Bartelme Design’s Dash Ball [$3.99, App Store] caught my eye when it was first released a number of weeks ago. It is a break-out game that adds a unique puzzle element to the traditional formula. The game is described by the developer:
Dashball is an exciting action puzzle game where the goal is to destroy colored blocks by controlling a bouncing ball. Solve the 25 challenging puzzles by moving blocks and changing the ball’s color using the switcher blocks avoiding the skulls.
In Dashball, there is a ball that is constantly bouncing up and down. As the player, you can control the ball’s left and right movements.
The goal of each level is to simply remove all the colored blocks. The color of the ball dictates which blocks you can destroy, and the color of the ball can be changed by colliding with special color-changing blocks. “Skull" blocks must be avoided or you lose a life, and special boxes can be moved by colliding against them. Levels are constructed as individual puzzles which you must “solve".
The game itself is very well implemented with a polished feel to it. I found the controls worked much better with touch screen rather than accelerometer, so I would recommend starting there. My experience with the gameplay, however, was mixed. While the game itself was fun, some levels require long runs of precise play in order to complete. If you make a mistake, you can find yourself having to repeat long portions which can be tedious.
Fortunately, a free Lite version [App Store] of the game was just released, so you can try it yourself. A preview video shows some of the gameplay:
The full version of the game contains 25 levels, while the lite version contains 5.
App Store Link: Dash Ball LE (free), Dash Ball ($3.99)
Disclaimer: Dashball is a current sponsor of the site
YAY! Another classic! Is anyone else loving these retro titles?
How long before Atari sends Apple a cease-and-desist?
OHMYGODOHMYGOD!!
I LOVED this game!!! Getting the warm retro fuzzies big time now...
Soooo downloading this. :-D
Ugh, once you enter the water maze thing, it becomes unplayable for me. You have to shift your iPhone to control the guy, and by shifting the iPhone, the colors shifts. Ugh, gave me a headache.
Give us a touch controls option!
Awesome, i was wishing for this very thing!
if only we could get a full 2600 emulator on the phone i was would be very happy indeed.
I still have fond memories of playing this ages ago. I'll certainly pick it up right away! Wonderful to see it back, but is this an official port? I doubt the code is PD.
Some of the comments in the iTunes store are just disgusting. There's complaints the graphics look like an Atari game. One guy calls it a retro version of Zelda and says they should "make the ball a stick person at least."
Hey guys. Glad you like and can appreciate the game. It's based off my simulation of the game (not emulated), for which the source code is available (http://peterhirschberg.com/... for anyone who wants to prove it's not emulated.
Enjoy!
-Peter
Hey guys. Glad you like and can appreciate the game. It's based off my simulation of the game (not emulated) 'Adventure: Revisited', for which the source code is available for anyone who wants to prove it's not emulated.
Enjoy!
-Peter
i don't think its that great. There aren't very in depth instructions or anything. I definitely appreciate retro games, but I think this one could have used a bit more polish on the menu screen and other small parts.
it is fairly faithful to actually game as there really wasn't a menu screen in Adventure or many 2600 games really. if you click on the info I on the game there are options for game variables and rumble, although i couldn't detect any rumbling in game with it on.
yes, yes, yes! great job!
i'm loving this game!
i gotta remember my way around the labyrinth for the bridge shortcut (little hint there for noobs :)
just aced level 1 - now time to have fun with bats and magnets in levels 2 and 3
Peter! When I wrote this post, the familiarity of your name triggered something in my mind, but I didn't follow up. I've updated the story to include a link to your site any my writeup of your wonderful Luna City Arcade.
(I got the invite for a game day, back in April or so, but had to leave town that weekend. I can't wait to set foot in your arcade sometime soon!)
This is not only awesome, it's wildly coincidental. Yesterday I was telling my 5 and 7 year old boys about how I used to play Atari 2600 and Adventure when I was a kid. We got home and low-and-behold, the game is released for the iPod touch. Needless to say, I downloaded it and showed it to them. The tilt controls for moving are a little weird, but none-the-less it is great, and well timed!
Does it have the secret author screen that was in the original?
Ok, now we need Demon Attack and Yar's Revenge.
I play the hell out of 2600 Demon Attack on my GP2X under Stella.
i 2nd yars revenge
also river run would do well with iphone tilt controls.
kaboom would work great with touch
if only apple would allow emulators
Adventure on the iPhone is all fine and well... But how about 3D Adventure as a Quake mod???
http://www.ataritimes.com/a...
:-)
CT - Apple and Pete would get cease and desist notices. It's a still actively used and protected IP, and even free downloads devalue that IP.
Adventure was my favorite Atari game when I was young. I downloaded and installed this right away. I'm surprised that after nearly 30 years I still remembered the way through the maze immediately.
Now someone needs to bring out a classic and updated version of Kaboom! Using your finger to move the buckets would be sweet !! Please Activision, Please !!
Oh Nooo! This game was an EPIC time suck as a kid ... now it's on my iPhone - LOL!