$0.99Upcoming Games

Block Slider ‘Chock A Block’ You Actually Just Pay 99¢ For and Play – Amazing, Right?

TouchArcade Rating:

Screen Shot 2013-05-29 at 12.36.16 PMSnide headline aside, is it starting to get anyone else’s proverbial goat that there’s all these seemingly cool puzzle games being released these days that, in practice, are less about solving the actual puzzle and more about gaming how to play it without paying? I suppose with the success of Candy Crush Saga (Free) and similar games, it only makes sense to try to go this route, but holy cow is it refreshing when someone releases a good puzzle game that you just pay a dollar for that isn’t incessantly trying to get you to spam everyone from your immediate social circle to your estranged extended family for in-app currency offers.

Chock A Block is a basic puzzle game that uses mechanics that I’m sure any iOS puzzle fanatic has seen before- You slide blocks, and each block you move slides until it collides with something else, whether that’s the side of the play field or another block. If the blocks it collides with share similar colors and three (or more) are touching, you’ve made a match. There’s all sorts of mechanics for upgrading to better higher scoring blocks too, depending on how quickly and how many blocks you match which sort of reminds me of converting your condo floors to diamonds in Super Monsters Ate My Condo (Free).

Multiple game modes are included, and all seem to determine just how intense the actual gameplay is. Typical classic mode puts you to the task of clearing game boards, and any unmatched block left behind costs you one life (of the ten you have) and you see how long you can play. Other modes have more or less restrictions to make the game easier or harder, and there’s even a challenge mode to challenge your friends to beat your scores.

Chock A Block should be available in the US App Store at 11:00 PM Eastern, so keep your eyes peeled if you’re looking for a slick puzzler that you just… *gasp* Buy, download, and play.

International App Store Link: Chock A Block, 99¢

  • Star Warsâ„¢: KOTOR

    4000 years before the Galactic Empire, you must lead a party of heroes and villains in an epic struggle to save the gala…
    TA Rating:
    $9.99
    Buy Now
  • 87 Comments

    1. eventide

      So is it up?

      1. Aventador

        Yes 1.98 GB download and price is 9.99 $

      2. curtneedsaride

        "You need 1.9GB for download and 2.5GB for installation, so around 4.4GB free."

    2. eventide

      I see no link for purchase, price, size..etc

      1. wimbuytaert

        Yea where the hell isit?

      2. arn

        Took a minute for ta app to pick it up

    3. kurzz

      WHAT? OMG!

    4. LA4k

      fastest release ever

      1. flashbackflip

        Indeed!! I am very surprised! In a good way, of course))

    5. LA4k

      but why no iphone?(( i want it in my pocket

      1. ttocs

        Way too small of a screen to enjoy this on an iPhone.

        1. Josh Dombro

          You think so? Would it be totally unplayable or just really slow because you'd have to get so close to things to see them?

          1. Scott

            I'm going to go with unplayable for most people. I'm sure you could technically play it, but I can't imagine it would be fun on that little screen. This game was initially made for a TV, then moved to a PC. The iPad is a logical next choice but a phone screen just won't cut it in my opinion.

            1. Josh Dombro

              I was afraid you'd say that...

              1. HCivic

                I want it on iphone too, this way i would had access to it anytime. Well i think this will be the game that will never be deleted from my ipad :)

                1. MasterWhil

                  I'd put it in the unplayable area. There are tons of buttons on the screen and they'd all have to be big enough to hit them with confidence. No way that's fitting on an iPhone screen and being enjoyable.

        2. dancj

          That's what they said about Autumn Dynasty and Bastion.

          (For what it's worth, Bastion felt a bit small on then iPad so I can't imagine what it's like on the iphone)

          1. Jazzpha

            Bastion actually works incredibly well on the iPhone, I think. I was surprised by how smoothly the transition went to the smaller screen.

            1. caaalrb

              To this day, Bastion is still my favorite game I've played on iOS

      2. skylerolson

        Isn't there a way to convert it to an iphone game file? I remember something like that from the little inferno comments before it had an iphone release

        1. ImJPaul

          You can do the opposite. But unfortunately. Unless its a jailbreak thing, that doesn't exist.

        2. DizzyNBG

          It IS possible. U just need an Mac, the script (iTelePad2Pod) and the legally bought iPad only App of course. Converted apps running just fine and controls are the only thing u have to messing around with.

          Cheers!

          1. DizzyNBG

            erm...and u need to be jailbreaked of course.

    6. ttocs

      Finally! Can't wait to play as soon as I get off work!

    7. icepulse

      If it "hit the App Store", where is the link?

      If anyone has tried it on iPad2, please post performance impressions!

      Thanks!

      1. ttocs

        The game is out there now. Seems to have taken a few minutes to hit after the post.

    8. eventide

      Where is it?? I'm an impatient gamer with a keyboard and can't wait reasonable amounts of time for this type of thing :p

    9. HCivic

      Bring it on! Do not stop at this, i want KOTOR2 too.

    10. eventide

      Even in my watch list it's showing up but there's no picture of the game or a link for purchase

    11. Jazzpha

      An iPad, an iPad, my kingdom for an iPad!

    12. wildperson

      Definitely not on the iPhone, which, while understandable, is still really disappointing. This game was one of my foundation RPGs.

    13. Galsia

      I would buy an iPad just for this game.

    14. dylanmannen

      Make a TA plays of it like now! XD, want to se how the controlles is before a buy

    15. fleshman

      Awesome, i really liked that game, but i don't really know why there s no iCloud or Game Center with Achievements... The Bard's Tale have all the stuff... Even GTA:VC have iCloud... Lazy port team

      Too bad i can't miss that game, so i probobly buy them after the exams

      1. Guest

        This game has an ending, which is the achievement. I'm actually relieved that I won't be receiving a popup message in-game telling me I achieved something trivial.

    16. Bool Zero

      Such an expensive week for core iOS gamers, LOL! I will have spent $50 easily just on three games (Warhammer Quest, Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright and now this) which is a nice change of pace for iOS gaming where games are cheap but usually geared toward casual. Nice to see this healthy alternative or premium price, premium quality games releasing!

      Now to explain to my wife and kids why I am going to unable to do anything family related with them for the next few weeks while daddy "works" on his iPad!

      Kidding, kidding!

    17. Jazzpha

      Also, those screenshots made me laugh. Using Mission for anything? You're making life so much harder than it needs to be.

    18. eventide

      Its up but I have 4GB available and it's not working

      1. HCivic

        You need 1.9GB for download and 2.5GB for installation, so around 4.4GB free. I need to update the ipad to iOS 6 instead :)

    19. denisvjcr

      Never had the opportunity to finish this game and now is the moment.

    20. XboxOne

      no iPhone support? Then I don't care. iFab owners will think differently.

    21. tranceforma

      Bring it on! Will be getting this, haven't ever played it before so should be an experience xD

    22. JindoFox

      Been waiting for this. I've read a lot of hate for touch controls elsewhere around the web, but I know I'm going to prefer them. This is one of the only "long" Xbox games I ever finished.

    23. curtneedsaride

      Man, I should've got at least the 32GB iPad... I've got one personal AND one work, and they're both full at 16GB a piece. Too many good, big games and too little time for me. Maybe I'll get to this one someday.

      1. NickyNichols

        This is the problem I am having. I really want this, but I have trouble freeing up 1 gb, let alone 5 to play this. I gotta clear up my backlog of games I need to finish playing first.

    24. iOSPeace

      $10? Really that is a whole bunch knowing that KOTR is a free to play game.

      1. Doctorossi

        Yeah, but KotOR is good. The O makes it gooder.

        1. iOSPeace

          Lol I forgot. Make it free and ill get it

          1. Doctorossi

            Hear that, devs? iOSPeace doesn't want to pay, so make it free.

            You're welcome.

      2. dudeguypal

        Since when has KNIGHTS OF The Old Republic been a free to play? The Old Republic is free to play but that's a totally different game

      3. Michael Anderson

        Um ... wrong game. This is the GOOD one, the classic RPG from when Bioware was Bioware ... not the $200 million flop from EA.

      4. Onikage725

        No it isn't. You're thinking of TOR. KOTOR was a single player RPG. Bought it when it was $60 on Xbox. Have no problem paying $10 now.

    25. icepulse

      Any verdict on iPad 2 performance?

      1. riChchestMat

        Awesome sauce on iPad 2 so far. No issues.

      2. Ben Norvell

        Runs fine for me

    26. ImJPaul

      And this is announced right after I sell my iPad on eBay. Ay yie.

    27. rdw2552

      They need to bring down the price

      1. eventide

        Why?

      2. Ben Norvell

        This game is easily worth that

    28. twistedmind87

      I'll download this onto my iPad and have a look into the files and see if it is iPhone playable over the weekend ;)

    29. Shadowking2214

      Cool! But no iPad,back to PC version then

    30. bababewey

      Are people actually complaining about the price?!?! What is happening?

    31. twistedmind87

      Full game £6.99 is a good price! It's spot on in my opinion. Take war hammer £2.99 to buy but with all IAP (£5.97 for character classes, £2.99 for extra realm) comes to £11.95!

    32. twistedmind87

      Great week for games : Gameloft sale Batman and Spider-Man for 69p, war hammer, world war z and Phoenix wright! All full top quality games!

    33. Louis Ace

      Universal PLEASE

    34. broadcastmonkey

      6.99 is fine for this type of game. If we don't pay a premium price for certain games then the platform will never be taken seriously and we will be stuck with freemium nonsense and iap for the rest of our days. Have played this for half hr or so and it's great. Good luck getting this on android any time soon.

    35. worldcitizen1919

      What a pleasant surprise!! Bought it in a flash!!

    36. flashbackflip

      Looking at screenshots at the appstore i noticed suspicious un-retina looking images...

      Can anyone please confirm if this is retina-ready or not??

    37. araczynski

      Have fond memories of the pc versions from back in the day. Don't want them molested by replaying now, ages later.

      1. Michael Anderson

        I replay KotOR every 1-2 years, and know what? Aside from a few niggles it has aged extremely well, and remains one of Bioware's top games (after Baldur's Gate 2, of course)

    38. araczynski

      I can't bring myself to replay any game. If There's no joy of a new story or exploration/discovery, it's a waste of time to me.

    39. Taeles

      Plays smooth on ipad3, controls are nice you swipe left or right to look around and swipe up or down to walk/run. Dosent look like anything was sacrificed to get it on our tablets either, everything is here :)

    40. speedyph

      Wow look how far IPAD gaming has come

    41. !nsomn!ac

      Noooooo! Why isn't this for iPhone. /sadjedi

    42. ratsinheat

      So much for yoda stories. Thanks for nothing.

    43. Gamer_Kev

      I remember grabbing this for the original Xbox. It was a lot of fun the first time through, but I've never been able to play through it twice. Guess it didn't have much replay value for me. (Not like the Baldur's Gate games anyway) Still, it's cleverly disguised turn based battle system aught to be well suited for iPad play.

    44. LanceAvion

      Next week, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is coming to the iPad!

      1. swisssk8er1

        No it's not. But I hope I'm wrong and your right.

    45. WarMachine

      No fucking way!!! I haven't been excited about an ipad game since never. We need more of these! I never got to play this as a kid, but now I'll get the chance.

    46. Guest

      Meh, it's the same price on Steam, might as well get it on there.

      1. flashbackflip

        U r kidding, right?

        1. Guest

          That's the most inane question ever. Do you think I'm kidding about that? The PC version is far superior to this, and it's a pretty long game. Why would I want to spend hours and hours squinting at a 3.5"-10" screen when I can play it on a 27" monitor?
          Not everyone's phone/tablet is the center of the universe, you know.
          Is it cool that this is on phone? Yes. Is it practical to play it on one? No.
          BTW, am I the only one not overlooking the fact that the characters have no shadows?

    47. lordyokomoto

      Well took some getting used to as not played for long time.... But for 6.99 UK this has to be the bargain of the year so far ;))) especially when u consider they charged 11.99 for FF games

    48. Benjamin Rodriguez

      only 10 bucks...Lol they could've charged so much more, and we all know we would've bought it anyways

    49. Phillip Nicewaner

      Absolutely brilliant release. Aside from a very small issue with controls affecting the momentum of movement, I have not had a single issue on my iPad mini. Funny enough, I have more glitches on the original game for the Xbox than I do for the iPad. I would now like to see Star Ocean 2 and Nintendo get into the mix!