Archive for the ‘Puzzle’ tag
‘Kinectimals’ Review – Making Connections
Kinectimals is an experiential game that does a solid job of luring its users into forming an emotional bond with its assortment of on-screen, rascally pets. As an adult, you see why the user’s relationship to the pet is so important: without one, the entire experience falls apart. If you aren’t clicking with your animal, you don’t want to pet it, you especially don’t want to get up and interact with it, and you sure as heck don’t want to do the game’s mindless assortment of mini-games alongside it.
Little ones, from what I understand, generally respond to its adorable baby cheetahs, its equally adorable Bengal tigers, and its other scarily expressive animals. When the game asks, kids enthusiastically move about and shout and jump, and reach to the TV.
That’s well and good, but now Kinectimals has made the jump to iOS. Obviously, the Kinect hook has been dropped with this particular version. So, this begs the question: does the game and its, er, magic still work?
I can’t give you a straight answer on that.
What I can say, though, is that a good chunk of the charm of the original has made the platform leap. Just as in the other game, you pick and name a gaggle of cats to directly interact with, each one as viscously adorable and playful as the next. Once you grab one you’ll be teleported to a field of sorts and given the opportunity to either pet, feed, instruct, or initiate tricks with the thing.
This initial screen, and the subsequent backgrounds you’ll move on to as you level up as a pet owner, is essentially a sandbox. The animal seemingly acts randomly, but you or a young one are ultimately always in control of what to do next. Usually, that Next Thing involves a good scratch behind the ears or a ball throw.
For what it’s worth, Kinectimals iOS is arguably on par or better-looking than its Xbox 360 counterpart. It also runs as smooth as butter, in our experience: the animations of the cats, which are surprisingly lifelike to begin with, are sharp, the menus load in a matter of a second or two, and even “level” transfers are nearly seamless. It’s nice.
The implementation of touch is good, too. The contextual gestures and swipes make sense, and the responsiveness is something other studios doing ports should study. I think the controls in particular are simple and intuitive enough for a young one to put its head around. Want a cat to jump? All it needs to do is swipe up. Want to pet it? Just toss down two fingers on the screen, wait for the camera to zoom, and then go to town.
That said, I think there is a layer or two of, let’s say immersion, lost in translation; since you aren’t directly pantomiming actions with your body and arms, the interaction doesn’t feel as substantial. The animal, on the other hand, is much more in your face with a tablet, and there’s something to that. Also, let’s not forget just how darn cute, bouncy, and willing to be interacted with these things are.
This all in mind, and the controls taken into account, I’d argue that the touch versions are as viable as the Kinect one. Sure, there’s some loss of weightiness, but overall the game still works thanks to some smart design / port decisions.
Actually, while we’re exploring some possible negatives, let’s talk about some concrete ones. This game’s UI is borderline terrible — it’s hard to navigate for one, but it’s also tough to see what’s important. Also, the game’s over-eager lemur that guides the experience isn’t in this version, so its up to the young ones to puzzle out how to play, how to progress and how to discover new levels.
The latter in particular is a big black eye. Just remember: the points you earn are like a level currency. At some point, you’ll earn enough for the game to invite you somewhere else.
The actual meat of the experience, or at least what I believe is supposed to be the main feature, the mini-games, are accounted for, too. These are definitely not for adults, as each are as mundane, easy, and almost job-like as possible. I’m thinking, though, that a kid will especially dig the monotonous jump-roping, ball throwing, and picture taking.
And that’s the rub; I’m not sure how to evaluate this game because I know what a tape deck is. I will say this, though. Most of the parts of the original game, which worked for kids apparently, is fairly well translated in this version. And even though it lacks 1:1 body-to-game interaction, I think a solid connection can still be formed between digital cat and real, whiny “Give Me A Pet” kid. Give it a look with him or her, but I’d advise to stay away if it’s just you looking for a game.
A couple of side-notes: If you buy this, you’ll get the ability to import your iOS Kinectimal to Kinectimals on Kinect via QR code and vice versa. You’ll also be able to unlock five new Kinectimals in the main game, just like owners of the Windows Phone 7 version were able to when this game debuted on that platform. Check out our for more information.
TouchArcade Rating: 
[]
‘Aiko Island: Holidays’ Sees A Release
‘Tis the season for holiday spins on our favorite apps, and one of the first overhauls we’ve heard about, Aiko Island: Holidays [Free / HD], is now out and available at zero dollars. It, as you assume, is a follow-up of sorts to ’s original Aiko Island [$.99 / HD]. The key difference is in its art direction — Holidays offers the same kind of puzzle play, but it’s all wrapped up in fresh, Christmas-y art.
IceFlame is positioning this as a “gift” for its fans, and judging from what we’ve seen so far, it’s probably a good one to boot. For those of you out there who haven’t bought the original game, this is can also operate as a money-free starting point to see if its specific blend of puzzle action is up your alley. Our review wouldn’t be too bad to take a look at, either.
Aiko Island: Holidays HD, Free (iPad Only)
Aiko Island: Holidays, Free
[]
‘Blueprint 3D’ Gets New Modes And Christmas Stuff In Update
Blueprint 3D [$.99 / HD], ’s extremely cool twist-to-solve 3D puzzle game, received a notable content update the other morning. At the top, FDG has added two all new, more challenging modes of play: advanced and pro. As the names imply, these modes give users a fresh way to play by introducing new layers.
FDG has also dropped in a few “minor fixes,” including progress saves in each level, and a new trophy. Perhaps the most enticing of this Other Stuff is the new Christmas-themed set of levels. Unfortunately, you’ll need 280 stars to even catch a glimpse of the santa stuff and reindeer it has added into the mix.
If you’re not up-to-date on Blueprint 3D, stop on by our review. Spoiler: it’s pretty good, occasionally challenging, and surprisingly elegant. Sure, it’s ultimately a simple game, but we think it has enough for its asking price.
[]
‘Stretched’ Review – A Slingshot Platformer from Chillingo
Stretched [99¢] is a new physics-based slingshot-platformer from , which has been receiving praise in our . The objective is to fling a ball between various slingshots, collecting as many bubbles from each level as possible, before reaching the exit portal. There’s no time limit or restriction on the number of turns, so there’s no hurry, but each time you fling yourself you need to land safely, as there’s no ground or safety net.
The best feature of Stretched is that new gameplay elements are constantly being introduced as you progress through the 80+ levels and 4 worlds (Sunrise, Monochrome, Misty and Desert). Each world has it’s own features and music and it’s often a pleasant surprise to discover what comes next.
Initially you’re propelling yourself between slingshots of various sizes and orientations, or bouncing off walls. But that’s just the start. You’ll manipulate chains and sliders, use a sticky green character to your advantage by sticking to walls, explode bombs to blast yourself across the level or to move obstacles, turn wheels with your finger to rotate items and encounter various moving contraptions to master. Some levels challenge you to balance the ball precariously on the end of a stick, while also collecting bubbles! There’s a surprising amount of variety in this game (more than I’ve described here) and each new feature is carefully explained when it first appears.
The touch controls are simple and effective: Use your finger to stretch back the slingshot and determine the direction and power of the shot (the slingshots fire in either direction). A series of dots shows the trajectory path, for aiming purposes. Once you release your finger, the ball is propelled in the chosen direction. If you’re attached to a sticky green character, you can tap it to make it disappear. Or tap a bomb to make it explode.
Your score is based on the number of bubbles collected before reaching the exit portal. Collecting over half of the bubbles earns 2-stars, while you must grab all the bubbles to 3-star the level. High scores and achievements are all managed via Chillingo’s Crystal and Game Center.
A “skip level” option is available and there appears to be no limit to how many times you can use it, as I skipped several levels in a row. However, a certain number of stars is required to unlock each subsequent world and skipping levels doesn’t earn any stars, so there’s some incentive to actually play through the levels. An In-App Purchase can be made to unlock all levels, although there’s really no need.
Stretched was released without much fanfare, so it’s quite a pleasant surprise. The bubble graphics are not overly impressive, so the screenshots don’t look too flashy, but don’t judge this game by it’s screenshots alone as the variety of gameplay is excellent. The puzzles are interesting and varied, rather than intellectually complex, and the various soundtracks sound good without feeling repetitive. You’ll get a few hours entertainment for a dollar, with more levels promised in the future, making this an easy game to recommend.
TouchArcade Rating: 
[]
Om Nom Breaks Out Of The Game, Lives The Cartoon Life
The adorable Om Nom from ’s Cut The Rope [$.99 / HD / Lite] franchise is cutting loose from the confines of his brilliant puzzle games. Earlier today, the studio put out a fantastic animated short starring the adorable monster in a live-action setting. The core story revolves around Om Nom’s desire to get candy wherever, and the conflict is one between him and a playful tabbby. I can hear The Bearded One moaning in delight from over here.
Cut The Rope is certainly popular and has seen its fair share of merchandising. I think I like this, though, way more than any plush toy or bit of apparel. Make sure to check out the video whenever you have time. It’s awesome (and embedded).
[Via ]
[]
You Can Now Yell At ‘Scribblenauts Remix’ If You Own An iPhone 4S
Today, 5th Cell and Warner Bros. unleashed an update to Scribblenauts Remix [$2.99], the iOS port of the popular franchise from the Nintendo DS. The big new feature in this update is something they’re calling Scribblespeak. Scribblenauts is a game where you’re able to type in just about anything you can think of, complete with descriptive adjectives, and it will be created for you within the game. This is intended to be the way you solve the many puzzles in the game, as you can create objects that you need to complete the tasks that allow you to pass a level.
However, while that’s all well and good, the serious fun in Scribblenauts Remix is just thinking up the craziest objects or creatures that you possibly can, and then making them fight each other. At least, that’s how I get my kicks, and that goes for just about everybody I know too. This sandbox-like aspect of Scribblenauts Remix is the thing that ensures this wonderful little app will never leave my device.
Anyhoo, what the Scribblespeak update allows you to do is utilize the voice recognition functionality that powers Siri in the iPhone 4S and just blurt out whatever whacky thing you happen to want to conjure up in the game. It’s a pretty cool idea, and although it doesn’t really change the nature of the game a whole lot, it does make it feel a lot more personal, especially if you’re hamming around with friends while playing the game, as the Scribblespeak trailer will show you.
Also part of this update is a holiday theme, hence Maxwell wearing a Santa hat in the updated game icon. So cute. You also get a holiday themed sandbox level, decorated with snowy Christmas trees and gingerbread houses, which is basically the interactive start screen that let’s you just create things to your heart’s content. You can switch to the normal sandbox level at any time if you wish, if the holidays aren’t your thing. Finally, Scribblenauts Remix now supports screen orientation flipping, for those of you who like to play your games while doing cartwheels (or something like that).
The new Scribblespeak feature is a pretty cool addition to an already stellar game, so if you own an iPhone 4S be sure to update and give it a try. I’m also pretty down for the holiday theme, since like, Christmas is practically just a couple weeks away. I should probably start my shopping soon, thanks for reminding me Scribblenauts Remix! Oh, and for Christmas, I want new levels. Not that I don’t appreciate the update you just gave me, I just thought I’d let you know.
[]
Out Now: ‘Batman Arkham City Lockdown’, ‘Mini Motor Racing’, ‘Six Guns’, ‘TXT Fighter HD’, and More
Best iOS Games November 2011
Our ratings for games we reviewed in November are now in place, and we now present to you the ones that are on the top of the heap. Each game reviewed receives a 1-5 star rating relative to the other games from that month. Generally, a three-star or higher is considered a “good” rating.
Our final scores are not the product of any traditionally objective measures such as graphics or sound, but simply reflect the games we would most recommend to others. Keep in mind, this listing is comprised of games we reviewed in November, and not necessarily games that were specifically released in November.
5 Stars
Infinity Blade II, $6.99 – [Review] – [] – We put incredibly powerful devices in our pockets and on our laps daily, but rarely do we see games that utterly embrace this like Infinity Blade 2 has. It’s a showcase piece; a technically and visually gifted game that consistently delivers eye-popping stuff. The gameplay is great, too.
Zombieville USA 2, $0.99 – [Review] – [] – Tightly-constructed, well-executed, charming, different and entertaining are all words we freely use when describing Zombieville 2. It’s a near perfect iterative entry to the franchise, as it artfully hones in on and turns up the volume on the two best parts of the original: the shooting and upgrade models.
4.5 Stars
Rebuild, $2.99 – [Review] – [] – Rebuild can ruin a life like only a Civilization can. Don’t mistake us; that’s huge praise for Northway Games’s atmospheric and engaging strategy game, which has you building and managing a city while zombies bump in the day or night. iPad 2 exclusive — for now, at least.
Saving Yello, Free – [Review] – [] – Tactile Entertainment’s Saving Yello and is a hip, fresh, and adorable physics-based puzzler about a pet goldfish named ‘Yello’. Tons of well-designed levels and environments, as well as wonderful production values make this a stand-out.
Space Tripper, $3.99 – [Review] – [] – After being released on various other platforms over the past decade, it’s finally our turn for an iOS port of this top-down arena-based shoot’em-up, which features a main campaign plus score attack and challenge modes to unlock. And heads up: it was worth the wait.
SpellTower, $1.99 – [Review] – [] – Word games can still be fun. Elegant, clever and fun, SpellTower a complete package, brought together by Gage’s trademark use of cheerful colors, simple patterns and elegant typography.
RAVENMARK: Scourge of Estellion, $2.99 – [Review] – [] – Delivered in a visual novel-esque manner, this strategy game’s greatest strength lies in the fact it is not pretentious. The protagonists are not larger-than-life heroes; they’re men. And you’ll care, maybe just as the developers seemed to judging by the outrageously solid presentation and overall direction.
Aquaria, $4.99 – [Review] – [] – Imagine if a Metroidvania went underwater. That’s what Aquaria is in a nutshell, but you’ve got to appreciate its fine touches and vision even if its formula doesn’t jive with you.
Chocohero, $0.99 – [Review] – [] – Chocohero is certainly not the only “falling platformer” out there, but it’s definitely one of the best designed. In addition to tight controls and well-designed levels, the art style and music are perfectly complementary. Also, it’s super-adorable).
Junk Jack, $2.99 – [Review] – [] – While there are any number of blatant Minecraft knockoffs on the App Store, Junk Jack distinguishes itself in nearly every category. It’s fun, bright, and pretty mind-numbingly awesome.
Elder Sign: Omens, $3.99 – [Review] – [] – Elder Sign is a board game crossover that takes the Lovecraftian horror of Arkham Horror and distills it down to about half the time and only 200 pieces or so. More importantly, it works brilliantly on a touch screen.
Oh! Edo Towns, $1.99 – [Review] – [] – If you’re fond of Kairosoft’s other, much more grand strategy simulation games, you’ll probably dig this one. It’s basically old-school SimCity, but re-envisioned with Kairosoft’s signature cutesy art, formula, direction and style.
Greed Corp HD, $4.99 – [Review] – [] – This is a strategy board game that feels right at home on iPad, and it outdoes much of its competition on the platform. We wouldn’t get it solely for online multiplayer, but with a vast single-player campaign and support for up to four local players, it’s a gem of a game for any other purpose.
The rest of the game ratings can be seen in their respective rating categories (also found in the sidebar navigation): 5 Stars, 4.5 Stars, 4 Stars, 3.5 Stars, 3 Stars, and 2 Stars.
As always, we expect there will be some debate about relative scores, but keep in mind that everyone’s personal ratings may vary based on individual tastes.
For more of our favorite iOS games, check out our “Best iPhone Games” category which includes all of these monthly posts as well as other special compilations of the greatest games the App Store has to offer:
- So You Just Got an iPhone 4S… Here’s What You Need to Know!
- So You Just Got a Verizon iPhone… Let’s Get You Up To Speed!
- – An App Store Gaming Guide
- Best iPod Touch and iPhone Games: 2010 Buyer’s Guide
- 2010: TouchArcade Staff Favorites – Eli
- 2010: TouchArcade Staff Favorites – Blake
- 2010: TouchArcade Staff Favorites – Brad
- 2010: TouchArcade Staff Favorites – Jared
- Best iPod Touch and iPhone Games: 2009 Buyer’s Guide
[]
‘Pix’n Love Rush’ Updated with New Mode, iPad Version Goes Universal
There’s nothing that gets me more giddy than when one of my favorite iOS games gets a sweet update that adds some new content and functionality, especially when that game has already been out for a while. It’s great to see games getting support far into their lifespan, and over the weekend my giddiness was increased to the max when Pix’n Love Rush [99¢] and its iPad counterpart Pix’n Love Rush DX [$1.99] both received great new updates.
The Pix’n Love Rush games are no strangers to updates. They’ve been updated three times before with major new features since the original iPhone version release back in June of last year. This latest update adds yet another new gameplay mode and also makes the previously iPad only version Pix’n Love Rush DX into a Universal app, so you can throw that bad boy on your iPhone or iPod touch if you wish. It’s kind of a bummer that if you had some nice high scores saved to the iPhone version that they won’t transfer over to DX, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make to have one less app taking up space in my iTunes.
As for the new mode, it’s called On/Off Rush and is a smart little piece of puzzle platforming. There are two different types of objects to collect, suns and moons. Suns can only be collected during the day, and moons during the night. Touching special switcher walls will turn the level from day to night. Your character moves automatically, so you’re tasked with jumping at the right times to collect the proper item depending on if it’s day or night.
It’s quite clever, and gets increasingly difficult as you progress. Collecting correct items in a row increases a multiplier and adds time to the clock, allowing you to continue on. Accidentally grabbing a moon during daytime (or vice versa) resets the multiplier and adds no time to the clock, and eventually your time will run out. There are two different flavors of On/Off Rush, and Arcade mode where missed items mean less points and a Puzzle mode where every item must be collected through multiple trips through a level, but time is the commodity.
I absolutely love the new On/Off Rush, as I do with just about every other aspect of Pix’n Love Rush, and I’m pretty gassed that the iPad version is now Universal. If you own either version of the game, then get to updating and check out the new modes, and if you don’t own Pix’n Love Rush already then check out our previous coverage as it’s a game that really needs to be on your device.
Pix’n Love Rush, $0.99
Pix’n Love Rush DX, $1.99 (Universal)
[]
Developers Come Together To Give In "12 Indie Apps For Christmas"
The and other gigantic collections of PC indie titles are all the rage nowadays for a lot of reasons, but starting now, there’s a feel-good App Store equivalent. A collection of twelve developers have come together for “12 Indie Apps For Christmas.” It’s but the bottom-line is that 25 percent of each individual sale of one of its games, post-Apple cut, will go to or throughout the rest of December.
The official rundown , so do check that out if you plan to get your humanitarian on. The developers involved are all pretty hip, and the games are pretty bangin’, too. Here’s a break-down:
Christmas Air Hockey, $0.99 – [] – This is what you think it is — no surprises, it appears. On the other hand, this is definitely festive Air Hockey at its finest, as it includes tons of Christmas trimmings including snowmen, snow, and Santa sounds.
Galcon Labs, $1.99 – [] – Galcon, a real-time space strategy game fusion, has received a ton of updates over its life. At one point, Penny Arcade said that it’s a “must,” and we basically agree with that sentiment.
Harbor Master, $1.99 – [] – Harbor Master was one of those titles original that kinda validated the App Store game section, and it still rocks. Direct boats, move them into port, and get them away safely — this is a “light” strategy game that moves pretty fast, but does require a careful eye.
Smiles HD, $3.99 – [] – Smiles HD incorporates two different matching and strategic puzzle games. It probably won’t blow you away, but it’s a sharp and well-designed package that has a ton of charm
Disc Drivin’, $1.99 – [Review] – [] – Turn-based racing sounds a little abstract, but Disc Drivin’ is a fantastic time-waster that pairs hardcore flick action with asynchronous play. The Bearded One enjoys this so much, he’s practically physically bonded with it.
Full Deck Word Games, Free – [Review] – [] – If you’re looking for the next Words With Friends, you won’t find that depth of multiplayer here. But as an inexpensive way to entertain yourself while chatting with a friend, Full Deck Word Games will more than do the job.
iBlast Moki, $2.99 – [Review] – [] – iBlast Moki is a fun, high quality physics puzzler with intuitive controls and a full level creation and online sharing system. We highly recommend it, and people still seem to love it.
Red Nova, $0.99 – [Review] – [] – Red Nova actually does quite a few things to set itself apart from the pack. It has an interesting premise, one of the smartest control schemes I’ve seen, Game Center integration for high score bragging rights, and above all else it’s just a blast to play.
Sword of Fargoal, $1.99 – [Review] – [] – But, really, what makes the game so well suited for the iPhone is its casual nature as compared to the typical roguelike. Those who’ve never played a dungeon crawler before might just find themselves drawn in to Sword of Fargoal.
Tilt to Live, $2.99 – [Review] – [] – It is said that the best ideas are often the most simple ones, and there doesn’t seem to be anything quite as simple as the dot. Developers One Man Left seem to agree, as they’ve staked their entire game, Tilt to Live, on the premise of our beloved period; albeit the rapacious, hell-bent variety.
Trainyard, $0.99 – [Review] – [] – This, unsurprisingly, is a game about trains and routing them. And while that premise is simple, don’t let that fool you: this is one of those deceptively complex games with some mind-bending puzzles and a fantastic user-creation element.
Velocispider, $1.99 – [Review] – [] – If you’re anything like us, the thrill of fighting off waves of aquatic-robot monsters with a well armed half-spider, half-velociraptor Araknasaur makes Velocispider an extremely easy buy. Fortunately, it’s also a challenging top-down shooter that’ll keep you scrabbling for a high score.
[]
