Wintery iPhone Apps Impression

A look at frosty themed applications for iPhone

The snow has, is and will fall so while gamers are snuggled up inside or on the go let’s take a look at a few frosty, winter themed apps for iPhone. While just a small sampling of the numerous games available, these three games and one story take very successful formulas and enhance them with the winter mood. What are the games about, are they worth playing let alone purchasing? Let’s take a look.

ReBounce – The concept is simple, keep the puck/arrow moving while breaking marbles. Use the screen to guide the initial direction of the puck and watch it bounce and bounce again but don’t let it fall or game over. There are four core modes of play including a Tetris like keep the marbles from reaching the top of the screen, challenge with limited boost for your puck and just break things. Power-ups are thrown in with lightning marbles and bombs so the action gets pretty crazy at times. Online leader boards and random levels keep the addictiveness going.

So how is ReBounce … solid. The tutorial is quick and concept easy to follow with a great mixture of challenge. The sounds, well that’s up to the gamer if they want to listen to their iPod tracks or not. The graphics are bright and vivid with solid effects and (in this case) a nice wintery background and winter bubble effects. The leader boards and achievements really get their hooks into gamers looking to get a better score, climb the charts and show off winnings.

So how is ReBounce as a winter game? It’s the same game as the non-winter version. There are skinned items and a new theme which makes the game feel new at times with random levels so for gamers having purchased already it’s a nice bonus but not too much a hook for those to purchase it new. No, the reason to buy ReBounce lies solely in its solid and addictive gameplay. A fun entry in the winter themed games but should not be missed by iPhone owners looking for some quick addictive gameplay.

Angry Birds Seasons – Well known and an outstanding seller, the original Angry Birds offers hours of bright, vivid and humorous gameplay throwing birds and smashing green pigs. In place of a skin or an expansion level the Seasons addition is a new game but totally worth an additional purpose. For Christmas the concept was quite cool with a 25 day countdown to levels where gamers had to wait for the next level. There are golden eggs and all but the waiting is truly the hardest part. The snow based levels add a new level of gaming as snow smashes as no other substance in Angry Birds.

So how is Angry Birds Seasons … amazing. The take on Halloween and Christmas were each unique and it leaves fans to wonder what season is next, what type of levels and twist. The gameplay rocks but when a new take, new features are thrown in it makes gamers happy.

So how is Angry Birds Seasons as a winter game? One of the best and worth the separate purchase.

Hellkid – Same jumping gaming action but with holiday skins and costume options. Running, jumping, hooking is all the same but the new look makes it feel fresh. Multiple levels to clear, global leader boards, achievements and a solid item shop make this more than a throw away game. There is a lot to do with Hellkid even with such a simple gameplay premise.

So how is Hellkid as a winter game? Decent with new skins and clothing options but beyond this not too much to see. Beyond the winter season, well not sure what’s next here.

A Christmas Carol – The classic tale is not a game but an interactive telling of Charles Dickens classic. A great way to introduce the book to the young in the family but also very enjoyable for adults. The work done by PadWorx Digital on creating a new look and feel for the tale is as fresh as any Hollywood reimagining of Dickens work. The pages are beautiful and well detailed with interactive elements, a steampunk style according to the site.

So how is A Christmas Carol as a winter app? Worthy of purchase anytime of the year. The tale comes up around the holidays but is a literary classic. Making reading interactive, more visual and beautiful is a great path which all classics should follow with the new devices available.

Overall this has been just a quick look at three games and one interactive novel which stay in tune with the weather. With Angry Birds Seasons gamers get a whole new experience on a solid formula while ReBounce and Hellkid take their excellent, well selling formulas and makes gamers get into the holiday spirit. A Christmas Carol shows off how to re-create a classic for a new generation of technology and readers. It’s great to be mobile this holiday wintery season.

I-play's Pigeon Squadron Impression

Dropping these bombs is tons of fun on iPhone

Easy to learn, addictive and fun. The secret formula to popular and profit driving games on iPhone. With a very large library of titles to choose from, iPhone owners may need a little guidance on games worth the duckets. I-play’s Pigeon Squadron is safely in this group of games worth said duckets but why? What makes this bird bomb dropping romp worth iPhone owner’s hard earned case? Let’s take a look.

Gameplay – Assume the role of an elite member of the paramilitary pilot pigeon squadron and take flight as its bombs away on people, cars, pets and more. A variety of missions and pigeon types vary gameplay but the core mechanic is dropping pigeon bombs on targets while turning and tiling the iPhone to turn, speed up and slow down. Great use of the motion in iPhone mixes with addictive gameplay that nails the simple and addictive angle of a good game on the go.

Graphics – Bright and vivid in its colors with a fairly flat top down view. The targets vary as do the environments and the cartoony look never gets old through 40+ missions. The visuals match the funny and addictive gameplay.

Miscellaneous – The fact the iPhone is an iPod seems to go over many developers’ heads so the simple ability to use ones music library in-game makes the gameplay move at an even faster pace.

Overall Pigeon Squadron is how a game should be made for iPhone. It’s pleasing to look at with straightforward and well developed controls and the concept is funny and addictive. Plenty of missions and pigeon types keep the game from becoming stale and for the price it’s a great purchase. Highly recommended for iPhone users looking for a fun gaming experience.

Dr. Seuss iPhone Games Impressions

Dr. Seuss on the iPhone has been largely reserved to interactive versions of some of the more beloved titles. While these virtual books are enjoyable and a great distraction for kids they are not the only trick up developer Oceanhouse Media sleeve. In addition to these books there are three games to mention; three games which add to the story or continue the tale. What do these games offer iPhone owners and their kids, let’s take a look.

Grinchmas! – The Grinch, first bad then good, loving Christmas and all its wonderful offerings. For those who see the Grinch a bad this is the game for you. Two play modes are offered in this snowball/present throwing romp. First is Mean Grinch where gamers throw snowballs at houses to quite the noise and second is the Merry Grinch mode where gamers are tasked with throwing like colored presents to the proper colored houses in a certain timeframe.

Both modes carry the same basic controls of using a finger to sling objects, but game concepts, objectives vary enough that they are different experiences. There are also three difficulty settings and a number of challenge modes so this is a game that kids will enjoy but adults will get addicted to when it comes to challenges. The sounds are just south of too annoying and bring to life the world of the Grinch. Recommended for both young and old, nice looking game.

Up with a Fish – The Cat in the Hat, what a great story and the game retains the frantic pace of the book. Gamers must catch various objects; stack them on top of each other, including the family fish. The more items stacked, the better the score. Watch out for Thing 1 and Thing 2 as they’ll smash all the stacked items.

Great use of the iPhone as the main controls have gamers tilting the phone to either side to catch objects and as speed picks up it gets pretty frantic especially when Thing 1 and Thing 2 make an appearance. The background music is ok but gets annoying after a few plays but the look is pure Dr. Seuss in every objects design. Sadly there is only one play mode and not much more. Recommended for the whole family but note the limited gameplay

Lorax Garden – When it comes to a sad yet hopeful ending nothing beats The Lorax. The book ends with just one Truffula tree seed left and this is where the game begins. Gamers need to plant and grow more Truffula trees, flowers and use them to repopulate the land. Pick the color, leaf shape, trunk shape for each tree while watering the plants, pulling weeds and getting rid of insects. It’s a plant growing simulation built around the world of the Lorax.

What a great game. This is The Lorax 2: The Growth as gamers and fans of the book finally get to re-grow the land the Onceler destroyed. Cultivating plants, picking how they look and sharing this with friends via postcard emails are a lot of fun. The art style carries on the heritage of the book while the sounds are soothing and perfect for the settings. The challenge ramps up as gamers move from level to level so this is a pony with many tricks. Recommended for older kids but also parents who love to grow plants.

So there you go, three games built around the works of Dr. Seuss. Up with a Fish is the most basic while Grinchmas! offers a deeper gameplay experience with challenges and it’s capped off with Lorax Garden which can be very addictive with deep gameplay built around re-growing the Lorax forest. Great games, all three, but not for every age, some are for you, some are for me.

Predators and Pro Zombie Soccer on iPhone Impression

The iPhone is very, very relevant in the gaming space with quick and easy downloads at (mostly) reasonable prices. Some games offer deep gameplay while others are gimmicks looking for a quick buck. We are here to take a look at two games from Chillingo to see if they stack up and warrant a purchase. Let us begin …

Pro Zombie Soccer – Sadly this is not a new entry in the Sega Genesis EA Games Mutant League series of games but rather a shooting gallery fest. Swarms of zombies attack, some slow, some fast, some strong, some very disco but all out to kill. Seems a failed soccer prodigy is bitten by his hero, zombiefied, soccer star and must save his friends before he becomes a zombie also. The locations may change but the action remains the same. Gamers must point, kick and destroy every zombie thrown their way in quick gameplay levels full of blood and style. Style; this is what makes Pro Zombie Soccer fun to play, the game looks awesome, bright and vibrant. The gameplay is straight forward enough with special moves thrown in but it’s the art style and story sequences that are a pleasure to watch.

Overall is Pro Zombie Soccer worth a purchase? Yes, if gamers have a gut for blood and comic violence that can get head popping over the top at times. A perfect portable gaming experience with quick and good looking levels it’s a title made (duh!) for the iPhone and better than many point/shoot titles on the phone.

Predators – Based on the movie of the same name, a franchise that’s been sub-par since Predator 2. Take on the role of a young Predator and let the hunt for dangerous humans begin. With simple touch-screen controls and plenty of human prey types to take on the third-person action keeps going for hours. Collect trophies, upgrade tech and climb the leader board. Solid graphics and solid gameplay that makes a gamer wonder why can’t the movie franchise get it right?

Overall Predators plays so similar to Vampire Origins which is a blessing and curse. The smaller screen controls well but fat thumbs can hide onscreen action. The combat is fun, a great bloody time killer with plenty of depth and fun. A good game worth the purchase even if the movie was blah.

To the point, yeah, but these are not million dollar development games, they are fun diversions and this is what mobile, iPhone games are all about. Pro Zombie Soccer is fun, easy to get into and has a great art style while Predators takes the Vampire Origins formula and skins it perfectly for a deep gameplay experience. Both titles are not for kids but both are worth checking out.

Kekkaishi Free Episode Impression

I LOVE free downloads on iTunes from weekly music to free episodes of TV shows. Not only does it give plenty to watch on the go, new content to be exposed too but it also builds an audience, which is the purpose. There is mucho anime on iTunes and one such provider of this content, Viz, has hooked up iTunes owners with a free episode of Kekkaishi. Now can this one episode build an audience … yes and no. Here’s the thing I’ve always said. An anime series needs to capture the viewer with the first disc, the first 4-5 episodes. If a buyers is not hooked after 1-2 hours then no dice folks. The same is true of most TV based series, animated or not. So what about Kekkaishi? Let us delve away …

Yoshimori is a kekkaishi, a human tasked with guarding the barrier which stands between supernatural creatures and their potential, unknowing, human victims. His job is to guard the Karasumori region taking care of these beasties, containing them and then eliminating them. With childhood friend (and rival) Tokine Yukimura it’s up to Yoshimori to protect the barrier as has been done for generations. Balancing his night job with being a full time student is challenging especially when Yoshimori seems to ignore his lessons on both jobs. Night approaches, time to fight.

Yeah, kinda vague description but that’s what you get with one episode. Set to air on Adult Swim, Kekkaishi offers up standard animation and character design with … well can’t really tell what else. The first episode sets the stage for Yoshimori and Tokine, shows off their powers, their heritage, families, rivalries but that’s it. The stage is set but not much beyond the basics is seen. Again the animation is standard, meaning good without looking like poo. It’s a solid looking anime as most would assume an anime looks. The premise holds promise as mystical anime are always enjoyable from Inu-Yasha to Shonen Omniyoji. There is a foolish boy growing into his power thing at play here so if the whole young boy coming into power is your bag, then please check it out.

Overall a great free download that will satisfy anime fans and hopefully create a few converts. If anything else check out Adult Swim for more as it needs more anime and not re-runs of the excellent, dated Cowboy Bebop.

Chaos Rings on iPhone Impression

Square Enix is known best for their excellent RPG work from Dragon Quest to Final Fantasy. These titles are beautifully crafted filled with deep character driven narratives and tons of hours of gameplay. These titles are ambitious and quite complicated with tons of customization and menus for the gamer to tackle. So how do you take these more complicated role-playing features and tone them down for the iPhone without losing the oomph Square Enix is known for? The answer is simple, Chaos Rings. The latest entry from Square Enix on the iPhone offers up deep RPG gameplay with unique characters, engaging combat and an experience that will fulfill the gamer while keeping it simple. Why should gamers care, why should iPhone owners shell out the money for a double digit dollar app? Let’s take a look …

Gameplay – It’s an RPG at its most basic as players guide their duo through random encounters, maze like levels and puzzles and level them up, equip them as needed to move the story along. Stopping short of calling this a beginners RPG but it does simplify everything from battles to the sometimes complicated menu system seen in the genre.

Graphics – Well executed 3D graphics are some of the best seen on the iPhone for an RPG. The game looks great and the in-battle characters look excellent. For seasoned RPG fans Chaos Rings will remind of some of the better PlayStation 2 RPG’s and is easily on par with RPG’s on PSP if not a tad better.

Sound – The soundtrack is well rounded when compared to other Square Enix titles but not as memorable. A great pair of headphones will be required to truly enjoy what Chaos Rings brings.

Design – Characters are gorgeously designed and fall into obvious RPG roles from the sophisticated woman to the jaded hot head. Just look at each character and their personalities shine. The level design is bland but moves the narrative along while the creatures are varied and unique. The control design, menu layout is great for the iPhone as its simplified yet loses none of the charm an RPG should have.

Miscellaneous – It’s an iPhone game and one that could make the jump to other handhelds with a few more tweaks.

Overall, Chaos Rings offers up a very orthodox RPG gaming experience with a level of polish shown by the pedigree that is Square Enix. This is the whole package and offers replay value, quick saves and easy to get in/out gameplay that should be ported up to both PSP and DS at a download, discounted price. One of the better portable RPG’s, funny how taking a simpler approach to design works sometimes.

Scholastic iPhone Apps Impression

Not every iPhone game is mindless fun, quite the contrary. Many games will challenge the gamer to think, solve a puzzle or learn something new. Three such games that hit on different levels are from Scholastic and range from early childhood to more mature, in a clean way, fun. So without waiting let’s take a look at three games from Scholastic and see if they warrant purchase on iPhone …

The 39 Clues Madrigal Maze – In order to join admittance to a very secret global organization, gamers must navigate a series of mazes in ever increasing difficulty with traps, switches and more standing in the way. Quick thinking and deduction is needed as time limits will add to the pressure. The gameplay is simple, fun and very addictive. The later levels will challenge any gamer and it’s an app well worth the purchase. The graphics are top down and simple but it’s the solid gameplay that makes this title shine and worthy of younger kids to adults attention.

Clifford’s Be Big With Words – Spell words, hear them pronounced and see them in action. This is one solid app for kids, even little two year olds who drag and drop the first letter of a word are then presented with a variety of second letters and so forth till a real word is spelled and a painting of that word rendered with the word pronounced. It’s simple and teaches a variety of words and its all build around the popular Clifford franchise so perfect for fans. A solid kid’s app and 100% perfect for parents looking for an educational distraction.

I Spy Spooky Mansion – Puzzle solving, using collected keys to escape and advance in a scary mansion. The mansion has a very Clue feeling as it offers up a spooky atmosphere … yeah; title is spot on with spooky mansion. The core gameplay is moving from static screen to static screen finding clues and keys to open doors, gain access to new areas. Look and feel is decent, pulled from any adolescent scary book featuring a mansion. Overall this adventure is enjoyable but not very re-playable. It fits a larger demographic and younger tweens should enjoy the cranial challenge but older gamers won’t get too much from the experience.

Overall these three apps from Scholastic are a mixed bag. Clifford is great for kids while Madrigal Maze is fun for all. Spooky Mansion is more niche. Three good titles and a variety of audiences so while these apps cannot be recommended to every iPhone owner each has its particular audience and the price points are good.

Chillingo’s iPhone Apps Impression

Portable gaming has changed since the days of the first Game Boy. The current generation of systems continue to evolve from the Nintendo DS XL to the PSPgo but the usual players are not the only players. The iPhone changed everything as it’s much more than just a phone. For many it’s the personal assistant that you just can’t live without and can be customized to no ends with a plethora of Apps. With the simplicity of the iPhone and low cost, mostly, of games are the traditional portable systems in trouble?

Let’s take a look at a few titles from Chillingo that offer up addictive gameplay at this lower cost and see if they help sway the argument to the iPhone.

Vampire Origins – Third person shooting fest features Vincent, a vampire hunter, out for vengeance on the bloodsuckers that killed his bride. Story is really of no consequence and the gameplay is not too shabby if a little short overall. Moving and targeting is easy enough and the game reminds of earlier PlayStation entries. The graphical look also reminds of these titles. Overall it’s not a bad title but a bit too steep for the price. If you love vampires and have extra duckets then take Vampire Origins for a spin.

Angry Birds – Mean green pigs steal the bird’s eggs and they are angry. Yup, that’s the story but the gameplay is major addictive as gamers utilize a variety of bird types to destroy the pigs in their structures and recover their eggs. Birds are launched with a finger controlled, pull back sling shot and while the concept is simple the actual execution is so addictive. Structures get more complicated and there are star rankings to obtain that make this a must have for the gameplay and price.

Guerilla Bob – Framed by his former childhood friend, Bob takes on the role of a mercenary to get his vengeance. Gameplay is straight up like Ikari Warriors and just as addictive. It’s a shooter with colorful enemies and plenty of weapons to choose. Mid-level on price but fun and addictive.

Overall the traditional handhelds are safe for now. While these titles offer up some great gaming fun they are shorter and feel better built for a wait in the doctor’s office than a long airplane ride. Anything over $5 feels too much unless gamers get into the longer RPG titles but with Angry Birds and Guerilla Bob there is nothing to lose and hours of fun to have.