Game of Thrones: Ascent Cheats And Tips

Become the greatest bannerman in Westeros with the free-to-play smash hit Game of Thrones: Ascent. You might be tempted to drop a little cash here and there to advance, but consult our guide first to be sure we haven't covered anything absolutely necesssary, and you too can get started on the road to the Iron Throne.
How do I play Game of Thrones: Ascent?
 
Game of Thrones: Ascent is a menu-driven strategy game that requires you to create your very own bannerman. Once you've edited relevant stats, assigned equipment, and chosen a path to pursue, you can continue with the game. Then it's on to collecting resources, engaging in battle, and conversing with the various NPCs and townsfolk about the area. Iron, wood, and silver are but a few of the currencies you'll collect, and you'll rack up missions to complete as you progress. It's up to you how you want to mark them off the list, but you rise through the ranks by collecting quests, meeting goals, and continuing from there. Be advised there will be wait times aplenty at many points, so prepare yourself to pay cash if you want to circumvent them.
How do XP and other currencies work in Game of Thrones: Ascent?
Power points are how you're ranked in the worldwide Lord rankings. Your level is, of course, your own personal amount of progress and is governed by XP. When you complete missions you're given a percentage of the level meter as XP. When you level up you get new buildings, Sworn Swords, and other abilities. Silver is earned via taxes, adventures, and quests and you can buy more with real-world cash. Gold is used to buy premium items, and you can only obtain it in-game.
How do quests work in Game of Thrones: Ascent?
All of your quests are grouped together in one area where you can easily access them. Tap on a quest to see a brief description and which tasks are associated with it. You don't have to go down the list and complete everything, but you don't have to tick off each quest simply because it's there, either. That's your prerogative.
Chapters are similar to quests, but above them in the hierarchy. When you complete a chapter, you can receive rewards, XP, and more. Chapters spawn Sworn Sword quests as well. There are bonus goals attached to Chapters that require you to complete social tasks in addition to your normal duties, too.
What are Sworn Sword quests like?
When you get a Sworn Sword quest, you'll choose one of your men, choose from "battle, trade, or intrigue," and send him on his way to do your bidding. You'll complete the option that makes sense for the situation. In the worst case scenario, you'll lose your Sworn Sword entirely. Choose wisely when accepting these quests, as it can take time to build back up.

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Poptile iPad Review

There are many puzzle games trying to be the next mega hit, like Candy Crush Saga. Sometimes, though, you don't need all the bells and whistles to be a great game, Poptile being a fine example.
 

The Good

Poptile is a puzzle game where you tap the on-screen tiles to eliminate them. When you pop a tile, a new line of tiles will move up the screen. The tiles are different color sets, so popping a tile next to tiles of the same color will cause all of them to disappear. When tiles drop and they make a line of three, they will also pop. There is no timer in Poptile, and you have all the time you want to make your move. The only thing you can't do is let a column of tiles go past the dotted line at the top of the screen.
The game is very simple and that's its charm. As it progresses, the game gets more difficult by adding tile colors. You need to determine sometimes whether it's more beneficial to pop a group of tiles or one tile to set up a chain. You're also rewarded with power-ups for clearing certain amounts of tiles. The power-ups allow you to clear three rows of tiles or stop the tiles from moving up the screen.

The Bad

Unfortunately, Poptile lacks depth. There are no unlockables or other game modes. There is not even music in the background.

The Verdict

Poptile is very fun puzzle game. You will not be able to stop once you develop a strategy that works for you. The app is very limited in terms of options, but is very entertaining and addictive.

4.5/5

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Ninja Up! Cheats And Tips

With Ninja Up!, Gameloft provides the best of both worlds. It lets you get a piece of the ninja action while playing a variation of the endless runner. You'll guide a ninja high into the sky by drawing ropes for him to bounce from, while avoiding obstacles and beating your friends' highest climbs for scoreboard supremacy.
Worried that you may pull a ninja vanish? Don't be, as our helpful tips will have you high scoring in no time!
 

How do you play Ninja Up!?

Your ninja moves automatically. What you have to do is draw ropes for him to bounce on so he continues to get as high as possible. You can draw straighter ropes to make him fly upward, or draw them at an angle, should he have to get around obstacles, such as rival ninjas and construction cranes.
The shorter ropes you draw, the higher your ninja will bounce up. This serves as a positive and a negative, as it will allow him to achieve greater distance into the air, but will also make him faster, which could make it difficult to avoid objects. Try to save the smaller rope streams for when he's in a safer area.
Avoid drawing ropes until you see where your ninja will end up upon coming back down. Don't take too much time, though, or you'll miss and end his run!

How do I avoid obstacles in Ninja Up!?

One thing you'll want to do is draw ropes at an angle. By doing this, your ninja will be able to sail by obstacles and work his way to the opposite side of the screen, where you can draw his next rope to keep his ascent going.
A word of warning, though. If you draw too tight of a narrow angle, he won't get as high, and will scramble back and forth across the screen. This could make it difficult to draw the next rope underneath him, thus ending your round before he gets any further.
Try to stick to a moderate angle, where he can sail past objects, but doesn't go ridiculously fast. Practice makes perfect.

How do I compete with friends in Ninja Up!?

By logging into Facebook, your friends' best times will automatically be recorded in the game world, complete with name and Avatar, so you can see who you're competing against. Once your run is complete, your highest score will post on their screens as well, so they can try and beat you, and you can go back and beat them, and so on.

Do I need to pay for anything in Ninja Up!?

The game features only one costume and large stage to get through. You will have to deal with occasional ads, but they hardly get in the way of the action. Nothing beats playing around with a ninja for no charge, right?
Download Ninja Up! For iPad & iPhone

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The Top Five Mobile Game Franchises

The mobile gaming market is quite possibly one of the most varied in all of the industry. There's a veritable menagerie of different type of games for a wide assortment of players, making it versatile and viable for all audiences. And amongst what there is offered out there on the App Store and Google Play, some franchises are more worthy than others. These five are some of the best that mobile gaming has to offer, and we think you'll tend to agree as well.
1. Angry Birds
 
What else but Angry Birds could take number one on our list? Rovio's megahit has spawned several spinoffs, other media, enough merchandising dollars to support the creators for years to come, and even a game for the evil piggies themselves to take some revenge on the birds who want to tear their homes apart. Angry Birds is simple but sweet, and it's put mobile gaming even closer to players' hearts than ever before. If we're going by which franchise have done the most for mobile gaming, we've gotta hand it to Rovio for Angry Birds really getting the word out that just because a game may be pocket-sized, that doesn't mean it's short on fun.
Download Angry Birds for iPhone, iPad, and Android.
2. Where's My Water?
Swampy the Alligator just wants to take a hot bath, and you're just the person to help him do it. That might seem a bit strange, especially as a premise for a game, but don't knock it until you've tried it. Using your finger to create paths that guide water straight to Swampy's humble abode is rewarding, and while the games are kid-friendly and sweet, that doesn't mean they're simple. Where's My Water and its sequels and spinoffs are worth every bit of your time, especially if you're a puzzle fanatic.
Download Where's My Water? for iPhone, iPad, and Android.
3. Modern Combat
Gameloft's answer to the popular military shooters on consoles (you know the ones we're talking about) are well-produced, slick pieces of entertainment that we don't feel bad about when it comes to playing on the go. Call them clones if you must, but these mobile shooters are excellent alternatives to the big console brethren. They're so close that you'd swear you were playing one of the "big boys."
Download Modern Combat 4 for iPhone, iPad, and Android.
4. Candy Crush Saga
Say what you will about Candy Crush, but it's growing into a veritable powerhouse. It's already responsible for millions of dollars being ripped from the pockets of those addicted to the sugar rush everywhere, and while it's not the perfect match-three, it's still satisfying and plenty of fun, especially while on the go. We can't wait to see what King does next, but we hope it doesn't cost us all of our paychecks to complete.
Download Candy Crush Saga for iPhone, iPad, and Android.
5. Fruit Ninja
There's a simple charm to Fruit Ninja that's hard to replicate in real life -- without a huge mess, anyway. Slash through fruits with the greatest of ease, with a slash of a finger. It's fast, furious, and still requires a level of skill that makes you feel amazing once you pull off a super high score. And while there have been tons of variations upon the original game over the years, the original is still the one that started it all. Bow to your Fruit Ninja sensei!
Download Fruit Ninja for iPhone, iPad, and Android.

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Cascade Cheats And Tips

Cascade is the latest puzzle game from Big Fish Games. It works in a match-three fashion, but plays quite differently, as you'll spin reels and use jewels to create lines on a grid. The more points you earn, the closer you'll get to moving to the next round!
You'll match like a pro if you follow our beginner's tips!
 

How do I play Cascade?

In Cascade, the goal is to slot together gems on the board in formations of three or more - going across, down or matched to-gether in one continuous string - using pieces that you get after spinning a jackpot reel. If you manage to use all the gems in one turn, you'll earn an extra spin for free without sacrificing one of your turns. However, if you have pieces left over, you'll need to use one of your spins to get new pieces.
The goal of each round is to get the minimum score within as lit-tle spins as possible. If you have extra spins left over, you can redeem them for more gems on the board, which will net you an even higher score. However, if you run out of spins before you meet the score, you'll have to use one of your lives to try again.

What's the best way to match up gems in Cascade?

Keep in mind that matches can be done vertically or horizontally, and you'll want to try and match up as many big formations as possible. In addition, watch out for bonus gems with spikes com-ing out of them. Depending which way these spikes point, they'll be able to clear out rows or columns for you with no problem. NOTE: You need three or more gems to match up, but some-times you can fill in the gap with your gem.
Also, try to save wild gems for when you need them the most. These multi-colored gems appear in your line-up quite frequent-ly, and will match up to any three-plus formation you link them to. However, using them too early could leave you messed up with other gems you can't use on the board, which will cost you one of your spins. Save them for last if you can.

How do I use power-ups in Cascade?

Power-ups appear on occasion, and can help you clear a board, including a wild gem generator and a bonus spin. Try to save these, again, for when you absolutely need them. The first ones are free, but seeing as this is a freemium game, you'll need to pay for additional ones. Don't get in the habit of using them too much, unless you don't mind making a purchase.

What's the best way to score in Cascade?

There are two things to keep in mind.
First, watch out for score multipliers. These can rack up your points quite frequently, and serve as one of the best power-ups in the game. If you prefer, you can pay for a few extra to help you out.
Second, try to slot your gems into larger formations. The more gems you eliminate in a single run, the higher your score will be, and the more spins you'll be able to save in the long run.

Do I need to pay for anything in Cascade?

Generally, if you want to refill your lives right away, you can pay a buck to do so. Otherwise, just wait about an hour and you'll be good to go. You can also purchase additional power-ups for $0.99 to $1.99 apiece, as well as a pack of extra spins for $0.99. Shop around and then decide if you want to acquire these pow-er-ups.
Download Cascade: iPhone and iPad | Android

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Swipe Quest Review

Identity Crisis

The heart of any good puzzle game are the mechanics. Everything else is secondary. With Swipe Quest, a 2048-esque, grid-based puzzle game, Polish game development studio Evil Indie Games overlooks this essential point: what should be secondary is pushed to the forefront, relegating the all-important mechanics to a forlorn, backstage role.
The game-mechanics are certainly intriguing, and dare I say it, possibly addictive: While you play a monster-slaying hero, you have no real control over this hero's actions. He (or she; I played with a 'he') sits in the center of a 5×5 grid, unmoving, and perhaps, uncaring. Instead, swiping the screen moves the tiles around your hero. You're trying to get tiles with valuable resources (most importantly, swords, shields and gold) to collide with your central hero, collecting them for use against monsters. The game deals with killing these monsters in the same way: simply get a tile occupied by a monster to collide with your hero, and if you've collected enough swords, you spend them to kill it. The catch: if two tiles containing the same type of monster or resource collide, they merge, forcing you to keep an eye on the board, lest that pesky goblin with 8 health that you've been avoiding merge with its twin to become a 16-health monstrosity.

As an RPG, the game fails completely. "RPG" is already a term the industry tends to throw around far too loosely. Many popular games are given the moniker simply because they let you gain levels, choose skills and collect loot; there's no real role being played, no real character-driven plot. Even under the loosest definition, however, Swipe Quest barely qualifies as an RPG. You make exactly one decision about your character throughout the entire game: your character class, a choice which you can blindly make with almost no change to your gameplay experience. The only difference between the classes is the number of swords and shields, and the amount of health you begin with. Even upon leveling up, all you gain is more swords or shields, transforming the traditional "AH-HA!" moment of digital RPG's into a humdrum affair.
When it comes to plot, the "EPIC storyline" that the game description promises amounts to randomly generated quests in the vein of "Collect seven shields" or "Kill five skeletons". Sure, there's some attempt at flavor text, but it reads as unimaginative and cliché ("We need better weapons to defend our village, can you bring us some?"). In fact, the annoying bits of brightly colored text and image that constitute the quests only serve to interrupt the fast-paced gameplay afforded by the grid and swipe mechanic.

Visually, the game is lackluster. One can do a lot with simple graphics, but Swipe Quest…bores me. The green background covered with regularly spaced dots to suggest grass is drab. The fact that a goblin with a strength of one and another with a strength of 10 look identical except for the numbers beside them is disappointing. The redundant text that the game keeps spitting out at you is irritating. Why do I need to be told in writing which direction I moved every time I swipe? Add to that mix a poorly-thought-out UI, with ill-chosen text colors and positioning and you have a visual style that's unremarkable at best.
Finally, an annoyingly buggy system (swipes frequently move the grid in the wrong direction, leading to a maddening death), and badly translated text (I've seen numerous grammar errors and awkward phrasing) lend an unfinished, half-baked air to the game. Evil Indie Games would do well to build off some of the intriguing elements of their game, and leverage the strengths of their core mechanic for their next title. Had Swipe Quest simply been a polished puzzle involving colored dots, I would have loved it. In its current state, it falls completely flat.

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Cascade iPad Review

Puzzle games have a long and celebrated history since Tetris revolutionized the market over two decades ago. Many puzzle games have followed, bringing their own twists to the genre. The match-3 puzzler, for instance, became immensely popular since Candy Crush Saga hit the market. Cascade follows in its footsteps while adding its own elements that many people will enjoy.
 

The Good

Cascade doesn't try to reinvent the proverbial wheel; it has many of the same elements that you see in similar puzzle games. There's a board filled with gems that you must match up in a certain way to reach the next stage, with 140 tricky levels to complete. As you progress, the levels become more difficult, like the board getting larger, having to clear rocks from it or eliminate certain squares. In addition, the game has a cool slot machine element that involves matching your randomized gems to the board. You receive a certain amount of extra gem spins to master each stage.

The Bad

The same slot machine system is either a unique challenge or a big annoyance. You are only allowed to pair your set of gems with the gems in the same column above it; you can't move your gems side to side. On more than one occasion, we immediately had to use a spin because there were no moves available.
In addition, if you fail a stage, you only receive a certain amount of re-dos because the game has a recharge system that makes you wait before you can play again, unless you want to buy more lives of course.

The Verdict

Cascade follows in the same mold as other match-3 puzzle games, but there's enough variety to make it unique. Some of the twists make it frustrating at first, but you'll have a good time figuring out the best ways to complete levels and using power-ups to get ahead. You probably played a game like this before, but we strongly encourage you to give this free-to-play title a try.
Download Cascade for iPhone and iPad.

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Don't Touch The Spikes Flaps Onto The App Store

Ketchapp Studio has released a new game entitled Don't Touch The Spikes. Quite obviously the objective is to not touch the spikes. Makes sense, right? I mean, that's the title, anyway.
This game seems to take certain design cues from Flappy Bird, but is much less frustrating. The minimalistic design touches even the bird itself, and it's much more aesthetically pleasing than the wildly popular Flappy Bird. It looks fantastic, but it'll still reel you in just as easily.
You can start not touching the spikes today for free for iOS or Android. And if you're feeling generous, why not give the official Twitter account a follow?

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Wayward Souls Review

Hack To Your Heart's Content

Often the best mobile games are those that lend themselves to brief yet satisfying playthroughs.  The game must keep a balance: It should allow you to immerse yourself and allow you to pull away at any time. Some genres lend themselves to this idea better than others and fortunately, Wayward Souls is an example of a game that does it right, delivering a game with all the depth you'd expect from a quality action/adventure game, without having to commit an arm and a leg.

Wayward Souls is a hack-n-slash action/adventure game in the same vein as Diablo and Secret of Mana, with a heavy dose of roguelike thrown in for good measure. You walk around, killing enemies and breaking tables, as you move from one floor to the next. The game boasts randomly generated dungeons so that every playthrough feels different, and in true roguelike fashion when you die — you die. Forever. I stuck with the warrior for most of my playthrough, but there's also a rogue and a mage, while an adventurer, spellsword and cultist are unlocked by completing each of the games three dungeons. Every character feels unique, and plays differently from one another. The mage attacks with spells and projectiles while the rogue is swift and earns bonus damage for back stabbing, and the warrior is perfect for getting up in enemies' faces. The unlockable characters play almost like combinations of the default three, mixing both physical and magical attacks.

You had one job, Knight.

Each character has their own backstory that is revealed as you advance, and for the most part, these stories are well written and fairly compelling. The warrior is looking for the man who stole his brother's corpse, the rogue is looking for fame and fortune, and the mage is looking for her lost friend. Littered around the dungeons are bits of exposition that further explain the world and its story. It's a nice touch and along with the music adds to the title's fantasy ambience, though at the end of the day the story is mostly your standard evil wizard has taken over the land fare.
Like any bona fide roguelike, Wayward Souls is difficult, but it never feels unfair. Attacks, special moves and the few items you'll find while dungeoneering are triggered with just a swipe. What's more, you'll rarely feel like you've been undone by fat fingers or lazily implemented mobile controls as the control scheme here handles with aplomb. You'll die often, but the game allows you keep any gold you've collected, which you can then use to upgrade your character.  The upgrade system in Wayward Souls is fairly unique, as it offers temporary upgrades in the form of shrines and cauldrons hidden around the dungeon that give off stat boost and armor upgrades, so you're not totally powerless when you face the level's boss, while the permanent upgrades are accessible after death. In doing this, the game keeps the difficulty firmly set at very hard, and the light-RPG elements give players a reason to dive back in.

Don't let the visuals fool you — this game is HARD.

Noodlecake Studios promises free content updates and balance patches in the future, which is a huge plus in a market that's flooded with in-app purchases. They even promise more hats (!)
Wayward Souls does a lot of things right, but it's not without its problems. Despite having random dungeons every time you play, environments are often repeated. This is offset by the decent enemy variety, but there were times where I entered a room that just felt too familiar, and aside from hacking and slashing, there wasn't much else to do besides collect hats. The game is also reportedly prone to crashing, though in my play time, it only happened to me once (I was playing on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2) so your mileage may vary. None of these elements, however, are a deal-breaker in the slightest. Wayward Souls is a fun and surprisingly engaging action/adventure game with some rich RPG elements that'll keep all dungeon sloggers coming back for more.
If you've been itching to play a retro-styled Dark Souls on your phone, then Wayward Souls is for you. It's a good looking game that lends itself to short playthroughs, while still maintaining enough depth for an extended play session. It's not for everyone, and while Wayward Souls doesn't do anything particularly new for the genre, it brings a level of quality and depth that's often unseen on the Play Store — and with the promise of free DLC, it's hard not to recommend.

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Game Of Thrones: Ascent Review

Hodor

Have you ever been on a date and realized right away you just did not like the person sitting across from you? Maybe it was the something about the outfit they wore, or some incredibly awkward thing they said. Maybe you were struck with the sudden realization they were actually an octopus vaguely disguised as a human.
Whatever the reason, bad first impressions can wreck any relationship. I was recently reminded of this fact while playing Game of Thrones: Ascent. A game that's often so painful, it had me excusing myself to the bathroom and contemplating the survival odds of a fourth story exit through the window.
Game of Thrones: Ascent attempts to put you into the world of the books and show the game is based on,  by having you play as a new noble in the land of Westeros  trying to make a name for themselves. To do this, you'll have to participate in the complex political network that serves as the foundation to the Game of Thrones universe. Specifically this means forging alliances, keeping your foes at bay, managing the activities of your skilled people and generally making decisions that which will ultimately announce to the rest of the land just what kind of ruler you are.
Theoretically this strategic set-up is the perfect genre for a Game of Thrones game. After all, while the sex and violence of the series may grab its share of headlines, in reality it's the family vs. familial-political skullduggery that makes it all so very compelling. Being put into the middle of that intrigue has the potential to be extremely compelling.
What sinks the whole ship right off the bat, however, are the mechanics. Ascent started its life as a Facebook game, and you can feel that pedigree with every painful minute spent playing it. In the first five minutes of Ascent you will have to suffer being carefully walked through a series of dull menu interactions that comprise the entirety of the game's "strategy." The level of hand holding present during this tutorial is sure to insult any gamer with a first grade diploma, and if it doesn't the constant series of achievements that pop up for every simple interaction you complete certainly will.

So what are you actually accomplishing during this marathon of reminders to press the highlighted button to continue? Well you'll be doing things like taking on new recruits to your house, making improvements on your keep, aligning yourself with a major house, sending a sworn sword out on mission and gathering resources. It would all be very interesting if it weren't for the fact that it's accomplished so effortlessly. There is no sense of reward or accomplishment to be found here, and that's because the game rarely allows you to truly make strategic decisions. The moments it appears to do so by offering you multiple ways to handle a situation are actually largely for show as it takes a deliberate effort on the part of the player to make the game present actual consequences for your actions.  Let's just say if you've ever successfully completed a grocery list and managed to not accidentally buy a chocolate fountain instead of some onions, you'll have experienced the strategic depth of Ascent in full.
Yet Ascent is not done insulting the intelligence of its users as once the tutorial is done, because that is when you are introduced to its microtransaction system. Like many mobile games before it, nearly every action in Ascent requires a lengthy waiting period to complete, which can be averted by spending gold. Gold, as you might imagine, is a rare resource most easily acquired by spending real money.
You know, at this point I'm convinced these games are trying to weed out their strongest critics by having them repeat the same complaints regarding them until the point they are driven to creative insanity. For the sake of being thorough, however, allow me to reiterate that this is the most insulting and crippling of microtransaction systems ever conceived, and  turns what is already an insultingly stupid and muddling experience into the same that demands that you continually pay it handfuls of cash.

Ascent is essentially a time capsule of everything wrong with mainstream mobile game design. The only praises I can think to throw its way are all for ideas the game has, which it fails to properly execute. Ascent possesses many gameplay concepts which sound incredibly intriguing. This is especially true of the way the game handles alliances and how it integrates so many aspects of the series into gameplay events.
And yet they are all ruined by constant prods to spend money, random reminders to invite your friends and general gameplay design that encourages progress for the sake of progress without really offering any sense of reward for the effort. The blueprint of Ascent may be incredible, but a good blueprint in the hands of people not willing to put forth the work to make game experiences rewarding and meaningful really doesn't amount to much.
Much like that bad date, whatever initial promise to be found in Ascent quickly dissipates the more you get to know it.  There are too many strategy fish in the Google Play sea to recommend Game of Thrones: Ascent to anyone but the most morbidly curious of series fans for a brief encounter. Just be sure to take note of all nearby exits before sitting down with it. You'll thank me later.

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The Best Platforming Games For iOS And Android

If you grew up on such games as Super Mario Bros. and Sonic the Hedgehog, then chances are you've become addicted to platforming games. These are games where characters make their way through a 2D or 3D universe, defeating enemies while exploring new areas and eventually taking on bosses to save the day. These are tried and true favorites that never get old, even on the mobile front.
Here now are five platforming games that you shouldn't miss for iOS and Android!
 

Sonic CD ($2.99)

If you need a Sonic fix for your mobile device, the first place you'll want to start is Sonic CD. Originally released on Sega CD over two decades ago, this time-traveling platform adventure hasn't lost a step, thanks to solid gameplay, enriched visuals and the ability to select between U.S. and Japanese soundtracks. Being able to play as Tails or Knuckles (as you unlock them) is a nice touch as well. If this doesn't fulfill your Sonic fix, the original Genesis release and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 are also available for $3 a pop.
Download Sonic CD for iPhone & iPad
Download Sonic CD for Android

Rayman Fiesta Run ($2.99)

Following the release of Rayman Jungle Run, Ubisoft has returned the limbless hero to the mobile front with this awesome sequel, Fiesta Run. In it, you'll take on a plethora of new challenges, mastering all of Rayman's skills as you collect Lums and other special goodies. The more you snag, the more you'll unlock in the game. With beautiful hand-drawn graphics and an upbeat soundtrack, this is one Fiesta you'll never get tired of, amigo.
Download Rayman: Fiesta Run for iPhone & iPad
Download Rayman: Fiesta Run for Android

Limbo ($4.99)

Although its tone is much more darker than the other games on this list, Limbo is a truly unsettling - and unforgettable - platforming experience. You'll guide a little boy on his quest to find his sister in the reaches of darkness, dealing with enemies and solving puzzles while trying to stay in one piece. Sadly, that's easier said than done, so expect to die - a lot. With its black-and-white motif and solid gameplay, this is one that's sure to appeal to a certain audience out there. The real question is if that involves you.
Download Limbo for iPhone & iPad

Leo's Fortune ($4.99)

 

Easily one of the most compelling platformers to come out for mobile devices in the past year, Leo's Fortune shouldn't be missed. You'll guide a cute little mustached furball across troubled lands, using his inflate ability to get across gaps and sliding up and down ramps to avoid trouble. Along the way, you'll be able to enter bonus rounds for additional currency, and help Leo regain his fortune. With extraordinary visuals and music, Leo's Fortune will benefit you in every way possible.
Download Leo's Fortune for iPhone & iPad
Download Leo's Fortune for Android

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse ($9.99)

Who would've thought that one of the best platformers for the Sega Genesis era would make such a gorgeous comeback? Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse retains the feel of that 16-bit adventure with a breathtaking new visual approach, one where Mickey fits right in with the danger-filled cartoon world. You'll collect gems, seek out hidden treasures, and face troublesome bosses as you attempt to rescue your beloved Minnie from the clutches of the evil Mizarabel. Kids and nostalgic gamers alike will certainly love this one.
Donwload Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse for iPhone & iPad
Donwload Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse for Android

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Sonic Jump Fever Android Review

Sonic the Hedgehog's stock in the video game industry took a huge hit since the 1990s, when he was part of arguably the biggest Sega franchise; there were too many mediocre to bad games following the Genesis days. That being said, Sonic Jump Fever is an auto jumper style game for mobile in the mold of Doodle Jump.
 

The Good

Sonic Jump Fever is a Doodle Jump style game where the player tilts his or her phone to control where the character lands. You receive unlimited lives, but are in a race against the clock to score and progress through the level as far as you can before time runs out.
Many Sonic game elements are present that fans of the series will recognize. While traversing the platforms, there are numerous rings to collect, animals to save, power-ups to nab and Badniks to kill. While the game automatically jumps for you, it features a double jump feature to reach more rings and kill enemies. As you kill more enemies and collect more items, you fill your energy gauge and can activate Fever mode, which sends your character flying through the level collecting massive amounts of rings.
In addition, Sonic and many of his famous friends are unlockable in the game, including Tails, Knuckles, Amy and Blaze, each with their own unique skills. Each character's powers are upgradable by spending the rings you collect in the game.

The Bad

For starters, you don't begin as the famous Sega mascot, but as his sidekick, Tails. Sonic and the others need to be unlocked by collecting their symbols or red rings throughout the stage. It takes a ridiculous amount of symbols or red rings to access some of the characters and other power-ups, but the game offers them all to you for a fee. Score boosters are also available for a price to help you score the most you can on a given stage.
Another curious decision is that the stage stays the same no matter how much you score or progress, and only changes after a few days. On top of that, an energy bar restricts the amount of times you can play. You either wait for it to refill or pay a fee to do it automatically. Finally, video ads play after completing a level, slowing down the game.

The Verdict

Sonic Jump Fever is a decent auto-jumper that many people will flock to because of the Sonic brand, but after a few minutes of playing, they'll realize it is nothing more than a Doodle Jump clone that wants as much cash as possible.
Download Sonic Jump Fever for iPhone, iPad and Android

2/5

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Gameloft Launches Ninja Up on iOS

Gameloft Launches Ninja Up on iOS

Gameloft has announced the launch of Ninja Up on iOS devices. The game has a simple premise: to guide a ninja ever-higher into the sky by drawing ropes for him to land on as he jumps. In each game of Ninja Up, players tap and drag their finger on the screen to create small ropes, with their proper location determined by the ninja's current position in the air.

Since it would be too easy to simply draw a line across the entire screen each time the ninja jumps, players are limited to creating only small ropes. Users can wait until the ninja is at the height of his jump to draw a rope, as that gives them a better indication of where he'll come back down. At the same time, however, this strategy runs the risk of gravity pulling the ninja back down before the rope can actually be created.
 
On the other hand, gamers can also create ropes as soon as the ninja jumps. If timed correctly, users can actually correct their mistakes and draw a second rope before the ninja falls back down.
As the ninja jumps higher and higher, obstacles are added to the screen, which can send the ninja careening off his current course, and even end the game if players' reflexes aren't ready for the change. At the end of each game, users can compare their scores against friends and strangers, or share their scores to Facebook.
Ninja Up is completely free-to-play, with no available in-app purchases. It's available to download now on iOS, and is coming soon to Android.

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Powerpuff Girls: Defenders of Townsville Review

Defenders of Townsville is Made of Everything Nice

The Powerpuff Girls are back, and they are back in a huge way. After years off the air, these pint-sized superheroes got a major makeover, and now they're returning to screens of all sizes. While the new cartoon is yet to premiere, the Android game, Defenders of Townsville, is an excellent way to spend the days waiting for their updated TV debut.
Defenders of Townsville is designed an awful lot like Metroid, and not just because the heroes are lacking a Y-Chromosome. The game takes advantage of the well-established world in which the Powerpuff Girls live: we know Mojo Jojo is up to no good simply because he's awake and near the girls, who have been stripped of their powers, and need to earn them back by taking out Mojo's evil robots.Our pint-sized heroines have no choice but to fight their way through room after room in search of modules that will help return them to their rightful places of control. When the game begins, only Buttercup is playable. She's bound by gravity and can only throw a little punch in defense. After a while, and some updates to her attack, Buttercup releases Blossom in a boss battle, and then Blossom releases Bubbles in a battle of her own. Each girl has specific powers (Buttercup has a wide range of melee attacks, Blossom can fight with fire, and Bubbles is all about shooting ice.), but there are also power modules that allow all three girls to fly faster, fight harder, or last longer against enemy fire.

Here are some things Defenders of Townsville gets very VERY right: three levels of difficulty, an easy to navigate control system, and interchangeable animation styles. This is a game that both I and my nine year old cousin are equally likely to grab for and play. Cartoon Network planned for the learning curve between the game's two biggest audiences with "Easy" "Normal" and "Hard" levels. The controls system; which consists of a joystick on the left side of the screen and the "fly" and "attack" buttons on the right, streamlines gameplay so that you can move and fight at the same time. Another button above the joystick makes it easy to change your special attack without taking away from your navigation. A fourth button above the attack allows you to speed up flight once you've unlocked that module.
I mentioned interchangeable animation before, and while this is an amazing feature of the game it's almost an Easter egg. I'm not one to mess with the settings of a game—if it's intended to be played a certain way I follow that template until I find a problem with it. However, while reading up on the newest Powerpuff Girls series, I stumbled upon another article about Defenders that was over the moon about the classic animation that's included. I poked around in the settings and voila! The girls were back! I do like the new animation style and I'm really excited to see it at play in the series, but I have to say those smooth edges and bolder colors were like a sight for sore eyes after hours and hours of sugary-sweet pastels and hard-corner geometry.
The only problem I had with Defenders, and a problem that many had with Metroid as well, is the pacing. I found myself going back over rooms I thought I scoured, just because I had a new power, on the off-chance it uncovered a module. Once I got a map with indicators, I spent slightly less time chasing my own tail—but only slightly. This game requires that you retrace your steps, which is fine, but these girls are known for saving the world before bedtime…not the break of dawn.
Once you start getting some powers back, though, the pace starts to grow exponentially, and the problem starts to pale in comparison to all the good stuff. Overall, Defenders of Townsville is a solid Metroid-style game. It's got a sprawling map that's simple to navigate. While I would have liked a more in-depth storyline, a game that's helping re-introduce the show for a new audience in equal measure to its older fans does well to skim the surface with a classic Big Bad.
Gameplay in Defenders of Townsville is smooth and fun; load time between rooms is negligible and the urge to 100% clear a room of enemies is both tempting before it's accomplished, and satisfying after. There is nothing here that doesn't belong, which makes it a clean representation of the Townsville world, and a well-developed addition to the Metroidvania family. I dare you to play it without a smile.

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GREE, Ubisoft and PlayNext Announce Assassin’s Creed Memories for iOS

GREE, Ubisoft and PlayNext Announce Assassin's Creed Memories for iOS

GREE, Ubisoft and PlayNext have announced Assassin's Creed Memories, an upcoming iOS title that will blend "card battle, RPG and strategy elements." In the game, existing fans and newcomers to the Assassin's Creed franchise will be introduced to Abstergo Entertainment's mobile Animus, as they travel throughout history recruiting famous allies for their team.
Assassin's Creed Memories will take players to multiple time periods, including Renaissance Italy and Colonial-era US. The game will feature both single-player and multiplayer combat, including support for battles of up to 20-on-20 real gamers. Throughout the game, users will be given options to customize their deck and team, which are determined by "the kind of Assassin they want to be."
"The card battle genre has been hugely popular around the world and GREE and PlayNext have demonstrated their know-how and expertise on such games. With such expertise, we really believe they're bringing a great new way to enjoy the richness of [the] Assassin's Creed universe to mobile players," says Jean Michel Detoc, managing director of Ubisoft's Mobile Division.
Assassin's Creed Memories will launch worldwide as a free-to-play title later this Summer. Check back soon for more.

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Wayward Manor Review

Many of us desire peace in our twilight years. In Wayward Manor, the sentiment is equally true for an old, sentient house, which yearns for a tranquil retirement. This means that the boisterous family that lives there has to go, and it's your job as the manor's loyal poltergeist to move them out. Wayward Manor is a modest puzzle game, featuring plenty of good-natured charm and slapstick humor. But you're not the only one haunting the manor's creaking halls; an array of game-ending glitches provide more worriment than the game's dancing shadows, while the lack of challenge turn the second half into a snooze.
 
As the manor's sole guardian, you must move from room to room, scaring away the unwanted guests. You approach this goal by manipulating certain objects in a room marked with an eerie spectral glow. Using your paranormal abilities, you prey upon the family's deep-seated fears and anxieties, or frighten them with tactful snares, including mousetraps and a pirate ghost that slashes at them from a painting. You can rattle a stone bust, which grabs a victim's attention long enough for you to send a bottle flying toward her head, shaking her constitution. The sight of a rat sends the family maid into a panic, so why not have one scurry across her path, causing her to jump with fright? A successful scare rewards you with a green skull. The more skulls you earn, the stronger your presence in a room, allowing you to manipulate even more objects as you frighten the pants off various intruders. Once you collect six skulls, you activate a ghastly whirlwind that whips up loose objects, sending your hapless victim screaming out the door for good.
 

At first, there is a sense of discovery in solving Wayward Manor's puzzles, but the excitement dissipates more quickly than a specter in the sunlight. By the time you hit the third chapter, a cursory glance is all that is required to figure out each level's mystery. Gameplay stagnates, and there are only so many times you can whack one of the dopey characters on the head with a bottle before boredom seeps in.

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Boom Beach Review

Here Comes the Boom

Put Army Men, James Bond, and tabletop strategy into a juicer and Boom Beach is the result. It has the theme of the first and the tongue in cheek humor of the second, all built on the bones of the third. One part building game, one part battle strategy, one part fun.

The game begins as your beleaguered forces land on a small island in the middle of a clouded archipelago. Before you can build more than a sniper tower, Lt. Hammerman of the Blackguard, a cartoonishly Bondsian villain, pops up and announces his intention to crush your puny base. His gunboat bombards your few standing buildings and a landing force attempts to penetrate to your headquarters. Luckily, your sniper kills them before they make serious inroads. Retaliation is expected. Train soldiers and build landing craft using gold and wood respectively, the familiar currencies of 99% of building games, then scout your nearby target before opening up with your gunship's bombs or flares and sending in your troops. If done right, you free your first group of stereotypically feathered and painted natives.

This is just the beginning of the campaign to destroy the oppressive Blackguard. This cute tutorial did not overdo it with the obvious, since this should be easy for anyone who has played building games before to figure out at a glance. Returning to your base, you are free to design your island from the ground up, but construction is always the annoying aspect of freemium building games. Construction and training takes time, wood and gold, but you can purchase resources and fast forward time with a few diamonds, the freemium currency. You can discover the gemstones while exploring, win them as a reward in combat, choose them as the daily gift or, naturally, purchase them for real money.

Once you have enough troops and a radar dish you can explore the nearby islands for the offending Blackguard. Your radar's level determines how much of the archipelago is available to unlock with gold, otherwise it's obscured by clouds. Clearing clouds with gold opens up enemy islands for scouting and attack. Since each battle costs gold scouting first is a good idea; then a tap on opponents' defenses shows their damage, hit points and range. Your forces can't be directly controlled, so using the scouting mode to figure out the best plan of attack is part of the strategy. Wins are rewarded with resources, gold, medals, and an hourly tribute. Losses grant only humiliation and the cost of training new soldiers back at your home base.

Exploring and raiding was fun. When I leave Boom Beach for a few hours, I know I'm going to return to find some of my bases have been reclaimed by the enemy. There is also the chance that you will encounter other player bases in the archipelago. They offer the most challenge and the best rewards. Of course, for several hours every day your base is open to attack, so defense deployment is also part of the strategy. If an enemy makes it to your base, you lose resources proportionate to your level as well as a medal.

Boom Beach is so great it's a shame Supercell, of Clash of Clans fame, has chosen to go the freemium route. Most building games bank on the fact that the player gets bored during construction, but in Boom Beach the player can explore, scout, and plan the next incursion while waiting. In addition, the diamonds, the only item available for purchase, become less important in the late game, when crystal shards for use building power-up statues become available as rewards – they cannot be purchased with diamonds. Why not just allow a certain number of coins to equal a diamond and charge for the game itself? Buying diamonds via the in-app store negates the strategy implied in deciding when to upgrade or build and lessens the awesomeness of a pretty awesome little game. With those changes, Boom Beach would be four-star.

Supercell has an established cartoon style that is as clear and appealing as it is cute. Raiding added something more to the building game formula and the smooth design makes playing a pleasure. The pointless inclusion of in-app purchases will only affect Boom Beach's deceptively simple strategy if you confirm Supercell's assumption that gamers are fools quickly parted from their money.

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Bandai Namco Announces Outcast Odyssey for Mobile

Bandai Namco Announces Outcast Odyssey for Mobile

Magic Pixel Games and Bandai Namco have announced Outcast Odyssey, the pair's upcoming mobile card battle game that takes players to a fantasy world where they'll explore dungeons and other locations throughout a series of floating islands.
The game promises a combination of RPG-like battles and dungeon crawling, with expected card-collection elements. Players will be able to collect 600 hundred cards in total, hand-drawn by top comic book artists, and can fuse those together to create even more powerful cards and monsters.
As they create and fine-tune their teams, players are encouraged to join a guild to work with their friends, or head into the arena to fight against them. In addition, players will have access to a daily bounties system, which promises some of the game's most powerful (or at least rarest) cards as rewards.
Outcast Odyssey is expected to release on mobile platforms this fall.
Bandai Namco has also announced a partnership with Red Giant Entertainment for the development of additional comic-influenced games.
"We see a great opportunity to build immersive gaming experiences that allow comic fans to be closer to the books they love," says Tony Colafrancesco, director of business development at Bandai Namco Games America.

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Pac-Man Friends, Pac-Man CEDX Announced for Mobile

Pac-Man Friends, Pac-Man CEDX Announced for Mobile

Bandai Namco Games has announced the development of two new mobile titles in the iconic Pac-Man franchise: Pac-Man Friends and Pac-Man Championship Edition DX (CEDX). Both games will hit mobile before the end of the year, and fans of the series will recognize Pac-Man CEDX from its previous release on other platforms.
In Pac-Man Friends, players complete levels and mazes to rescue Pac-Man's friends from the Ghosts' castle. The game offers six worlds and 95 progressively challenging levels, as well as nine friends, each with their own powers. The game is set to offer social network features for challenging friends.
Meanwhile, Pac-Man CEDX offers more traditional gameplay, with three game modes: Score Attack, Time Attack and Ghost Combo. The game features seven areas with 150 levels, along with "fun new power-ups and boosts [that] will give you the leg up and the highest score in new, unending challenge modes."

Pac-Man Friends is scheduled for release on mobile this September, with Pac-Man CEDX following in late November.

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Gameloft Releases Modern Combat 5: Blackout

Gameloft Releases Modern Combat 5: Blackout

Gameloft has announced the launch of Modern Combat 5: Blackout on smartphones and tablets. The latest installment in the company's popular first-person-shooter series takes players to Venice on a mission to secure weapons of mass destruction from an armed terrorist group. As a hero named Phoenix, players will travel from Venice to Tokyo as the plot unfolds to reveal an "uncomfortable secret."
Modern Combat 5: Blackout offers both single player and multiplayer gameplay. Via a unified progression system, each multiplayer match or single-player mission completed will give gamers experience points to level up the game's four soldier classes: assault, heavy, sniper and recon. These soldiers can be upgraded with class-specific abilities using Skill Points.
In addition, weapon progress is carried across game modes, as users unlock higher-tier weapons by mastering lesser options. These weapons can be customized with attachments to create the perfect tool.
In the game's single-player mode, players complete story missions, and also have access to Spec Ops missions. These are short and objective-driven, and may see players protecting their allies, clearing a room of enemies or eliminating a set target, as examples.
Outside of single-player, gamers can complete six-vs-six multiplayer squad matches. The game offers kill streak packs for calling in additional support, while global and squad-based chat allows users to talk to other players. Users can track their skills against others in individual and squad-based leaderboards, and will also have the chance to win rewards in limited-time events.
Modern Combat 5: Blackout is available to download for $6.99 on iOS, Android and Windows Phone. On iOS, the game supports iPad 2+, iPhone 4S+ and iPod Touch 5th Generation.

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Pyramid Solitaire Saga Cheats And Tips

Pyramid Solitaire Saga is the latest release from King, the same studio that released Bubble Witch Saga 2 and Candy Crush Saga. It has a lot in common with other solitaire-based puzzle games, where you try to chain together card runs to eliminate special gold cards from the board. Once those are out, any leftover cards add to your high score, and the more points you have, the more stars you'll earn!
Here are some tips that will have you cruising these Babylonian boards in no time!
 

How do you play Pyramid Solitaire Saga?

The game has a lot in common with other solitaire-based games. Your main goal is to eliminate poker cards on a table by matching them up in counting order, from two all the way up to Ace. You'll have about 30 additional cards in your deck if you can't find a match for your current card, and you can use power-ups to help you out as well.
Within each stage, you'll have the ability to earn up to three stars. The higher your score gets, the more stars you'll earn. However, if you run out of cards with gold cards still on the table, you'll have to use one of your five lives to start over. If you run out of lives, you'll either need to pay for a refill or wait until it's refilled (about an hour or so).

How do power-ups work in Pyramid Solitaire Saga?

As with King's other games, Pyramid Solitaire Saga offers up power-up cards initially for free, then lays out the option to buy some more using gold bars, which you can either earn in-game or add on to with a real purchase. These power-ups are useful, including joker cards that serve as a wild card to match cards up, or a reshuffler that lets you move cards around the playfield. When you have these, try to use them sparingly, so you'll be able to build a higher combo and a better score.

How does the Blue Stash work in Pyramid Solitaire Saga?

The Blue Stash lets you save certain cards for later use, but you can only store so many at a time. Try to hold just one card at first, then add a second if you really need it. Honestly, we only had to use it a few times, but with certain strings of cards, it comes in handy.
 

What's the best way to earn points in Pyramid Solitaire Saga?

Go with combos. The bigger the card count, the higher your score. In addition, try to have as many cards left over as possible, both in your stack and on the playfield (regular ones are eliminated if you take out all the gold ones). They really add up, and help you quickly earn stars.
In addition, keep an eye out for gold scarabs. These little suckers will jump on the playfield every once and a while. Squishing them will net you an additional point bonus, and sometimes it can make all the difference between two and three stars.

Do I need to pay for anything in Pyramid Solitaire Saga?

Only if you really need to use power-ups, or can't wait a long period of time for a health refill. You can purchase these with gold bars, and you can buy more of them from $0.99 to $49.99, depending how many you need. As always, try the game out first and then decide if you really need them.
Download Pyramid Solitaire Saga: iPhone and iPad | Android

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Super Comboman Review

At first glance, Super Comboman looks like the kind of average action platformer that overwhelms Steam's front page. But it isn't. Rather, it's bad, and sometimes amazingly so. Nearly every success is met with an equivalent failure, and that leads to a cycle of hope and despair that perfectly encapsulates the Super Comboman experience. The art style is charming enough, as the game makes all of its characters and environments look like cute stickers, but the animations often fail to load, leading to visual clutter and confusion. Some of the music is amazing, but it wears on you when it loops every 30 seconds or so. And perhaps most damning, Super Comboman occasionally makes you feel incredibly powerful before doling out some excruciating forearm cramps.
The strange, almost dualistic nature of Super Comboman is clear from the outset. The star is Struggles, an out-of-work comic book geek desperate for some cash to help with his mortgage. To make a bit of money, he sets off with his sentient fanny pack in the hopes that he can one day learn how to fight as well as his hero, the eponymous Super Comboman. Immediately, there's an awkward clash between heavy poignancy and camp that ultimately drifts off into a nonstop barrage of groan-inducing Internet memes.

These types of vertical climbs highlight how bad Super Comboman's wall-jumping mechanics are.

After that introduction, you're thrust straight into the heat of combat and taught how to string together attacks and combo like a pro. At first, you have a few basic moves, such as light and heavy attacks. For the most part, these are functional and help you juggle foes or slam them through a brick wall, but when the action gets going, the cracks in the foundation become too big not to notice. Even under the best circumstances, you can only ever attack in one or two directions, though you often have foes attacking from several elevations in addition to being in front of or behind you. Escape is tough, because it opens you up to other attacks, which can put you in an animation cycle that ends only when you die.
Guarding can help, sometimes, but more often than not enemies just wear you down and kill you. Your only recourse is to parry attacks, which is done by tapping forward. Even that comes at a cost, namely your stamina. With most incoming attacks, a small bubble appears that alerts you to a parry, or at least that's how it's supposed to work. Sometimes there is so much happening onscreen that you just blindly tap forward so you can parry any incoming attack and avoid nasty animation locks. That's fine for a while, but it doesn't take long for that tactic to get exhausting. Add that to the constant flurry of attacks, blocks, and dashes that you perform, and on some levels, your forearms will be cramping inside of 10 minutes.

It's easy to get caught between two enemies and just...die. It's not fair, and just makes the game that much more frustrating.

If you can defeat enough foes, you steadily earn a bit of cash, which you can spend on more-advanced attacks that are supposed to help rack up damage a bit more quickly, but they're really tough to pull off thanks to input lag. Every once in a while, everything lines up just right, and you can perform really slick combos that feel amazing, but those moments are far too rare and end all too quickly. In a game like this, boss fights should be a full test of everything you've learned up to that stage--tough, but ultimately empowering. Instead, I found that the best option was simply to double-jump in, use one attack, and then jump back out before I took a hit. The bigger, fancier moves Super Comboman tries to encourage are especially risky when facing off against a particular baddy that can knock away half your health with one good shot. Ultimately, combat is far and away more aggravating than fun.
Combos also bring up a smooth-voiced announcer that says things like "Noobtastic," "Scrubtacular," and "Smizzle" when you've performed combos that exceed five, 10, and 20 hits respectively. While the exclamations warrant little more than a dry smirk the first time, given that the game is based on performing combos as many times as humanly possible, the constant audio feedback quickly becomes mind-numbingly obnoxious. It's also representative of the kind of grating humor that pervades the entire game. Some of it can be offensive, depending on your sensibilities. I recall one enemy that's meant to represent homeless men, and after he attacked by flashing his penis offscreen, I couldn't help but think Super Comboman was presenting and reinforcing some of the worst stereotypes of the homeless with a touch of snarky homophobia. That crass and sophomoric humor runs throughout and is usually a miss.

Nearly every success is met with an equivalent failure, and that leads to a cycle of hope and despair that perfectly encapsulates the Super Comboman experience.

Platforming is just as awful. Super Comboman often transitions from large open areas to cramped vertical segments. To manage the transitions, the designers opted for long vertical tubes that rely on several successful wall-jumps in quick succession. What makes that problematic, though, is that the wall-jumping here is terrible and without qualification the worst I've ever seen in any game. Wall-jumps are typically difficult maneuvers, sure, but game designers have found many ways to make them simple enough to be doable for average players. Mega Man X lets you slide gently down and jump at your leisure, while the Metroid series requires you to properly time only a few button presses and automates the rest.
Super Comboman gives you no such help. You need to jump toward a wall and then quickly switch to moving out and away. The problem here is twofold. With the game's input lag, it's almost impossible to get that timing right consistently, and without a system like that of Mega Man X, where the game gives you a larger window to make that jump, platforming comes off as ludicrously frustrating. It's made much worse in some timed segments where obstacles and enemies are placed in front of you, and failure means an instant death. That is punishingly, brutally hard for absolutely no reason. After several runs, I found no consistent pattern for what let me succeed and what caused me to fail. Sometimes the enemies would lock me in one of those animation loops and I'd be dead before I could react. At other times I seemed to do everything wrong and still make it through.

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