Lots of readers along the Eastern seaboard of the U.S., myself included, are heavily snowed in this weekend. And, so, what better time to check out a few free, ‘lite’ titles to see what you might’ve missed? Here’s a short list of lite releases definitely worth a look if you’re still a stranger to them.
- iBlast Moki Lite (iBlast Moki, $1.99) — A fun, high quality physics puzzler with intuitive controls and a full level creation and online sharing system. iBlast Moki made it into our Best iPhone Games roundup for September — it comes highly recommended.
The Settlers – Free (The Settlers, $6.99) — The iPhone installment of a real time strategy game series that’s been evolving for two decades, The Settlers challenges you to build a community, establish means of income, and expand your territories by force. Setting it apart from many RTS games, The Settlers focuses more on strategic planning than hands-on micromanagement of resources — this can be a positive or negative depending on your particular taste in strategy games. The game offers a deep experience with beautiful graphics and elaborate world maps.
Rogue Planet – Free (Rogue Planet, $4.99) — Returning home after a 35 year mission in space, the crew of the Nimeh discovers that Earth has been taken over by machines. Such is the plight of the characters at your command in the fast-paced, turn-based strategy game, Rogue Planet from Gameloft. The title delivers a solid play interface, lengthy battle sequences, and excellent enemy AI, in a game that’s somewhat reminiscent of Advance Wars. The paid release is well worth the price of admission. Strategy game fans who haven’t picked it up should have a look at the lite release.
- MiniSquadron Lite (MiniSquadron, $2.99) — Tak Fung’s MiniSquadron can be most easily described (well…) as a side-scrolling, physics-based aerial dog-fighting game. In MiniSquadron, you take the stick of a cartoonish, fixed-wing fighter in a frantic bid for supremacy of the skies across eight different worlds — all set to a series of classical compositions. Local WiFi multiplayer is also supported. Action fans who haven’t tried it, give the lite a try.
- Low Grav Racer 2 Lite (Low Grav Racer 2, $2.99) — CobraMobile’s futuristic racing title, Low Grav Racer 2, is the closest thing in the App Store to the classic Wipeout. Control any of six futuristic racing craft across 18 different planet and space-based tracks. With more track complexity and tighter action, LGR2 is an improvement on its forerunner. If you like racing and it need not be all about rubber on asphalt, Low Grav Racer 2 might be for you.
- I Dig It Expeditions Lite (I Dig It Expeditions, $1.99) — InMotion Software’s I Dig It Expeditions picks up where the original release left off, after your farmer avatar paid off the bank thanks to the subterranean treasures gathered with his tractor-turned-digger. That sorted, he’s decided to travel the world with his digger seeking more treasure. With particularly impressive graphics and various improvements over the original, including an in-game map and waypoint system, I Dig It Expeditions is one it’s hard not to dig.
Sometimes, being trapped in the house can be a good thing.
