The Republic of Kazakhstan is utilising the latest Earth Observation (EO) satellite technologies from EADS Astrium and its subsidiary SSTL to create a national system which will support its government with resource monitoring, resource management, land-use mapping and environmental monitoring information for policy and decision making.
SSTL has commenced building a small satellite for the Republic of Kazakhstan that will provide medium resolution multi-spectral earth observation capability to complement the high resolution satellite that is being provided by EADS Astrium as part of the contract awarded to the company in October 2009.
The Medium Resolution Earth Observation Satellite (MRES) project highlights how systems from the two EADS Group companies can be deployed together to provide integrated multi-satellite space systems. The new EO system will include a high resolution mapping spacecraft and a wide-swath medium resolution multispectral mapping spacecraft implemented by a team comprising Astrium and SSTL.
SSTL CEO Matt Perkins commented: "This project illustrates the benefit of SSTL being part of the EADS Astrium group - the solutions that the Group now offers draw upon the heritage of both companies to provide real benefits to our customers."
The SSTL MRES satellite will deliver wide swath multispectral imagery of the Kazakh territory and other parts of the Earth. It will weigh less than 200 kg and have the capability to image and downlink one million square kilometres per day, with exceptionally agile off-pointing capabilities for this class of satellite.
SSTL will deliver the MRES satellite within a 3 year timeframe which includes a comprehensive training and development element, by building upon its heritage designs from its successful SSTL-150 class missions such as TopSat, DMC+4, CFESat and the RapidEye constellation of 5 spacecraft. Kazakhstan's MRES system will also incorporate advanced new technologies that have been developed for the NigeriaSat-2 satellite that include enhanced data handling and downlink capabilities.
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Cheats. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Cheats. Mostrar todas las entradas
martes, 20 de julio de 2010
jueves, 15 de julio de 2010
Astrium, Cisco Form IP Space-Based Routing Technology Partnership
Astrium Services and Cisco announced on 15th July 2010 that have entered into a technology partnership agreement to study the applications of space-based IP routers.
The partnership initially will focus on studying the space-based router that Cisco is testing on Intelsat 14 and how to apply Astrium’s communication service and payload processing capabilities to better support its customers. Astrium’s military satcom provider subsidiary, Paradigm, will work with Cisco on the first in a series of studies to be completed by January.
Through this joint technology study, Astrium Services said it would look to provide a more diverse range of telecommunication services in remote areas that require rapid data transfers. These would include crisis management situations, remote medical emergencies and mobile military operations.
Eric Béranger, Astrium CEO said:“Our partnership with Cisco is a natural step in ensuring that we remain at the cutting edge of innovative satellite services, providing our customers with both greater capacity and flexibility”.
The partnership initially will focus on studying the space-based router that Cisco is testing on Intelsat 14 and how to apply Astrium’s communication service and payload processing capabilities to better support its customers. Astrium’s military satcom provider subsidiary, Paradigm, will work with Cisco on the first in a series of studies to be completed by January.
Through this joint technology study, Astrium Services said it would look to provide a more diverse range of telecommunication services in remote areas that require rapid data transfers. These would include crisis management situations, remote medical emergencies and mobile military operations.
Eric Béranger, Astrium CEO said:“Our partnership with Cisco is a natural step in ensuring that we remain at the cutting edge of innovative satellite services, providing our customers with both greater capacity and flexibility”.
miércoles, 7 de julio de 2010
Astrium To Lead Studies of Ariane 5 Successor
Astrium Space Transportation on 7th July 2010 announced it will lead a consortium of companies to produce designs and cost estimates for a next-generation rocket under a 15-month contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) valued at 10 million euros ($12.6 million).
Les Mureaux, France-based Astrium Space Transportation will be financing 1.5 million euros of the contract with funds from the industrial consortium, with the 18-nation ESA paying the rest.
ESA governments are weighing whether to finance development of a successor to the current Ariane 5 rocket at their next ministerial conference, scheduled for 2012. The new rocket would be ready for service around 2025.
Multiple designs for a two- or three-stage rocket with cryogenic, solid-fueled and methane/oxygen main stages will be studied not only for their performance, but also for their long-term operating costs.
While no decision has been made, the early design work will focus on a vehicle that would add or subtract strap-on boosters to lift satellites weighing as little as 3,000 kilograms and as much as 7,500 kilograms into geostationary transfer orbit, the destination of most telecommunications satellites.
Unlike the current Ariane 5, the next-generation launcher would, under the preliminary designs being investigated, launch one satellite at a time into geostationary orbit, not two as typically is the case with the current Ariane 5.
European government officials have said the Ariane 5 successor should be able to replace both the Ariane 5 and the medium-lift Soyuz rocket, a European version of which is scheduled to operate from Europe’s Guiana Space Center starting in late 2010 or early 2011. The Soyuz is capable of placing a 3,000-kilogram telecommunications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit from the equatorial French Guiana facility.
The successor rocket would permit European governments to launch civil and military Earth observation satellites weighing up to 4,000 kilograms on a vehicle made in Europe, instead of relying on Soyuz.
Government officials have made clear that whatever design is agreed to must meet annual operating-cost criteria and not just satisfy performance requirements.
The study will “highlight competitiveness factors to reach around 2025 — reliability, availability and minimization of costs, particularly operating costs,” Astrium said in a statement. Companies from the nine nations that participated in the development of the Ariane 5 are in the Astrium-led consortium.
Les Mureaux, France-based Astrium Space Transportation will be financing 1.5 million euros of the contract with funds from the industrial consortium, with the 18-nation ESA paying the rest.
ESA governments are weighing whether to finance development of a successor to the current Ariane 5 rocket at their next ministerial conference, scheduled for 2012. The new rocket would be ready for service around 2025.
Multiple designs for a two- or three-stage rocket with cryogenic, solid-fueled and methane/oxygen main stages will be studied not only for their performance, but also for their long-term operating costs.
While no decision has been made, the early design work will focus on a vehicle that would add or subtract strap-on boosters to lift satellites weighing as little as 3,000 kilograms and as much as 7,500 kilograms into geostationary transfer orbit, the destination of most telecommunications satellites.
Unlike the current Ariane 5, the next-generation launcher would, under the preliminary designs being investigated, launch one satellite at a time into geostationary orbit, not two as typically is the case with the current Ariane 5.
European government officials have said the Ariane 5 successor should be able to replace both the Ariane 5 and the medium-lift Soyuz rocket, a European version of which is scheduled to operate from Europe’s Guiana Space Center starting in late 2010 or early 2011. The Soyuz is capable of placing a 3,000-kilogram telecommunications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit from the equatorial French Guiana facility.
The successor rocket would permit European governments to launch civil and military Earth observation satellites weighing up to 4,000 kilograms on a vehicle made in Europe, instead of relying on Soyuz.
Government officials have made clear that whatever design is agreed to must meet annual operating-cost criteria and not just satisfy performance requirements.
The study will “highlight competitiveness factors to reach around 2025 — reliability, availability and minimization of costs, particularly operating costs,” Astrium said in a statement. Companies from the nine nations that participated in the development of the Ariane 5 are in the Astrium-led consortium.
lunes, 1 de marzo de 2010
Shinobi Ninja Attacks Review for iPhone/iPod Touch
Price: $1.99
Publisher: Shinobi Ninja Video Game
Buy now on
Sometimes games come from nowhere and surprise the heck out of you. I recently had that happen to me and I got to tell you, it was exciting. The game is Shinobi Ninja Attacks. It has nothing at all to do with ninjas (well not directly). Instead it’s actually based band on a band of the same name from Brooklyn. You play as one of 4 band members and utilize your instrument of choice to whoop the bad guys. There have been a few music fighting games like this made in the past. Do you remember the Aerosmith game where you threw cd's at your enemies? The end result is a standard faire fighting game with one standout feature; the music. Fortunately the music alone makes this game worth playing.
Going in I had never heard of Shinobi Ninja. I went to their MySpace page and listened to a few of their songs. At first it reminded me of Beastie Boys but I think that was mostly due to them being from Brooklyn. As I listened to them more, I began to see that they really stand on their own as a band. The game is directly based on the musicians in the band. One character fights with a drum stick, another with a guitar, etc. Your mission is to get to a concert and there are a lot of people trying to hold you back from that goal. That resistance leaves your band with no choice left. You have to fight your way through the crowd of baddies.
The graphics are well done. Most of the characters are drawn in comic book fashion. The hand drawn characters are all rather nice looking and many things within the game are able to be destroyed including phone booths and benches. Destroying these items actually uncovers powerups that can help you on your quest to get to your concert on time. The sound and music is really where this game shines. Inside of the game, you have the ability to hear 6 full tracks from Shinobi Ninja's (the bands) cd. After beating the game you also unlock a code that gets you the six songs that are downloadable in five mp3 files that can be played anytime outside of the game. You also unlock 2 music videos that can be played within the game.
The controls themselves involve you fighting your way through crowds of people using a series of 2 buttons and a special powerup button that activates after beating up enough bad guys. The end result is a pretty decent rendition of Double Dragon/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles type gameplay. It's nothing special, but it’s definitely entertaining.
The main issue I have with the game lies in its length. The game is divided into four levels, each of which can be completed in 5-10 minutes each. I beat the game in one sitting which took about 30 minutes. At 2 bucks, this game clearly wouldn’t be worth it if you were only playing it for the game. The real replay value is not with the game but with the free tracks that you can download after beating the game. “Rock Hood” is especially a great track. All in all, this game is a must buy for any Shinobi Ninja fans. Even if you not a fan right now, take a few moments to listen to some of their tracks and see what you think. For me, the music alone is worth the price of admission. The game is just a bonus.
Overall Value for it's $1.99 price point
Overall Value:
Graphics:
Sound:
Controls:
Publisher: Shinobi Ninja Video Game
Buy now on
Sometimes games come from nowhere and surprise the heck out of you. I recently had that happen to me and I got to tell you, it was exciting. The game is Shinobi Ninja Attacks. It has nothing at all to do with ninjas (well not directly). Instead it’s actually based band on a band of the same name from Brooklyn. You play as one of 4 band members and utilize your instrument of choice to whoop the bad guys. There have been a few music fighting games like this made in the past. Do you remember the Aerosmith game where you threw cd's at your enemies? The end result is a standard faire fighting game with one standout feature; the music. Fortunately the music alone makes this game worth playing.
Going in I had never heard of Shinobi Ninja. I went to their MySpace page and listened to a few of their songs. At first it reminded me of Beastie Boys but I think that was mostly due to them being from Brooklyn. As I listened to them more, I began to see that they really stand on their own as a band. The game is directly based on the musicians in the band. One character fights with a drum stick, another with a guitar, etc. Your mission is to get to a concert and there are a lot of people trying to hold you back from that goal. That resistance leaves your band with no choice left. You have to fight your way through the crowd of baddies.
The graphics are well done. Most of the characters are drawn in comic book fashion. The hand drawn characters are all rather nice looking and many things within the game are able to be destroyed including phone booths and benches. Destroying these items actually uncovers powerups that can help you on your quest to get to your concert on time. The sound and music is really where this game shines. Inside of the game, you have the ability to hear 6 full tracks from Shinobi Ninja's (the bands) cd. After beating the game you also unlock a code that gets you the six songs that are downloadable in five mp3 files that can be played anytime outside of the game. You also unlock 2 music videos that can be played within the game.
The controls themselves involve you fighting your way through crowds of people using a series of 2 buttons and a special powerup button that activates after beating up enough bad guys. The end result is a pretty decent rendition of Double Dragon/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles type gameplay. It's nothing special, but it’s definitely entertaining.
The main issue I have with the game lies in its length. The game is divided into four levels, each of which can be completed in 5-10 minutes each. I beat the game in one sitting which took about 30 minutes. At 2 bucks, this game clearly wouldn’t be worth it if you were only playing it for the game. The real replay value is not with the game but with the free tracks that you can download after beating the game. “Rock Hood” is especially a great track. All in all, this game is a must buy for any Shinobi Ninja fans. Even if you not a fan right now, take a few moments to listen to some of their tracks and see what you think. For me, the music alone is worth the price of admission. The game is just a bonus.
Overall Value for it's $1.99 price point
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domingo, 28 de febrero de 2010
Angry Birds Review for iPhone/iPod Touch
Price: $.99
Publisher:Clickgamer
Buy now on
Buy It! Stop reading. Buy Angry Birds now (Editor: Come on man, even a Twitter review is longer than this).
If you did keep reading then I suppose I could tell you why you need to go out and get this game. Angry Birds is an iPhone/iPod Touch physics based game where you slingshot birds and try to take out enemy pigs. Despite sounding strange, it also probably sounds pretty easy. That is not the case at all. Precision and accuracy are mandatory in later levels. As the game progresses the pigs start wearing helmets and hide behind multiple layers of wood, stone, and glass. But have no fear, the birds come prepared for battle. You will unlock new types of birds that have different skills. Blue birds multiply. Yellow birds can break through multiple layers of wood. Black birds can explode. You get the idea.
The controls are simple. To shoot a bird, tap, drag, and release the slingshot. To activate the bird’s special skill, simply tap the screen. A hint: special skills sometimes need to be activated at just the right time in order to do the most damage. As far as levels go there are two episodes; Poached Eggs and Mighty Hoax. I am all the way through Poached Eggs, it took me over three hours (total play time) to complete the 63 levels. I am barely in to Mighty Hoax and it is difficult. Don't get me wrong. I am glad the levels are increasingly difficult. Each level really makes you use each bird's skill to its fullest. Obviously one thing should be clear; this game has a tremendous amount of replay value.
The graphics and audio are also outstanding. This is how games should be made. Simple ideas backed by great graphics, great audio, and gameplay that continues to last and develop. With all of this said, this game is only $0.99. This game truly has set a new bar for the sub-dollar iPhone/iPod Touch market. In fact, I’d wager this game sets a new bar across the entire pricing spectrum on the App Store. If you’re waiting for one more call to action, you won’t find it here. I’ll be busy playing Angry Birds and marking it down as an early contender for iPhone Gamer Blog's best game of 2010.
Overall Value for it's $.99 price point
Overall Value:
Graphics:
Sound:
Controls:
Publisher:Clickgamer
Buy now on
Buy It! Stop reading. Buy Angry Birds now (Editor: Come on man, even a Twitter review is longer than this).
If you did keep reading then I suppose I could tell you why you need to go out and get this game. Angry Birds is an iPhone/iPod Touch physics based game where you slingshot birds and try to take out enemy pigs. Despite sounding strange, it also probably sounds pretty easy. That is not the case at all. Precision and accuracy are mandatory in later levels. As the game progresses the pigs start wearing helmets and hide behind multiple layers of wood, stone, and glass. But have no fear, the birds come prepared for battle. You will unlock new types of birds that have different skills. Blue birds multiply. Yellow birds can break through multiple layers of wood. Black birds can explode. You get the idea.
The controls are simple. To shoot a bird, tap, drag, and release the slingshot. To activate the bird’s special skill, simply tap the screen. A hint: special skills sometimes need to be activated at just the right time in order to do the most damage. As far as levels go there are two episodes; Poached Eggs and Mighty Hoax. I am all the way through Poached Eggs, it took me over three hours (total play time) to complete the 63 levels. I am barely in to Mighty Hoax and it is difficult. Don't get me wrong. I am glad the levels are increasingly difficult. Each level really makes you use each bird's skill to its fullest. Obviously one thing should be clear; this game has a tremendous amount of replay value.
The graphics and audio are also outstanding. This is how games should be made. Simple ideas backed by great graphics, great audio, and gameplay that continues to last and develop. With all of this said, this game is only $0.99. This game truly has set a new bar for the sub-dollar iPhone/iPod Touch market. In fact, I’d wager this game sets a new bar across the entire pricing spectrum on the App Store. If you’re waiting for one more call to action, you won’t find it here. I’ll be busy playing Angry Birds and marking it down as an early contender for iPhone Gamer Blog's best game of 2010.
Overall Value for it's $.99 price point
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jueves, 25 de febrero de 2010
Rocket Downhill Penguin Review
Price:$.99
Publisher:Tony Hunyh
Buy now on
Rocket Downhill Penguin is an iPhone/iPod Touch racing game where you must avoid obstacles and pick up objects to increase your score. You play as Rocket, a penguin, and upon starting the game immediately start skiing down a mountain. Snowmen and trees are your main obstacles on the course. Hitting snowmen, while lowering your health, also has the peculiar effect of uncovering medals which can lead to extra health and even invincibility. But don’t hit too many snowmen, they still hurt when you hit them and will eventually end the game. Trees on the other hand carry no benefit at all and only serve to slow you down.
Tilting the iDevice is the only in game control, left for left, right to move right. I found it hard to stop Rocket from moving left or right and just ski straight. Once you start bobbing and weaving beware that it can get pretty squirrelly. The graphics are very clean, nothing fancy, but nevertheless they look good for this type of game. I especially like the brightly colored/snow filled trees.
There is an obvious winter theme in this penguin racing game. The in game music does a very good job of capturing a winter feeling without being a Christmas song. When Rocket crashes into a tree or snowman you get a neat sound effect that actually sounds like a large snowball being smashed. When Rocket picks up some hot cocoa or a medal, you will hear an exclamation sound and see your score go up. The audio stays pretty simple throughout the game, but anything else might have been too much anyway.
This is a fun little game but personally, I don’t see it having much replay value. I played it for about 20 minutes the first time and about 35 minutes the second time and I never got invincibility and never scored over 2500 points. However, I was visiting my parents this weekend so I had my mom play and she loved it. She screamed and laughed and played for quite a while. Now keep in mind this is a woman who tried to make Mario, in the original Super Mario Brothers, jump by holding the controller over her head. She’s not a videogame player (Editor’s note: get her on the Wii).
If you want a game that your young kids (or your mom) might enjoy, you should pick this game up. Its simple low frills gameplay, can be picked up, played, and enjoyed by anybody, and that should be counted as a success for any developer.
Overall Value for it's $.99 price point
Overall Value:
Graphics:
Sound:
Controls:
Publisher:Tony Hunyh
Buy now on
Rocket Downhill Penguin is an iPhone/iPod Touch racing game where you must avoid obstacles and pick up objects to increase your score. You play as Rocket, a penguin, and upon starting the game immediately start skiing down a mountain. Snowmen and trees are your main obstacles on the course. Hitting snowmen, while lowering your health, also has the peculiar effect of uncovering medals which can lead to extra health and even invincibility. But don’t hit too many snowmen, they still hurt when you hit them and will eventually end the game. Trees on the other hand carry no benefit at all and only serve to slow you down.
Tilting the iDevice is the only in game control, left for left, right to move right. I found it hard to stop Rocket from moving left or right and just ski straight. Once you start bobbing and weaving beware that it can get pretty squirrelly. The graphics are very clean, nothing fancy, but nevertheless they look good for this type of game. I especially like the brightly colored/snow filled trees.
There is an obvious winter theme in this penguin racing game. The in game music does a very good job of capturing a winter feeling without being a Christmas song. When Rocket crashes into a tree or snowman you get a neat sound effect that actually sounds like a large snowball being smashed. When Rocket picks up some hot cocoa or a medal, you will hear an exclamation sound and see your score go up. The audio stays pretty simple throughout the game, but anything else might have been too much anyway.
This is a fun little game but personally, I don’t see it having much replay value. I played it for about 20 minutes the first time and about 35 minutes the second time and I never got invincibility and never scored over 2500 points. However, I was visiting my parents this weekend so I had my mom play and she loved it. She screamed and laughed and played for quite a while. Now keep in mind this is a woman who tried to make Mario, in the original Super Mario Brothers, jump by holding the controller over her head. She’s not a videogame player (Editor’s note: get her on the Wii).
If you want a game that your young kids (or your mom) might enjoy, you should pick this game up. Its simple low frills gameplay, can be picked up, played, and enjoyed by anybody, and that should be counted as a success for any developer.
Overall Value for it's $.99 price point
Overall Value:
Graphics:
Sound:
Controls:
miércoles, 24 de febrero de 2010
Guerrilla Bob Review for iPhone/iPod Touch
Price: $2.99
Publisher: Chillingo
Buy now on
For better or worse, most of Guerrilla Bob is a throwback to the golden years of arcade shooters. The good includes some nice humor and quick gameplay. Unfortunately some of the bad stuff from the old days has been thrown in as well; Over-used voice samples and re-used locations and graphics. You'll definitely have fun for a while with Guerrilla Bob but its long term replay value is questionable.
The graphics within the game are the first thing I'll mention. Usually I’ll start with gameplay but the graphics overshadow everything else. They are superb. Great lighting, nice explosions, really well conceptualized characters and bosses. The entire game is shown in top down isometric view. It works pretty well in most cases although there are instances where the only way to kill the bad guys is by shooting at people off of the screen because the camera doesn't zoom out at all.
The gameplay itself is a mix of old school Ikari Warriors and iPhone/iPod based games like MiniGore and Alive4Ever. There is a minimal background story that propels you forward but after that you go in guns blazing and killing everyone you see. As you move Bob through missions you find weapon upgrades, speed boosts, health packs and damage multipliers. It's the very definition of an arcade shooter and it works pretty well. One of the main downsides is that the game only last about an hour or so. After beating all of the games missions, you do unlock a survival mode which I found to be extremely boring. Nevertheless, some of you guys out there might get a lot of enjoyment out of it. Swarm after swarm of baddies come after you and you try to last as long as you can.
The controls within the game are hard to get used to at first. It works as a dual control based game. In the beginning of the game they just feel really loose. After a while of playing they do feel better and become easier to use. Just don't go in expecting to hit all of your targets right away.
The sound within the game is pretty well done although it could have been better in some areas. There is voice acting done throughout the game. Bob is your usual tough guy action star spouting out all kinds of one liners that sound badass the first few times you hear them. After a while they can get a bit old though. The music within the game is pretty well done and fits the Middle East setting very well. The gun sounds on the other hand could have been better. Your machine gun tends to sound really hollow and dinky.
The main issues with the game arise after the second level. The first level is in the daytime in the Middle East. The second level is in the nighttime in the Middle East. Very cool settings. Then you realize that in every level you are going to see all of the same graphics over and over again throughout the game. All of the graphic tiles are re-used throughout the game in the following levels as well. There are a few nice touches later on towards the end of the game that change up the monotony but not enough. By the end of the game, it would have been nice to see Bob anywhere but the Middle East.
All in all, this is a pretty solid game. The price at $2.99 seems a bit high for about an hour or so of gameplay considering some of the other options out there. That being said, the graphics are extremely impressive (at least for the first few levels) and the gameplay is a lot of fun (once you get used to the controls). If you can get over those caveats then by all means, go ahead and buy Guerrilla Bob. If nothing else, it will give you a nice, warm retro game feeling, and who doesn’t want that?
Overall Value for it's $2.99 price point
Overall Value:
Graphics:
Sound:
Controls:
Publisher: Chillingo
Buy now on
For better or worse, most of Guerrilla Bob is a throwback to the golden years of arcade shooters. The good includes some nice humor and quick gameplay. Unfortunately some of the bad stuff from the old days has been thrown in as well; Over-used voice samples and re-used locations and graphics. You'll definitely have fun for a while with Guerrilla Bob but its long term replay value is questionable.
The graphics within the game are the first thing I'll mention. Usually I’ll start with gameplay but the graphics overshadow everything else. They are superb. Great lighting, nice explosions, really well conceptualized characters and bosses. The entire game is shown in top down isometric view. It works pretty well in most cases although there are instances where the only way to kill the bad guys is by shooting at people off of the screen because the camera doesn't zoom out at all.
The gameplay itself is a mix of old school Ikari Warriors and iPhone/iPod based games like MiniGore and Alive4Ever. There is a minimal background story that propels you forward but after that you go in guns blazing and killing everyone you see. As you move Bob through missions you find weapon upgrades, speed boosts, health packs and damage multipliers. It's the very definition of an arcade shooter and it works pretty well. One of the main downsides is that the game only last about an hour or so. After beating all of the games missions, you do unlock a survival mode which I found to be extremely boring. Nevertheless, some of you guys out there might get a lot of enjoyment out of it. Swarm after swarm of baddies come after you and you try to last as long as you can.
The controls within the game are hard to get used to at first. It works as a dual control based game. In the beginning of the game they just feel really loose. After a while of playing they do feel better and become easier to use. Just don't go in expecting to hit all of your targets right away.
The sound within the game is pretty well done although it could have been better in some areas. There is voice acting done throughout the game. Bob is your usual tough guy action star spouting out all kinds of one liners that sound badass the first few times you hear them. After a while they can get a bit old though. The music within the game is pretty well done and fits the Middle East setting very well. The gun sounds on the other hand could have been better. Your machine gun tends to sound really hollow and dinky.
The main issues with the game arise after the second level. The first level is in the daytime in the Middle East. The second level is in the nighttime in the Middle East. Very cool settings. Then you realize that in every level you are going to see all of the same graphics over and over again throughout the game. All of the graphic tiles are re-used throughout the game in the following levels as well. There are a few nice touches later on towards the end of the game that change up the monotony but not enough. By the end of the game, it would have been nice to see Bob anywhere but the Middle East.
All in all, this is a pretty solid game. The price at $2.99 seems a bit high for about an hour or so of gameplay considering some of the other options out there. That being said, the graphics are extremely impressive (at least for the first few levels) and the gameplay is a lot of fun (once you get used to the controls). If you can get over those caveats then by all means, go ahead and buy Guerrilla Bob. If nothing else, it will give you a nice, warm retro game feeling, and who doesn’t want that?
Overall Value for it's $2.99 price point
Overall Value:
Graphics:
Sound:
Controls:
martes, 23 de febrero de 2010
Thumpies Review for iPhone/iPod Touch
Price: $2.99
Publisher: Big Blue Bubble
Buy now on
This game is fun and kind of twisted! I don’t want to spoil the surprise of a full review but I like it. Thumpies is a music based iPhone/iPod Touch game where you must tap drums to the beat of falling Thumpies. Think, Tap Tap Revolution meets Alice in Wonderland on acid (or Tim Burtons’s AiW). I say this game is twisted because of the Thumpies themselves. They are round furry beasts that are all head, no body. And, if that didn’t make them creepy enough the developers at Big Blue Bubble thought it would be fun to give them slightly frightening faces. You can check out all the Thumpies by clicking the door at the bottom of the tree (even the locked ones).
The gameplay is simple. Tap the appropriate drum at the same time the Thumpie lands on it. Keep up the tapping and a musical beat will emerge. If you tap correctly your progress meter will start to fill. You will have to pass three or four levels songs per level to unlock more levels. During gameplay you can also keep a look out and tap butterflies to unlock more Thumpies.
The graphics are among the best I have ever seen for an iDevice game. The backgrounds and transition screens are great. The Thumpies, drums, and butterflies are very high quality considering they are the moving graphics in the game. I can point out enough how good the graphics are in this game.
The audio is a large part of the game play, considering you are tapping on drums. You can play without the music, but really, what’s the point? The music is fun, catchy, and sometimes just at creepy as the Thumpies themselves. As a creepy audio bonus, the sound FX that plays while tapping through the menus is great.
This is a fun game; however, it’s not going to be worth $2.99 to everyone. But, if you like music based rhythm games then you should really look into Thumpies. There are tons of levels, with each level having three difficulties, so there is a lot of opportunity for a good amount of gameplay.
Ratings
Overall Value:
Graphics:
Sound:
Controls:
Publisher: Big Blue Bubble
Buy now on
This game is fun and kind of twisted! I don’t want to spoil the surprise of a full review but I like it. Thumpies is a music based iPhone/iPod Touch game where you must tap drums to the beat of falling Thumpies. Think, Tap Tap Revolution meets Alice in Wonderland on acid (or Tim Burtons’s AiW). I say this game is twisted because of the Thumpies themselves. They are round furry beasts that are all head, no body. And, if that didn’t make them creepy enough the developers at Big Blue Bubble thought it would be fun to give them slightly frightening faces. You can check out all the Thumpies by clicking the door at the bottom of the tree (even the locked ones).
The gameplay is simple. Tap the appropriate drum at the same time the Thumpie lands on it. Keep up the tapping and a musical beat will emerge. If you tap correctly your progress meter will start to fill. You will have to pass three or four levels songs per level to unlock more levels. During gameplay you can also keep a look out and tap butterflies to unlock more Thumpies.
The graphics are among the best I have ever seen for an iDevice game. The backgrounds and transition screens are great. The Thumpies, drums, and butterflies are very high quality considering they are the moving graphics in the game. I can point out enough how good the graphics are in this game.
The audio is a large part of the game play, considering you are tapping on drums. You can play without the music, but really, what’s the point? The music is fun, catchy, and sometimes just at creepy as the Thumpies themselves. As a creepy audio bonus, the sound FX that plays while tapping through the menus is great.
This is a fun game; however, it’s not going to be worth $2.99 to everyone. But, if you like music based rhythm games then you should really look into Thumpies. There are tons of levels, with each level having three difficulties, so there is a lot of opportunity for a good amount of gameplay.
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domingo, 21 de febrero de 2010
Paper Fish Review for iPhone/iPod Touch
Price: $1.99
Publisher: Evenwell Digitech
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Paper Fish is an iPhone/iPod Touch game that is essentially a fishing game with graphics entirely created out of paper. The point to this game is to go fishing and collect enough points to unlock the next level. In order to earn points you drop a magnet into the water. While the magnet is in the water you can collect fish, crabs, lobsters and treasures. Once the objects are on the magnet you bring it back up to your boat. If a shark snags the line while it is in the water, it takes everything on your lure at that time.
The controls to this game are pretty simple. To move left or right you simply just turn your device that direction. To move your lure up and down there are arrows on the screen in order to do so. There is also a button on the screen to switch magnets if you so desire. The farther along you get in this game, the more sharks that come along. I will show my age a bit, but if you remember the game Jaws for Nintendo NES, it’s kind of like that. Besides the sharks, the game’s difficulty is also increased by needing to be selective of what you reel in. If you pick up garbage or anything that is not a fish or treasure, you will get negative points.
The graphics on this game are probably my favorite part of the entire experience. Everything is made out to look like it's made out of some sort of paper (construction, lined, etc), which gives this game a unique look compared to other games on the App Store. If you like the graphics on Paper Mario, you’ll love them here. The sounds within the game are a mixed bag. While the music throughout is a great fit, the actual sound effects end up being pretty annoying after a while.
I'm not a fisherman by any stretch, but I do enjoy going out every now and again to see what I catch. This game gives me exactly what I want out of a fishing game, not being too much work yet providing a great reward in the end. The difficulty in the game is just about right. Not too easy, but not so difficult that you will give up in frustration. As far as price, this game gives you a good amount of value at $1.99. Do yourself a favor, cast a line into the App Store, and reel it in.
Overall Value for it's $2.99 price point
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Publisher: Evenwell Digitech
Buy now on
Paper Fish is an iPhone/iPod Touch game that is essentially a fishing game with graphics entirely created out of paper. The point to this game is to go fishing and collect enough points to unlock the next level. In order to earn points you drop a magnet into the water. While the magnet is in the water you can collect fish, crabs, lobsters and treasures. Once the objects are on the magnet you bring it back up to your boat. If a shark snags the line while it is in the water, it takes everything on your lure at that time.
The controls to this game are pretty simple. To move left or right you simply just turn your device that direction. To move your lure up and down there are arrows on the screen in order to do so. There is also a button on the screen to switch magnets if you so desire. The farther along you get in this game, the more sharks that come along. I will show my age a bit, but if you remember the game Jaws for Nintendo NES, it’s kind of like that. Besides the sharks, the game’s difficulty is also increased by needing to be selective of what you reel in. If you pick up garbage or anything that is not a fish or treasure, you will get negative points.
The graphics on this game are probably my favorite part of the entire experience. Everything is made out to look like it's made out of some sort of paper (construction, lined, etc), which gives this game a unique look compared to other games on the App Store. If you like the graphics on Paper Mario, you’ll love them here. The sounds within the game are a mixed bag. While the music throughout is a great fit, the actual sound effects end up being pretty annoying after a while.
I'm not a fisherman by any stretch, but I do enjoy going out every now and again to see what I catch. This game gives me exactly what I want out of a fishing game, not being too much work yet providing a great reward in the end. The difficulty in the game is just about right. Not too easy, but not so difficult that you will give up in frustration. As far as price, this game gives you a good amount of value at $1.99. Do yourself a favor, cast a line into the App Store, and reel it in.
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jueves, 18 de febrero de 2010
Fighting Fantasy: Deathtrap Dungeon Review
Price: $.99
Publisher: Big Blue Bubble
Buy now on
Let me preface this review with this statement: I have never been into or enjoyed Dungeons and Dragons, Magic the Gathering, or any other fantasy RPG. I did however read just about every Choose Your Own Adventure book when I was younger (my mom was a librarian).
Fighting Fantasy: Deathtrap Dungeon is an iPhone/iPod Touch game that consists of elements from both fantasy RPGs and Choose Your Own Adventure books. The game is just what the title states; a fantasy game where you try to escape a dungeon. The game play consists of reading a 'page' and making one of the predetermined choices. To make one of those choices you simply tap a link. Then, after a pretty cool transition of book pages turning, another page to read and another predetermined decision to make.
If you are first time player, which I was, you will need to read the game rules. This took me over 30 minutes. This includes me having to go back and reread some topics just so I could get a solid idea of what I was suppose to be doing. After you read countless pages of rules, you then set up your character's stamina, skill, and luck by rolling an on screen die. The dice roll is also how you fight adversaries throughout the dungeon. After you set up your character attributes you are ready to play! But first, you have to read the game's background story. Don't worry it doesn't take as long as it did to read the rules.
During the rule reading the creators suggest using a piece of paper to draw out the path you take because there is only ONE way out. And by drawing a map, you will help yourself not make the same mistake twice.
The graphics are pretty good considering the only motion in the entire game consists of the screen transition and rolling the dice. For this type of game the design, colors, and graphical themes are well done. The game starts out with a cool menacing song, but during game there is no background music, just sound fx of pages turning. Oh yeah - there's also music when you die. Get use to that music, you will hear it a lot.
Overall this game isn't for me. But like I first said, this genre of games in general has never caught my fancy.I should mention that at the $2.99 price point, this game is a tough sell no matter who you are. Wait for the inevitable price drop before jumping on this one. This game's is best for casual gamers that loves RPG elements within their Choose Your Own Adventure books. For all others, the difficulty, rule reading, and the role playing elements will likely be too slow and tedious.
Overall Value for it's $2.99 price point
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Graphics:
Sound:
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Publisher: Big Blue Bubble
Buy now on
Let me preface this review with this statement: I have never been into or enjoyed Dungeons and Dragons, Magic the Gathering, or any other fantasy RPG. I did however read just about every Choose Your Own Adventure book when I was younger (my mom was a librarian).
Fighting Fantasy: Deathtrap Dungeon is an iPhone/iPod Touch game that consists of elements from both fantasy RPGs and Choose Your Own Adventure books. The game is just what the title states; a fantasy game where you try to escape a dungeon. The game play consists of reading a 'page' and making one of the predetermined choices. To make one of those choices you simply tap a link. Then, after a pretty cool transition of book pages turning, another page to read and another predetermined decision to make.
If you are first time player, which I was, you will need to read the game rules. This took me over 30 minutes. This includes me having to go back and reread some topics just so I could get a solid idea of what I was suppose to be doing. After you read countless pages of rules, you then set up your character's stamina, skill, and luck by rolling an on screen die. The dice roll is also how you fight adversaries throughout the dungeon. After you set up your character attributes you are ready to play! But first, you have to read the game's background story. Don't worry it doesn't take as long as it did to read the rules.
During the rule reading the creators suggest using a piece of paper to draw out the path you take because there is only ONE way out. And by drawing a map, you will help yourself not make the same mistake twice.
The graphics are pretty good considering the only motion in the entire game consists of the screen transition and rolling the dice. For this type of game the design, colors, and graphical themes are well done. The game starts out with a cool menacing song, but during game there is no background music, just sound fx of pages turning. Oh yeah - there's also music when you die. Get use to that music, you will hear it a lot.
Overall this game isn't for me. But like I first said, this genre of games in general has never caught my fancy.I should mention that at the $2.99 price point, this game is a tough sell no matter who you are. Wait for the inevitable price drop before jumping on this one. This game's is best for casual gamers that loves RPG elements within their Choose Your Own Adventure books. For all others, the difficulty, rule reading, and the role playing elements will likely be too slow and tedious.
Overall Value for it's $2.99 price point
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miércoles, 17 de febrero de 2010
Twistum Review for iPhone/iPod Touch
Price: $.99
Publisher: Phuong Vo
Buy now on
The number one rule of any iPhone/iPod Touch game should be that the average user should be able to play much of the game without quitting in frustration over and over again. Actually, I say this should be rule number two, right after making sure the game doesn’t crash back to the iPhone/iPod Touch launcher. Twistum offers a game that is extremely cute and a good idea but ultimately is incredibly frustrating due to rapid difficulty increases that ruin the experience quickly.
The game revolves around you moving 3 baskets on the bottom of the screen. The baskets all correspond to a certain type of fruit that falls from the tree. You switch the baskets back and forth and try to line up the falling fruit with the correct pot. All of that works brilliantly and in fact is quite cute and playable...during the first level.
If you didn't notice, that was foreshadowing. We will come back to the difficulty increase in a moment. There is only the core game here. No achievements, no social gaming network. It would have been nice to see some integration with OpenFeint so you could see how well you are doing compared to others. The controls are simple drag and drop. There is also one time during each level where you must "shake the tree" in order for the fruit to begin falling. The graphics are extremely well done for the type of game it is. I could imagine a young kid playing this game for hours (if not for the difficulty issues). The sounds within the game are fitting, but the music gets extremely repetitive after a while. Luckily you can turn it off in the options.
So let's get down to it; the main problem. The difficulty level is simply absurd. The first level doesn't prepare you whatsoever for what comes in the second level. I was able to finally pass the second level after a ton of repetition. However, I have some fairly fleet fingers (I guess) and I was no match to keep up with the falling fruit in the 3rd level. I am not saying this as someone who merely tried one time and gave it up. Instead I literally tried for an hour straight to beat the third level. I could not do it. I understand that there is a monkey living in the tree that adds bomb obstacles to the mix. Sadly the game was too difficult for me to ever see this happen. The main issue is that to try to beat the 3rd level, you have to replay the first and second level again, another pet peeve of mine. Let's leave that gameplay mechanic back in the 1980's where it belongs. Once it’s beaten, it’s beaten.
I wish I could give this game better marks but I just can't. I'm sure there are people out there that will be able to get their fingers sliding around the screen like crazy that can get to additional levels but certainly not your average gamer or a child (who I think would be a great target market for this game). Unfortunately the game offers no solution for this issue (an easy, medium, hard setting) and nor does it aptly build your basket moving skills through enough levels to get good enough to pass the latter levels. Perhaps a difficulty setting will be added in the future but for now I recommend passing on this one.
Overall Value for it's $.99 price point
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Publisher: Phuong Vo
Buy now on
The number one rule of any iPhone/iPod Touch game should be that the average user should be able to play much of the game without quitting in frustration over and over again. Actually, I say this should be rule number two, right after making sure the game doesn’t crash back to the iPhone/iPod Touch launcher. Twistum offers a game that is extremely cute and a good idea but ultimately is incredibly frustrating due to rapid difficulty increases that ruin the experience quickly.
The game revolves around you moving 3 baskets on the bottom of the screen. The baskets all correspond to a certain type of fruit that falls from the tree. You switch the baskets back and forth and try to line up the falling fruit with the correct pot. All of that works brilliantly and in fact is quite cute and playable...during the first level.
If you didn't notice, that was foreshadowing. We will come back to the difficulty increase in a moment. There is only the core game here. No achievements, no social gaming network. It would have been nice to see some integration with OpenFeint so you could see how well you are doing compared to others. The controls are simple drag and drop. There is also one time during each level where you must "shake the tree" in order for the fruit to begin falling. The graphics are extremely well done for the type of game it is. I could imagine a young kid playing this game for hours (if not for the difficulty issues). The sounds within the game are fitting, but the music gets extremely repetitive after a while. Luckily you can turn it off in the options.
So let's get down to it; the main problem. The difficulty level is simply absurd. The first level doesn't prepare you whatsoever for what comes in the second level. I was able to finally pass the second level after a ton of repetition. However, I have some fairly fleet fingers (I guess) and I was no match to keep up with the falling fruit in the 3rd level. I am not saying this as someone who merely tried one time and gave it up. Instead I literally tried for an hour straight to beat the third level. I could not do it. I understand that there is a monkey living in the tree that adds bomb obstacles to the mix. Sadly the game was too difficult for me to ever see this happen. The main issue is that to try to beat the 3rd level, you have to replay the first and second level again, another pet peeve of mine. Let's leave that gameplay mechanic back in the 1980's where it belongs. Once it’s beaten, it’s beaten.
I wish I could give this game better marks but I just can't. I'm sure there are people out there that will be able to get their fingers sliding around the screen like crazy that can get to additional levels but certainly not your average gamer or a child (who I think would be a great target market for this game). Unfortunately the game offers no solution for this issue (an easy, medium, hard setting) and nor does it aptly build your basket moving skills through enough levels to get good enough to pass the latter levels. Perhaps a difficulty setting will be added in the future but for now I recommend passing on this one.
Overall Value for it's $.99 price point
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Tower Defense EVO Review for iPhone/iPod Touch
Price: $.99
Publisher: Color Stone Ltd
Buy now on
Tower Defense EVO is an iPhone/iPod Touch game where the point is to destroy wave after wave of soldiers and vehicles trying to reach your base. The more units you destroy the more money you earn for a better arsenal. You can choose between mission based gameplay where after so many levels you can complete a mission, or you can choose the "endless" version where the enemies just keep on coming forever.
The controls on Tower Defense EVO are really simple. They are of the drag and drop variety. Simply pick the gun you would like to use and place it where you think it will be most effective and let it run wild. If you get bored with said gun, or would like to just update it, you are able to sell it and upgrade the weapon. I should note that the instructions on the front of this game went by VERY quickly and did not give me nearly enough time to read through them before getting started, so I had to try a lot of trial and error. The end result was quite a few early losses but honestly even the losing was fun, which is always the sign of a good game.
For a game that is played on a screen less than 4 inches wide, the graphics and details of the images are incredible. You really get a satisfying view of your entire arsenal of weapons filling the sky with ammunition. It is also nice to see some pretty good detail of your attackers well in advance. The background music is a good choice as well. The only thing that became a little annoying was after a few levels the audio is constant gunfire, which made me turn it off after a while.
It may be because I’m a sucker for tower defense type games but I really enjoyed this one. This game is well worth the asking price and honestly I would probably pay up to $5 for it just because I love a challenge that brings me back over and over again. Tower Defense EVO stands apart from other games in this genre with its excellent graphics and wide assortments of armaments at your disposal. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up.
Overall Value for it's $.99 price point
Overall Value:
Graphics:
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Publisher: Color Stone Ltd
Buy now on
Tower Defense EVO is an iPhone/iPod Touch game where the point is to destroy wave after wave of soldiers and vehicles trying to reach your base. The more units you destroy the more money you earn for a better arsenal. You can choose between mission based gameplay where after so many levels you can complete a mission, or you can choose the "endless" version where the enemies just keep on coming forever.
The controls on Tower Defense EVO are really simple. They are of the drag and drop variety. Simply pick the gun you would like to use and place it where you think it will be most effective and let it run wild. If you get bored with said gun, or would like to just update it, you are able to sell it and upgrade the weapon. I should note that the instructions on the front of this game went by VERY quickly and did not give me nearly enough time to read through them before getting started, so I had to try a lot of trial and error. The end result was quite a few early losses but honestly even the losing was fun, which is always the sign of a good game.
For a game that is played on a screen less than 4 inches wide, the graphics and details of the images are incredible. You really get a satisfying view of your entire arsenal of weapons filling the sky with ammunition. It is also nice to see some pretty good detail of your attackers well in advance. The background music is a good choice as well. The only thing that became a little annoying was after a few levels the audio is constant gunfire, which made me turn it off after a while.
It may be because I’m a sucker for tower defense type games but I really enjoyed this one. This game is well worth the asking price and honestly I would probably pay up to $5 for it just because I love a challenge that brings me back over and over again. Tower Defense EVO stands apart from other games in this genre with its excellent graphics and wide assortments of armaments at your disposal. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up.
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martes, 16 de febrero de 2010
Moto X Mayhem Review
Price: $.99
Publisher: Occamy Games
Buy now on
Moto X Mayhem is a timed 2D dirt bike game where you race through various landscapes trying to not crash your bike along the way. There are 3 sets of levels, each includes 7 different tracks. There are a few flash games out there that are very similar to Moto X Mayhem but when it comes to the iPhone/iPod landscape, Moto X Mayhem is very well done and stands apart from its competition.
Right off the bat you can start a game or practice one level at a time. Normal game play allows you to go through each level unlocking tracks by passing the previous one. After passing the entire track on a level, your total level time is shown and can be added and compared to the network of players. You can also access personal high scores from the main menu.
For a 2D racer, Moto X Mayhem has great graphics. The bike and rider show great detail with every movement the player makes. I believe the best graphics in the game are the tracks and backgrounds. They are a perfect match between high quality and simplicity. I especially love the buried skeletons with helmets on. Nice touch.
The game's sounds take a back seat to the graphics and game play. There is no music during game play (which I like), instead it plays only while the user is on a menu screen. While racing the sounds consist of engine noises, bird chirps, and crashing sound FX. I do like the fact that the engine noises are matched very well with the bike's acceleration and jumps.
The designers at Occamy Games really put a lot of thought in to the controls of this game. There are a few different ways you can control the bike's acceleration and balance. The first, and my favorite, is using the accelerometer to control the balance of the bike. Tilt right to make the bike's nose go down and tilt left to make the nose go up. The other two ways are analog, being able to side your finger across the screen to control the balance, and digital, tapping the screen in certain areas to control the balance. The gas and brake pedals also come in analog, sliding your finger on the screen to control acceleration, and digital, tapping a designated area on the screen for gas and brake. My suggestion is to leave it on the accelerometer for tilting and digital for gas and brake. If you got lost reading that last bit, don't worry. Every time you start a level, control hints pop on the screen.
There are a few things like I didn't like about this game. I've already passed all of the tracks on all of the levels. It didn't take long. Yes, there is the aspect of going back through and trying for a better time, but once you get the hang of the controls you will fly through the tracks. I would like to see an upgradeable bike and longer tracks. They only take 18-20 seconds to get through.
With all that said, Moto X Mayhem is still a very fun game, definitely worth the $0.99 price tag. The replay value is there, but I think the most fun you will have is trying to get through the tracks the first time you play the game.
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Publisher: Occamy Games
Buy now on
Moto X Mayhem is a timed 2D dirt bike game where you race through various landscapes trying to not crash your bike along the way. There are 3 sets of levels, each includes 7 different tracks. There are a few flash games out there that are very similar to Moto X Mayhem but when it comes to the iPhone/iPod landscape, Moto X Mayhem is very well done and stands apart from its competition.
Right off the bat you can start a game or practice one level at a time. Normal game play allows you to go through each level unlocking tracks by passing the previous one. After passing the entire track on a level, your total level time is shown and can be added and compared to the network of players. You can also access personal high scores from the main menu.
For a 2D racer, Moto X Mayhem has great graphics. The bike and rider show great detail with every movement the player makes. I believe the best graphics in the game are the tracks and backgrounds. They are a perfect match between high quality and simplicity. I especially love the buried skeletons with helmets on. Nice touch.
The game's sounds take a back seat to the graphics and game play. There is no music during game play (which I like), instead it plays only while the user is on a menu screen. While racing the sounds consist of engine noises, bird chirps, and crashing sound FX. I do like the fact that the engine noises are matched very well with the bike's acceleration and jumps.
The designers at Occamy Games really put a lot of thought in to the controls of this game. There are a few different ways you can control the bike's acceleration and balance. The first, and my favorite, is using the accelerometer to control the balance of the bike. Tilt right to make the bike's nose go down and tilt left to make the nose go up. The other two ways are analog, being able to side your finger across the screen to control the balance, and digital, tapping the screen in certain areas to control the balance. The gas and brake pedals also come in analog, sliding your finger on the screen to control acceleration, and digital, tapping a designated area on the screen for gas and brake. My suggestion is to leave it on the accelerometer for tilting and digital for gas and brake. If you got lost reading that last bit, don't worry. Every time you start a level, control hints pop on the screen.
There are a few things like I didn't like about this game. I've already passed all of the tracks on all of the levels. It didn't take long. Yes, there is the aspect of going back through and trying for a better time, but once you get the hang of the controls you will fly through the tracks. I would like to see an upgradeable bike and longer tracks. They only take 18-20 seconds to get through.
With all that said, Moto X Mayhem is still a very fun game, definitely worth the $0.99 price tag. The replay value is there, but I think the most fun you will have is trying to get through the tracks the first time you play the game.
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domingo, 14 de febrero de 2010
Alien Swing Review for iPhone/iPod Touch
Price: $1.99
Publisher: Mr. Jack Games
Buy now on
I won’t lie, on the first attempt of playing Alien Swing, I was not that impressed. However this game is surprisingly addictive! The game is a combination of two games (at least in my head); the first being the simple, yet very addicting Helicopter flash game where you navigate your copter over obstacles and through tunnels. The second part of that combination is comparable to something like Earthworm Jim. In Earthworm Jim you would use your worm body to swing back and forth to grab things and advance through the level, much like you use your tongue in this game to advance.
There are two modes in this game, Distance Mode and Puzzle Mode. Let’s start with the Distance Mode.
The point here is to see how far you can get by using your tongue to swing back and forth and basically swing through the slides as if you were an alien Tarzan. Admittedly, this sounds easy; however they make it more and more difficult as you move through the level. If you hit the ground at any time you lose a life. So in order to make it increasingly harder they switch things up. They start you out slow with stagnant objects and once you are in the swing of things the objects will start moving up, down and side to side. This makes it not only a thinking game but also a game that makes you anticipate what is coming up next.
The Puzzle Mode is fun, yet challenging. It will help you get your feet wet without jumping in the pool completely. You learn the basics of swinging and collecting the coins throughout the stages (though coin collecting is not necessary), but you also get timed and have time-based challenges. If you beat the puzzle stage in the time limit allotted your reward is a gold medal for the stage. In all there are 30 puzzles stages with 6 unlockable levels that are sure to keep your attention.
All in all this is a fun game. If nothing else you always want to do better than your last attempt, which is what makes classic flash games like Helicopter or Yeti Penguin Swing so great. Alien Swing is worth the $1.99 as it is a game that will easily pass the time when waiting for an appointment or when you need to just need to blow a few minutes.
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Publisher: Mr. Jack Games
Buy now on
I won’t lie, on the first attempt of playing Alien Swing, I was not that impressed. However this game is surprisingly addictive! The game is a combination of two games (at least in my head); the first being the simple, yet very addicting Helicopter flash game where you navigate your copter over obstacles and through tunnels. The second part of that combination is comparable to something like Earthworm Jim. In Earthworm Jim you would use your worm body to swing back and forth to grab things and advance through the level, much like you use your tongue in this game to advance.
There are two modes in this game, Distance Mode and Puzzle Mode. Let’s start with the Distance Mode.
The point here is to see how far you can get by using your tongue to swing back and forth and basically swing through the slides as if you were an alien Tarzan. Admittedly, this sounds easy; however they make it more and more difficult as you move through the level. If you hit the ground at any time you lose a life. So in order to make it increasingly harder they switch things up. They start you out slow with stagnant objects and once you are in the swing of things the objects will start moving up, down and side to side. This makes it not only a thinking game but also a game that makes you anticipate what is coming up next.
The Puzzle Mode is fun, yet challenging. It will help you get your feet wet without jumping in the pool completely. You learn the basics of swinging and collecting the coins throughout the stages (though coin collecting is not necessary), but you also get timed and have time-based challenges. If you beat the puzzle stage in the time limit allotted your reward is a gold medal for the stage. In all there are 30 puzzles stages with 6 unlockable levels that are sure to keep your attention.
All in all this is a fun game. If nothing else you always want to do better than your last attempt, which is what makes classic flash games like Helicopter or Yeti Penguin Swing so great. Alien Swing is worth the $1.99 as it is a game that will easily pass the time when waiting for an appointment or when you need to just need to blow a few minutes.
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martes, 9 de febrero de 2010
Fuzzle Review for iPhone/iPod Touch
Price: $.99
Publisher: CandyCane LLC
Buy now on
Fuzzle is a puzzle game where you must line up colored balls to earn points. Think of the game Connect Four, but in Fuzzle you have to connect five and with a lot more colors. If you are like me and constantly checking iTunes top 25 games, then chances are you have already seen the name Fuzzle. If you haven't downloaded it already...go ahead, it's worth it.
The game starts out with seven balls but with every move you make more balls are added forcing you to plan ahead. Multi-colored balls (which can be used with any color) and black balls (when used with a color, eliminates all of that color) are thrown into the mix as the game progresses to help out the player.
The gameplay is simple, touch a ball and drag it to the spot you want it to go. A cool road map pops up and shows you the path that they ball will take. This is important because you have to have an open path to the open spot. If there isn't an open spot you must move another ball to open a path or choose another ball. By default, there is a timer that will add balls even if you don't move (you can turn the timer off). So quick decisions are important.
I am very impressed with the quality of the graphics in this game. The balls and the playing field are crystal clear and the in-game menus are simple and straight forward. I wish more game’s user interfaces were as well designed as this one.
The audio is on the same level as the graphics. I am not a huge fan of in game music so I was happily surprised when I found out that the game was installed with the music turned off. I did turn it on to see how it was and it's not bad, but I prefer no music. The sound FXs are wonderful. Funny little noises with every move are a great addition to an already solid game.
Overall, Fuzzle is a great game for puzzle lovers and casual gamers alike. A must buy. It's challenging but not so much that you get frustrated and quit. Unfortunately (or rather fortunately), you just become more addicted. Every time you play the game will be different allowing for hours and hours of possible gameplay.
Overall Value for it's $.99 price point
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Publisher: CandyCane LLC
Buy now on
Fuzzle is a puzzle game where you must line up colored balls to earn points. Think of the game Connect Four, but in Fuzzle you have to connect five and with a lot more colors. If you are like me and constantly checking iTunes top 25 games, then chances are you have already seen the name Fuzzle. If you haven't downloaded it already...go ahead, it's worth it.
The game starts out with seven balls but with every move you make more balls are added forcing you to plan ahead. Multi-colored balls (which can be used with any color) and black balls (when used with a color, eliminates all of that color) are thrown into the mix as the game progresses to help out the player.
The gameplay is simple, touch a ball and drag it to the spot you want it to go. A cool road map pops up and shows you the path that they ball will take. This is important because you have to have an open path to the open spot. If there isn't an open spot you must move another ball to open a path or choose another ball. By default, there is a timer that will add balls even if you don't move (you can turn the timer off). So quick decisions are important.
I am very impressed with the quality of the graphics in this game. The balls and the playing field are crystal clear and the in-game menus are simple and straight forward. I wish more game’s user interfaces were as well designed as this one.
The audio is on the same level as the graphics. I am not a huge fan of in game music so I was happily surprised when I found out that the game was installed with the music turned off. I did turn it on to see how it was and it's not bad, but I prefer no music. The sound FXs are wonderful. Funny little noises with every move are a great addition to an already solid game.
Overall, Fuzzle is a great game for puzzle lovers and casual gamers alike. A must buy. It's challenging but not so much that you get frustrated and quit. Unfortunately (or rather fortunately), you just become more addicted. Every time you play the game will be different allowing for hours and hours of possible gameplay.
Overall Value for it's $.99 price point
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Parcel Panic review for iPhone and iPod Touch
Price: $.99
Publisher: Mad Processor
Buy now on
Parcel Panic is an iPhone/iPod Touch driving game where you must maneuver to checkpoints picking up and dropping off boxes. If it sounds a lot like being a UPS/Fed Ex driver, you wouldn’t be too far off. The more boxes you delivery safely the more points you get, but you have to be careful because a bumpy ride means some boxes will fall out, causing you to lose points. The levels are timed, with additional time added when you make it to a checkpoint.
The controls in Parcel Panic are similar to other driving games. The gas and brake pedals are on the bottom corners of the screen and tilting your device either left or right turns the truck. The turning seems a little unresponsive and during hard turns my iPhone was almost upside down. The gas and brake pedals work wonderful and you do really notice a difference in performance on the upgraded trucks (a new one is unlocked with every level completed). It is worth mentioning that I did have a bug during one of my play sessions. I flipped my truck over and could not find a way to get it back on its wheels forcing me to restart the level. It was annoying but didn’t happen again.
One of the coolest parts of this game is the 2D map of the island you can use as you are driving around. You are totally free to pick whatever path you would like on your way to your next delivery (there is a green line guiding you, but you don't have to follow it). With that said the quality of the graphics leaves something to be desired. They aren’t horrible, but if they would have been upgraded a bit, this game would have gone to the next level. The audio and sound FX are comical in a good way; from the puttering of the engine to birds tweeting in the background to the "Oh Yeah!" when you make a successful drop off, the game’s sound is light and cheerful. The game music can get a bit repetitive but not so bad you want to turn it off.
At first this game seemed somewhat shallow, but after playing for 15 minutes the game opens up and definitely is fun. Once you get the hang of the game you can try fun ways to save time on your delivery like jumping off cliffs and trying short cuts. Overall, Parcel Panic is worth the $0.99. The multiple levels each have a fair amount replay value and most importantly the game is challenging and keeps you coming back.
Overall Value for it's $.99 price point
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Publisher: Mad Processor
Buy now on
Parcel Panic is an iPhone/iPod Touch driving game where you must maneuver to checkpoints picking up and dropping off boxes. If it sounds a lot like being a UPS/Fed Ex driver, you wouldn’t be too far off. The more boxes you delivery safely the more points you get, but you have to be careful because a bumpy ride means some boxes will fall out, causing you to lose points. The levels are timed, with additional time added when you make it to a checkpoint.
The controls in Parcel Panic are similar to other driving games. The gas and brake pedals are on the bottom corners of the screen and tilting your device either left or right turns the truck. The turning seems a little unresponsive and during hard turns my iPhone was almost upside down. The gas and brake pedals work wonderful and you do really notice a difference in performance on the upgraded trucks (a new one is unlocked with every level completed). It is worth mentioning that I did have a bug during one of my play sessions. I flipped my truck over and could not find a way to get it back on its wheels forcing me to restart the level. It was annoying but didn’t happen again.
One of the coolest parts of this game is the 2D map of the island you can use as you are driving around. You are totally free to pick whatever path you would like on your way to your next delivery (there is a green line guiding you, but you don't have to follow it). With that said the quality of the graphics leaves something to be desired. They aren’t horrible, but if they would have been upgraded a bit, this game would have gone to the next level. The audio and sound FX are comical in a good way; from the puttering of the engine to birds tweeting in the background to the "Oh Yeah!" when you make a successful drop off, the game’s sound is light and cheerful. The game music can get a bit repetitive but not so bad you want to turn it off.
At first this game seemed somewhat shallow, but after playing for 15 minutes the game opens up and definitely is fun. Once you get the hang of the game you can try fun ways to save time on your delivery like jumping off cliffs and trying short cuts. Overall, Parcel Panic is worth the $0.99. The multiple levels each have a fair amount replay value and most importantly the game is challenging and keeps you coming back.
Overall Value for it's $.99 price point
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lunes, 8 de febrero de 2010
Marble Multiball 3d Review
Price: $.99
Publisher: Mad Processor
Buy now on
Marble Multiball 3d - The Castle Adventure is an iPhone/iPod Touch marble rolling maze game set in a spooky castle. To tell you the truth, a marble maze and spookiness seem like a strange pairing but the setting doesn't really detract (or enhance) the game. The game revolves around you going through a series of levels (over 40 in total) and guiding your ball or balls through different types of mazes. The game utilizes the built in accelarometer and requires no on screen buttons to play. The end result is a game that is simple to play, difficult to master and frustrating at times.
It is hard to write about a maze game without mentioning Labyrinth, one of the best selling iPhone/iPod games out there. Its physics model is outstanding. The ball rolls convincingly along the path and it really feels like you have one of those old toys in your hand rolling a ball around. This game doesn't feel quite like that. Instead the ball rolling physics feel a bit off at times. It is hard to say what exactly is the cause of that to be the case, but I felt that way the entire time I played it; almost as if the balls were slicker than they should be. One of the innovations in this game is that certain levels have multiple balls (up to 8 in some levels) that you have to roll around on the screen and deposit in the right location. The sides of the map differ greatly from water to space and generally are ways of keeping you on a single path and making the game more difficult. If you fall off the map, you start over from the beginning. The difficulty of the game begins getting insane in the latter stages. Even on the easiest difficulty level, in the last 10 or so levels, it takes the world's steadiest hand in order to maintain the ball on the map and make it to the end.
The difficulty is both good and bad. I like that the difficulty ramps up progressively as you jump through levels but there is no way of skipping a level if you can't pass a map. You must beat it in order to go on. I think this is a poor design choice. Game developers should want the majority of players to beat their game. Otherwise, why create the latter levels at all? I think that a LOT of people will give up before they make it to the end of this game and that's a shame because some of the latter stages are some of the most innovative. You have no controls of your balls vertical movement. You only control the balls speed of descent. There are occasions where you can ramp your ball over space or water and “jump” to another platform which is nice but very difficult to control.
The graphics in the game are ok but nothing special. The aforementioned marble rolling game, Labyrinth 3D, looks quite a bit better than this one. That being said, this game has a larger scope and the maps add in water, castle walls, multiple balls, etc that aren't included in Labyrinth 3D. The sound in the game is annoying after a while. Especially after replaying a stage 20 times or so before you pass (this happens often in the latter stages). I turned it off. Annoyingly you cannot play your own music while playing the game which to me was a disappointment.
Overall, the game really has its ups and downs. Passing a level after making your ball slalom down a hill, and speeding up and slowing down in order to "jump" channels of water is a lot of fun. But the 40 times I failed the level wasn't much fun at all, just frustrating. The controls feel a little slick and when you are playing a game that relies entirely on accelerometer controls; it really makes the game all the more difficult if they aren't up to par. If you’re a huge fan of marble maze games, try this one out (there is a free version as well).
Overall Value for it's $.99 price point
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Graphics:
Sound:
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Publisher: Mad Processor
Buy now on
Marble Multiball 3d - The Castle Adventure is an iPhone/iPod Touch marble rolling maze game set in a spooky castle. To tell you the truth, a marble maze and spookiness seem like a strange pairing but the setting doesn't really detract (or enhance) the game. The game revolves around you going through a series of levels (over 40 in total) and guiding your ball or balls through different types of mazes. The game utilizes the built in accelarometer and requires no on screen buttons to play. The end result is a game that is simple to play, difficult to master and frustrating at times.
It is hard to write about a maze game without mentioning Labyrinth, one of the best selling iPhone/iPod games out there. Its physics model is outstanding. The ball rolls convincingly along the path and it really feels like you have one of those old toys in your hand rolling a ball around. This game doesn't feel quite like that. Instead the ball rolling physics feel a bit off at times. It is hard to say what exactly is the cause of that to be the case, but I felt that way the entire time I played it; almost as if the balls were slicker than they should be. One of the innovations in this game is that certain levels have multiple balls (up to 8 in some levels) that you have to roll around on the screen and deposit in the right location. The sides of the map differ greatly from water to space and generally are ways of keeping you on a single path and making the game more difficult. If you fall off the map, you start over from the beginning. The difficulty of the game begins getting insane in the latter stages. Even on the easiest difficulty level, in the last 10 or so levels, it takes the world's steadiest hand in order to maintain the ball on the map and make it to the end.
The difficulty is both good and bad. I like that the difficulty ramps up progressively as you jump through levels but there is no way of skipping a level if you can't pass a map. You must beat it in order to go on. I think this is a poor design choice. Game developers should want the majority of players to beat their game. Otherwise, why create the latter levels at all? I think that a LOT of people will give up before they make it to the end of this game and that's a shame because some of the latter stages are some of the most innovative. You have no controls of your balls vertical movement. You only control the balls speed of descent. There are occasions where you can ramp your ball over space or water and “jump” to another platform which is nice but very difficult to control.
The graphics in the game are ok but nothing special. The aforementioned marble rolling game, Labyrinth 3D, looks quite a bit better than this one. That being said, this game has a larger scope and the maps add in water, castle walls, multiple balls, etc that aren't included in Labyrinth 3D. The sound in the game is annoying after a while. Especially after replaying a stage 20 times or so before you pass (this happens often in the latter stages). I turned it off. Annoyingly you cannot play your own music while playing the game which to me was a disappointment.
Overall, the game really has its ups and downs. Passing a level after making your ball slalom down a hill, and speeding up and slowing down in order to "jump" channels of water is a lot of fun. But the 40 times I failed the level wasn't much fun at all, just frustrating. The controls feel a little slick and when you are playing a game that relies entirely on accelerometer controls; it really makes the game all the more difficult if they aren't up to par. If you’re a huge fan of marble maze games, try this one out (there is a free version as well).
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viernes, 5 de febrero de 2010
Vanquish: Oath of Brothers Review
Price: $2.99
Publisher:Gamevil
Buy now on
In my time spent playing Vanquish: Oath of Brothers I have felt a wide range of emotions. At first I was bored, then I was interested and finally I ended up feeling somewhere in the middle. The game certainly has its strengths but has a few faults that counter balance them and keep it from being a classic. You play 1 of 3 characters in the story that takes place in the ancient Chinese empire (during the Han dynasty). In that role, you fight to the death over and over and over again. Gamevil calls this an action RPG and it does have elements of an RPG, but don't be fooled, this game is nearly all about the action.
The gameplay revolves around you riding on a horse through the countryside of China killing off whoever gets in your way. The game is divided into a number of levels that once you beat, you never return to. The actual gameplay is unusual because even though you are constantly moving forward (there is no way to stop entirely or go backward), you do have the interesting ability to slow or slightly turn your horse riding character left and right. This game is a side scroller so the ability to turn is intriguing.
On the left of the screen you have you d-pad control and on the right side your attack buttons. One button is your primary weapon, which you need to be ready to push a million times (literally). You will be killing 300-500 people in a single level and these things only take 5 minutes each at the most. The gameplay is really quick. In fact, it is really hard to see what you are doing on the screen at any one time. The problem is you aren’t just fighting foot soldiers. You are also fighting horse riding enemies and occasionally protecting a horse drawn carriage. Sometimes there are as many as 20-25 enemies on the screen at once including 5-10 horses. That is a lot of legs to see on a screen as small as an iDevice, making it extremely difficult to tell where you horse is, especially since the graphics can blend in.
The graphics in the game are interesting. They are hand drawn and sometimes quite beautiful, other times they end up looking drab and monotonous. In fact, when you start turning they can become very pixilated and truly look bad. It is worth mentioning that the blood you see upon killing your enemies flies everywhere and it is very satisfying to see. Especially after coming off playing Assassin's Creed 2 and seeing no blood at all. The music within the game is done well but unfortunately is not turned on throughout your playing time. While playing you simply hear the sound of your main weapon constantly coming up against your enemies which makes a clanging noise that gets old after a while.
The actual storyline within the game is done fairly well. It is truly one of the bright spots in the game. It makes sense, develops your character and even made me laugh several times (intentionally I think). It certainly feels that some time was spent on the story and that is a very good thing. None of what is said is done by voice actors, closed caption only here, but that doesn’t really detract from anything in this case.
The main issue with this game again comes down to the pace, which is much too fast in most cases. While there is a slider in the options menu to speed the game up or slow it down, it doesn't really seem to help too much. There are still a ton of enemies in every screen and finding yourself is still a difficult proposition. If they could have made your character stand out more I would have given much higher marks throughout.
One other thing that also needs mentioned is the difficulty level. It gets too difficult, too quick. I was going through the levels as the first character in the game and moving through them quite smoothly until I got to level 7 and tried to fight the boss character. That battle took ages for me to win and repeating the entire mission over and over again to get to that battle was not fun at all. Normally, you could "revive" yourself with a purple gem in the game and go right back into the battle against the boss character. In this instance, things had been so easy up to this point; I was using the purple gems to upgrade my character. When I died, I had no purple gems left to use and so I had to restart the entire mission over and over again. Not fun.
The upgrade system for your weapons and all of the additional powerups you can find/receive/buy can make the game quite a bit of fun. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and knowing when to buy an item (with one of the aforementioned purple gems) is an important thing to learn. Overall, this part of the game feels entirely right and is done quite well. You can even buy a better horse (which seems to make the game go even faster).
In summary, Vanquish: Oath of Brothers has a strong story, a great powerup/item system and an interesting use of controls and graphics. It also gives you several hours of gameplay. On the negative side its difficulty level raises too quickly, is extremely difficult to find your character in the mass of enemies surrounding you, and can become repetitive. As an action gamer, I think this game is worth your time. As a fan of RPG's, you might want to wait until Zenonia 2. This game is probably not going to be a good fit for you.
Overall Value for it's $2.99 price point
Overall Value:
Graphics:
Sound:
Controls:
Publisher:Gamevil
Buy now on
In my time spent playing Vanquish: Oath of Brothers I have felt a wide range of emotions. At first I was bored, then I was interested and finally I ended up feeling somewhere in the middle. The game certainly has its strengths but has a few faults that counter balance them and keep it from being a classic. You play 1 of 3 characters in the story that takes place in the ancient Chinese empire (during the Han dynasty). In that role, you fight to the death over and over and over again. Gamevil calls this an action RPG and it does have elements of an RPG, but don't be fooled, this game is nearly all about the action.
The gameplay revolves around you riding on a horse through the countryside of China killing off whoever gets in your way. The game is divided into a number of levels that once you beat, you never return to. The actual gameplay is unusual because even though you are constantly moving forward (there is no way to stop entirely or go backward), you do have the interesting ability to slow or slightly turn your horse riding character left and right. This game is a side scroller so the ability to turn is intriguing.
On the left of the screen you have you d-pad control and on the right side your attack buttons. One button is your primary weapon, which you need to be ready to push a million times (literally). You will be killing 300-500 people in a single level and these things only take 5 minutes each at the most. The gameplay is really quick. In fact, it is really hard to see what you are doing on the screen at any one time. The problem is you aren’t just fighting foot soldiers. You are also fighting horse riding enemies and occasionally protecting a horse drawn carriage. Sometimes there are as many as 20-25 enemies on the screen at once including 5-10 horses. That is a lot of legs to see on a screen as small as an iDevice, making it extremely difficult to tell where you horse is, especially since the graphics can blend in.
The graphics in the game are interesting. They are hand drawn and sometimes quite beautiful, other times they end up looking drab and monotonous. In fact, when you start turning they can become very pixilated and truly look bad. It is worth mentioning that the blood you see upon killing your enemies flies everywhere and it is very satisfying to see. Especially after coming off playing Assassin's Creed 2 and seeing no blood at all. The music within the game is done well but unfortunately is not turned on throughout your playing time. While playing you simply hear the sound of your main weapon constantly coming up against your enemies which makes a clanging noise that gets old after a while.
The actual storyline within the game is done fairly well. It is truly one of the bright spots in the game. It makes sense, develops your character and even made me laugh several times (intentionally I think). It certainly feels that some time was spent on the story and that is a very good thing. None of what is said is done by voice actors, closed caption only here, but that doesn’t really detract from anything in this case.
The main issue with this game again comes down to the pace, which is much too fast in most cases. While there is a slider in the options menu to speed the game up or slow it down, it doesn't really seem to help too much. There are still a ton of enemies in every screen and finding yourself is still a difficult proposition. If they could have made your character stand out more I would have given much higher marks throughout.
One other thing that also needs mentioned is the difficulty level. It gets too difficult, too quick. I was going through the levels as the first character in the game and moving through them quite smoothly until I got to level 7 and tried to fight the boss character. That battle took ages for me to win and repeating the entire mission over and over again to get to that battle was not fun at all. Normally, you could "revive" yourself with a purple gem in the game and go right back into the battle against the boss character. In this instance, things had been so easy up to this point; I was using the purple gems to upgrade my character. When I died, I had no purple gems left to use and so I had to restart the entire mission over and over again. Not fun.
The upgrade system for your weapons and all of the additional powerups you can find/receive/buy can make the game quite a bit of fun. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and knowing when to buy an item (with one of the aforementioned purple gems) is an important thing to learn. Overall, this part of the game feels entirely right and is done quite well. You can even buy a better horse (which seems to make the game go even faster).
In summary, Vanquish: Oath of Brothers has a strong story, a great powerup/item system and an interesting use of controls and graphics. It also gives you several hours of gameplay. On the negative side its difficulty level raises too quickly, is extremely difficult to find your character in the mass of enemies surrounding you, and can become repetitive. As an action gamer, I think this game is worth your time. As a fan of RPG's, you might want to wait until Zenonia 2. This game is probably not going to be a good fit for you.
Overall Value for it's $2.99 price point
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GTA: Chinatown Wars iPhone/iPod Cheats Part 3
With this last cluster of cheats for Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for iPhone / iPod touch, you can make the days run as fast as you'd like. These cheats are perfect for catching up with random encounters that only appear during certain times of the day (there are 14 total random encounters in the game).
Rockstar announced the 3rd and final release of Cheats for their iPhone/iPod Touch blockbuster on February 3rd. We have them for you here. If you missed part one or two of GTA: CW iPhone/iPod Touch Cheats, you might want to take a peak at those as well because there are some some pretty cool things including a special weapon you can unlock.
Cheats are spelled out using the magnetized letters on the Mission Replay Board located in any Safe House.
Time cheats
Advance an hour - JUMPHR
Move forward an hour.
Advance a day - JUMPDAY
Move forward a whole day.
Advance six hours - JUMPHRS
Move forward six hours.
A cheat is entered successfully when all of the magnetized letters go back to their original position on the board and a piece of text appears at the bottom of the screen with the load-out name you selected.
Of course, you can de-activate any cheat reloading your previous save (just make sure not to overwrite your save with the cheat active).
Rockstar announced the 3rd and final release of Cheats for their iPhone/iPod Touch blockbuster on February 3rd. We have them for you here. If you missed part one or two of GTA: CW iPhone/iPod Touch Cheats, you might want to take a peak at those as well because there are some some pretty cool things including a special weapon you can unlock.
Cheats are spelled out using the magnetized letters on the Mission Replay Board located in any Safe House.
Time cheats
Advance an hour - JUMPHR
Move forward an hour.
Advance a day - JUMPDAY
Move forward a whole day.
Advance six hours - JUMPHRS
Move forward six hours.
A cheat is entered successfully when all of the magnetized letters go back to their original position on the board and a piece of text appears at the bottom of the screen with the load-out name you selected.
Of course, you can de-activate any cheat reloading your previous save (just make sure not to overwrite your save with the cheat active).
Fling! Review for iPhone and iPod Touch
Price: $.99
Publisher: Candycane Apps
Buy now on
Fling! is an addicting iPhone and iPod Touch puzzler that entails flicking fuzzy balls, or furballs, at each other. The object of the game is to only have one furball left on the screen. To eliminate the other balls you must bump them off the screen using another ball. Balls can only go up, down, left, or right. Each of the 25 levels is different and the game gives you a ton of content for just a dollar.
The gameplay is fairly simple. You just flick a ball toward the ball you want bumped off the screen. If you think you have made a bad move, no worries, there is a back button that allows you to put the balls back move by move. And if you get really stuck, there is a “cheat” button that shows you the next move. The problem with the “cheat” button is that if you have already messed up beyond completion then you must revert back to where the puzzle is still solvable. But beware, you cannot use the “cheat” button and still move on to the next level.
The audio in this one is well done. The main song isn’t annoying or overbearing. I didn’t even mute it (which is something I usually always do in puzzle games). The sound effects are also nice and clean. You get little noises when you flick, bump, and complete a level as well as use the back button.
The graphics are great. The detail on the furballs is about as good as you can get on an iDevice. The top down perspective was a good choice as it makes it easy to see all of the balls in one view. Even the fuzzy playing field stands out. The menus and buttons have a great professional look and the games colors really work well together.
Overall, if you are a fan of puzzle games, this is a good one and is worth the money. It has hours of gameplay and is quite a bit different from level to level. The first 6 levels flew by and I really didn’t have to pay attention to what I was doing in order to move forward. Once I got to level 7, I started to really have to think ahead and plan my moves carefully and that is when it became a lot of fun.
Overall Value for it's $.99 price point
Overall Value:
Graphics:
Sound:
Controls:
Publisher: Candycane Apps
Buy now on
Fling! is an addicting iPhone and iPod Touch puzzler that entails flicking fuzzy balls, or furballs, at each other. The object of the game is to only have one furball left on the screen. To eliminate the other balls you must bump them off the screen using another ball. Balls can only go up, down, left, or right. Each of the 25 levels is different and the game gives you a ton of content for just a dollar.
The gameplay is fairly simple. You just flick a ball toward the ball you want bumped off the screen. If you think you have made a bad move, no worries, there is a back button that allows you to put the balls back move by move. And if you get really stuck, there is a “cheat” button that shows you the next move. The problem with the “cheat” button is that if you have already messed up beyond completion then you must revert back to where the puzzle is still solvable. But beware, you cannot use the “cheat” button and still move on to the next level.
The audio in this one is well done. The main song isn’t annoying or overbearing. I didn’t even mute it (which is something I usually always do in puzzle games). The sound effects are also nice and clean. You get little noises when you flick, bump, and complete a level as well as use the back button.
The graphics are great. The detail on the furballs is about as good as you can get on an iDevice. The top down perspective was a good choice as it makes it easy to see all of the balls in one view. Even the fuzzy playing field stands out. The menus and buttons have a great professional look and the games colors really work well together.
Overall, if you are a fan of puzzle games, this is a good one and is worth the money. It has hours of gameplay and is quite a bit different from level to level. The first 6 levels flew by and I really didn’t have to pay attention to what I was doing in order to move forward. Once I got to level 7, I started to really have to think ahead and plan my moves carefully and that is when it became a lot of fun.
Overall Value for it's $.99 price point
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