Hello everyone, and welcome to the week! It’s time once again for our look back at the noteworthy updates of the last seven days. It feels like we’re starting to see more big content add-ons again recently. Some new 64-bit updates, of course, but we’re focusing on updates with more stuff added here. Of course, you can keep an eye out for updates yourself using AppShopper or by participating in the TouchArcade forums, but this weekly summary is here to fill in the things you might have missed. Let’s dig in!
MARVEL Avengers Academy, Free With Marvel’s latest movie upon us, it’s not too hard to figure out what the various Marvel-licensed games will be up to for the next little while. The Spider-Man Homecoming event in Avengers Academy sees the Vulture attacking both Midtown High and Avengers Academy for criticizing his performance in Mr. Mom. The potential new recruits include Agent Venom, Anya Corazon, J. Jonah Jameson, and Silk. Every character from the last Spider-Man event will apparently return too, so if you missed your chance for Spider-Ham, here you go. Will Spidey defeat the Vulture? Will Homecoming return our webbed hero to his proper glory? Will this event help players forgive the last couple of turkeys? Yes, yes, no. Bye!
Death Road to Canada, $14.99 There are just some days where escaping to Canada seems like the only sensible thing to do. Living out that amazing fantasy got a little better last week with this big update to Death Road to Canada. One of the criticisms the game received was that each session was pretty much one and done, with overarching benefit to repeated plays. Enter Zombo Points, which you can accumulate and trade in for unlocks, upgrades, and other goodies. This update also adds some new characters, new events, some new perks and traits, and some new customized endings. It’s a great addition to a great game, so I’m giving it the coveted UMMSMotW award for this week. Clad in a diaper, mind you.
King Rabbit - Classic, Free King Rabbit has been delivering bunches of new levels for players to get stuck into for the last little while. Well, it’s time to get caught up in a whole new web of dastardly dangers with the Sapphire Collection, a new set of levels you can pick up via IAP. You’ll also find new skins and some new run effects in here, along with new leaderboards and achievements to go with the new levels. Hop to it. Rabbit reference. Check.
Phoenix 2, Free The sensational, spectacular shoot-em-up Phoenix 2 got its monthly update leading up to next month’s one-year anniversary. In this month’s bag of goodies, you’ll find the return of the Trinity ship from the first game, complete with a special teleportation power. Joining it are two totally new ships, the Antioch and the Uhb, which I believe is pronounced ‘Dave’. Some balance changes involving the Personal Shield and Chrono Field, and a few little improvements and bug fixes round this one out. Bring on version 3.0!
Minion Rush: Running game, Free The Minions are back in theaters again with Despicable Me 3, which means Minion Rush probably isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Still, if you enjoy catching bananas just like flies, you’ll find this game is just your size. Play through areas from the new movie in the new Bubble Gum Invasion special mission, which is now on its third episode, Attack of the Bubbles. There’s a new location, Bratt’s Lair, and a new Island Hopper costume to earn. You can even get a hold of Bratt’s workout duds. Not sure why you would want to, but hey, we all have our crosses to bear.
Pokémon: Magikarp Jump, Free If you’ve ever wanted to harness the proportionate strength, speed, and agility of a Magikarp, this is the game-thing for you. This update adds a whole new league to conquer, the Ultra League. It also adds some new patterns of Magikarp to collect. Perhaps most important of all, there are some new events, Friendship Items, and Decorations to enjoy. The events are basically the most enjoyable part of this game, so more is definitely better. This version also brings an improved skipping function for when you’ve already seen a scene and just want to get through it.
Tennis Champs Returns, Free Tennis Champs Returns got a real ace of an update last week. Now known as Tennis Champs Season 2 (I guess Tennis Champs: The Scarlet Server was taken), it features new tour challenges, a Career Rival who will improve right along with you in what appears to be a symbiotic relationship of sorts, and improvements to the AI, ball physics, and shot balance. You can now play with one finger, if you so choose, in a special Touch-Tennis mode, too. The UI has seen some tweaks, and there are some nice new graphical flourishes as well.
Krosmaga, Free Hoo boy, someone woke up an ancient evil, and he is grumpy. Is he strong? Listen pards, he has 32 specific cards. In the new expansion to Krosmaga titled Necros & Paladirs, you’ll meet the new God Enutrof. With him comes 7 new cards for all of the other gods, adding Necros, Paladirs, and some new spells for each. There are also 6 new Infinite cards, a new Necronomigore Card, a new way to win using Necros, and 53 new neutral cards. Wow, that’s quite a stack. I can’t say I’ve spent a lot of time with this one, but if it’s your jam, I’m sure you’ll have some fun with this add-on.
Crash Club, Free Life is a great big crash-up wherever there’s a smash-up when you’re in the Crash Club. The latest version adds a new crash site and a new dish battle arena, a new weapon called the Galaxy Gun, 30 new accessories, lots of new things to smash, and some cool new emergency vehicles to use. Sounds like a pretty gr… pretty amazing update. Oh ho, I almost made a funny there. Caught myself, though. Don’t want to pull a muscle on a Monday, after all.
Hitman Sniper, $0.99 It’s the chill of night. The scene of a crime. That crime? Shooting some guys from really far away with a sniper rifle. The perpetrator? Frank Ca… no? Oh, sorry. Let’s see. Oh yes, it’s Agent 47. Oh, well he’s a good guy, right? Only shoots the bad guys or something? Okay, whatever. It’s the Fourth of July tomorrow, a day which I’m told my American friends hold very dear due to fireworks, beer, and seared animal flesh. Sounds awesome, actually. Agent 47 isn’t bothering with any of that, though. Instead, he’s packing a new rifle called the Patriot. Dang, that’s pretty on-the-nose. I don’t know if the festivities go much beyond that, but hey, that icon is kind of spiffy, yes?
That about wraps it up for last week’s significant updates. I’m sure I’ve missed some, though, so please feel free to comment below and let everyone know if you think something should be mentioned. As usual, major updates will likely get their own news stories throughout this week, and I’ll be back next Monday to summarize and fill in the blanks. Have a great week!
