Protect your electronic devices wile traveling.Price: $0.00
Friday, June 17, 2011
Fast Paced Jigsaw Puzzler Puzzle Planet Turns Universal
Jigsaw puzzle solving with Puzzle Planet
148Apps Network Post
148Apps Network Post
Newly available for iPhone and iPod Touch owners comes jigsaw puzzler Puzzle Planet.
Previously available solely on the iPad, Puzzle Planet has now become a Universal app. It’s a quirky jigsaw puzzler that promises attractive images and some intriguing power-ups and souvenirs to encourage players to keep playing. There’s even a loose but cutesy story behind things with alien Nur and his friend Glood exploring the wonders of Planet Earth by solving jigsaw puzzles along the way.
The app is a free app to start with, offering 18 different puzzles. Fans can then pay a small $0.99 fee to unlock one of 8 different puzzle packs which further open up more jigsaws, each corresponding to a different theme such as cities or ancient marvels. These aren’t regular jigsaw puzzles either with fast reactions and skill needed to progress, adding a nice twist on the genre. It looks like it’s going to be a great family game in particular.
Puzzle Planet is out now and it’s an universal app.
Posted in: BlogTagged with: Family, jigsaw, puzzle, Puzzle Planet, Universal App
Ultimate Flint Collection (Our Man Flint / In Like Flint)
There's really been only one rival to James Bond: Derek Flint. That's because of James Coburn's special brand of American cool. He's so cool, in fact, that he doesn't care to save the world. That is, until he's personally threatened. He's a true libertarian, with more gadgets and girls than Bond, but with none of his stress or responsibility. In Our Man Flint (1966), he's totally unflappable as he thwarts mad scientists who control the weather--and an island of pleasure drones. Lee J. Cobb costars as Flint's flustered superior, and Edward Mulhare plays a British nemesis with snob appeal. For fans of Austin Powers, incidentally, the funny-sounding phone comes from the Flint films. However, the best gadget remains the watch that enables Flint to feign death. There's a great Jerry Goldsmith score, too. There was bound to be a Flint sequel, and In Like Flint (1967) delivers the same kind of zany fun as its predecessor. Flint is recruited once again by Lee J. Cobb to be the government's top secret agent, this time to solve a mishap involving the President. Turns out, the Chief Executive has been replaced by an evil duplicate. The new plan for world domination involves feminine aggression, and Flint, with his overpowering charisma, is just the man to turn the hostile forces around. In Like Flint is still over the top, but some of the novelty has worn off, and it doesn't have quite the same edge as the original. Even Jerry Goldsmith's score is a bit more subdued. But the film still has James Coburn and that funny phone. --Bill Desowitz
Price: $19.98
Discover The Dark Side With Titus
Political mini games with a dark twist.
A 3D mini-games collection based around politics might not seem like the most obvious choice for a new game but that didn’t stop French game developers Frogames.
Titus is an agoraphobic watchmaker who decides to achieve his dream of becoming the president of Wealland. The player must help Titus achieve that goal by participating in the campaign mode and progressing through five mini arcade games. Each mini game might feel familiar to fans of such titles but it’s the backdrop of Titus that looks set to make it stand out from the crowd.
It’s a pretty cynical campaign simulator all in all with an Election mode to boot, promising low blows and corruption throughout. The entire atmosphere of the game is sombre and gloomy with some very dark undertones. It all feels a little like something Tim Burton could have conjured up. Even the music feels suitably eerie. Fun is promised too though and an encyclopedia of game tips and character descriptions keeps things interesting.
Titus offers an intriguing mix of game types and it’s available now as an universal app and currently on sale at $1.99.
Posted in: BlogTagged with: $1.99, Frogames, Games, mini games, Politics, Titus
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Hector: Episode 1 HD Review
Hector: Episode 1 is a crude but frequently hilarious adventure game.
148Apps Network Post
148Apps Network Post
Telltale Games are true masters of the point and click adventure. Nearly single handedly, they’ve revitalised the genre and brought it back from the brink of extinction. Monkey Island, Wallace & Gromit, Sam & Max, Back to the Future…they’re all great titles in their own right. Each providing great adventure experiences both on the PC/Mac and on the iPad. Now comes a much, much cruder affair in the form of Hector: Episode 1 – We Negotiate with Terrorists. Think of it as a true antithesis of Wallace & Gromit. It’s not comfortable and sweet, but downright lewd and offensive with plenty of profanities and mature themes. It’s also really quite fun for those wanting a bit more bite to their point and click adventure.
Right from the start, Detective Inspector Hector is in your face as a grumpy and unpleasant pig of a cop. And you know what? It’s pretty entertaining. It makes a great change of pace from what players usually expect of point and click adventure. Fans of British cop dramas like Life on Mars or Hot Fuzz will know a lot of these themes as Hector has clearly been heavily influenced by the likes of Gene Hunt. Much of the language is very British too which might take a bit of adjustment for some. It’s consistently humorous though.
There’s a whole wealth of jokes covering everything from condoms, drug addicts, sex dolls, prostitutes and a heck of a lot of swearing. Pretty much the first puzzle consists of retrieving a paper clip from a vile toilet with a condom and a dismembered foot. This is the kind of experience to expect.
The puzzles are a little convoluted at times with combining items particularly important throughout. Fortunately, a fair amount of hints and tips are available, but old hands at the genre will enjoy the challenge set out here. This is the kind of adventure game that requires players to explore every single nook and cranny on the screen in order to find everything, just like in the old days. Controls aren’t bad with one tap allowing players to look while two interacts with the object but it can cause a few mistakes here and there.
Ultimately though, Hector: Episode 1 – We Negotiate with Terrorists is a pretty fun experience for those after cruder humor than the norm. People of a sensitive disposition should stay clear but those looking for a game with adult jokes will greatly enjoy this. Who could resist a game that requires the player to remove all the pornography in the town so as to appease terrorists for instance? Yup, it’s that twisted.
Posted in: Games, Reviews, iPad Apps and Games, iPad Games, iPhone Apps and GamesTagged with: $6.99, adventure, Hector: Episode 1, Point and Click adventure, Telltale Games, We Negotiate with Terrorists
E3 Gameloft Hands-on: Block Breaker 3 Unlimited
The classic is back, with a fresh coat of paint.
With popular developer, Gameloft, people seem to forget the developer and publisher’s humble first forays onto the iOS platform in the form of Block Breaker Deluxe 2. Nearly three years later, the studio has decided to return their breakout gaming roots, debuting their newest installment in the franchise at E3 2011. However, this time out busting bricks are just the beginning.
Remember the days of early iPhone gaming when everyone was rocking out to Block Breaker’s psychedelic visuals, purely because it was one of the only games on the plaftorm? The game was in heavy rotation on my device, so you can just imagine my glee when during my meeting with Gameloft at E3
, I was handed an iPhone equipped with the previously undisclosed iOS installment of Block Breaker 3 Unlimited. From the word go it is very apparent that the franchise is back and better than ever, with a few much appreciated tweaks.
First off, instead of clearing each room and then waiting to have the screen rebuild the next map, now players actually have to navigate their ball into the next room through a doorway. On the surface this may not seem like that big of a deal, but when there are branching rooms, this could lead to interesting new ways to traverse the title’s one hundred stages. Also lets not forget about the power-ups, because there are going to be many returning favorites, along with a few newbies to mix up the already frantic action.
When you combine these features with a new map editor and eight different gameplay modes to complete each stage in, you can count on this package stealing quite a bit of your time when it launches later this year.
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Posted in: Blog, First Looks, Upcoming
Tagged with: Block Breaker 2, Block Breaker 3 Unlimited, E3, gameloft, hands-on, preview
Tiny Wings: Flying iPhone Fowl Fun
Some people (apparently a great majority) get some wild enjoyment out of firing furious fowls into rudely constructed structures that protect a pile of prig-looking pigs. It’s not just iOS devices, but Android, Palm and other charts are topped with the best-selling physics-based destruction game “Angry Birds”. But we already knew that, so I’m always interested in seeing which new app will surface to the number 2 spot on the mobile gaming charts; and I’ve found a winner: “Tiny Wings”.
Tiny Wings features a bird with a problem: his wings aren’t big enough to fly. Your mission is simple, keep your bird in motion with high-and-long glides over the colorful hills of rolling digital islands. Start slow, sliding down a grassy slope, then let gravity and aerodynamic velocity take it from there.
Tiny WingsThe first thing that caught my attention about Tiny Wings was the artwork. The pastel-watercolor look really works, drawing in the gamer at first glance. From icon to island, this game radiates with attractiveness. And with more than 20 islands and procedural graphics, you’ll get plenty of new and stunning environments to keep you and your flying bird blissfully engaged for quite some time.
The Many Islands of Tiny Wings
Getting AcquaintedYour first introduction to your bird is a menu where he/she sits proudly atop a modest nest. My recommendation: Give the bird a name. It’s infinitely more exciting to call out to your bird in encouragement as it goes gliding along. On second thought, if you’re worried about your peers and/or neighbors retaliating in frustration to the frequent shouts of “Fly Renzo, Fly!”, you might want to leave the bird anonymous… you’re choice.
Waking up to SlideIn principle, the game is simple- slide and glide far and wide. Your only control is a sort of “dive-bomb” move that is activated by touching anywhere on the screen. On your first run, you’ll be guided through the process of hitting the hills at their optimal downward slope to be propelled the furthest as you depart from the opposite incline.
Step-by-Step Instructions For GameplayOnce you’ve got the basics down, you’ll soon notice that the daylight is going fast. In the lower, left-hand corner you’ll see a small daylight clock and your points. Your immediate goal is to collect as many points as possible before the sun goes down, at which point you will fall instantly into a deep sleep (Even if you’re in the middle of an airborne glide).
Points seem to be accrued by the combination of distance traveled, coins collected, longest fever (a sort of super slide), cloud touches (high jumps), and great slides.
The End Of The DayIf you think that sliding, falling and gliding would get repetitive after awhile, then you probably haven’t spent enough time flapping your Tiny Wings. But as fun as it is help Renzo (or whatever your bird responds to) beat the day light and discover new islands, there’s more to Tiny Wings that immediately meets the eye.
You start out with a nest. It’s a small, modest nest, but it keeps your bird warm at night when it’s not shooting through hill and sky. But what does every flightless bird really crave and wish for? A bigger, better nest.
Nest Up!Build up your nest by achieving a number of objectives which you can see by tapping the “Objectives” button on the main menu screen. At the time of this writing there are 30 achievements that you can work through, building up your nest as you go.
List of Current ObjectivesAs your nest grows, a point modifier grows as well. With a higher point modifier, every jump, “fever” and cloud touch gets you more points towards your ultimate high score.
Contentedly Sliding Into the SunsetWith such simple gameplay, stunning visuals, and challenging objectives, Tiny Wings is sure to keep you pressing madly at your iOS device for hours. I love it!
For information, tips and tricks, and more, check out the Tiny Wings online forum at: http://tiny-wings-game.com/.
You have always dreamed of flying - but your wings are tiny. Luckily the world is full of beatiful hills. Use the hills as jumps - slide down, flap your wings and fly! At least for a moment - until this annoying gravity brings you back down to earth. But the next hill is waiting for you already. Watch out for the night and fly as fast as you can.
9
Tiny Wings Reviewed by C. A. Beninati on Jun 13 . You have always dreamed of flying - but your wings are tiny. Luckily the world is full of beatiful hills. Use the hills as jumps - slide down, flap your wings and fly! At least for a moment - until this annoying gravity brings you back down to earth. But the next hill is waiting for you already. Watch out for the night and fly as fast as you can. Rating: 9 out of 10
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