Not to make this the Friday of Upcoming iPhone Games…but Digital Chocolate has posted a video of their upcoming iPhone title California Gold Rush.  While details, at present, are scant, it looks something loosely like a cross between Boulder Dash and Oregon Trail.

Have a look:

California Gold Rush is set to hit the App Store at the end of Q2 this year.  No word on price, as yet.

In the nine months since the App Store went online, over 35,000 applications have been written for the iPhone.  Of these, the single largest category is games.  Lots and lots of games…which, of course, means lots and lots of takes on the same formula.  Match-three is likely the most repeated type, but not far behind are the "snake" games.  They have a simple premise: you're a snake.  Move about the playfield eating things, to grow in length, but don't eat your tail or bump into obstacles.  I own a camera that has a built-in snake game — they're everywhere.  And the only real difference between them is just how much prettier one is than the next.

And so, I was rather pleasantly surprised by French developer DigDog's recent release, SnakeGalaxy [App Store], which puts a new spin on the snake game proposition.

In SnakeGalaxy, you are a snake, but in a departure from the standard formula, the playfield is a 3D planet.  You must slither about its surface (as the planet rotates beneath you) collecting food rations and super food rations to accumulate points and increase the score multiplier.  Each time a ration is collected, your speed and length increase, the score multiplier increments by one, and a timer starts to dwindle.  Collect rations fast enough and the multiplier will increase, but if time runs out, it returns to 1x.  Oh — and don't eat your tail.

The game features five different planets, each well rendered and of a different theme, and with a different set of challenges.  On the Village planet, you must avoid wooden fences while traversing its cobblestone surface.  On the Jeans planet, avoid buttons and rivets while slithering across its denim surface.  On the Graphik planet, your tail is the only enemy, etc.  A Mission mode lets you choose any unlocked planet and play from there to the next planet, and so forth, while a Quick Play mode sets you on the most recently unlocked planet to go for the highest score.

The game is best played with two thumbs.  Upon touching an area of the screen, the snake will head in that direction.  It takes a little getting used to, as a tap to the left or right of the screen is not a "turn in this direction until I let up" control, but simply a turn to the area of the tap — no further.  After a number of hours with the game, however, it becomes much more natural, in my experience.

I confess that, upon seeing this title appear in the App Store — another snake title — my heart did not go pitter-pat.  But after downloading it and spending considerable time with the game, I find it to be the most unique snake game I've come across.  It's enjoyable and even charming, with lovely graphics.  If you need just one snake game on your iPhone or iPod touch, it should be SnakeGalaxy.  And at it's limited introductory price of $.99, it's a solid buy (regularly $2.99).

See our gameplay video for a look at the first three planets.

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App Store Link: SnakeGalaxy, $.99 (limited time)

It's been a busy 24 hours in the App Store. A number of anticipated releases have been released into the app store including Fishing Cactus' maze / puzzle game Equilibrio [App Store].

The $3.99 title is a gravity-based game in which your job is get your ball to the end goal by navigating ramps, trampolines, spikes, and more. While the premise of the game may seem familiar, the game incorporates a number of twists to keep it interesting.

There are 5 types of balls each with different properties and gameplay characteristics. These include rubber, glass, steel, stone and paper. Levels include obstacles such as spikes and acid that destroy the balls on contact. Tilting your iPhone will allow you to build up momentum to jump obstacles and avoid danger. Part of the challenge, however, is also avoiding shattering your ball, so proper control becomes a major issue and you can't just speed through each level.

The game offers 3 play modes including Conquest, Challenge and Random Level challenge.

• Conquest – complete all levels in sequence, though you can skip levels to avoid frustration
• Challenge – Play 5 of the levels with specific rules (within a time limit, don't lose more than 2 lives, play against a ghost ball)
• Random – a level is give to you at random

This gameplay video shows some of the early levels:

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The challenge mode with its unique level goals offers you longer-term replayability in quick 5-level sessions. Individual levels, unfortunately, have a rather poor high score system. As it stands, it's very hard to tell which levels you could improve on. While individual scores are kept for each level, they are relatively hard to access.

Overall, the game is very well produced and is easily one of the better "tilt/ball" control games in the App Store. Like all of those games, however, there is a distinct level of frustration that can accompany them. Equilibrio, however, does offer level skips and "solution" replays to allow you to bypass being completely stuck at any stage of the game.

App Store Link: Equilibrio, $3.99.

Starscene Software has released their previously announced Realmaze 3D [App Store] game tonight.

The $0.99 game throws you into a randomly generated three dimensional maze (with ladders) and your job is simply to get out as quickly as possible. You are optionally allowed to use a compass and breadcrumbs to mark your way, but these speed up the timer. Your best times required to escape each maze is kept in a high score table.

The developer describes the game as having "fantastic lighting effects, beautiful graphics, and a sublime soundscape combine to create a mysterious atmosphere". And it's true. The atmosphere of the game adds a lot to the overall experience.

The game allows you to pick from 5 different sizes of maps from "Tiny" to "Insane". "Tiny" and "Small" are relatively easy but once you try "Normal", a distinct sense of claustrophobia sets in as you unsuccessfully attempt to navigate the maze.

This gameplay video is me trying to make my way out of a "Normal" maze.

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At its core, the game is quite simple: it's just a maze game. And if you think that's a boring prospect, you probably shouldn't get this game. That said, Realmaze 3D is surprisingly well implemented and for only $0.99 delivers a great version of a simple concept.

App Store Link: Realmaze 3D, $0.99

During the Game Developer's Conference late last month, Touch Arcade had the opportunity to sit down with Glu and spend some time with a number of their upcoming titles.

One of the more impressive games we saw was Glyder [App Store], a casual flyer in which the player takes on the role of Eryn, an unfortunate girl thrown through a dimensional rift, who's just trying to find her way home.  We've since received a copy of the final release version of the game which is now available in the App Store and have spent most of the day soaring about the game world trying our best to get Eryn home.

In Glyder, Eryn is equipped with a da Vinci-esque flying apparatus and must complete a series of missions across six different island worlds, collecting floating crystals of various colors in order to open a portal that will lead her home.  Along the way, she can get speed boosts by picking up power-ups and gain altitude by flying into thermal pockets (corridors of updraft air) spread about the game world.  Additionally, various mini-missions crop up from time to time, such as flying from one side of an island to another by way of purple platforms, etc.  And, at any time, the player can move to the next world by flying beyond the boundaries of the current world towards a distant, visible, neighboring island.

The overall feel of Glyder is highly reminiscent of Pilotwings 64's "birdman" secret flight mode, where the player dons a pair of wings and flies freely about the game world.  While there's no actual flapping involved, the thermals and general flight model are quite similar to the Nintendo 64 classic.  (And this would be a compliment to Glyder.)

The game features accelerometer-based flight control that feels responsive and works well, but lacks a calibration option which limits play orientation (home position is at an approximate 45-degree angle).  Achievements – 50 in all – are unlocked by performing various feats such as visiting every area of a given world, achieving maximum possible velocity in a power-dive, completing mini-trips, and the like.  The combination of gem collection, mini-missions, and achievements does instill some sense of progress to an otherwise laid back gaming experience.

Graphically Glyder is impressive.  The 2D title and menu artwork is clean and the 3D in-game graphics are well rendered and feature notable draw distance.  However, the game does sometimes suffer from occasional framerate issues, especially on lesser devices than the 2G iPod touch, which is the fastest iPhone platform device of the lot.  It's nothing that really gets in the way of playability, but it is noticeable from time to time.

See our gameplay video for a look at three of the game's six island worlds (recorded on 2nd Generation iPod Touch):

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Glyder's pleasant sense of soaring, combined with the title's soothing soundtrack, makes for a relaxing game experience.  That's not to say that there's a lack of challenge to the title; some of the narrow corridors that must be negotiated in order to secure that last crystal are quite harrowing.  The game is well implemented and offers a very different type of gaming experience on the iPhone — one that people generally either really like or really don't.

We believe those who find Glyder's concept and video appealing will indeed find it to be a very enjoyable experience that is well worth the game's $1.99 introductory price. Exploring all the 6 worlds, completing each achievement and collecting all gems also offers plenty of gameplay time.

Stop me if you've heard this before: this game requires you to use the accelerometer to navigate your ball to the end goal.

At this point, I could be describing one of many (bad) iPhone games, but Psycho Turnip Games' GravBall [App Store] manages to incorporate some interesting level design that makes the game surprisingly compelling.

Levels start off simply enough but the game quickly introduces a number of additional elements such as death blocks, lasers, switches, moving blocks, and guided rockets.

The game offers 50 progressively difficult levels and is presently a free download.

Even as a free game there are things to criticize: there are no sound effects, the graphics are very simple, and there are even framerate problems. That said, it's the type of game that keeps you trying "just one more time".

The game was originally introduced at $0.99 but quickly dropped to free, so get it while you can.

App Store Link: GravBall, Free

Early this year, Mobigame released isometric 3D puzzle / maze game Edge [App Store].  We found it to be one of the best games in the App Store.

Edge puts the player in control of a colorful cube that moves about a series of 3D, isometric maze environments (26 in all) full of puzzles to solve and hazards to avoid. The game utilizes touch control (default) or accelerometer for control of the cube and, as the developer’s gameplay video demonstrates, requires some quick thinking to successfully negotiate the various moving parts of the mazes.

Mobigame has recently released Edge Lite [App Store], a free version of the game that features five out of the paid version's 43 levels and five out of the paid version's 18 audio track.  It should give those on the fence a chance to see the gameplay and decide if they want to make the jump.  (We urge you to make the jump!)

See Mobigames' video to better understand what the game is all about.

App Store Link: Edge Lite, Free, Edge, $4.99

Earlier this month we took a look at Wooden Labyrinth 3D, a particularly well done take on the marble / labyrinth formula that differentiates itself from the herd by the inclusion of raised obstacles that must be jumped over with a shake of the iPhone or iPod touch.  The game also provides a 3D perspective that shifts with the tilt of your iPhone.  It plays well and “feels” right.

The developer has just released a "lite" version of the game [App Store] that features only a single level pack, as compared to the original's full 100 levels.  We would encourage any fans of the genre who haven't already grabbed the paid original to download the lite version and give it a whirl.

See a gameplay video of the paid version for a feel of the action.

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(The original Wooden Labyrinth 3D [App Store] is priced at $2.99 but will increase to $3.99 when a planned level editor is released to the public.)

App Store Link: Wooden Labyrinth 3D Lite, Free

Fans of the marble/labyrinth games should note that there's a newcomer in the App Store and it's actually pretty nice. Wooden Labyrinth 3D [App Store] offers 100 levels of tilting fun but adds a 3D twist. Besides the traditional 2D levels, it also offers platforms and obstacles that must be jumped over by simply shaking your iPhone.

The game also provides a 3D perspective that shifts with the tilt of your iPhone. It can be seen clearly in the video (below). The game plays well and "feels" right. It also provides plenty of calibration/sensitivity options.

The developers plan to offer a level editor in future versions. The price is $2.99 at present but will go up to $3.99 with the addition of the level editor.

Overall, a very well polished version of labyrinth that adds some interesting features over its competitors.

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App Store Link: Wooden Labyrinth 3D, $2.99

80s retro gaming nuts should enjoy LagMac Studios' recent release CuBert [App Store], a port of the 1982 arcade classic Q*bert for the iPhone.

For those unfamiliar, in Q*bert the player moves a cute, tube-nosed, orange character about an isometric pyramid constructed of three-color cubes.  The goal is to hop from the top of one cube to the next, changing each square to a specific color.  (Some cubes take several hops to reach the target color.)  It's a rather basic premise that's made more complex by a variety of roving enemies bent on preventing Q*bert from converting the board to the target color.

CuBert is…well…pretty much Q*bert.  No surprises and no real disappointments.  The main character is controlled by touchscreen; the screen is divided into four equal-sized quadrants and touching within a given quadrant causes CuBert to hop in that direction.  And that's pretty much all you need to know.

While fans of the Gottlieb classic may enjoy this port which features the original (unenhanced) graphics and sound, it's worth noting that CuBert does not appear to be an officially licensed Q*bert remake, and as such it may be subject to removal from the App Store pending complaints from the original stakeholders.

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App Store Link: CuBert, $1.99