrow buttons to replace the joystick. Davidovich, a long time Space Ace fan, was disappointed with the control implementation, though found the game to be an otherwise faithful port.

First, I stole more quarters from my father to play and master this game when I was a kid than I can remember. So, I'm obviously a bit biased.

It looks and plays exactly like the original version in every way except one - The controls. They messed it all up. There is an onscreen controller, which can be positioned either on the left or the right bottom of the screen. You can change this setup to have the arrows on the top, bottom, left, or right, basically spread apart.

Both methods have their downfalls. If you choose to have the mini, on-screen controller positioned on the bottom right or left, your fingers cover a lot of the action on the screen. If you choose setup #2 [ed note: pictured above], you can see the entire screen but now you have to be precise about tapping those arrows, which causes you to look at the arrows and not the action on the screen, and with this type of game, it's all based on timing, so, it becomes difficult to enjoy the game because you're always thinking about where your thumbs are.

I'd definitely recommend holding off on purchasing this until they change the controls to accommodate being able to just touch any area of any side of the screen to create an action. I hope that makes sense.

As far as the actual game goes - it's Space Ace. Anyone who has played Dragon's Lair should get a kick out of it. It's a simple, tap left, right, up or down, at the moment the screen and controller flash yellow. This progresses the storyline. If you are unsuccessful in doing so, the game shows a cut scene of death and you lose a life. Simple and basic - Oh the eighties!

Meanwhile, Big Albie had a better experience with the controls. The game comes with 3 modes of difficulty: Cadet, Captain and Ace. Cadet offers the additional help of flashing the button you need to press while in the other modes you must rely on the environmental clues. This video shows a brief amount of gameplay from the first couple of scenes in both Cadet and Captain modes:

[ Full HD version | Low Bandwidth version ]

App Store Link: Space Ace, $4.99