TouchArcade.ru

We've been tracking Elite's retro game releases through its ZX Spectrum: Elite Collection [App Store] and associated apps for some time now. This weekend, Elite released another emulated classic that many gamers on both sides of the pond will recall fondly: Barbarian from Palace Software.

Barbarian (distributed in the U.S. by Epyx as Death Sword), originally released for the Commodore 64 in 1987, is a hack and slash fighter that places you, the barbarian, in a series of fighting pits on a mission to slash your way through warrior after warrior and ultimately defeat the evil wizard Drax and rescue the ample Princess Mariana. It's all in the spirit of Conan. The game was noted for its realistic character animation (despite its simplistic graphics), considerable gore, and pleasant dose of wit. More than all of these, perhaps, it was noted for its racy box cover art featuring a bikini-clad Maria Whittaker, who had recently made an appearance as a topless Page Three girl in The Sun, and some dude. The outcry was dramatic.

Being a title running in Elite's ZX Spectrum emulator, Barbarian: ZX Spectrum is, of course, the ZX Spectrum version of the game. Unfortunately, this was not one of the strongest ports. Due to limitations of the Speccy's hardware, the actual play area and the characters within are rendered in monochrome. The detail is there, but the presentation feels pretty sparse. Another negative in this emulated iOS release is the control scheme. Despite Elite's "iDaptive" control system, where button (or key) layout can be custom arranged, the types of wildly varying moves that you need to pull off in rapid succession to excel in this game are not particularly conducive to touchscreen-style D-pad play. Happily, the customizable controls let you move the D-pad out of the way of your character in landscape mode, but that doesn't help with the feel of the controls.

Barbarian for the C64 and other platforms of old featured both a single player campaign mode (the quest to rescue Mariana) and a two-player challenge mode. It's worth noting that the version presented here offers only a single player mode.

See a video of the game as played on the ZX Spectrum.

Barbarian: ZX Spectrum is a stand-alone title with versions for both the iPhone [link] and iPad [link], and will be appearing as part of a new download pack for Elite's ZX Spectrum: Elite Collection [link] on Friday, when the number of available games in the collection will reach 108.

As a fan of what I knew as Death Sword on the Apple II back in the day, I was happy to see Barbarian arrive on iOS, even if it's come in a non-native fashion. I'd wager that the happy customers here are going to be other oldschool gamers who have fond memories of gut kicks and decapitation as Palace delivered them. Those unacquainted will probably find this one wanting.

[source]

It's Easter weekend, and that means App Store sales (among other things). Have a look at a list of stand out titles for the iPhone and iPad that are probably worth a look while the gettin's good.

Electronic Arts

• Battlefield: Bad Company 2 — iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99
• Command and Conquer: Red Alert – iPad: $4.99 → $0.99
• CLUE — iPhone: $1.99 → $0.99
• Dead Space – iPhone: $6.99 → $.99, iPad: $9.99 → $0.99
• FIFA 11 — iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99, iPad: $9.99 → $0.99
• Fight Night Champions — iPhone: $4.99 → $0.99
• Madden NFL 11 — iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99, iPad: $12.99 → $0.99
• Max and the Magic Marker – iPhone: $1.99 → $0.99, iPad: $4.99 → $0.99
• Monopoly – iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99
• NBA Jam – iPhone: $4.99 → $0.99
• NCAA Football – iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99
• Need for Speed Hot Pursuit — iPhone: $4.99 → $0.99
• Need for Speed Shift — iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99
• Pictureka! for iPad – iPad: $4.99 → $0.99
• Reckless Racing HD — iPad: $4.99 → $0.99
• RISK — iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99
• Rock Band Reloaded — iPhone: $4.99 → $2.99, iPad: $9.99 → $2.99
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 — iPhone: $4.99 → $0.99
• Scrabble — iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99, iPad: $9.99 → $0.99
• Tetris – iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99
• The Game of Life Classic Edition — iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99
• The Sims 3 – iPhone: $6.99 → $0.99
• The Sims 3 Ambitions — iPhone: $4.99 → $0.99

Chillingo

• Etolis: Arena — Universal: $1.99 → $0.99
• Sneezies Easter Edition — iPhone: $1.99 → Free
• Zooloretto — iPhone: $4.99 → $0.99

SEGA

• Altered Beast — iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99
• Chu Chu Rocket! HD — iPad: $4.99 → $0.99
• Super Monkey Ball — iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99
• Super Monkey Ball 2 — iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99

Gamevil

• Illusia – iPhone: $1.99 → $0.99
• Zenonia — iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99
• Zenonia 2 — iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99

Digital Chocolate

• 3D Brick Breaker Revolution 2 – iPhone: $1.99 → $0.99
• 3D Mini Golf Challenge — iPhone: $1.99 → $0.99
• California Gold Rush 2 — iPhone: $1.99 → $0.99
• Icy Tower — iPhone: $2.99 → $1.99
• Tower Bloxx Deluxe 3D — iPhone: $1.99 → $0.99

99Games

• Create a Mall — iPhone: $3.99 → $1.99, iPad: $4.99 → $2.99
• Mystic Emporium – iPhone: $2.99 → $1.99, iPad: $3.99 → $2.99
• The Jim and Frank Mysteries – The Blood River Files HD — iPad: $2.99 → $1.99
• Winemaker Extraordinaire HD — iPad: $4.99 → $2.99
• WordsWorth HD — iPad: $2.99 → $1.99

Various:

• 1945 Air Strike from Gojoy Co. — iPhone: $0.99 → Free
• Across Age DX from FDG Entertainment — iPhone: $3.99 → $0.99
• Beyond Ynth from FDG Entertainment — iPhone: $1.99 → Free
• BattleZone 3D King of the Hill from Noumena — iPhone: $5.99 → Free
• Blokus from Gameloft — iPhone: $4.99 → $0.99
• Caligo Chaser from Com2uS — iPhone: $2.99 → Free
• Cro-Mag Rally from Pangea — Universal: $3.99 → $0.99
• Dogs Playing Poker from Candywriter — iPhone: $2.99 → $0.99
• Galaxy on Fire 2 from Fishlabs — Universal: $9.99 → $4.99
• Game Dev Story from Kairosoft — iPhone: $3.99 → $1.99
• Geared 2 from Bryan Mitchell — Universal: $0.99 → Free
• Great Little War Game HD from Rubicon — Universal: $2.99 → $0.99
• I Dig It from InMotion Software — iPhone: $0.99 → Free
• NewtonApples from Edenpod — iPhone: $1.99 → Free
• Pinball Ride Unlimited from Massive Finger — Universal: $4.99 → $2.99
• Race After 1977 from Xpect Games — iPhone: $2.99 → $.99
• Reverse Maze from Ironshod Limited — iPhone: $0.99 → Free
• Road Blaster from Revolutionary Concepts — iPhone: $1.99 → $.99, iPad: $3.99 → $.99
• Silverfish from Chaotic Box — iPhone: $1.99 → $.99
• Tehra Dark Warrior from StormBASIC Games — iPhone: $3.99 → Free
• Train Conductor from The Voxel Agents — Universal: $0.99 → Free
• ZombieSmash from Gamedoctors — iPhone: $1.99 → $0.99, iPad: $3.99 → $1.99
• Many graphical adventures from Anuman

Much of this list was pulled from The Big Easter Sales Thread in our forums, where these titles on discount are being discussed.

Enjoy your new games!

[source]

Earlier this month we took a look at Elemental Rage [$4.99] from Oniric Games, a new metroidvania-style platforming game for iOS. Last week, the iPad version Elemental Rage HD [$6.99] was released in the App Store, and yesterday its small screen counterpart became available as well. As far as metroidvania games go, Elemental Rage is just about everything I could ask for. It might not be as complex or expansive as previous entries in this particular genre, but it has sharp graphics, tight controls, wonderfully designed levels, and is a great fit for a mobile game.

Elemental Rage starts out with you playing the young boy Huna who suddenly awakens to find himself on the floor of a strange castle. You quickly learn that an evil sorcerer has sucked the elemental spirits from your planet’s inhabitants, turning them into evil creatures. The last of the planet’s 4 Spirt Guides Talis, the Spirit Guide of Water, has summoned you as the last hope to save the planet. You must battle the many dark creatures and collect the missing elemental spirits spread throughout the castle to once again restore peace to the planet.

The castle itself contains several large chambers and 4 towers for each of the elements – Fire, Water, Earth and Air. Each section of the castle is fairly expansive and the elemental towers consist of multiple areas as well. Collecting enough elemental spirits will unlock additional abilities for Huna, and some parts of the castle are inaccessible until you have a certain ability or item. For example, there are special walls that block certain paths that can only be broken with a fire shot that is gained from collecting enough fire spirits. The way this is implemented and the designs of the levels are very well done, encouraging exploration and a good amount of backtracking once you gain new abilities.

The virtual controls in Elemental Rage are also very good. Huna’s jumping looks kind of floaty in the video, but that is just because you’re able to jump really high and you can control the height of your jump depending on how long you hold down the jump button. Overall the controls and the feel of moving around in the game is excellent. Combat is heavily melee-focused, as your main weapon is your staff. This gives fighting enemies a very old-school Castlevania feel. Enemies will drop powerups randomly that can enhance your staff’s abilities, eventually allowing you to fire a wave of energy which can be extremely helpful too.

Elemental Rage is one of those games where screenshots and video don’t do it justice. It looks great in person, and the excellent animations make it feel like you’re playing a cartoon at times. In fact, much of the visuals and sounds in the game, and even elements of the gameplay, give off a 2D Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker vibe. The story in the game is also well done, and despite the overly cliché “you’re the last hope for survival” way it starts out, there’s several twists and turns and interesting lore to go along with the world created in the game.

My only real gripe with Elemental Rage is that I wish there was more of it. It will only take around 4 hours to play through, but without spoiling the story too much, you’ll definitely have reason to play through the game again when you’re done. Still, it all seems to be over too quickly, and the game is so much fun that you wish it would just keep on going. Also, despite the exploration aspect, the game holds your hand quite a bit throughout. It’s unlikely that you’ll ever find yourself lost or not knowing what to do next, which is good, but at the same time it would also be nice if they left a bit more of the thinking up to the player rather than spelling things out so blatantly.

Despite any criticisms though, Elemental Rage is one of the best experiences you can have if you enjoy a good action-platforming game. The iPad version looks great on the larger screen, but it feels a bit more natural to play on the easier to handle iPhone or iPod touch. The games are identical content-wise, so it’s really just a matter of choice on which device you prefer to play it on. Players in our forums have been really enjoying this one, and if you’re looking for a new adventure to have then Elemental Rage is one to check out.

[source]

Back in February, EA Mobile released NBA Jam [$4.99/Lite] into the App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch. It was based on the well received new version of the long-standing series that hit home consoles late last year, and for the most part made the transition extremely well to iOS. The key missing features were a couple of the less popular game modes and any form of multiplayer, but the core campaign along with all of the hidden bells and whistles remained intact and as fun as ever. Here’s a brief synopsis taken from our original review of NBA Jam from February:

The familiar NBA Jam gameplay returns here featuring a relatively rule-free game of 2-on-2 basketball with an emphasis on pulling off insane physics-defying dunks and ridiculous shooting sprees. Besides adhering to a 24 second shot clock and a no goaltending rule, pretty much anything goes in NBA Jam. Any player that makes 3 consecutive shots will then be “on fire” and during this time will make a higher percentage of shots, have unlimited turbo, and be immune to the goaltending rule. If you’ve played NBA Jam in the past, not a lot has changed here, but that’s most likely for the best.

The iOS version of NBA Jam uses a smart control system that works incredibly well. There’s a virtual stick for movement, a turbo button in the opposite corner, and based on if you’re on offense or defense a button for passing/stealing and another for shooting/blocking. Using your limited turbo meter not only increases your player’s speed but also enhances your other moves, like turning a simple steal attempt into a full-blown shove of an opponent. This is cleverly and elegantly handled by holding down turbo and then sliding to one of the other two buttons, which works great in practice.

Today, the game is now available as a native iPad version appropriately titled NBA Jam for iPad [$9.99]. Aside from having graphics that are beautifully formatted for the larger screen of the iPad, it contains everything from the iPhone and iPod touch version including the recently updated player rosters. NBA Jam was already wonderful on the iPhone and iPod touch, and it’s just as good if not better on the iPad. The game looks fantastic and crisp on the large screen, and the brilliant control system works just as great as it did before.

One puzzling omission from the original release of the iOS version of NBA Jam was the lack of multiplayer, since NBA Jam has always been a great party game to play with friends. This has thankfully been rectified, as the iPad version has launched with multiplayer and the iPhone and iPod touch versions have just received an update adding a multiplayer mode as well. Multiplayer is played locally over Bluetooth or WiFi, and can be played with mixed devices, so iPhone or iPod touch owners can get busy against their iPad owning buddies. The multiplayer seems to work well in my limited testing, and while it would be cool to have online multiplayer there’s really nothing like taking it to the rack against a friend and being able to trash talk right to their face.

No matter which device you play it on, NBA Jam is a ton of fun on iOS, and I'm really happy to see multiplayer finally make it into the game. Just in case you've been on the fence about NBA Jam, there's a recently released lite version for you to try, and if you already own the iPhone and iPod touch version make sure to grab the latest update to give the new local multiplayer mode a spin.

[source]

If you're an iPhone or iPod touch owner who has been anxiously awaiting Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP since we first saw it at GDC 2010… be mindful of family, friends, and neighbors as a sonic boom is unleashed from your finger from quickly mashing the "download now" button. Joining Sword & Sworcery EP [$4.99] is Sword & Sworcery EP Micro [$2.99], the iPhone-specific version of the game.

On the smaller screen, the game basically plays as described in our original review of the iPad version. There are things to like about both versions of the game. I like the game on the bigger screen of the iPad, but it looks awesome on the retina display. It's easier to share the experience with someone else on the iPad, which doesn't matter much if you're playing by yourself. What I like much more about the iPhone version is that the rotation of the device to sheath and unsheath your sword feels incredibly natural compared to, as stated in the review, like driving a bus.

If you already own the iPad version, you'll be happy to hear that it has since been updated to be universal. If the update isn't showing up for you yet, give it a few. Updates often don't propagate through the App Store as instantly as new apps appearing.

[source]

Surprise! It's Wednesday! (I know, it was a surprise for me too.) Aside from the only day of the week where you don't look like a total weirdo making "hump day" jokes, it's also the day that scheduled iOS game releases slowly start leaking out through the international markets before magically appearing for download in the grand ol' US of A at 11:00 PM EST on the dot. If your App Store region is east of us, these games will be available sooner. All of these links (aside from NBA Jam because EA does things differently) will work in every region, so feel free to go nuts clicking links as soon as midnight approaches in your neck of the woods. Oddly enough, tonight's big name releases seem to be more iPad-centric than iPhone for once.

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP Micro, $2.99 – [Forum Thread] – The highly anticipated iPhone-only version of Sword & Sworcery! We loved the iPad version in our review, and as an added bonus the non-micro Sword & Sworcery EP [$4.99] which is already out should be getting an update at some point today to be universal. Pretty sweet, huh?

Third Blade, $2.99 – [Forum Thread] – This hack and slash game from Com2uS had an oddly huge thread in our upcoming games forum filled with beta testers discussing the game. The general consensus seems to be if you like hacking, slashing, and slaying an endless stream of monsters, this is your game.

Dragons' Den™ The Official Game, $2.99 – [Forum Thread] – While I'll fully admit that there aren't a whole lot of video games out there based on TV shows that are actually worth playing, I'm stupidly excited for Dragons' Den. Based on the BBC show of the same name, players get pitched business ideas then decide whether or not they're sound enough to invest in. Sure, the show likely won't translate very well to a game since the most amusing part (for me) was always the banter between dragons… But hey, it's got 5 player local pass and play multiplayer, you can make your own banter!

Golden Axe II, $2.99 – [Forum Thread] Sega can't seem to go a week without reminding us that they're totally capable of bundling any old Genesis game into their emulator and tossing it up on the App Store. Bluetooth multiplayer could make Golden Axe II a decent amount of fun, but holy cow I wish Sega would release some more RPGs or other games that actually work well given the constraints of their emulator.

PAC-CHOMP!, 99¢ – [Forum Thread] – Namco seems to be juicing poor old Pac-Man for all he's worth lately. Pac-Chomp joins two other Pac-Man themed match 3's already on the App Store. Gameplay involves matching ghosts, moving Pac-Man around, high scoring, and wondering why Namco keeps releasing games like this.

Play Kalei, 99¢ / HD, $1.99 – [Forum Thread] – While not a hardcore gamer's game by any stretch of the imagination, I was totally impressed with how clever Play Kalei was when Chillingo gave us a quick look at it. The premise basically amounts to taking a photo, then trying to find where you need to move your finger to make a kaleidoscope image match up with the target image. Since I'm not even sure kids have kaleidoscopes anymore, it's cool to see them being virtualized in a fun iPhone game.

Choo Choo Steam Trains, 99¢ – [Forum Thread] – A train building game published by Chillingo. Taking control of your train set you need to pick up passengers and complete various other challenges. As you play, you unlock pieces of track to create your own railway system. As an aside, I'm actually kind of surprised that more people haven't made similar train games, there seem to be so few.

Elemental Rage, $4.99 – [Forum Thread] – Joining Elemental Rage HD [$6.99] on the App Store is a pint-sized iPhone-specific version. Elemental Rage is a Metroidvania style platformer with about four hours of playtime according to people on our forums (who also have enjoyed the game quite a bit).

Chicken Balls, 99¢ – [Forum Thread] – This Angry Birds-like physics game adds a crazy amount of variation with all kinds of different power-ups. Chicken Balls HD [$1.99] was released a while ago, so if the game piqued your interest then but you don't own an iPad, here's your chance.

NBA Jam for iPad, $9.99 – [Forum Thread] – I had a stupid amount of fun with the non-HD NBA Jam [$4.99], and aside from running on the iPad the big feature with this release seems to be local multiplayer. I wish I could play online, but hey, I'll take what I can get. Now all we need is the iPhone version to get updated with multiplayer, better yet, updated so you can play with iPhones and iPads in the same game.

Back to the Future Episode 2 HD, $6.99 – [Forum Thread] – The continuation of Back to the Future Episode 1 HD [$6.99 is here, with Marty, Doc Brown, and the rest of the cast of characters. If you're a Back to the Future fan, these games are a must-have... Just keep in mind, they run substantially better on the iPad 2 compared to the often choppy gameplay on the original iPad.

Final Fantasy III for iPad, $16.99 - [Forum Thread] – Not long ago Square Enix proved that gamers were more than willing to pay $16 for Final Fantasy III [$15.99] on the iPhone, and they're pushing that price ceiling even higher for the launch of the iPad version. Regardless of how enraged that premium price might have you, Final Fantasy III is an absolutely fantastic game, and we really couldn't have asked for a better remake. Now, Squeenix, where's Final Fantasy VI?

[source]

Remember all the fuss in the various discussions both on our forums and in the comments thread of virtually every Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP [$4.99] regarding it being iPad only? It's totally understandable, especially considering the early previews were all on iPhones, but somewhere along the development the team switched gears to the iPad, which obviously resulted in the iPad game hitting the App Store first.

Well, we just got word that all the iPhone version of the game will be launching this Thursday for $2.99. In addition, much like World of Goo [$2.99 / HD], the existing iPad app will be updated to be universal. And if all goes as planned with this week's release, the universal update and the new iPhone app will hit at the same time. I for one would really love it if this recent trend in making "HD" versions universal catches on like it seems like it might be.

If you haven't yet, check out our Sword & Sworcery review for more information on the game. We loved playing through it on our iPads, and expect the iPhone version to be just as awesome.

[source]

Papa Sangre [$4.99] studio Somethin’ Else has a couple of projects in the works: Papa Sangre 2 and another audio-exclusive joint called “The Nightjar.” The latter, it appears, has been submitted to Apple and is currently going through the certification process.

Word of both projects first surfaced, to my knowledge, in an Independent Online article dealing with the forthcoming emergence of 3D sound in all kinds of media, from books, to advertisements, and of course, games. It’s in this article that this tantalizing bit of news can be gleaned: Nightjar is based in space.

Other details about Nightjar are hard to obtain and the game’s official Twitter account isn’t helping us to paint a clearer picture of the title. Tweets like “morale aboard this vessel is LOW,” are commonplace and teasing something I can’t understand.

Of note, this account is specifically called the Night Owl Computer. Sometimes, it spits out personal messages, as if the AI has self-actualized. “I am currently 13 mths 10 wks 26 days of knotted-light travel time from Earth (2381:099:2L).” This account also re-tweets messages from The Night Watch, a supposed escort vessel. Equally weird stuff there, but much more casual in tone.

So, at the moment, your guess about what the Nightjar is, is as good as ours. We’re in contact with Somethin’ Else about all of this, so hopefully we’ll be able to give you some solid details in the near future. For right now, though, I guess we’ll be playing this game alongside the developers. Anyone see anything important on these accounts? Or is this just all too vague to get a grasp on? I vote on the latter, but hey, I'm a meat head.

[source]

The popular “irreverent trivia” game You Don’t Know Jack is now available on the App Store for your iPhone/iPod touch [$2.99/Lite] or iPad [$4.99/Lite]. The series began back in 1995 on PC and has since seen a multitude of iterations across computers, game consoles, the web, physical board games, and even a short lived television show. The iOS version of You Don’t Know Jack is based on the 2011 franchise reboot that hit major gaming consoles earlier this year.

If you’re familiar with that version then you’ll be instantly familiar with the game on iOS, and aside from a few missing features and no multiplayer mode it’s a very competent mobile version of the console game. Even if you’re completely unfamiliar with the series, You Don’t Know Jack is a fun and intellectual trivia game mixed with silly pop culture references and humor.

Unlike previous games in the series that presented a random selection of questions, this version of You Don’t Know Jack contains 20 different episodes each filled with 10 questions in a predetermined order. The first 5 questions in an episode are considered Round 1 and are worth face value. The next 5 are Round 2 and are worth double the points. After the 10 questions are completed, Round 3 consists of a special Jack Attack game before giving you your final score for the episode.

The majority of the questions in an episode are multiple choice with 1 correct answer and 3 that are incorrect, and the game has no problem using clever word play or trick questions in an effort to throw you off. You’re given 20 seconds to pick an answer and are awarded cash based on how quickly you answer correctly, with a similar amount deducted for a wrong answer. There is no penalty for not answering at all.

During each episode, one of the questions takes the form of a “DisOrDat”, where you’re given 7 titles or phrases and must determine which of 2 completely different categories they belong in. For example, in one episode you’re given 7 fancy sounding names and are asked to determine whether each one is the name of a luxury sports car or the name of a cajun cuisine. There’s 30 seconds to complete all 7, where right answers earn you cash and wrong answers take some away, and any extra time on the clock gives you bonus money.

The final round of an episode consists of a Jack Attack. It starts by giving you a common theme for the round, then presents a word or phrase in the middle of the screen while other phrases zoom by above and below it. Your job is to tap the word or phrase that relates to the one in the middle as it zooms by. This round rewards you with huge payouts for correct answers as well as penalizes you heavily for wrong ones, and can really make or break your final score for an episode.

So up to this point, You Don’t Know Jack is a fairly typical trivia game, albeit with pretty cleverly written questions. What really makes it stand out though is the excellent presentation. The “host” of the game Cookie Masterson, who has appeared in many of the previous games, has a great personality and makes a ton of hilarious (and often crude) jokes as well as pokes fun at you when you get a question wrong. There’s also some silly intro animations for every question and a few other funny surprises, but the running dialogue from Cookie is what really makes the game what it is. This isn’t a game you’ll want to play with the sound off, as you’d be missing out on 90% of the enjoyment.

The 20 included episodes are far less than the console versions, and due to their linear nature there’s not really much reason to replay them multiple times, but the developer seems keen on adding additional episodes and features in updates. There’s also Game Center integration for unlocking achievements and tracking your scores for the initial play through of an episode, which adds a bit of replay value to the game. Hopefully multiplayer can be added at some point too, since playing trivia with friends is when a game like this is at its best, though it’s still a really fun solo experience.

If you’re already a fan of You Don’t Know Jack, then chances are you bought and downloaded the iOS version the second you heard about it, and for the most part I think you’ll be satisfied. It features completely new questions from the console versions and is surprisingly up to date with its references to current events, with questions involving Charlie Sheen, Liz Taylor, and everybody's favorite pop star Rebecca Black. If you aren’t really familiar with the series but like trivia games, there’s a lite version with 2 full episodes to check out first to see if it’s up your alley. Players in our forums have been digging this one quite a bit, and for irreverent trivia on the go You Don’t Know Jack is a solid pick up.

[source]

It was nearly a year and a half ago that 2D Boy announced that their critically acclaimed indie title World of Goo would be coming to the iPhone. After more than a year of waiting, Word of Goo finally did hit the App Store, but for the iPad rather than the iPhone or iPod touch. The game was absolutely fantastic on the iPad though, earning 5 stars in our review and garnering our iPad Game of the Year award for 2010. World of Goo was a great success on the iPad too, but despite this 2D Boy still wasn’t sure that the game would ever reach its originally intended platform of the iPhone.

In late February, 2D Boy confirmed that World of Goo was indeed officially coming to the iPhone and iPod touch. Today this long-awaited version of World of Goo is finally available in the App Store at a special introductory price of 99¢ for the first 24 hours. What’s more is that owners of the iPad version World of Goo HD will get a free update that makes the game universal, so if you own an iPhone or iPod touch you’ll already be able to play it on those devices in addition to your iPad.

One thing to note is that World of Goo requires a 3rd generation device or higher, so make sure you have the proper equipment to handle the game before downloading. Both versions of the game are supposed to support Retina Display devices, but due to an apparent bug it currently does not. 2D Boy is looking into the issue and will issue a fix to the problem as soon as possible. Also, after the introductory price of 99¢, the game will jump up to its regular price of $2.99, with the universal HD version staying priced at $4.99.

Despite the smaller screen of the iPhone and iPod touch, World of Goo still plays wonderfully and contains all the same content that appeared on the iPad last December. The biggest difference is that you can pinch to zoom on the iPhone version, which can be helpful in certain situations. Players in our forums are really enjoying World of Goo on the iPhone and iPod touch, and if you’ve ever been interested in the game but didn’t own an iPad then now is the time to get in on the fun.

[source]