Yesterday, we pointed out a bunch of titles that have incorporated iCade support since the mini-arcade machine’s debut. This afternoon, I want to highlight an awesome game that really clicks once you strap it in ThinkGeek’s device: Mos Speedrun [$1.99 / Lite].
If you need a little background on Mos Speedrun, our review is a good place to start. In brief, it’s a simple and cutesy lo-fi platformer that stresses level completion time instead of exploration or 2D combat. As a personal aside, I love how the game screams “GO” in a non-contrived way -- every single system, mechanic, and bit of visual or audio design expertly and organically serves the purpose of expressing speed, much like how a 2D Mario beckons you to move to the right and explore the world without having to throw up blocks and blocks of instructional text.
Cedar Hills Games' Emissary of War [Free] has a lot to live up to. As we've already covered in our preview and our interview with CEO and former BioWare employee Tobyn Manthorpe, the game has a pedigree that's going to be hard to live up.
The core of Emissary of War lies in a simplified isometric hack-and-slash. Control is handled by tapping the screen where you want to go and your character, Ghent, moves there. Simple enough, right? But iOS games never seem to get this modest system right, no matter how hard they try. Thankfully, EoW nails it and it feels natural -- no pathfinding issues to speak of and Ghent moves exactly where you tell him.
In this week’s podcast, we get into another discussion about the handheld vs mobile space in which I declare that handhelds like the Nintendo 3DS and the forthcoming PS Vita still have a shot to fill a niche that mobile devices can’t. I’m of the mind that these devices’ big budget games and, generally speaking, their more fleshed out and engrossing experiences are a unique attraction that should draw new audiences and those of us with iDevices that want a bit more.
As terrifying as it is, Sony and I are on the same wavelength on this. Despite the fact that the PS Vita will draw on a lot of the extra functionality that makes handheld gaming so much more attractive with a phone, Sony believes that its retail products will provide the extra oomph to battle purely mobile platforms and their games’ comparatively lower-budget and lower dev time experiences.
A game is typically defined as a success if it manages to nail at least one core gameplay element perfectly. Despite this, too many games fall into the trap of trying to focus on too many different things at the same time, with the result being that they either fail horribly overall or they end up in the dreaded category of ‘Jack of all trades, master of none.’
Rogue Sky [$0.99 / HD] succeeds where these lesser games have failed. While primarily a sky-platformer focused on exploration and collection, Rogue Sky also incorporates a well done combat system, and ties everything together a variety of objective-based missions and a perfectly curved difficulty that adjusts to the type of gamer you are. Combine these gameplay elements with beautiful graphics and a grand score, and Rogue Sky becomes a must-play for nearly everyone.
In its the report, PG confirms that Aftershock won’t have a traditional campaign. Rather, it’ll boast a series of instance-based Horde modes that will have you squaring off against waves with the BF universe’s diverse set of modern combat guns and items. Mobile games are not the best place to dump overlong campaigns, so I can see the point of this move. EA says much the same about this decision too, but I find it odd it isn’t at least trying to shoot for the blockbuster feel and ambition that it is with Battlefield 3 proper. This just feels like EA is trying to approach this in the easiest way possible. (more...)
Alright, so while two semi-obscure iPad-specific versions of existing iPhone games dropping to 99¢ might not normally be something we'd cover here, this gives me the perfect opportunity to make my demands to Bulkypix public. Win/win, right? First things first, Pix'n Love Rush DX [99¢ and Snake Galaxy HD [99¢] both dropped to a buck. Snake Galaxy is a fun take on the classic Snake formula, although if it's too modern for your tastes, there's always Snake 97.
Pix'n Love Rush DX is the real star of this sale. We seriously gushed over the game in our review for the iPhone version, and the game has since turned into one of the staples on my phone (and iPad) right up there with the classics like Canabalt [$2.99] and Angry Birds [99¢]. The review I just linked goes into the nitty-gritty of how it all works, but in a nutshell Pix'n Love Rush is a action-centric platformer kind of game that is absolutely dripping with retro stylings. In fact, as you play the game and score higher combos the graphics evolve through the history of retro consoles. Check out some of the iPhone gameplay:
The iPad DX version kicks things up another notch by adding a variety of skins to the controls, which are similarly reminiscent of retro consoles. The issue with all this is, as great of a game as Pix'n Love Rush and DX is, you eventually seem to reach a point in both versions of the game where things are just happening too quickly to be able to effectively use the virtual controls. When I die in the game, I rarely feel like I actively made a mistake, and instead it just seems that in a frantic attempt to collect pluses, kill bats, and avoid minuses my thumbs just barely drifted off the virtual controls. This is particularly pronounced in the larger Pix'n Love Rush DX.
…Which brings me to my entirely demanding list of demands. iCade Support. Now that we've got more iCade units distributed across the TouchArcade family, it's becoming more and more clear just how much more iCade support can add to a game like Pix'n Love Rush DX. If this game had iCade support, I'd never leave the house.
Firemint sales used to be a much more rare occurrence, but they still have an electricity to them that other creators can’t capture with their own price-slashing parties. I’m guessing it has more to do with the quality of the wares, than it does with dramatic price shifts. While I pointlessly ponder this, go ahead and grab Real Racing and Real Racing 2 for the iPhone or iPad. All four games have been dramatically reduced in price for this weekend in celebration of… well, nothing that we can discern. Still! They’re cheaper!
Real Racing 2 is, we reckon, the best racing game Firemint has produced. That doesn’t mean the original Real Racing is a slouch, though. Fans of simulation racing games can and will enjoy both; it’s just that Real Racing 2 is a fantastic iteration on that original foundation. If you want to know way more about either of these titles, we’ve got your back. You can check out a review of the follow-up here and a review of Real Racinghere. Non-spoiler: they’re good.
It wouldn’t be a weekend without a couple of sales, right? This latest one is a great one from the Aussies over at Halfbrick. For the next two or so days, Age of Zombies [$.99 / Lite] will retail for 99 cents as opposed to its usual $2.99 price point. Honorary king of Australia and all around cool guy Phil Larsen of Halfbrick shot us a message earlier and reminded us that this is only the second time the hilariously bent dual-stick shooter has been reduced in price since its October 2010 debut on the App Store.
Considering the new price is under a dollar, I seriously doubt any of you absolutely require a break down of its mechanics, systems, or art design, but just in case, here’s a link to our review, which does all those things. In a nutshell, we dug Barry Steakfries’ adventure and his accompanying toilet humor.
On a totally different note, what’s up with the continuing exclusion of Phil in this game? Age of Zombies seems perfectly suited for a swath of heroes and we can’t think of a better auxiliary one than the aforementioned man. Did you fall asleep at the wheel or something, guys? C’mon.
Cipher Prime has a history of bringing out games that are beautiful, engaging and just a little light on length. Auditorium [Free] locked many of its levels behind paywalls, and originally carried a premium price. Pulse: Volume One [$3.99] started its life with only a handful of levels, and has been slowly adding more since its launch. Fractal: Make Blooms Not War [$1.99] is, like its older siblings, a beautiful, engaging experience. Unlike the others, it's also bursting with content.
But be warned: this is not a game for the faint of heart. Cipher Prime doesn't walk players through most of Fractal's intricacies, and it's easy to play yourself into a corner. The puzzles change and evolve as time goes by, and you'll be given only the barest introduction to the new elements. This is a game that can be played wrong, and it doesn't concern itself with guiding you back to the right track.
Many game developers use cute and colorful graphics in their games, with feel-good or energetic music and sound effects. However, Deo [99c] from Strapped to a Meteor does the exact opposite. The visuals in this game are intentionally drab and gloomy, because the universe is dying. And it needs to be saved!
The hero is named 'Deo' - a vibrant red roughly-drawn blob, who emits a trail of glowing red vapors. His destiny is to restore life in the universe by establishing planetoids which are green with healthy vegetation. The contrast of the red Deo character against the drab colorless worlds is visually dramatic. This game has a real mood and atmosphere, which is also reflected in the haunting soundtrack and ambient wind effects, which leave you feeling quite chilled.
Last week at about this time, we learned that developer Gameprom has a brand new pinball table in the works that is set to be added into their excellent pinball compilation app Pinball HD [99¢/HD]. This new table’s theme is based around Leonardo da Vinci’s famous art and inventions, and the screenshots for it looked absolutely gorgeous. Today, Gameprom has released the first video for Da Vinci Pinball, and it looks even more stunning in motion.
As we’ve previously stated, Da Vinci Pinball is slated to release sometime next month as an update to Pinball HD for both iOS versions and the Mac version. No word on what the price will be, though based on their previous efforts I’d guess anywhere in the 99¢ to $2.99 range. Whatever the price, it’s sure to be a bargain for the type of production values Gameprom injects into their work. We’ll keep our eye out for Da Vinci Pinball to hit this coming September.
Another day, another endless progress game. Appicus's Cave Mice [$1.99] is a charmer, though, with a striking visual style and a few tricks up its proverbial sleeve.
In Cave Mice, you control Theseus Tilsit, a brave mouse tasked with recovering the cheese collection of his family of mice. Since the cheese has fallen into deep caverns below their home, Theseus must travel ever-downwards on a rickety platform connected to a thin string. The slightest bump sends his little gondola flying to pieces, so you need to carefully tilt your device to avoid the obstacles.
As he travels downwards, the obstacles become increasingly aggressive. Aside from the usual denizens of the spaces under homes -- spiders, bats, hypnotic toads wearing military hats -- strange things are out to get him. There is evidence of a feline conspiracy, but where did they get the dirigibles? Things get mysterious under the ground.
If you’ve noticed a trend with most of Gameloft’s new releases having Universal support over the past few months, it isn’t just a coincidence. Talking with Pocket Gamer during the Gamescon ’11 conference in Germany, Gameloft PR Manager Gregory Wintgens stated that from here on out the iOS mega-developer plans to “release everything as Universal” rather than the long standing practice of having separate versions for iPhone/iPod touch and the iPad.
Starting with Order & Chaos Online [$6.99] back in April, Gameloft has been releasing almost all of their games as Universal builds. Now, due to your keen sense of detail, you might be saying “Hey! Not ALL of their recent releases have been Universal, I’m calling shenanigans!”, and you would be correct. This is because certain licensing agreements don’t allow for Universal builds, thus some new releases will still come with two separate versions. Also, I think there were a couple of releases that had already been planned as separate HD versions, but didn’t finally hit until just recently.
One of my favorite genres is the adventure genre, since I was brought up on games like Shadowgate, Zork and Myst. So I admit that before even starting Cryptic Keep [$1.99], I was already rubbing my hands together in anticipation over the idea of it. A deserted castle? Stubborn puzzles to solve? Mysterious music? Why, maybe there would even be the useless combining of items that make no sense together! Wait, what's the appeal of this genre again?
All jokes aside, though, Cryptic Keep looked like a possibly watered down, but still interesting adventure title. You begin the game at the doors of a great castle which was locked down by a royal old dude named King Telvonus, but of course, the Sword of Ire is inside (why he would leave it there instead of taking it on his journey for protection is anyone's guess), and its up to you to get it. Ah, flimsy iOS stories, how do we love thee? Or rather, how do we ignore thee as we barrel past you in favor of the gameplay.
MEGA UPDATE: Our new iCade list is available right here at this link. Go check it out!
Turns out that assembling an iCade takes less time than finding good games for it. As I put the finishing touches on the monstrosity, I finally began thinking about what I would do with it once it was together. I had no clue. This is probably why my girlfriend hates me so much, but I suppose that’s neither here nor there.
If you’re familiar with our message board, then finding games that support the device is as simple as throwing in a search term. Sadly, the list our community is putting together isn’t showing up in a simple Google search. With this lone write-up, I’m hoping to kill two birds: I want to give everyone a solid starting point with their new machines, while also pointing out that our dudes in the trenches are doing a great job listing and evaluating the titles.
Just real quick, I want to spotlight Velocispider, Match Panic, and Super Mega Worm -- all three of these games are greatly enhanced by the joystick and buttons that the iCade provides. Super Mega Worm in particular feels much more visceral, precise, and becomes much more entertaining as a result. Seriously, I’ve spent more hours with it today than I have since its original release in 2010.
Compared to the amount of games on the App Store, the game release line-up is still pretty thin, as you’ve probably observed from the above list. Our collective brains sincerely hope more studios get into the iCade and support it where it makes sense, as it really does add a previously unexplored layer of play in new and especially or older titles. Fingers crossed for a The Blocks Cometh [$.99] update. You know it makes sense, Halfbot!
UPDATE: Added several new games, including titles from Llamasoft and Orange Pixel. If you're a developer, feel free hit us up via our Tips line. Let's get your game on here!
Yesterday, we pointed out a bunch of titles that have incorporated iCade support since the mini-arcade machine’s debut. This afternoon, I want to highlight an awesome game that really clicks once you strap it in ThinkGeek’s device: Mos Speedrun [$1.99 / Lite].
Cedar Hills Games' Emissary of War [
In this week’s podcast, we get into another discussion about the handheld vs mobile space in which I declare that handhelds like the Nintendo 3DS and the forthcoming PS Vita still have a shot to fill a niche that mobile devices can’t. I’m of the mind that these devices’ big budget games and, generally speaking, their more fleshed out and engrossing experiences are a unique attraction that should draw new audiences and those of us with iDevices that want a bit more.
A game is typically defined as a success if it manages to nail at least one core gameplay element perfectly. Despite this, too many games fall into the trap of trying to focus on too many different things at the same time, with the result being that they either fail horribly overall or they end up in the dreaded category of ‘Jack of all trades, master of none.’
Over at Gamescom in Cologne, 
Firemint
It wouldn’t be a weekend without a couple of sales, right? This latest one is a great one from the Aussies over at 
