Sputnik Games has released an iPhone take on the retro classic Asteroids through the App Store.  Aerolite [App Store] features updated color graphics that maintain a retro feel along with on-screen console style control buttons (that can be moved anywhere on-screen you like).  But is it fun?  It is if you like Asteroids.

Navigate the ship around the screen by pressing the virtual buttons and blow up the space rocks flying around. Level one starts off with only a few asteroids. As you complete each level more and more asteroids will appear making the game even more challenging.

A shortcoming of numerous Asteroids clones is sloppy ship physics.  Nothing of the sort plagues Aerolite; the ship’s acceleration, deceleration, and overall control are spot-on.  The game features an ambient musical track along with sound effects, but a song from the iPhone’s song library can optionally be played instead.

Several power-ups help out along the way: shield regenerator, triple guns, long life bullets, and machine gun.

See the developer’s video:

If you’re the type of gamer that would thrill at the prospect of walking the hallowed aisles of the Luna City Arcade, then $0.99 Aerolite is for you.

Freeverse, one of our sponsors, has provided us with gameplay video for their newly released Burning Monkey Casino [App Store].

The $0.99 game offers seven different casino games in one package:

App Store Link: Burning Monkey Casino, $0.99

Gamez 4 Touch has recently released a physics-based sketch game known as Touch Physics [App Store].

Are you up to the challenge? Can you take on the laws of physics to complete all 30 levels? Touch Physics is an innovative game that allows you to be in control of the wheel’s destiny. Change the laws of physics to suit your game play!

Touch Physics presents the player with a crayon-drawn level filled with various crayon-drawn objects with which to interact, the most important being a wheel.  At the end of each level is a star.  The object of the game is to draw shapes with your crayon that will cause the objects on-screen to move the wheel to the star.

The developer’s demonstration video illustrates this.

Touch Physics has received a positive reaction from our forum members and is currently available for the “limited time introductory price” of $0.99 [App Store].

Freeverse has released their latest iPhone and iPod touch game called Burning Monkey Casino [App Store].

This $0.99 game brings seven different casino games in one stylish package:

• Slots
• Blackjack
• Video Poker
• Money Wheel
• Pachinko
• Scratch-N-Win Lotto
• 3 Card Monty

Additional Screenshots:

If you like shooters, you should just get this game.

It’s funny how we frequently get more excited about the simple games than the high profile efforts. In the end, however, it’s all about the gameplay.

John Kooistra’s Defend! [App Store] is a $0.99 iPhone shooter with relatively simple graphics and no sound. The controls of the game, however, are remarkably well suited to the platform and already feels like a “classic” iPhone game.

You are defender of a planet with a population of 6.7 billion people. You job is to fight off an oncoming barrage of enemies. Each enemy that gets past you takes out millions of lives.

Controls are dead simple. You continuously fire straight up, and tilting the iPhone left and right adjusts your aim. The game also cleverly shifts orientation between levels, requiring you to turn your iPhone around or into landscape position. The video shows it best:

Progressive levels are increasingly challenging and provides a good amount of gameplay. Normally, we frown upon games without sound, but for $0.99 and an otherwise fun game, we can overlook it.

App Store Link: Defend!, $0.99

We’re generally suckers for an original concept, and Sapus Media’s Sapus Tongue [App Store] fits the bill.

Described as “Hula Hoop for your wrists”, the game takes advantage of the iPhone’s accelerometer to spin your character as fast as possible before launching him into the sky. The goal of the game is to propel your character as far as possible with the right combination of twirling and angle.

Priced at only $0.99, the global high scores and novel gameplay make this an amusing distraction:

App Store Link: Sapus Tougue, $0.99

Dave Frampton of Majic Jungle Software has just submitted a notable update to his unique, relaxing iPhone game DuckDuckDuck to the iTunes App Store [link].

Rubber duckies float in a pond with beautiful highly realistic interactive water, rain and snow showers, reflected clouds and relaxing ambient sounds.

This is the most realistic water available on the iPhone. With amazing reflection, refraction, animation and interaction, you won’t believe your eyes.

But it isn’t just pretty, it’s a game too. The goal is to swim all of your ducks to matching colored whirl pools. Tilt to swim your ducks. Ducks can nudge other ducks off whirl pools, but don’t tilt too far or they will swim away!

DuckDuckDuck v2.0 features:

• The most realistic water simulation on the iPhone.
• Reflected clouds drift by with occasional showers of rain or snow.
• Two modes of play - time challenge or just for fun.
• Saves when you exit.
• ‘Just for fun’ gives many options for graphics and game play.
• Multi-touch realistic water interaction with sounds.
• Every duck, whirl pool, rain drop, or touch influences the surface of the water.
• ‘Time Challenge’ gives time goals to meet, as well as the chance to better your previous times.
• Relaxing ambient sound effects with bird songs, water, wind chimes and rainfall sounds.

Dave posted a new gameplay video demonstrating the updated title, which should be available in the App Store in the next few days.

App Store Link: DuckDuckDuck, $0.99

Priced at only $0.99, Zombie Attack! is billed as an “addictive 3D tower defense game with a scary twist.”

Your mission: play as a survivor from the ultimate Zombie Apocalypse, protect your shack and stay alive. Choose from an array of zombie-blasting weapons including, flame throwers and cannons. Kill zombies, earn points and cash to upgrade your weapons and bolster your fire power. Easy tilt and touch-screen controls make ZA! an instant iPhone exclusive favorite.

Tower Defense is a genre of strategy game in which your goal is to stop the enemies from crossing the map by building up your tower defenses. IUGO’s entry into this arena appears to take an original approach to the standard formula. Forum member NotYou describes his first impressions:

It’s not at all a normal tower defense game. It is tower defense, technically, but it’s a whole different take on it. Instead of just placing towers strategically, you have to actually run around and plant them. If a zombie is in your way, you might not be able to get where you want. This way there’s a lot more action to the game and it’s not purely strategy.

App Store Link: Zombie Attack!, $0.99

Freeverse has released their Flick Fishing [App Store] game price at only $0.99 for a limited time.

Cast the line with a just a flick of your wrist. With a skillful combination of bait, location, and technique you’ll hook a fish — now you just need to reel it in! Reel carefully to avoid snapping the line and losing your fish. Larger fish are strong, and won’t be hauled in easily!

With 6 fishing locations, 9 types of bait and tackle, 12 tournaments and dozens of unique species of fish, Flick Fishing is an unrivaled fishing simulation, and just plain fun. Includes the ability to play against your friends with Network and Hotseat play! Show off your latest catch via email using the “Brag” feature.

We previously looked at a gameplay video from a beta version of the game.

App Store Link: Flick Fishing, $0.99

Atari has released two new games for the iPhone and iPod Touch called Backyard Baseball [App Store] and Backyard Soccer [App Store]. The two games cost $0.99 each, but based on our initial gameplay, they may not even be worth those prices.

Backyard Soccer

Welcome to Backyard Soccer! Joey is ready to play some soccer. In three rounds of exciting soccer action, help Joey pass the ball to his open teammates and score as many points as possible. Use the touch pad to pass the ball to the three teammates as the defenders attempt to stop you from scoring. Careful though! A missed pass or goal costs you as many points as you could have gained. Keep your high scores and hand off the game to your friends to see if they can put up more points than you!

Gameplay involves no player movements. Simply tapping on one of three of your players results in a corner kick which is deflected towards the goal. Opposing players scroll up and down the screen to block your shots. Very simplistic gameplay.

App Store Link: Backyard Soccer, $0.99

Backyard Baseball

Dmitri built a batting simulation in his back yard! Join him in some Backyard Baseball as you attempt to hit the coded targets. Each one will earn you a different hit: a single, double, triple or a home run. You have three innings to get as many runs and points as possible. To keep your skills sharp, the targets will reset as you work your way through the innings and doing well brings up fewer and fewer to aim at — just to keep you on your toes! Keep your high scores and hand the game off to your friends to see if they can put up more points than you!

Gameplay simply involves tapping on the screen to strike the automatic pitches. Tap early and the ball goes towards the left. Tap late and the ball goes towards the right. Depending on which icons you knock over, you earn different types of runs (single, double, home run). Very simple gameplay.

App Store: Backyard Baseball, $0.99

While both of these titles seemed very promising, after spending a brief amount of time with both games, it’s hard to say they are even worth the $0.99. Despite their themes, both games are very simple representations of their respective sports.