9GAG Redhead Redemption Now on Google Play Store!

9GAG, the king of meme-humor websites, has released their first game for mobile phones. The best part of this release, is that it is only available for Android! A game released for Android only before iOS doesn’t happen a lot, as you probably have noticed.

I would never have guessed that 9GAG would develop (with help from TouchTen of course) a game. Never. However, I always see 9GAG trying to expand. Having released a game will most likely help them a lot.
Anyways, the game is really awesome. In the game, you play as Sis, who has to survive with her baby brother. The baby is on her back while she is running.  The point of the game is to run from the zombies, since they are chasing you. The baby will also shoot at the zombies. Another cool thing about this game, is its title. The title is obviously taken from the open-world game, Red Dead Redemption. Which was in fact, one of the best games I have ever played.

I am already starting to feel addicted to Redhead Redemption. Expect a review soon!

Read More

Sim City: Build It iPhone Review

Sim City has had a bit of a tumultuous time over the past few years, with its latest iteration frustrating users with DRM issues and more. With SimCity Build It, it was assumed mobile gamers and those looking for a slimlined, simpler version of the title would finally get what they were looking for that the PC version didn't offer. It's a free-to-play city building title that's much like its computer brethren, but it's still riddled with faults.

The Good

This is a Sim City you can take with you and not worry about having to deal with DRM or always-on gates. It's the same familiar Sim City you remember from childhood (if you got into it that early) with specialized zones for special types of buildings. You get your own plot of land on which you can build, but you'll have to build upward instead of outward with your modest amount of land. It's familiar ground to tread and plenty of things to do, but after a few hours of play, the issues begin to come out.

The Bad

SimCash, Build It's sneaky microtransaction system, is frustrating as all get-out. You can earn it slowly without spending too much money, but nearly every single thing you do in game is governed by how much or how little you have. It's frustrating to have to wait to earn enough to proceed or amass basic building materials, especially when you need even more to upgrade your buildings. It's at this point it feels less like a Sim City game and more like a management simulator, which anyone can agree is completely unlike the original game or anywhere near the ballpark of other games, even on the iPhone and other mobile devices.

The Verdict

Sim City Build It is a strange mishmash of free-to-play trappings, resource management, and other oddities that don't necessarily make sense within the context of the game as a franchise or even as a stand-alone app. Pass on it and choose something much meatier to spend your time with.

Read More

Review: Exiles

"Is she drunk?" I wondered, as the Enforcer fired yet another missile a good six feet to the left of the snarling alien that was rapidly descending on our position.
The beautifully rendered sun glinted overhead, illuminating each and every one of the sand worm's fangs as I wrestled with the controls to line up the next shot - the last in fact before we ran out of ammo. It fired into the dunes. I may have face palmed. I definitely swore.
 
Turning tail, we made a hasty retreat to our only option remaining: the teleporter lying 200m to the right.
Unfortunately, instead of finding ourselves in a new part of the planet the game loaded in a vast expanse of, well, nothing, punctuated by the occasional lens flare from a non-existent sun. The Enforcer promptly belly-flopped and died.
This is Exiles - a game buggier than a bed bug bugging out on a dune buggy.
One small step for man, a giant leap for a megalomaniac
The core concept, however, is an intriguing one. It's the year 2375 and humanity has left Earth behind to populate a vast network of planets across the galaxy.
Alas, over on Aurora 9, it's less songs-round-the-campfire and more sobs-round-the-funeral-pyre as the colony is driven to isolation and desolation by a corrupt governor.
Sat in a shadowy office, he's bent on enslaving the population with a lethal virus. As one of the Planet's Elite Enforcers, he's infected you with the disease too - the jerk.
Played out in stunning 3D graphics, you must now race against the clock to explore this distant world and unravel the secrets behind the governor's nefarious plot.
As we've come to expect from Crescent Moon, Exiles is a delightfully huge RPG, offering a planet-sized smorgasbord of caves, cities, spaceships, and deserts for you to explore.
This is the studio behind Ravensword: Shadowlands, and its experience in creating rich worlds and stories on mobile shines in every pithy one-liner and well-crafted NPC.
The console-quality 3D graphics are illustrated perfectly in the brand new day / night circle. At midday, the sun hangs overhead creating the sort of lens flare that would make JJ Abrams cry joyful tears. At night, the sky is lit up with thousands of stars so perfect, you could gaze at them forever.
Which is just as well, because you'll be spending a lot of time running around underneath those heavens. The primary campaign is fairly short – just a few hours – but you'll rack up the most time just getting from point A to point B.
It's not uncommon to get distracted by an intruiging side mission, run out of fuel, and spend the next half an hour hot-footing it across the 3km of desert separating you and your primary quest.
Call in the bug spray
Still, the time spent travelling wouldn't be so bad if the control system wasn't so glitchy. The left hand side of the screen handles character movement, while the right tilts the camera, aims weapons, and houses three buttons that become your main attacks in combat.
Trouble is, an annoying glitch means that whenever you put your finger on the left hand side of the, your character automatically leaps forward a good metre or so. If you're trying to reposition your character sideways behind cover, that can be fatal.
The aiming system is similarly difficult, with the imprecise controls meaning it's almost impossible to lock on to a target. It means "spray and pray" becomes the strategy of choice; buttering toast is a more tactical affair.
At its core, Exiles is a stunning world to get lost in. The vistas are some of the best we've seen on Android and the plot, though short, is compelling.
With a generous sprinkle of patch updates, this could be one of the best mobile RPGs out there - just a little bit of extra spit and polish could buff it up from bronze to silver.

Read More

Looney Tunes Dash iPhone Review

The App Store is positively overflowing with different kinds of endless runners, but we see new ones nearly every week. Looney Tunes Dash is the latest, taking classic Looney Tunes characters and placing them into familiar roles where they'll need to jump over obstacles, collect points, and keep running until you mess up. In the end, it's basically the same kind of game we've played hundreds of times before, which is a shame really, given the excellent source material.

The Good

Rather than simply being expected to keep playing as long as possible without a real goal in mind, at least Looney Tunes Dash does offer several goals for you to complete each time you play. One minute you might be collecting a set number of carrots, or the next you might be advised to aim for a specific score. There are also a set of different characters for each episode. For instance, Bugs Bunny is featured in the first episode, and Elmer Fudd is chasing him. You've got Yosemite Sam, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, and a host of other familiar Looney Tunes characters as well, which at the very least makes for an interesting assortment of characters since you're stuck doing the same things most of the time anyway.

The Bad

What can be said about this game that hasn't been said about dozens of titles before it? You'll be completing the same sets of goals over and over, even if they are given different names and window dressing. The episodes for each character tend to run much longer than necessary and overstay their welcome. Plus, you'll end up getting bored having done the same things over and over.

The Verdict

Looney Tunes Dash is another endless runner with little offer by way of originality or excitement. You could pick any title off the App Store that would do virtually the same type of thing, and you'd still benefit from it. If you don't like Looney Tunes, you'd be better suited with a different game anyway.

Read More

Dojo Slash iPhone Review

You couldn't call Dojo Slash complex or anything like it. In fact, it's deceptively simple. You only ever have to worry about one kind of tap, but it's multi-faceted. Despite the simplistic controls, there's still so much going on that you'll be hooked for a good, long while after your first couple of moves.

The Good

You play a ninja who slashes through the competition as you tap the screen and hold to walk. You can use constant tapping in order to move, and then use a string of upgrades in order to give yourself an edge against the green-clad ninjas who stand in your way. You go as long as you possibly can, as continual waves of ninjas saunter up to you and make several attempts on your life. Make sure you slash hard and with haste to beat them at their own game. Each kill nets you an abundance of experience, and you can use it to upgrade yourself tremendously.

The Bad

The replay value that's here comes in the form of the random variety of upgrades you'll end up applying since when you die, you don't take the upgrades you had previously with you when you go. You're relegated to in-game currency for that sort of progression, a la Rogue Legacy, but that sort of thing is frustrating given the fact that you're forced to keep replaying over and over without any help after you've worked so hard to get it.

The Verdict

This is a fantastic throwback of a game with excellent pixel art and even a silly DOS-esque start-up screen at the beginning of the game. It's fun for on the go play in bite-sized chunks, or for long-time sessions. If you like ninjas and simple gameplay, there's plenty for you here!

Read More

Game of the Year 2014 - The 10 best Android games

2014 hasn't seen any great leaps forward for Android gaming, but then it had already made some pretty vast strides up to and including 2013.
It had its own social and achievement system, it had an app store that wasn't ghastly to use, and it finally had a steady flow of top mobile games coming through.
This year has arguably been one of consolidation, then, with much of the improvement coming from the general standard of Android hardware. It's pretty difficult to find an outright bad Android phone nowadays, which is considerable progress for a platform previously capable of some horrendous lows on this front.
With the general standard of Android phones being raised, it's had a subtle but definite effect on Android gaming. The experience of playing games on your average Android phone is now much smoother and more pleasant than it used to be.
As for the games themselves, well, the lag between iOS and Android releases seems to have lessened a fair bit on average, and we're seeing more and more simultaneous (or near-simultaneous) releases.
Whatever Android phone you have going into the new year, the chances are these top games of 2014 will play like a dream on it.
The Banner Saga

By Stoic Studio - buy on Android

RPGs don't have to be dull, formulaic affairs set in generic sub-Tolkien universes. They usually are, of course, but Stoic showed that there's another way with The Banner Saga.
The game's dark, Norse-inflected tale is quite unlike anything we've encountered in a mobile game before, while its turn-based battle system feels fresh and involving.
But perhaps the most striking thing about The Banner Saga is its approach to storytelling, with multiple narrators, a choose-your-own adventure structure, and a beautiful retro-cartoon art style.
Out There 

By Mi-Clos Studio - buy on Android

Talking of melancholic, effective storytelling, Out There was another game to impress us with its quirky, downbeat style.
Again, there's a certain choose-your-own-adventure flavour to proceedings as you charter your way through a hostile universe - though the tone is decidedly sci-fi.
You'll fail an awful lot in Out There, reflecting another 2014 trend for ruddy hard games. But that's part of its subtle allure.
There was no FTL on Android in 2014, but Out There provided a brand of hardcore spacefaring that was similar in some respects - with a few cruel twists of its own.
RETRY

By Rovio - download on Android

2014 was the year that Rovio answered many of its critics with the launch of RETRY. Here was a game from the developer that wasn't anything to do with Angry Birds, and it was also brilliant.
There's a danger of doing RETRY a disservice by describing it as another Flappy Bird-like flier. It's much more than that, with a tactile, challenging, and original one-button flight system and some fiendish levels packed full of hidden routes.
RETRY also gets the presentation spot on, with a bright and clear retro art style and a proper ear worm of a theme tune.
Wayward Souls

By RocketCat Games - buy on Android

Wayward Souls was one of very few games to score a PG Platinum Award (aka a 10 out of 10) in 2014, and it maintained its brilliance when it made the move from iOS to Android later in the year.
This is a superb roguelike action-RPG packed full of little incidental details and finely balanced systems. It has you questing through randomly-generated dungeons in true 16-bit style, battling endlessly inventive fiends and levelling up your warrior.
It's the kind of game where you die repeatedly, yet ravenously come back for more punishment.
Traps n' Gemstones

By Donut Games - buy on Android

Continuing 2014's welcome trend for deeper, more freeform mobile experiences, Traps n' Gemstones proved to be a Metroidvania treat. If you've grown accustomed to playing nought but simple speed run platformers on your mobile, this sprawling adventure will come as something of a shock.
Or at least, it would have if it wasn't so accessible and thoughtfully designed to take all of the pain and repetitiveness out of the experience.
Guide your little Indiana Jones impersonator through a mysterious pyramid, collecting relics, battling mummies, and deciphering room-sized spatial puzzles.
Icebreaker: A Viking Voyage

By Nitrome - buy on Android

We don't like waiting for our iOS to Android conversions, so the fact that Icebreaker: A Viking Voyage took almost a year to make the journey should have annoyed us a lot more than it did.
That we greeted its belated arrival on the Google Play Store with open arms mid-way through 2014 was a testament to its continued brilliance. It remains one of the best casual puzzlers around.
Every stage here brings new joys, whether you're slicing towering ice blocks, redirecting falling goats, tackling trolls, or simply enjoying the lovably daft storyline.
Monument Valley

By ustwo - buy on Android

Both Apple and Google used Monument Valley in promotional images of their new hardware in 2014, which should tell you something.
It's one of the most gorgeous and original-looking games of the year. You could take a screenshot from any point in the game, and it could easily serve as your next wallpaper. What's more, to the uninitiated it would look like a professionally drawn effort.
But Monument Valley is much more than a pretty face. It's also an ingenious spatial puzzler, filled with isometric Escher-inspired conundrums that require you to manipulate the levels themselves.
XCOM: Enemy Within

By 2K Games - buy on Android

XCOM: Enemy Within is the kind of game you always imagine could be possible on mobile in five years or so - but somehow it's here right now.
This is more or less a straight-up conversion of a highly regarded modern console and PC game. It's an engrossing team-based strategy game that sees you engaging a race of malevolent aliens in tense turn-based combat.
The 3D graphics are stunning, of course, but it's the way this complex game works so well on a touchscreen device that really sells XCOM: Enemy Within as a vision of the future.
Threes!

By Sirvo - buy on Android

Puzzlers don't come as simple, clever, intuitive, and visually appealing as Threes! Not often, anyway.
The concept that spawned an infamously popular clone (which shall not be named on these pages) has you shuffling a grid of numbers left, right, up, and down.
When like numbers squish up against each other they meld to form a single card worth the sum of their values. These must then be combined in kind, until you're dealing with huge, unwieldy numbers and scrabbling with limited grid space to form a match.
That description took about as long as it takes to grasp Threes! when you start playing it. Simply brilliant.
The Room 2

By Fireproof Games - buy on Android

The first The Room game was such a strikingly original, and polished locked box puzzler that we struggled to see how it could be followed up.
The answer provided by The Room 2 is to provide more of the same, but to expand the first game's intricate locked box puzzles out into a series of mysterious rooms. The location and nature of those rooms, too, are more ambitious, spanning a number of exotic environments.
All in all, The Room 2 is an exemplary case study in how to follow up a near-perfect mobile game without disappointing or underwhelming your audience.

Read More

Volt iPhone Review

If you like tiny anthropomorphic batteries, then you'll love Volt. Take the role of the adorable Volt as he tries to escape a menacing recycling facility. You'll have to grapple your way through over 60 levels in order to make it to freedom, and fight four bosses on the way. Do you have what it takes to bring this cute little battery to safety?

The Good

The dark toned graphics punctuated with bright reds and blues set a great stylistic example. The gameplay manages to be increasingly complex while utilizing simple controls and principles. Volt is a adorable character and has a memorable Wall-E type of feel about him.

The Bad

Volt can take a limited amount of hits, but since the game relies on momentum for him to power through levels, the same enemy may get several cheap hits on you resulting in a game over. The game, while playing well, doesn't particularly innovate in any area. Although the stylistic choices are sound, they can feel derivative as the whole "dark noir" look is so rampant these days.

The Verdict

Volt is a sound physics puzzler and it does what it sets out to do well. It's not particularly ground-breaking or innovative, but if you're looking for a game that has refinement and great controls, you could do a lot worse than Volt.

Read More

Man the turrets in new Gear VR game Bandit Six

UK indie developer Climax Studio is the latest team to get in on the rapidly blossoming virtual reality gaming scene, and has announced its first Gear VR title Bandit Six.The game puts you in the gun turrets of a World War II bomber as it soars high above enemy territory on a frantic bombing run. Although you won't actually be doing the flying, you're right in the middle of the fire fight with a long way to fall.

Chocks away
Developed with the Samsung Gear VR in mind, this looks set to be an intense trip into the big wide blue, with enemy fighters circling all around. But where similar games only give you a letterbox through which to see the action, the VR element lets you see the aerial carnage in 360 degrees.
Your guns around mounted on the back of the plane, and it's your job to keep the Red Baron and his dastardly chums off your tail long enough to deliver the payload to Hitler's doorstep.
Climax Studios has also teased that it's got another Gear VR game in the works, and although there's no precise release date for that, or Bandit Six as yet, we'll keep you posted on their progress.
In the meantime, check out the intense dog fighting VR trailer. What ho, chaps!

Read More

Cute 2D monster catching RPG Duel Revolution is heading to iOS and Android in 2015

While the popular Pokémon RPGs remain exclusive to Nintendo platforms it seems that indie studios will continue to feed the demand on iOS and Android.We had Monster Legacy and Micromon earlier this year. And now Prodigious Works has another one on the way. Yep, in 2015, it'll bring its 3D monster catching RPG Duel Revolution to iOS and Android.
It seems to be a Pokémon RPG in everything but name. It even has the tagline, "Can you catch them all?"
You wander around a modern fantasy world collecting and battling over 100 different monsters.
You'll be able to fully customise your character, including their gender, skin colour, clothes, hair, and accessories.
It'll also have online play with 1v1 tournaments and, perhaps, other battle formats - that much is yet to be set in concrete.

The plan is to let you download it for free in early 2015. And then, every three months, a new chapter with new monsters, places, tournaments, characters, and events will be released.
So, if you're an iOS or Android player looking for a Pokémon-style RPG, Duel Revolution might be the game you're after.
You can find out more about it on its official website.

Read More

The best games for your new Android - in every genre

So you've received an Android phone or tablet this holiday season? Lucky you.
Whether it was a festive gift from someone else or simply a well-earned end-of-year indulgence on your part, you're in for a treat.
Of course a smart device is only as good as the apps available for it, but fortunately the Google Play store is packed with truly excellent games. There are thousands of them of all shapes, sizes, and costs.
All of which can make the process of selecting some to be going on with quite daunting.
Here, then, is a list of what we reckon are the best Android games in a number of popular genres. It's far from definitive, but these games together represent a really good entry point to Android gaming.
The best shooter on Android...


Neon Shadow 

By Crescent Moon - buy on Android

First person shooters haven't traditionally sat all that comfortably on touch-driven mobiles, but they've always worked a little better on Android devices thanks to their larger screens.
If you want a solid slice of console blasting on your new phone or tablet, you could do a lot worse than Neon Shadow - a retro-tinged FPS with tight controls and fine multiplayer options.
And if it was an Android tablet you received for Christmas, you can even play against a friend on the one device.
The best adventure game on Android...


The Room 2 

By Fireproof Games - buy on Android

Is it an adventure game, or is it a puzzler? There's a case to be made for both, but the simple fact is that The Room 2 takes you on a wild ride that no other game on the Google Play store can match (aside from its predecessor).
Ostensibly a series of static locked-box puzzles, it's the way The Room 2 stitches these together into a wonderfully mysterious, yet cohesive whole that makes it so special.
That and the gorgeously detailed graphics that will show off your new Android device's capabilities to perfection.
The best RPG on Android...

The Banner Saga 

By Stoic Studio - buy on Android

Stoic deserves its place on this list for bringing a sense of freshness and energy to the RPG genre that has been lacking in recent times.
Featuring a richly detailed universe based on Norse folklore, a cast of thoroughly believable characters, and a compelling choose-your-own-adventure structure, The Banner Saga is pretty unique.
It's also got a well judged, strategically-minded battle system and an art style that will remind your of vintage cartoons. Yep, it's a bit different.
The best roguelike on Android...

Hoplite 

By Magma Fortress - buy on Android

We've listed Hoplite as our favourite Android roguelike, but this was a particularly tricky decision.
You see, the term roguelike isn't so much a genre as a series of loose identifying marks covering hundreds of games across various genres. A roguelike tends to have procedurally generated levels, turn-based gameplay, and permanent death - but outside of that it can be anything.
Hoplite is one of the purest realisations of roguelike principles around, with a simple, static-screened 'get to the level exit' structure and delicious variation in enemy patterns and offensive tactics.
It's like a single player game of Chess where you're the sole remaining queen against half a dozen weaker enemy pieces.
The best driving game on Android...


Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed 

By Sega - download on Android

What makes a good mobile driving game? There are many answers to that question depending on your preferences. Do you like arcade racers? Simulation racers? Kart racers? Top down or 3D?
We gave up pondering pretty quickly for this feature and simply selected Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. It's the most likely to provide entertainment regardless of your racing preferences.
This is a supreme console-standard kart racer with a tight arcade control system and loads of memorable tracks. If you hook your Android device up to a control pad you'll have an even better time.
The best football game on Android...


New Star Soccer 

By New Star Games - buy on Android

News flash: football games on mobile suck. That is, the kind of action-heavy football simulator you're used to playing on your home console does not translate well to touchscreen controls. At all.
That doesn't mean that you can't get your football kicks on mobile, though. New Star Soccer is one of the most addictive footy games on any platform.
You manage the career of a single player, and must intervene in matches at key points - taking shots, making passes, and attempting interceptions, all using a brilliantly intuitive touch and swipe control system.
The best tennis game on Android...


Virtua Tennis Challenge 

By Sega - buy on Android

Virtua Tennis has been the best tennis game - or at least there abouts - on console for years now. It's no surprise that it's also the best on mobile.
The beauty here is that Sega manages to hit the sweet spot between arcade accessibility and simulation-like nuance like a Roger Federer serve, That is, unerringly consistently.
With a bunch of control options, loads of challenges, and slick animation, it's no wonder this has stayed at the top of the pile for so long.
The best puzzle game on Android...


Monument Valley

By ustwo - buy on Android

Here's another game that's as much of an adventure as it is a puzzler. Monument Valley comes down on the side of the puzzler on our list thanks to the simply ingenious array of Escher-like conundrums.
Each level is an isometric brain scratcher, requiring you to shift structural elements around into new and frequently delightful configurations so that your little character may progress.
It's all set in one of the most beautiful and unusual games worlds you'll ever spend time in, too.
The best word game on Android...


Spellwood 

By Three Rings Design - buy on Android

This charming word game successfully escapes the dry, somewhat bookish feeling that often accompanies mobile word games.
It does so through charm, wit, and a compelling fantasy set-up. It's essentially Scrabble with anthropomorphic animal wizards and cool power-ups.
And who doesn't want to play a game like that?
The best quiz game on Android...

QuizUp

By Plain Vanilla Games - buy on Android

Quiz games. Well, they're a bit naff, aren't they?
That's why QuizUp gets our vote in this category, because one thing it isn't is naff. In fact, it looks and handles more like the latest cool social network app than anything else.
You get a whole heap of the same old questions on music, science, The Oscars, video games, sport, and the like - but with well integrated social features to boot.
The best arcade game on Android...


Ikaruga

By G-Gee - buy on Android


Here's another wide-open and somewhat vaguely designated genre. Any game with simple, intuitive gameplay and bold visuals could conceivably be called an arcade game, after all.
So we've gone with arguably the most distinctive, purest, and most critically lauded arcade game on the Google Play Store.
Starting out in the arcades in 2001, Ikaruga is one of the most highly regarded old school shoot-'em-ups ever made, with gorgeous 3D graphics and a clever dual-colour mechanic. You can't get it on any other mobile platform, either.
The best free game on Android...


RETRY

By Rovio - download on Android

The Google Play Store has a massive proportion of free games, with Android users seemingly far more thrifty than iOS users.
That makes selecting the best free game a little daunting. There are loads of great free games on there, but we've gone with Rovio's RETRY.
Think of this level-based flier as Flappy Bird with style and nuance, as well as bags of replayability and an extremely stiff challenge.
The best fighting game on Android...


The King of Fighters '98 

By SNK Playmore - buy on Android

There are loads of variations on the fighting genre, and all of them can be found in some form on the Google Play store.
However, the purest of these is the one-on-one beat-'em-up, and the best example of that on Android is The King of Fighters '98. It's one of the best entries to a cult series that stands toe to toe with Street Fighter in the hearts of purists.
Its team-based scrapping is slick, deep, and surprisingly playable on your Android device's touchscreen (but better with the included controller support).
The best endless runner on Android...


ALONE 

By Laser Dog - buy on Android

The endless runner genre has pretty much hit saturation point, with few new entries managing to offer anything worthwhile over early greats like Canabalt and Jetpack Joyride.
That makes ALONE's achievements all the more remarkable. It's got a novel premise and control system - you manipulate the inverted pitch controls of a speeding space shuttle as it speeds through an asteroid.
But it's the stylishly sparse visuals that really make this the most memorable endless runner of recent times.
The best strategy game on Android...


XCOM: Enemy Within 

By 2K Games - buy on Android

Android strategy games don't come any richer or more attractive than XCOM: Enemy Within. It's essentially the previous release, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, plus a generous expansion pack all rolled into one.
This also means that it's a conversion of a similarly accomplished console game, with precious little in the way of compromise.
The game offers tight, zoomed-in squad-based strategy with an impressive 3D engine - and unlike many console conversions it works very well indeed on a touchscreen.
The best tower defence game on Android...


Kingdom Rush Origins 

By Ironhide Game Studio - buy on Android

You should really own all of the Kingdom Rush games on your new Android phone. They're three of the finest tower defence games you'll ever play, and three of the finest Android games full stop.
We've selected Kingdom Rush Origins because it's the latest release, and also because it serves as a prequel to the events of the original game.
But the story really doesn't matter all that much. What matters is the tight tower defence gameplay with supremely balanced and inventive towers, memorable enemies, and an uncommon level of graphical polish.

Read More

Tomb Raider 2 iPhone Review

One issue that has plagued console-to-mobile has been translating the controls to touch-screen while maintaining their fidelity. While RPG's are fairly easily ported, action games haven't faired so well. Tomb Raider 2 exemplifies this. As a game that requires delicate and precise response as you take Lara on her second adventure, the touch screen just isn't up to snuff. However, if you have a controller the game is very fun and an excellent iOS point that runs very smoothly.

The Good

The game is actually a port of the PC version, so not only are the graphics better than the PlayStation version (though still dated), but players also get the extra levels from the Golden Mask expansion. The game has a whole host of Game Center achievements, and the game itself is full of secrets for players to discover.

The Bad

The virtual controls are god awful. Most of the latter levels will be nearly impossible to complete without a controller as they require precision acrobatics that just can't be pulled off easily with the on-screen controls. The graphics are dated, even for a mobile title, everything is quite blocky and the textures are low-res. There is a ton of content for a mobile game and it contributes greatly to a genre that doesn't appear on iOS very often.

The Verdict

I admire what Square Enix tried to do with this release, and I believe they did the best they could do with the controls. However, when porting a game this complex, there's not a lot of room for change, and action-adventure is just not a genre that translates well to touch screens. Although it is very enjoyable with a controller, trying to play on the touch screen made me want to rip my hair out. Honestly, with the wide availability of this game of Steam and PlayStation Network, those versions are much better choices.

Read More

Space Qube iPhone Review

The 80s and 90s arcade scene use to be dominated by space shooters. Galaga and Space Invaders were the major staples, but there were many great space games. Space Qube tries to add its own twist on the space shooter, while keeping that old-school charm.

The Good

Space Qube is an on-rails shooter that harkens back to the 80s and 90s style shooter, it even comes with a cheesy 90s arcade soundtrack. You pilot your ship through out space killing enemies and eventually reaching a boss fight at the end. The game is fairly simple to control because the only control that you need is to move the device to move left and right. You can also dodge by swiping the screen, but the shooting is automatic. Everything in the game is made of cubes; your ship, the enemies, the bosses, and the space debris. You collect cubes on your voyage from each enemy that you kill. These cubes can be used to upgrade or even create your own ships. The ship's stats will depend on the dimensions of the ship and how it is built. Aside from trying to get the best score you can, collecting cubes gives you another incentive to play and kill the most enemies that you can.

The Bad

Space Qube has a very fun concept, but the execution is a bit lacking. The game is too easy. The simple controls and gameplay make it so that anyone can play, but after a few levels the game can be a little boring because it isn't that challenging. You never feel overwhelmed in terms of the enemies on screen that are attacking and coming at you. There is no way to continue your progress either. If you turn off the game then you have to start from level one again, which can be annoying especially if you wanted to see new levels and bosses without having to play through the whole thing.

The Verdict

Space Qube is a fun old-school style space shooter. It harkens back to games like Space Harrier or Star fox. The game has a good concept and a lot of interesting ideas, like collecting cubes from your enemies to create new ships. The game isn't that difficult though and most of the enemies are easy to kill even the boss battles are fairly easy, but take a long time.

Read More

Hands-on with Nitrome's roly-poly puzzle platformer Gunbrick

Nitrome is sitting on a treasure trove of smash-hit games. A whole bunch of quirky and inventive games with vintage graphics and retro sensibilities. And they're all stashed on the studio's site, as creaky old Flash games.
But over the last few years the studio has been revamping those games and bringing them to iOS and Android as must-have apps like Roller Poller and Icebreaker.
The next game to get the treatment is a silly little puzzler called Gunbrick.

You play as the pilot of a crazy new mode of transport called the Gunbrick. This is a cube that can clunkily roll about, and has a metallic shield on one side and a powerful shotgun on the other.
That's all you need to explore these levels: you'll roll about the stages, use the shield to evade bullets and fire, and use the gun to blast blocks and lift yourself up into the air.
And that super simple set-up is used to dole out some seriously tricky stages. You'll need to get yourself in the right position so you'll roll into the exact right spot, and you'll always need to be wary of enemies and traps.

Soon you'll face buttons that open gates, turrets that shoot bullets, and patrolling guards that will break your brick if you don't use your shield. There are even boss fights that really put you to the test.
But because the controls are so smart - just swipe and tap to roll and shoot - the only thing stopping your journey is your brain box.
Some will certainly find the game frustrating. You can never actually get stuck, but sometimes you'll feel like you simply can't do anything to get your Gunbrick lined up. But that's just a good time to give the game to a friend for a fresh perspective.
^{The original Gunbrick}
Of all Nitrome's games so far, Gunbrick has definitely needed the most work to make the transition from Flash to mobile. The original game was rendered in about 20 pixels and just didn't have much personality.
But for this new version it's been dolled up to look like a gorgeous Game Boy Advance game, and the world has been filled with charming little characters.
The game's also packed with content with multiple chapters to work through. Definitely one for puzzle game fans to check out when it hits iOS and Android early next year. We'll let you know when it's live.

Read More

Review: Tap Titans

So, the first question any Tap Titans player will ask themselves when first loading the game is, "Am I missing something?" And that's never a good way to begin.

It's weird given that the game is so very, very simple. Confusion and simplicity aren't often problems you have to tackle as the same time.
But it's a fair question when it comes to this rather strange game, and we're not sure we've adequately answered it, even now.
Screen assault
You're cast as a nice, manga-like character, armed with a sword and the skills to wield it against some significantly larger enemies. Even the basic ones tower above you, so Tap Titans initially looks like it's going to be packed with epic battles.
The controls are deliciously simple. Tap the screen, and you slash at the ogre-sized beast in front of you. The confusion kicks in when you're forced to ponder what happens next.
The answer is nothing. Nothing seems to happen next. You keep tapping the screen, and your ninja-esque dude keeps on hacking and slashing until the monster is dead.
These are mean looking adversaries, too, but none fight back. They just stand there, letting you gradually kill them.
You're up against a generous timer when tapping at the screen, depleting the energy bar that tells you how long it'll be before you're on to the next lethargic, inanimate creature, but that's about all the challenge Tap Titans seems to offer.
Boss "battles"

IAPs explained Diamonds can be bought in bulk, offering up to 50 percent saving, which removes ads and powers your weapon upgrades. 180 diamonds, £1.49 / $1.99 500 diamonds, £2.99 / $4.99 1200 diamonds, £6.99 / $9.99 3100 diamonds, £17.99 / $24.99 6500 diamonds, £34.99 / $49.99 14000 diamonds, £69.99 / $99.99

We probably shouldn't really call it a boss battle, since none of the action in Tap Titans really qualifies a battle. It's a one-sided hack 'n' slash, where monsters throw themselves on your lethal blade, bosses included.
We almost feel bad doing it, like we're the merciless enemy on a rampage of unwarranted destruction, which ought to be the other way around.
Anyway, after slaughtering ten passive creatures, a significantly stronger one appears that takes a lot more tapping to destroy. It doesn't take anything else, and it lavishes a lot more coins upon you once you kill it, whereas its minions will only dispense one or two.
Believe it or not, you tap the coins to collect them and then spend them on weapon upgrades, new artifacts, and a few perks.
It's a shame there's nothing more to do, as this is actually a really good looking game, with great animation and beautiful cell-shaded characters.
Honestly, we're still not sure if we've missed something huge and fundamental, or if we downloaded a faulty version of the app. Surely it must do more than this?
Hey, developer! Did you actually finish making the game before releasing it? If not, that'd explain a lot.

Read More

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Released on Google Play Store!

Bioware’s Star Wars game, Knights of the Old Republic, has finally come to Android. Besides being unanimously known as the “Best Star Wars Game” of the century, Knights of the Old Republic features story branching dialog choices, an expansive RPG and is also considered way ahead of its time when it launched. This is it folks, the game that inspired more of Bioware’s amazing line of games such as Mass Effect and Dragon Age. You do NOT want to miss this out if you are as big a Star Wars fan as I am.

The game was released on iOS a while ago, and since then has received glorious reviews from critics and fans alike. Yes, the visuals are outdated, but as mentioned before, the gameplay and storyline makes up for it. Hey, if you can play 8-bit games and not complain about the retro graphics, don’t tell me you can’t stand the graphics here.

 

The port to Android is brought to you by Aspyr Media, who is famous for handling ports of many other games to various platforms. Some critics did mention that the controls are a bit off, but it is decent enough that it should not affect the overall enjoyment of the game.
If you are interested, I know I am, you can purchase it at the Google Play Store here. It is on sale at $4.99 currently, so grab it while it’s still cheap! You will not be disappointed, I guarantee you.

Read More

Square Enix is bringing Bravely Archive: D's Report to iOS and Android in Japan next month

Square Enix has announced that a new free to play turn-based RPG called Bravely Archive: D's Report will be released in Japan on iOS and Android in January 2015.
It's to be the Bravely series's debut on smartphones after Bravely Default and the upcoming Bravely Second on 3DS.
According to Siliconera, Bravely Archive: D's Report takes place several hundred years after the other games.
You play as the new librarian at the Anastasis Library is located in the center of Luxendarc. You travel the world to collect memories that are stored in crystals. You'll be able to meet characters from other Bravely games along the way.
You're able to create your own party from the usual mix healers, offensive types, and supporters. There are 30 jobs (classes) in total to try out.

Although battles are turn-based,the game makes use of the touchscreen for flick-based commands.
These have various effects, including those that hoist enemies in the air that you can then unleash a combo attack on.
You can check out Bravely Archive: D's Report website if you can read Japanese. There's no word on whether it be coming to the west yet.

Read More

BEAST BUSTERS featuring KOF now on Android

If all you want for Christmas is a free to play lightgun-style blaster for Android that's tangentially linked to the King of Fighters games, then you're in luck, because SNK has just released BEAST BUSTERS featuring KOF on the Google Play Store.

The game is a simple FPS that sees you playing a spiky haired zombie-killer. You move a targetting reticule with the left of the screen and fire by tapping on the right. Shoot a load of zombies, earn some coins, move on to the next levels.
The KOF gang appear as Fighter Cores, which are essentially buffs and boosts you can use when you're fighting. You can have three equipped at any one time, and there's a card-battler style levelling up system that lets you mash them together to make them more powerful.
There's a single player campaign and some multiplayer options to sink your teeth into as well.
Everything is very free to play, with currencies and energy systems galore, but the shooting is reasonably satisfying in a tappy tappy slaughter sort of a way.
You can grab the game for free right now on the Google Play Store, and if you don't mind a pretty angry monetisation system you'll probably find a lot to like here. I guess.

Read More

Crusaders Quest iPhone Review

Match-3 style games might be the most popular mobile genre out there. A subcategory that has a strong following as well is the match-3 style RPG, these games add RPG and fighting elements to the familiar match-3 puzzle game. Crusaders Quest looks to put its own spin on the match-3 RPG.

The Good

Crusaders Quest is a match-3 style RPG, in which you are in charge of a band of heroes that must save the world from the darkness and evil that a witch has brought unto the land. The game is pretty simple to play and is unlike most match-3 games. There are tiles on the bottom of the screen that you press to do your attacks. Instead of you sliding tiles into place to match them, you can perform attacks with one to three of the same tiles. There is only one row of tiles that you need to focus on. The main focus of the game is the attacking actions of your characters and it doesn't disappoint. The game has a very retro feel, with it's 8-bit graphics and sound. The game has a charm to it and seeing it in action can get you hooked. The other big draw to the game is it's collection of heroes. Your party can constantly grow and expand to bring in new heroes to help you battle the darkness. Each hero can be outfitted with new weapons and have their skills upgraded, so there is a lot of customization options available. The game has a lot of quests, so there are enough enemies to go around for all of your heroes.

The Bad

Crusader Quest requires an Internet connection to play, so if you are worried about your data usage than you need to be connected to wifi. If you have neither than you are out of luck. The game also works on a stamina system in which you use a piece of your stamina every time you go on a quest. This means once it runs out you have to wait or pay money to keep playing. The freemium charges don't end there. Upgrading your characters or buying different weapons takes a lot of grinding through quests to earn the essential money. While the game doesn't force it upon you, it strongly pushes you toward spending real money to quickly do these things.

The Verdict

Crusader Quest is an ambitious match-3 style RPG. The game has a very retro look and sound, with an interesting story and gameplay mechanics. The problem is that it gets bogged down by the different freemium features that you see in most free to play apps. The game also requires an Internet connection and many people may not want to use there data up to play this. If you want to play this game there is a lot of waiting involved, as you get further along.

Read More

Review: Platform Panic

What began as the 'infinite runner' gameplay mechanic has subtly evolved to become a great way to turn any genre into fast and efficient smartphone fun.
But as much as we've been enjoying that gradual evolution of the concept, it hadn't really dawned on us that things were changing until we played the beautifully retro styled Platform Panic.
This game takes everything that pixel lovers want in a pseudo 16-bit title and blends it smoothly and harmoniously with this new type of touchscreen mechanic.
 
Expect a lot of excellent clones in the near future, but for now, get Platform Panic downloading while we tell you more about its shining brilliance.
Pixel pushing perfection
At first, and as its name suggests, this appears to be a return to the age-old platform game. And it is. But it also really, really isn't.
Your wee robot drops from the top of the screen and embarks on a flip-screen journey through various devilishly designed rooms while leaping about on the eponymous platforms.
However, you're not faced with tackling an on-screen d-pad here. Your robot never stops moving, so all you can do to keep him alive is swipe the screen to change his direction, and slide a finger upwards to make him jump.
These are the only controls at your disposal and you'll use them to make perilous jumps, avoid spikes that shoot out of the floor, leap over roving enemy robots, dodge missiles, and run out of the way of falling bombs and ceiling-mounted spikes.
It's all very familiar territory that would have played superbly in the days of the Mega Drive and SNES (and a generation earlier, for that matter, or on the home computers of the 80s).
It's appeal is wide and rich in nostalgia for retro gamers of all ages, and that alone should be enough to put Platform Panic on your home screen.
But there's more.
Room running
For the longest time we thought Platform Panic was making use of procedurally generated levels. The first room is always the same at the beginning of each game, but thereafter you're faced with very different challenges.

IAPs explained Coin packs can be bought to remove the in-app advertising, or used to buy an extra credit when you die and unlock new characters. 250 coins cost 69p / 99c, 1000 coins £1.49/$2.99, and 5000 coins £2.49/$4.99.

As it happens, and after several hours of heroin-like gaming addiction, we came to realise that these levels aren't actually being generated. Not a huge surprise, given some of their complexity.
But there are a hell of a lot of them, and they're delivered in a completely random order, so it takes some very fast twitch reactions to get through them, since you've no idea what to expect as you head out of the door.
Some rooms even exit from the left, and flip familiar levels on their horizontal axis, which feels akin to suddenly playing left-handed. A great way to effectively double the number of levels, and to really put your gaming chops to the test.
It's this notion that makes Platform Panic so playable. If you were tackling the levels in the same order every time, it'd be very short lived.
But by throwing you a continual stream of surprises and curve balls, the game remains lively and addictive far longer than it could otherwise hope for.
So far, we haven't found the bottom, which is unusual for the infinite play sub-genre, which generally has a hard-hitting yet equally short appeal.
By mixing the classic retro platformer with the new "keep playing forever or until your die" smartphone trope, Platform Panic has harnessed the best of both worlds to create something new, fresh and very indulgent.
Free running
Best of all, the game's free, and it's not remotely greedy in its IAPs. You collect coins as you're running around the diverse platform-strewn levels, which can be traded in when you die for a quick continue, effectively buying you an extra life.
Or you can use your coins to unlock more characters, which all give a nod and a wink to famous retro faves. These don't really add anything to the gameplay, but it's nice to swap them about and indulge your nostalgic cravings even more.
Interstitial adverts pop up on occasion between games, but aren't particularly frequent or invasive. These can also be removed with an IAP.
Thus far we've taken a hell of a lot from the free version of Platform Panic without dropping any real coins in the slot, and it hasn't hampered our enjoyment one bit.
So if you're looking for something to occupy your fingers while the family is visiting this Christmas, or you want to recapture the game-filled festive season of your youth, look no further than Platform Panic.

Read More

Knights of the Old Republic is out now on Android

The best Star Wars videogame is now available on the Google Play Store. No, not that one. You can now download Knights of the Old Republic, Bioware's utterly brilliant RPG, on your Android device.

The game is set a longer time ago in a galaxy far, far away, and sees you trying to stop an evil Sith from destroying the Republic with an ancient war machine.
When we reviewed the iOS version we said "despite some control workarounds and dated visuals, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remains a truly exceptional RPG and one of the best Star Wars games ever released on any platform."
If that's not reason enough to grab it on Android, the game is on sale to celebrate its launch, so you can pick it up for £3.20 / $4.99. Which is frankly ridiculous.

Read More

Annoying Cab iPhone Review

Cab rides aren't always the most glamorous way to get around the city or where you live, but sometimes they're necessary. When you're dealing with a cabbie that's not so great to be around, however, it can make a normal cab ride into a frustrating and, well, annoying time. That's where the typing tutor game Annoying Cab comes in.

The Good

If you grew up with games like Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing or more recently Typing of the Dead, you'll be more than familiar with the premise of Annoying Cab, which aims to help sharpen your typing skills -- or in this case, your texting skills. As your cabbie talks to you you'll have to type out the phrase onscreen in order to score big. The quicker and more accurately you type, the better you do. If you're already an excellent typist you'll no doubt excel here, and that's part of its charm. It also features particularly excellent throwback pixel graphics with interesting details and characters that really channel a different time in the game industry.

The Bad

While the mechanics themselves are solid and aesthetic department impressive enough, some of the sentences and phrases you're asked to type are a bit bizarre, chock full of weird internet language and jarring quotations that don't always make sense. This causes even seasoned texters and people without problems with texting to fail, which forces them to start over and over again in order to properly measure their typing ability.

The Verdict

This cabbie isn't so much annoying as it's missing potential. Strange quotes, weirdly parsed text, and artificial lengthening of the game to force talented players to wait for their next round is off-putting. Plus, being forced to act as if you're texting in order to play (which most players won't be great at or will have to use a keyboard) is a little strange.

Read More

Battlelore: Command iPhone Review

For years fans of strategy board-games inhabited a relatively obscure section of the gaming world. In the last few years though, mobile game designers have looked towards the likes of Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, and Settlers of Catan for inspiration. The board-game mechanics translate well to touch-screen and make for a typically faithful recreation of the source material. Battlelore: Command is based on the board-game of the same name which uses the Commands and Colors ruleset. The game is a fairly straight-forward affair, but that's a special thing on mobile. Battlelore doesn't handhold or cut the player any slack. It teaches you the rules and puts you in the game and lets you play. That is a good thing.

The Good

Battlelore is a fun introduction for anyone who hasn't played a strategic board-game. The system is fairly simple to learn and players will pick it up quickly. The fights aren't too long and translate well to mobile.

The Bad

The opposing sides of the conflict are fairly generic and those looking for a story aren't gonna be too satisfied. The battles can be a bit repetitive and the game doesn't offer much in the way of variety and it appeals to a specific subset of people.

The Verdict

Battlelore: Command is a great mobile solution for those who enjoy strategy or are fans of the more complex board-games that are in vogue right now. However, casual fans will not find much to be had here as the gameplay doesn't lend itself to spontaneous play. For those who are looking to try the genre though, Battlelore is a great starting point, having challenge without an overwhelming ruleset.

Read More