I'm certainly not ashamed to admit I'm a fanboy of Big Pixel Studios. They make my favorite match-3 in Piyo Blocks 2 [99¢], they created one of the greatest kitty games of all time with Meow Meow Happy Fight [$2.99/HD], and their wonderful physics puzzler Land-a Panda [99¢/HD] has been a huge success. I adore the unique art style in Big Pixel's games, and they're always bright, colorful, and full of cheer, as well as solid gameplay. So yeah, I'm a fan.

The latest title that Big Pixel has been hard at work on is called Off The Leash, and I've had the good fortune of playing a preview build of the game ahead of its January release. I'm enjoying the heck out of it so far, and to lean on an easy comparison, Off The Leash does for tilt-based avoidance games what Jetpack Joyride [99¢] did for cave flyers. That's to say, it takes the core mechanic of reaction-based tilt gameplay and slathers it in colorful visuals, unlockable items and characters, and meta goals to achieve through continued play.

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Every iOS game has a story behind its development, but the one behind MinoMonsters [$0.99] may have been one you've already heard if you pay attention to iOS news. Like that the guys that founded the company that made the game are some of the youngest game designers to score an investment of this size for their project ( a cool million, to be exact), but they have some meaty people on board too, such as TJ Murphy, who co-founded the Social Gaming Network. In other words, MinoMonsters has a hell of a pedigree. And with that kind of story behind it, well, it's hard not to expect one hell of a game.

Luckily, the final product is pretty stellar. MinoMonsters operates off the Pokemon strategy, as it puts you in the role of an (unseen) hero who collects adorable creatures and trains them to fight on your behalf as you progress through a lush world populated by a series of different stages. The game looks like a comic book in action, and is absolutely gorgeous to play -- definitely a standout when it comes to what's on the App Store. There are tons of cute titles out there, but MinoMonsters looks and plays like a really handsome action RPG. Since I love that genre, I was instantly hooked on the combination of monster training and exploring.

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It won't take long to suss out the inspiration for Crazy Bomber [$0.99]. Its pedigree is Bomberman all the way down. Are we ready for games inspired by Hudson Soft's 1983 series yet? Or perhaps the question is whether Crazy Bomber brings anything new to the table.

The answer is a tentative "yes." Yes, Crazy Bomber has a few tricks up its sleeve, though not many. Yes, it's the nicest rendition of this gameplay I've seen on iOS yet. But without online multiplayer (a feature JoyTouch says is coming), the heart of the modern Bomberman experience is missing. Without it, you're just a guy running around a field blowing stuff up -- not that there's anything wrong with that.

But let's back up a bit. Maybe you've missed that last 28 years of gaming and you're still wondering what this Crazy Bomber thing is all about. So here goes: you control an adorable character (your choice of cute fairy, zombie, vampire or knight) in a rectangular field filled with obstacles, traps and monsters. You move around with a virtual d-pad on the left of the screen, and plant bombs with a button on the right. The bombs can destroy some of the obstacles, kill monsters, and hurt you. So the challenge is to find the right place to plant them that will trap and kill the moving monsters without doing the same to yourself.

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Just over a year ago, SRRN Games released Ash [99¢/Lite], a fun role-playing game that attempted to be a modern throwback to RPGs of the 16-bit era. It succeeded remarkably well at it too, offering simple but fun RPG gameplay with an interesting story tying everything together. We liked it a whole bunch in our review, and even our complaints about the difficulty and the controls were rectified in a later update.

Sadly, one thing that didn’t seem likely to get rectified was the generic look of the game. Ash was made using assets from RPG Maker, a build-your-own-RPG program of sorts. This made everything look kind of patchwork-ish and cookie cutter, which contrasted poorly with the high quality of the dialogue and storyline. However, it wasn’t anything so off-putting that you couldn’t enjoy the game, it was just the biggest part of the game that could use improvement.

Now, surprisingly, SRRN has actually gone and redrawn all of the artwork to Ash and released it as a free update. The new sprites, backgrounds, and character art all closely mimic the previous version, so it’s not like you’re dealing with entirely new characters, but they’ve all been redrawn or remade beautifully. The game is much more colorful and brighter, and everything has a more cohesive look like it all belongs together. It’s definitely a very welcome improvement. Aside from the new artwork, they also fixed some bugs and toned down the frequency of random encounters.

If you haven’t checked out Ash already, the lovely new artwork is just one more reason to give it a look. For those that already own and have played through Ash, this update is reason enough to dust off that app and give it another run through. If you’re thinking of picking up Ash, right now wouldn’t be a bad time as it's currently on sale for 99¢ and there's a lite version to try which has also been given the visual improvement.

Controversial is probably the best word for War on Terror [$1.99]. Originally a board game conceived by Terror Bull Games in 2003, War on Terror has precipitated everything from bans to death threats - true story, I swear. As you can imagine, when the iOS version was released, there was significant concern about it being forcibly annulled from the App Store. It wasn't, and I'm damn well glad for that because War on Terror is the sort of game you should at least play once.

Fans of the title should be forewarned, however. The iOS version is significantly watered down compared to the original. There is no Axis of Evil. There are no off-board negotiations or dealings. Defeated players do not become terrorist nations. You don't even get situational cards. Nonetheless, that doesn't change the fact that War on Terror is surprisingly fun and, once you've realized the genius behind it, devilishly clever.

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A santa hat and suit are now a part of Jetpack Joyride [$.99]. Earlier today, Halfbrick's flyer received a yuletide update that integrates some pretty hip seasonal junk including the aforementioned, as well as a Christmas tree themed jetpack, a snow machine jetpack, and pudgier scientists who obviously had a little too much cheer of late.

All this, of course, is free for owners of the $.99 joint. Halfbrick is on a roll of late with Jetpack updates, if you haven't noticed. Just the other week, the game received its first new area and a new challenge mission structure that rewards the hardcorest of its hardcore fans. And, hey, if you haven't got around to this yet, now you can reach new heights of prestige in a Santa hat. Hats, guys! HATS.

It's getting close to the holidays, and for us that means we're going to be posting a lot of deals in the near future. And we're not just talking about your everyday, "Hey, this game is now half off" kind of deals, but also the crazy "Hey, this game is free now for some reason" brand of price cutter-y. Case in point: Mobigame's Edge [Free] is now free on the App Store, for the first time ever, in celebration of the season. Whoa!

If you didn't get Edge the first time around, this is obviously a fantastic opportunity. Sadly, it's probably better known for the legal stir around it, but you should check it out because it's a sharp puzzle game with some really hip inventive mechanics.

In addition to this cut, Mobigames has reduced the price of all of its other App Store titles, including Edge Extended. Here's a list:

• Cross Fingers - $.99 → Free
• Edge Extended - $2.99 → $.99
• Perfect Cell - $2.99 → $.99
• Trucker's Delight: Episode 1 - $.99 → Free

Buckle up, guys, because there's going to be a lot more of these kinds of sales coming up.

American Laser Games's so-awful-it-ends-up-being-good FMV shooter, Mad Dog McCree, is coming to the iPhone and iPod Touch this December 20, according to caretaker Digital Leisure. This is a port of the original arcade release of the game, so don't expect anything too fancy, however the team is noting that it has converted the game's silly footage for phones and even added an "all new casual mode" for those without hardcore gunslinging skills.

If you're unfamiliar with McCree, take a gander at the footage just below. You play as a gunslinger charged with killing a band of Wild West cutthroats who have kidnapped a hole in the wall town's mayor and his precious daughter. Most of the time, you'll be killing dudes in fairly linear sequences, but there's some hilariously bad reflex-laden one-on-one shootouts. We can't wait to see this one, for sure.

Plants vs. Zombies for iPhone [$.99] got some new and exciting stuff this morning in a fresh and free update. At the top, the game finally now supports Game Center leaderboards. It can also now boast some parity with the series' PC, Macintosh, XBLA, and DS adaptations -- I, Zombie mode is now supported and can be purchased via IAP in Crazy Dave's shop.

I, Zombie, if you're not familiar, is a table-turning twist that lets you play as the undead horde . You'll get one free level in this update, and eight more, as well as an Endless take on it, if you do decide to pony up the dough. Holiday hats have also been introduced via this update because, hats.

English Country Tune [$4.99] is a game that's hard to describe. It's a puzzle game, one loosely based off the original block-pushing mechanics of the long-standing Sokoban. Its puzzles arrange themselves in complicated 3D designs, except that sometimes they're two-dimensional. The goal is to free certain blocks from a prison of others, or maybe it's to put all the balls in their holes, or perhaps it's to paint every free tile in a level. That changes. Sometimes it's hard, other times it's easy, and not necessarily in a linear order.

Here's what I can say with some certainty. Increpare's English Country Tune has made the transition from desktop to mobile boldly and without compromise. It's a game that will stump even the most experienced puzzle gamer at times, and it's absolutely inflexible about easing you past those difficult points. It's not a game for the easily stymied, but it will do an outstanding job of challenging puzzle experts.

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ustwo's adventurous, psychedelic, and ultimately awesome Tiny Wings-y flying game, Whale Trail [$.99], has received a huge content update. Now, it has its own challenge mode that tests users' bubble-gobbling mettle across 32 individual levels. We gave this a spin earlier, and we're happy to report that it's a meaningful addition that really makes you dig into the subtle bits of the flying and collection mechanics.

Nine additional achievements compliment the package, but you'll also find something called "Hyper-Boosts" that have the ability to "launch Willow high up into space." As if the game needed more outer space, right? Check this all out, though, if you're into Whale Trail. Spoiler: this is fun stuff -- almost as fun as the game's music video is crazy. Seriously, check this out:

Remember when we wrote about the fact that Carcassonne [$9.99] will receive expansion support in the future? It has that right now. Developer The Coding Monkeys has released two of the more popular expansions to the board game, "The River" and "Inns and Cathedrals" at $.99 and $1.99 respectively. It's also thrown out a new update, which offers the ability to pick and choose between these expansions, play a baby version of the game sans fields, and an option to disable tile placement overviews.

In a nutshell, River adds 12 "river" tiles that essentially serve as territorial wedges and divide the game in fascinating ways. Inns and Cathedrals adds 18 additional tiles, some of which double the value of roads or add a point to towns. The twist with the new buildings is that if a territory is incomplete, it loses its value completely. The Carcassonne page has the specifics on both of these new expansions. Our review, on the other hand, has the details on the game.

Bejeweled [$.99], the new stand-alone version of Bejeweled proper on the App Store, is as good as you'd expect. After all, it's Bejeweled -- the same insanely colorful, sometimes hypnotizing, and always creatively gifted match-three that has ignited the creation of a legion of pretender titles over the years. This Bejeweled in particular doesn't do anything that will blow your mind. For the most part, it's simply the core experience translated well to iPhone and iPod Touch. Not that I'm complaining about that aspect.

The thing that always gets me about Bejeweled is how mesmerizing the puzzle mechanic is, and the artful things the game's creators do to bolster this effect. This version's new Classic mode kinda encapsulates what I'm saying here: at the top, it's a gauntlet style mode that has you matching until no other moves remain, but the matching itself so darn hypnotic, you do everything in your power to ensure that you keep the game moving. But then the mode also zips you between new backgrounds and shows off some pyrotechnic match bonuses that radically change up the play.

For example, matching more than three of a gem can net you a sizzling gem that ignites gems in its area or an electrical gem that zaps entire columns of gems. You move with flow without really thinking about these, but they change the pace and the progression of an entire puzzle in satisfying ways. Getting these bonuses is almost a meta-game, as you subconsciously realize that they're so integral to keeping Classic moving.

Bejeweled also has a mode called Diamond Mine which pairs the core play with a funky digging mechanic. Underneath the board is dirt. Matching above the dirt clears some of it. Some spots have special bonuses, but a timer keeps you from scheming too heavily.

Again, this is one of those neat twists on the formula. You have to play fast and loose, but also with a specific goal outside of straight-up matching. The explosive bonuses are just as integral here, as they'll rid the board temporarily of massive chunks of dirt. I like this one in particular: the points you'll earn are ridiculously high, which gives a certain sense of momentum to Diamond Mine that Classic doesn't have, and the timer is a devilish addition that keeps the pressure satisfyingly amped up.

Zen Mode, on the hand ... it's the oddest of the trio of modes in this version. It takes the formula, spits it out into a regular match, and then tells you to play at your leisure. It also sports a variety of "zen" options, such as ambient effects like crickets and lets you even pick various mantras to display on the screen.

It comes off as silly, and, well, it is. I don't get it and probably never will. I just don't see how it could possibly achieve the goal of making you feel like you're sitting in a meditation room blazed out of your mind. This is Bejeweled, you know?

And while we're exploring negatives, it's notable that Bejeweled does not ship with Game Center support -- the game's leaderboards are filled with fake entries and you'll never see what your friends have scored. It's a weird, bad decision not to include this.

Zen and the lack of Game Center work against the game as a whole, but taking it all in, they're forgivable issues. Bejeweled is Bejeweled, and that means it's a great match-three puzzle game that goes above and beyond what other match-threes do. The play is as mesmerizing as ever and the game's two other modes really support it and add to it in meaningful ways. If you're into the franchise or not, give this a look.

Prior to Grand Theft Auto III I'd say I had fun messing around in Grand Theft Auto games, but never really enjoyed myself. The top-down view felt incredibly claustrophobic, and, at least for me, made getting immersed into the game world incredibly difficult. I don't think it's hyperbole at all to say that GTA 3 changed everything.

Originally released in 2001 as a Playstation 2 exclusive, Grand Theft Auto III featured a full 3D game engine for the first time in the game series. At least for me, this transformed a silly and entirely too controversial set of video games into a living and breathing universe. It's debatable how well the game has aged in ten years, but in 2001, after the initial cut scene rolls and you're driving through the beginnings of Liberty City, there was no way your jaw wasn't on the floor.

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Containment: The Zombie Puzzler [$4.99] from Bootsnake Games is definitely not your typical match-3 game. In fact, you don't even need to match three of anything. Instead, the goal is to surround zombies with cops, soldiers, scientists or punks. This is far more interesting than matching colorful gems, tiles or bubbles, and once you've contained some zombies they'll be eliminated in a blood-splattering burst of gun-fire.

Each type of human unit has a different advantage and a different weapon for taking out zombies. If you surround zombies with cops, you can earn a sniper-shot, whereas soldiers earn grenades. Containing some zombies using punks can earn a molotov to throw, while the female scientists can help you obtain a zombie resistant suit.  Three slots are available for storing these life-saving items.

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