TouchArcade forum user arta ran across this promotional video for Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 for the iPhone that looks impressive:

The description of the video claims the following:

All 10 levels plus 3 bonus levels with incredible graphics and blazing frame rate make this THE definitive skateboarding game for the iPhone. Tony Hawk in all his glory!!

Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 was originally released in 2000 for the Playstation and has been followed up with a number of sequels. The video looks quite convincing, though we haven't heard official confirmation of this title coming to the iPhone.

Thanks arta

Capcom released the iPhone version of Resident Evil: Degeneration [App Store] for $6.99.

The app brings the long running Resident Evil video game franchise to the iPhone and iPod Touch. This installation of the game is based on a recently released computer animated movie and drops you into a 3rd person perspective horror shooter. The game lists the following features:

• Explore Harvardville Airport, rescue survivors, unlock puzzles and battle an army of undead.
• Use your in-game PDA to collect intel, manage inventory and access maps.
• “Laser targeting” allows the players to make aimed accurate shots.
• Backgrounds, character models and objects are all rendered in full 3D.
• Tilt device to reload, shake iPhone/iPod Touch to shake off Zombies

While we had heard of the release was coming few details had been released prior to its appearance in the App Store tonight.

The game features an impressive 3d engine and a combination of virtual d-pad and on-screen buttons to control the action. Movement is controlled through the virtual d-pad and a quick flick down on the pad causes you to turn around 180 degrees. An action button appears when something can be done (pick up an item, open a door, climb a ladder) and a targeting button transitions you into shooting mode. In shooting mode, you have a laser sight to target the zombies and you can use the d-pad to aim up/down/left/right.

The game includes a pretty heavy storyline and in-game cut scenes which direct you to your goals. The cut scenes actually work out quite well to tie the action together. In my early experience, the controls seem to work well enough when you take into account the slow deliberate movement of the zombies. Being unable to shoot and move at the same time, however, made for some awkward early fights.

Early impressions are being recorded in a forum thread. Many of the early opinions have been quite positive: Seishu and skamando. Some later (but still early) forum goers are still adjusting to the controls.

You can judge for yourself in this gameplay video embedded below. AppBank also provides a video in Japanese here which shows a different portion of the game.

[ Full HD version | Low Bandwidth version ]

What we can't easily answer at this early stage is how much gameplay is being offered, but that will be revealed over time. For now, it appears to be a surprisingly well implemented version of this popular franchise.

App Store Link: Resident Evil: Degeneration, $6.99

At long last, the highly popular mobile game Peggle [link] from PopCap Games has been release in the App Store.

Peggle, which MSNBC named one of the "Top 5 most addictive computer games of all time," is a 2D game in which the goal is to use an aimable ball launcher at the top of the screen to fire a ball into a screen full of pegs and bricks and eliminate all orange-colored pegs and bricks before running out of balls.  A roving ball catcher slides back and forth at the bottom of the screen to catch and return any ball that lands in its maw.

Among the standard blue and orange pegs are purple and green "magic" pegs which activate the level's current "magic" power, such as generating a second ball, extending the length of the ball catcher, and showing the deflection path of the next few balls.

Peggle on the iPhone features touch aiming, with instant targeting of any point touched on the screen and finer control by way of a sliding aiming wheel at the side of the screen.  A double tap to the screen will zoom in to that area of play.

Eli, our resident Peggle fanatic, is quite pleased with the iPhone port and feels it lives up to his memory of the game. A few people, however, have noticed that little background music is included with this version of the game.

Other first impressions from our forum members: Burton, jonrosing, Rocketman919, Carlos-Sz.

Those undecided can download the free Mac or PC version of Peggle to try before buying. See our gameplay video for a look at the action.

[ Full HD version | Low Bandwidth version ]

App Store Link: Peggle, $4.99

This morning a tipster emailed us about a pretty amusing Easter Egg found in Paramount's latest title, Top Gun [App Store] to enable a secret mini game. After figuring out Top Gun came packed with at least one one Easter Egg, we went randomly looking for other ones and came up with two more which change your F-22 Raptor in to, well, things that are slightly more fun.

Due to the secretive nature of these things and to not spoil Easter Eggs for people who want to find them on their own, I'm going to include them all after the jump. Read on... if you dare!

(more...)

TouchArcade forum user dannys95 scored some interesting screenshots from a few new games coming from Laminar Research.

The first is X-Plane Trainer (screenshots) a free training application that walks you through the controls and experience of flying X-Plane. Next is a chance to pilot the Space Shuttle (screenshots). Both games have been submitted to the App Store and should be available soon.

And finally, for something different... is the giant fighting robots. Yes, you can try your hand at mech fighting:

Laminar is also said to have submitted this one to the App Store which will be priced at $4.99. Additional screenshots can be seen in the original thread.

Thanks dannys95

PopCap's Peggle is slowly being released across the world onto Apple's iTunes App Store. The game has been scheduled for a May 12th release, so readers in other countries are starting to see the game become available.

We normally don't post about a release until it's available in the U.S. as there usually isn't much to do but wait. But this time, you can download the free Mac or PC version to see if it's a game you'd like on your iPhone.

The iPhone version of Peggle will cost $4.99 in the U.S. and should be available tonight at around 11 p.m. eastern.

App Store Link: Peggle, $4.99 (may work in some countries).

Update: Peggle is out worldwide including the U.S. Video coming soon.

One game we've been meaning to feature for some time is Myth People's Azkend [App Store].

This $2.99 puzzle game has seen life on multiple platforms including the Mac, PC and Flash. The iPhone version, however, manages to still feel perfectly suited for the device with a very natural use of touch controls.

The goal of the game is to convert the entire screen to blue tiles by sliding your finger across like-icons. As you match three or more icons, the underlying tiles turn blue and you are closer to the end of your task. Like most puzzle games, the full experience is greater than the describing the individual parts, and Azkend, in particular, is a wonderfully polished game with plenty of atmosphere.

The developers have also recently released a Lite version [App Store] of the game which gives you a great feel for the experience.

The game has also earned nothing but praise from our forum members and this more detailed review by Big Albie. At $2.99, it seems a bargain, but you can try the Lite version out for yourself.

App Store Link: Azkend Lite, Free, Azkend, $2.99.

Gameloft has dropped the prices on their just-released games Terminator Salvation [App Store, $5.99] and Siberian Strike [App Store, $2.99]. Both games debuted in the past two weeks and were originally priced at $9.99 and $5.99 respectively.

Terminator Salvation

Terminator Salvation was Gameloft's movie tie-in game that offered a 3D shooter set in the Terminator world. While the game was a very high quality production with good controls, the short (2-3 hour) gameplay time may have scared off casual gamers at its original price.

App Store Link: Terminator Salvation, $5.99

Siberian Strike

Meanwhile, Gameloft's Siberian Strike is a vertical scrolling shooter set in the 1940s. Gameplay involves dodging enemy fire and laying waste to the waves of enemy aircraft that dance across the screen, and the boss aircraft at the end of each level. The destruction of certain enemies releases power-ups than can be picked up to enhance weapons and summon wingman reinforcements.

The game received somewhat mixed forum reviews at its original $5.99 price.

App Store Link: Siberian Strike, $2.99

A Clever Twist seems to have hit upon that magic combination of casual gameplay and an interesting mechanic to make a fun new game called Popper! [App Store].

The basic mechanic in the game is to launch a colored pill from the bottom of the screen towards the top. If you manage to hit like-colored pills, those pills match and fall of the screen. You continue this process until you clear the board.

The level structure of the game is also interesting in that it offers some varied gameplay from level to level. Each level carries a different arrangement of pills (circular or horizontal) as well as different uses for the accelerometer. In some levels, the accelerometer controls the aim of your launching pill while in other levels, you control the movement of the other pills. There are 10 levels in all which are played in sequential fashion. Each level is "solved" once you clear the board. The levels do get progressively harder as you progress.

This discrete level progression is unlike most puzzle games and results in a somewhat unsatisfying feeling when the game simply ends after level 10. But local high scores are kept and the speed at which you complete the game increases your score giving you an incentive to try again.

The developer's gameplay video shows some different levels. Note the music does not play during the game itself, just in the title screen.

Overall, a fun game that I ended up spending more time playing then I had intended. In some ways, the game reminds me of Snood and manages to feels right at home on the iPhone.

App Store Link: Popper!, $1.99

Russell Bernau of Super Squawk Software let us know that he has submitted a major version update to his popular Tower Defense game The Creeps! [App Store].

The Creeps! is a fun and charming Tower Defense game that has been a reader favorite. The game incorporates a a few twists to the Tower Defense genre, including the presence of physical objects (trees, gravestones) that must be destroyed before you can build towers on those spots. An abbreviated list of changes include:

• New location added: "Under the Ocean"
• Added 5 new ocean themed Creeps (and boss versions of all 5)
• Added 4 new "Survival" maps
• Added 4 new "Endurance" maps
• Added a new game type: "Door Buster" (Race against the clock, objective is to destroy the door!)
• Added 6 new "Door Buster" maps
• Added New Tower: "Paper Shuriken" (moves in straight line until it hits a terrain obstacle, piercing through creeps along the way, high damage)
• Added New Tower: "Piggy Bank" (doesn't attack, collects coins via interest. Break open to get the cash, but once broken it cannot be used again)
• Added difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, Hard)
• Added Fast Forward (double speed)

Super Squawk has also published a series of videos that demonstrate some of the new features. This one shows the new Paper Shuriken and Piggy Bank towers:

App Store Link: The Creeps!, $1.99

The screams of seamen echo in the deep and wild seas. Now, the seamen will go through an adventure, risking their lives, fighting at sea. Advance to where no human has been before and become a master of Sea.

And so the stage is set for the salty, high seas shooter that is WarShip [App Store] from Goorusoft.

WarShip is basically a simple, pick-up game of high seas cannon warfare.  (Master and Commander, Pirates of the Caribbean -- that sort of thing.)  In short, it's something quite like a pocket version of the sea battle sequences from Sid Meier's Pirates.  There's nothing much beyond that, but that's ok, really.  Now, don't get me wrong -- there's little I'd rather see land on the iPhone more than a quality port of Sid Meier's Pirates.  But, in truth, no dramatic backstory is needed to feel the satisfaction of piercing enemy vessels with high-speed orbs of iron, let loose at your command.

Controls are a simple matter of tilt your iPhone to steer, tap to fire at the closest enemy.  And try to show your adversary the thin profile when the barrage is on its way.

Wounded and sunken enemies cast off booty and, once collected, it can be used to upgrade ship features and buy new and mightier vessels, each with unique features.  But don't let the pirates ravage your coffers...  The game features several play venues to choose from in and around the Mediterranean and East Pacific.

See our gameplay video.

[ Full HD version | Low Bandwidth version ]

WarShip is a rather simple game, but those who sailed under Captain Meier and enjoyed the ship-to-ship battles at sea may want to plunder the App Store for this one.

App Store Link: WarShip, $2.99

Top-down shooter fans may be interested to note the release of WWII-themed iFighter [App Store] for the iPhone and iPod touch.  A free, lite version [App Store] was released six weeks back, features the paid app's full first level and has seen 1.8 million downloads since it appeared in the App Store.

iFighter follows the fairly standard top-down scrolling shooter formula and is visually somewhat reminiscent of 1942.  The player takes the role of the Air Force's ace pilot in WWII with the mission of destroying secret Nazi weapon prototypes.  The game takes place across four levels over the land and sea of Europe, each with a challenging end boss, playable at three different difficulty settings.  Along the way, various power-ups can be collected to help in the fight, including Flash Bullet, Bomb, Sidekick (calls in two wingmen), and Health.

Three control methods -- onscreen joypad, swipe, and motion (accelerometer-based) -- are available, and onscreen movement in all directions is allowed, with left / right viewfield panning, following the aircraft's movement.  Perpetual auto-fire is engaged in all modes but motion, where there's a tap-to-fire option.

See our gameplay video.

[ Full HD version | Low Bandwidth version ]

iFighter brings fairly intense, smoothly animated shooter action and is a solid value at its limited time introductory price of $0.99.

I fighter has been well received by our forum members and Big Albie has posted his own take on the title.

App Store Link: iFighter, $0.99 (limited time), iFighter Lite, Free

Aji's iPhone word game Lexel [App Store] offers a nice and free (for now) variation of your standard word game.

Like all word games, the goal is to simply create words of 3 or more letters. Lexel, however, adds a twist by requiring you to move the letters around on a limited grid in order to form words.

Letters continue to appear randomly on the screen so you need to be quick to form words before the screen fills up. Tiles also can only "slide" around on a grid and must be moved around other pieces. This adds a spacial component to the game that actually works quite well.

Once the board is filled, the game shifts into the the "relaxed" (non-timed) phase where you can continue to form words (if you are able) and then subsequently slide tiles using the empty spaces that are left.

The game was originally released at $1.99 but dropped to Free at the end of April for a "limited time". A nicely produced game that's easily worth the download for word-game fans looking for something different.

App Store Link: Lexel, Free

Secret Exit's has released a major update to their award-winning Zen Bound [App Store] game tonight.

The biggest new features of the game is the addition of a 3rd tree of objects called "Nostalgia". The tree is divided into four thematic groups: Childhood, Old Days (1920s or so), 50s Sci-Fi and Retro Gaming.

A detailed list of new features is provided:

• Tree of Nostalgia added (additional 25 levels)
• Ability to hide in-game user-interface and play the game un-occluded
• Smooth and continuous paint spread from rope
• Rope interpenetration with objects reduced
• Previous game result now displayed correctly
• Level beginning says 'Play' instead of 'Continue if the save game had 0% coverage
• Save game issues addressed
• ...now wrap the "TouchArcade object"...

Ok, we added the last item on the list, but that's what we affectionately call the above object.

Zen Bound has also seen its first price drop to $2.99 (from $4.99). If you're still not convinced, you can still try the Lite version [link].

App Store Link: Zen Bound, $2.99

A few weeks ago I reviewed Pixel Mine's hack and slash RPG, Underworlds [App Store]. I thought it was a great game, with a few minor complaints that it seems like the developers are using as a to-do list for future updates.

Underworlds 1.1 was released to the App Store tonight (it may take some time to fully propagate to all locations) and the price has recently been temporarily lowered to $2.99. If you were reluctant to pick up Underworlds because of its previous price tag, now is the time to grab it.

Underworlds 1.1 features the following enhancements:

• Original musical score, by Voodoo Highway Music
• Dexterity now factors more heavily into the “to-hit” roll
• World-wide rankings/leaderboard system for single game and overall.
• D-pad movement controls have been substantially improved
• New character portraits
• You can now change difficulty level after a restart
• You can now restart with same character after a completed game
• Feedback system for button/control misses added
• Vibration can now be toggled on/off
• New game font for more ‘role play’ feel
• To prevent mis-taps on potions, you must now double-tap to use a potion when health/vitality is above 50%
• Treasure tables updated with unique items (purple) for lower level creatures ultra rares (gold) for higher level creatures

Pixel Mine had sent TouchArcade a pre-release copy of this update, and I've got to hand it to them. They took an already excellent game and made it even better. The tweaks to the D-Pad make movement easier, the music fits in great, but my favorite feature is changing potions to be activated with a double tap. To get a feel Underworlds 1.1, check out our video:

[ Full HD version | Low Bandwidth version ]

See our previous review for a more in depth look at the 1.0 version of the game.

App Store Link: Underworlds, $2.99 (sale)