app review: NBA JAM for iPhone

by Bagner Estrada

In today’s online world, very few games cause groups of people to get together and trash talk. Most do their trash talking anonymously over Xbox Live, Skype or the Playstation Network. Back in 1993, NBA JAM caused friends to physically get together and discover new forms of trash talking. “BoomShakaLaka” became a proclamation of victory. No one could have imagined a, nearly, perfect recreation of NBA JAM on a phone. It would have seemed incomprehensible, but 18 years later it has become reality.

The love for NBA JAM is established by the fact that with a simple button press, you can unleash hellacious dunks on your opponents. Once you were on a roll, your player would be “On Fire” and literally torch the basket. The simplicity of NBA JAM is what allows it to seamlessly transfer to the iPhone. You utilize the visual joystick on the left side, and use assigned button presses for shooting, pushing, and turbo. Gesture controls are also offered, as an alternative, that assign the abilities to their own areas that you swipe to. This resurrection, of sorts, for the franchise could have easily been botched, but luckily the love for the game shines.

I would love to state that NBA JAM is a perfect release, but unfortunately there are a few problems worth addressing. The first issue and the biggest of them all: not including any type of multiplayer mode. It is a tremendous mistake for a game whose popularity surged due to its multiplayer. There would have been nothing better, in 2011, to have the ability to unleash a flipping, monster dunk on a friend while waiting for class to start etc. There is also the issue of the controls being too slippery at times, and losing your character off-screen as you attempt to chase down a loose ball or get a block. The ball does not provide any favors, as it’s sometimes hard to see due to its small size. There is also the issue of your cpu-controlled partner who, usually, does not attempt to perform any type of defense.

NBA JAM has never been a dense experience but one that provides a quick distraction. Its simplicity combined with ridiculousness, is what makes it a title to always come back to. It is unfortunate that multiplayer was not added, but hopefully it is added with a future update. If you love basketball or want something lighthearted to play, NBA JAM is worthy of your purchase.

rating: 3.5 stars out of five • price: $4.99 • NBA Jam in the App Store

app review: Braveheart HD for iPad

by Enuh Iglesias

What to do when you’re an uncouth knight who has to bring back the Holy Grail and win the princess within one month, or die?

Well, in Braveheart, that’s precisely your mission. Braveheart HD is an action adventure game that has you primed and ready to do battle against warriors, powerful mages, wild animals, and an assortment of supernatural creatures as you take a perilous journey in search of the Holy Grail. The storyline itself is nothing new, but there is more to the game than meets the eye.

There are two things that make Braveheart HD different from the usual, hack-and-slash-anything-in-sight-that’s-out-to-kill-you fare: extensive character customization and a unique and equally extensive game controls system.

You essentially have two different kinds of weapons to work with – a flail and a crossbow. Gaining loot from successful kills means more money to upgrade your stuff, buy ‘perks’ (special powers and skills), elixirs and more. There are even temporary power-ups that help you out in a level to help you beat the level.

Each level consists of three waves which you must survive before moving on to the next. There are several levels in a particular location. An additional game mode (hunt) lets you play outside of the fixed storyline. In addition, there are three additional game modes in the challenges section which let you play endless mode in different scenarios.

The controls system is also quite extensive. By default, you swing your flail in a circular motion. On the other hand, using the crossbow requires a different set of controls.

You can opt for the sticks control system where you have the d-pad on one side and buttons for controlling which weapon to use on the other side.

On the other hand, there’s also the intuitive controls system which relies largely on gestures. Tapping and holding one position while using another finger to direct and release your arrows allows you to take out enemies from a relatively safer distance. This is particularly useful when taking out mages and wizards who cast spells from a distance and are generally difficult to take on in head-to-head combat because of their speed and elusiveness. In addition, you can also opt to use gestures to move from one point to another.

Character customization is extensive. At the end of each level you earn points which you can use to improve your character’s attributes and skills. In addition, you have numerous options for your weapons, skills and other perks.

The graphics are polished, and animation is fluid. With respect to the locations, the environment is rather static and boredom sets in after several levels in a single location. More creative effort in making the environment an essential part of the game and not just static and secondary to the overall feel of the game would be a major improvement.

In-app purchases for additional gold or permanently increasing the rate of loot drop are tempting if you want to advance quickly in the game in terms of purchasing power. Nonetheless, you can thoroughly enjoy the game without resorting to these.

All in all, the depth of customization, the range of controls, perks and upgrades make Braveheart a compelling buy. It’s accessible enough even for newcomers to these kinds of games yet complex enough for the hardcore gamer to appreciate.

What do you think? Do you want to add Braveheart to your apps collection?

Price: $1.99 • Braveheart HD in the App Store

Infinity Blade iOS primer: five things to love, two not to

Infinity Blade has arrived for iPad and iPhone, and it’s something special. Need a quick primer before you decide whether to take the six dollar plunge? Here are five things to love about the Infinity Blade app, and two that aren’t so great:

- Infinity Blade uses the Unreal Engine 3. Gamers know that’s good news.

- It plays something like a wii game, even on your iPad or iPhone. In other words it feels like you’re actually fighting your enemy, not tapping at him.

- The graphics? Gorgeous. Enough said.

- There’s no shortage of hidden items to farm for.

- Game Center integration is a plus.

And here are the drawbacks:

- As you advance the game doesn’t vary much, it just gets more difficult.

- As a version 1.0 release, it’s still rough around the edges in some ways.

Need to know more? Here’s our full hands-on review. Sold? Here’s the App Store link.

Infinity Blade, the most hyped iPhone-iPad game ever, delivers: review

by Christine Chan

Infinity Blade for iPhone and iPad in the iTunes App Store

Epic Games demoed Infinity Blade back during an Apple keynote and it has become the most hyped game ever to come to iOS, and with good reason. Infinity Blade is hands-down the most beautiful game ever to grace your iDevice’s glass screen.

Infinity Blade utilizes Unreal Engine 3, which is used in games like Borderlands, Gears of War, Lost Odyssey, Mirror’s Edge, and Mass Effect. So seeing this in use on your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad is amazing.

Because of the high graphic requirement, the game is only compatible with iPhone 3GS/4, iPod Touch 3rd and 4th generation, and the iPad.

The game starts off with you witnessing the God King using the Infinity Blade to kill a brave warrior that dared to challenge him. Turns out that was your father, and then you come into play, your character vowing to avenge his death.

Infinity Blade is a gorgeous fighting game with light RPG elements thrown into the mix. You are to advance through the huge castle and face the several “titans” of the God King before you end at the King himself.

Despite the free-roaming demo “Epic Citadel” that demoed the Unreal Engine used in Infinity Blade, you aren’t given that freedom of exploration in this game. Instead, Infinity Blade has you “move around” by tapping on blue halos on the screen. 

When you aren’t battling, your character stands still, though you can look around with your finger. There are hidden items located throughout the castle though, so make sure to look around all the time to find that valuable loot.

Gameplay during battles makes full use of the touch screen controls of Apple’s devices. You swipe the screen to attack and perform combos. The bottom has three buttons: dodge left, block, and dodge right. You can also do a parry against the enemy by swiping in the direction of their attack. Doing parries involves perfect timing though, so it’s a skill to master through time.

Since they’re touch screen controls though, there is always the possibility of the screen not registering where you touch or how you touch the screen. I found myself sometimes attacking when i was trying to dodge or parry when I was trying to attack. For the most part, the controls were good, but sometimes it can be a little off. But this is just a minor annoyance.

The controls are very reminiscent of the motion controls of the Nintendo Wii, so it gives you a realistic feeling of really “attacking” rather than using virtual joysticks and buttons.

The graphics are absolutely gorgeous, and your character appearance reflects all of the items that you currently have equipped. 

There are plenty of items to collect, with a wide variety of swords, shields, magic rings, helmets, and body armors. You’ll find a lot of various items in the treasure chests throughout the castle, but there are plenty of super powerful items to buy in the store.

Battles will yield gold and sometimes items, and you get experience points based on how you fared in the battle. You get bonus points if you use the Super Attack (stuns the enemy), magic spells, kill the enemy quickly, or do tons of damage. 

The total experience will be split between all of your items, which you will eventually “master.” In order to level up your character, you have to have non-mastered items since the experience won’t go to your character if an item is already mastered.

There are plenty of items to collect, so I found the time spent looking for and collecting items and mastering them to be fun when combined with the awesome gameplay.

The game uses Game Center for achievements and leaderboards, where you can compare yourself to friends and worldwide with Total Victories, Level, and Gold Collected. There are plenty of achievements to get, so there’s plenty of reason to keep playing even after you defeat the God King.

There is an option to start over at Bloodline 1 though, with your current level in tact with all your items and gold. This is good if the game is becoming too difficult or you just want to master weaker items (there’s an achievement for mastering 50 items). You can also reset your character if you absolutely must.

The music in this game is pretty good, though you will more than likely be tuning it out due to the intense sound of battle. Your enemies will be screaming, roaring, grunting, and everything in between. The weapons and shields will be clinking and clanging against each other in all their glorious beauty.

The drawback to the game is that it can get a bit repetitive. If you get defeated by an enemy, you can either load at the last checkpoint or start over from the beginning of the castle and go through it all again (good for farming though). 

If you get defeated by the God King, you start a new “bloodline” with another son that somehow has all the items your previous character had, and retains the same level and money. It will probably take you several bloodlines before you can get powerful enough to defeat the God King. 

Unfortunately, the castle is the same, the enemies are mostly the same, and the fights are the same. The only difference is that they get more powerful and tougher to beat. It may get tiresome to some people, but I found it entertaining enough to keep me playing.

I also found the little cutscene in battles after the enemies health drops to a certain point to be annoying. This can interrupt chances for combos, which there are achievements for.

Currently the game feels short once you defeat the King. But fortunately the developers at Epic Games and ChAIR Entertainment have updates coming in the future that will include more levels (dungeons), enemies, collectable items, and multiplayer. So it will only be getting better.

This game may seem a bit pricey with the price tag of $5.99, but trust me, it is worth it. Despite the flaws, it is worth it for the visuals alone, which is something to show off to all your Android friends. The gameplay is still excellent and takes full advantage of the touch screen. The developers clearly knew what they were working with and made it work. Repetitive, but aren’t those puzzle games everyone plays repetitive as well? I’m not really complaining, this is like a better Bejeweled that will have you going “one more battle…”

So what are you waiting for? Grab this baby now!

rating: 4.5 stars out of five • price: $5.99 • App Store link

app review: Geocaching for iPhone

by Bagner Estrada

The Geocaching app is an eye opening iPhone application that unveils a hidden world in your everyday environment. Geocaching is a scavenger like game that involves hidden objects or sign-up logs that you attempt to track down: utilizing hints and coordinates found in the application. It is the perfect application for family events and for getaways with friends to go exploring places you may have never paid attention to.

When you first fire up the app, it allows you the opportunity to choose if you want to find nearby geocaches or track them down by zipcode. Once you choose one, it presents you with a list of caches that you can select and attempt to track down. Be warned that very few will be immediately discoverable and most will be very difficult to find (One cache was under the cap of a gate above a dumpster). The app provides you with a compass (sadly, not very useful) and a gps option that rarely points you in the correct direction.

Even though it is a great app to have on your iPhone it is not the most helpful. Very frequently you will run into dead-ends as none of the gps, compass, or hint options provide any assistance. You may be on the exact spot where the cache is located, but frequently you will have no idea what to actually look for. Sadly, the app is not very kind to newbies who are just starting out, and you may be lost in their language for specific objects or sign-in logs. This app could use polish and be more welcoming those who are just starting out. It would be great if the user could unlock an image of what the cache looks like.

Geocaching is a great outdoor activity that is very addictive besides being fun. It would be great if they could really focus on cleaning up the app, adding features that are more useful to the user and dropping the price from the pricey $9.99 (they do offer a free limited version). I would highly recommend that everyone give it a try, explore another side of your local community and be prepared to be stared at by confused strangers.

rating: 3.5 stars out of five • price: $9.99 • App Store link

Angry Birds the rare app which works as well at 10 inches as at three

Addicts and pop psychologists can debate all day what it is that makes Angry Birds for iPhone and iPad so darned popular, but it’s the fact that it’s so popular on both devices that makes it something of a unique phenomenon. Angry Birds is far from the first game to offer both a three inch and a ten inch version of itself in the App Store. But while Apple’s own apps such as Mail go out of their way to take advantage of the larger real estate on the iPad and conversely to slim things down on the Mail app so they work well within the confines of the iPhone and iPod touch, far too many third party apps are simply the same app on either size screen – and since any singular design is going to work better at one size screen or another, it means that the app will be more suited for either the iPad or the iPhone, and thusly more popular on one or the other. Angry Birds, however, is number one on the App Store charts on both the iPhone and iPad sides of the fence.

So is Angry Birds legitimately different enough on the iPad vs the iPhone to warrant both versions being so popular, or is it just that the phenomenon is so heightened right now that addicts want to play it on any device they can? Different users will have different answers to that question, based on their own experiences with the game. The iPad version currently carrying a price tag five times that of the iPhone version tells you that its developers would certainly like to think so. Regardless of pricing, the overwhelming popularity of both versions says that Angry Birds must work sufficiently well on both sized screens or else there would be nonstop griping from those same iPad and iPhone users who are so addicted to it in the first place.

Black Friday sales for iPhone iPad apps: Scrabble, Toy Story, more

Here’s an extra special post for the holiday! The holiday being Black Friday! Below are some apps that I thought were a great bargain for Black Friday sales. Happy app shopping!

Scrabble – word game addicts, get this before the price goes up! It’s Hasbro’s classic word game right on your iPhone. Play against the computer, your friend next to you, or even your Facebook friends. Add up points and aim to get the triple letters and triple words all across the board. The person with the most points at the end wins! But hurry, this sale won’t last long! You can play the free version as a Facebook app. iPhone/iPod Touch Version (99 cents) | iPad Version ($4.99)

Toy Story Mania – Come one, come all. Step right up and play the Disney-inspired game called Toy Story Mania! Just like the theme park ride, you’re taken to mini-games that are represented by their respective characters. Instead of pulling a string on a cannon, you swipe, shoot, flick, pop, and toss things at targets and gain points. There are 5 mini games which include: Hammin’ Eggs, Buzz Lightyears’ Flying Tossers, Bo Pee’s Baaa-loon Pop, Green Army Men Shoot Camp, and Woody’s Rootin’ Tootin’ Shootin’ Gallery. iPhone/iPod Touch Version (99 cents) | Full Review..

Shrek Forever After – Relive the fairy tale of Shrek! Here’s an adventure game based on the original movie. Shrek heads into the forest to retrieve all the kids birthday presents that Donkey dropped. He gets attacked by Robinhood and his merry men. Punch your way through to reach the next level where Rumpelstiltskin awaits! It’s a face moving game with beautiful graphics. A definite buy for any Shrek fan. Hurry, it’s only 99 cents today so get it soon!
iPad Version (99 cents) | iPhone/iPod Touch Version ($4.99)

Alice in Wonderland – if you’re an Alice fan, this is a must. This adventure puzzle game was inspired by Tim Burton’s film. Help Alice get through various mazes, finding all of her looking-glass friends. Collect shards of mirror pieces and help her get back home. Normally $4.99. iPhone/iPod Touch Version (99 cents) | iPhone/iPod Touch Lite Version (Free)

The Simpsons Arcade – If you enjoy the Simpsons, get this one and help lead Homer to the donuts! He beats up the entire neighbor for them! The game is optimized for the iPhone and iPod Touch, but I really enjoy playing it on the iPad in 2x mode. The graphics look great and the controls are even easier to use. Get it now since it’s on sale for 99 cents! It’s normally $2.99 iPhone/iPod Touch Version ($0.99) | iPhone/iPod Touch Lite Version (Free)

Sketchbook Pro – This is an amazing tool for artists. Keep a sketchbook of all your drawings right on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. It’s a professional-grade paint and drawing app. Plenty of sketching and painting tools, including several brushes, an array of colors, and layers. Normally $7.99, the iPad version is now on sale for 99 cents. iPad Version (99 cents) | iPhone / iPod Touch Version (99 cents) | iPhone / iPod Touch Lite Version (Free)

Navigon – This is one of the best GPS apps to hit the iTunes app store! Doing a little holiday travel? Get directions to your next destination quickly and easily with Navigon. Included are beautiful offline maps, so no need to worry about not having phone signal in a specific location. Select apps are on sale. iPhone Versions: USA ($29.99) | US East Region ($19.99) | US West Region ($19.99) | US Central Region ($19.99)

Ranch Rush 2 – The sequel to the popular time management is finally out! And it’s gone tropical! Sara’s back with a whole new adventure. Help Sara launch a new tropical farming division. Game-Center ready for the iPad. Normally $6.99, it’s on sale for 99 cents today only.
iPad Version (99 cents)

Tetris – Who doesn’t know how to play Tetris? It’s a classic! Geometric pieces drop down and you need to rotate and move them to fit in rows below. Get four rows at once and you got a super powerful Tetis! The updated graphics and colors are beautiful! It’s currently on sale for both the iPhone and iPad at its lowest price ever this weekend. So get it before it’s gone! Apps are normally $2.99 and $7.99 for the iPhone and iPad, respectively.
iPhone Version (99 cents) | iPad Version ($2.99)

Game of Life – Any idea what your future holds? Why not play the Game of Life? Just like the classic board game, but much more fun! Roll the dice and see if you own a house, have a few kids, or have a career change. Earn money as you go. Player with the most wins!
iPhone/iPod Touch Version (99 cents)

Mystic Emporium – Here’s a bewitching time management game for you! You have a little shop, The Mystic Emporium, where you brew potions, sell artifacts and grow pocus berries. As your customers come in — you’ll definitely meet withches, vampries, wizards, and more — give them what they ask for and you’ll be nicely rewarded. Both iPhone and iPad versions are on sale for Black Friday for just 99 cents! They’re both Game-Center ready so compete with your friends for the achievement points. iPhone/iPod Touch Version (99 cents) | iPad Version (99 cents)

Price Check by Amazon – If you’re out shopping already, you may want to use this app to scan products you’re thinking about buying! Scan the barcode of an item and it’ll return you all the prices it’s selling for. Compare and see if you’re getting the best deal. It’s the perfect app for the holiday shopping season! iPhone Version (Free)

app review: UFO on Tape

You are out for a drive with your lovely European girlfriend when a UFO appears in your camera’s viewfinder. Many would remember what occurs in Independence Day, and press the pedal to the metal before the new overlords arrive, but in this game you’re the guy who attempts to keep it in frame for as long as possible. This is a concept that has rarely, if ever, been explored and one that creates an innovative experience.

This is not a dense game, but one in which the accelerometer will be your best friend and enemy. Your iPhone becomes a camera’s viewfinder: a UFO appears over the city skyline, and you must keep it onscreen for as long as possible. While you struggle to keep it in frame with the UFO’s random zips and dives, you must battle the camera’s draining battery and the “encouraging” words from your female companion. The game easily envelops the player in the experience of actually recording a flying saucer, and the way it utilizes the iPhone (hold in a horizontal manner) is brilliance at its finest.

There is not much more to UFO on Tape than what has been discussed, which is its strength and flaw. It is a positive, as it does not attempt to do too much and instead crafts a one of a kind experience. It is a game that you will spend seconds on. There is no variety in the UFO sighting, as there are no different environments, no other stages to complete or other UFOs to track down. It would have been great for the UFO to interact with its environment such as: zapping buildings, abducting people, or interacting with the player. These ideas would have made the player feel more involved.

UFO on Tape utilizes the iPhone to put the player in a one of a kind experience previously seen only in films like Cloverfield. The game is perfect to spend your limited free time on, and one that you will rush to showcase to your friends. I would love for future iterations to visit paranormal phenomena, and establish some sort of video sharing option with your friends. UFO on Tape is not a multi-layered experience, but one that succeeds in what it establishes to do and instantly puts its developer on the map.

review by Bagner Estrada

rating: 3.5 stars out of five • App Store link

app review: Game Dev Story

It is safe to say that many videogame enthusiasts have dreamt about creating their own game, and being the head of their own development company. Who wouldn’t want to be responsible for the next Halo or Angry Birds? Luckily, Game Dev Story has made this dream not only come true, but also reciprocates the idea that it is not “tap A to make millions” easy. Hidden under its 8-bit graphics is a complex game about the search for that million-dollar idea, and how it can all go wrong.

You are only as successful as the people around you. In Game Dev Story, you begin your journey to success by hiring coders, sound engineers, writers, and artists. In RPG fashion, you will be able to build up their stats (Program, Scenario, Graphics, Sound), train them, or fire them for someone more qualified. You can also decide to spend some of your money on advertising, products to boost creativity, fun and energy; work on your own game, or take up contract work.

Game Dev Story supplies you with choices for what platform, genre, type of game, and direction your game will take. Will it be a Simulation-Dating game? Or a Racing-Samurai game? The power is in your hand, but it might ultimately be a failed project. It is great to have so many options, but it does not provide advice as to what ideas to stay away from. You just blindly mash two ideas together and hope for the best. It would have been preferable to observe in what direction the public’s tastes were leaning towards, instead of wasting time on a RPG about movies (The public did not care for my Age of Cinema RPG). It would have also been a treat for the game to deal with the business side of development more: negotiating with other developers, signing indie games, or founding other branches. It is understandable that KairoSoft wanted to keep it simple, but while your team is working, on a game, there is very little for you to do until they are finished.

Game Dev Story is undoubtedly a strong contender for iPhone game of the year. It takes this idea that could have easily been a bore and turned it into an addictive adventure. There have been many games before for this to attempt this experience, but Game Dev Story feels right at home on the iPhone, where you can fund a million dollar game, in seconds, from anywhere. I hope that in next iterations you are able to compete more directly with your friends, and be able to even design your own box art. Game Dev Story is nothing short of impressive.

review by Bagner Estrada

rating: 4.5 stars out of five • App Store Link

app review: Astronut game for iPhone

Iconfactory is the well known developing team of apps like Twitterrific, as well as some gorgeous and addictive games like Frenzic and Ramp Champ. It’s time to add another game to that collection of beauty, simplicity, and challenging, addictive gameplay: Astronut.

Released on Nov 16 at midnight worldwide, Astronut is a free app that gives you a taste with four free levels, with the other 20 being unlocked with a $1.99 in-app purchase. But this is one in-app purchase that is well worth it. Why? Let’s read on to find out.

You are Jacques the Astronut, a Space Scout for the Orbital Outer-Limit Aerospace and Lunar Astronautics space program (OOLALA), and you are on a mission to be explore the universe and become the ultimate hero!

In order to explore the universe, you’re going to have to jump from planet to planet while avoiding hostile life forms and taking the effect of gravity into consideration.

The controls are simple – on the left is a button to “Boost,” which will give you a quick burst from your jetpack. Tap and let go for a quick burst or hold it down for a longer boost. These boosts will also help you kill enemies. Only drawback is that once you use a boost, it will have to recharge, which will take a few moments. So use this sparingly! The button on the right is to Jump, which you’ll be doing quite often.

Now, jumping from planet to planet sounds easy, right? Wrong! There are safe planets and then there are some special planets will hurt you if you stay on them too long. Take for example, the black hole planet that will suck you in after a moment, and fiery planets that will harm you if you stay on them too long. This adds a whole new level of challenge to the game.

Blue shards will be orbiting around some planets, which you need to collect four of in order to get access to the bonus level and the e xtra opportunity to gain points and heart pieces. There are also pink hearts orbiting around, which will let you take another hit from enemies. Shields are also orbiting around some planets, which will protect you from harm and kill enemies for a limited amount of time. But black hole planets will revoke your shield.

Amidst your jumping, you’ll score points for doing ‘hang jumps,’ which is essentially your character floating around in space before landing on another planet. This is only measured when your character is going upwards, not downwards. The higher you go while floating, the more points you’ll get! So these prove to be extremely valuable to calculate your high score.

There’s a bunch of different enemies that you’ll come across in each of the different sectors as well. You can kill them with a boost or the shield power-up that you’ll come across on your journey. If you get in contact with them without either of those, however , it’ll take away one of your three heart points. Lose all three heart points and it’s game over.

The combination of jumping with gravity, weightlessness, and those pesky hostile life forms makes the game challenging but leaves you coming back for more. Astronut is also stunningly beautiful, but what do you expect from those pixel pushers at the Iconfactory?

GameCenter is integrated for achievements and leaderboards, but the game can have local scores and achievements for those that don’t like GameCenter. There’s plenty of achievements to get and the levels are plenty of challenge to keep you busy for days, maybe even weeks or months.

The first four levels are free to give you a taste, but I’m pretty sure that it will leave many craving for more, in which an additional 20 levels can be had for $2. Five more sectors with four levels in each, and each dauntingly harder than the last.

Ast ronut is a beautiful combination of simplicity and challenge, all in one nice little package from the Iconfactory.

Are you still reading? What are you waiting for? Go grab Astronut in the App Store for free and give it a try yourself! It’s well worth the $2.

review by Christine Chan

rating: five stars out of five • price: free • App Store Link

app review: We Doodle for iPad and iPhone

If you love to draw, or doodle, then I have a game for you! It’s Ngmoco’s latest title called “We Doodle.” It’s a a cross between “Pictionary” and “Win, Lose, or Draw” where you take turns drawing out words and have your friends guess what it is.

Login with your Plus+ account and start a new game. Here you have a three game choices. You can play a match with friends (people on your Plus+ friends list), a match with random players, or a live match where you draw and guess with users around the world in real-time.

Click on “Go” to create a new game. At the start of each game, you also have the option of adjusting the game’s settings. You can change the:

• Number of pictures (up to 10)
• Rounds (up to 5)
• Time Limit (4 hours to 7 days)

Once you create a game, you are given a word to draw. Draw the word to the best of your ability. You also have a selection of colors and tools to use in the lower right. Submit your drawings and wait for your friends to guess them. Your friends have 60 seconds to guess each drawing. This is a turn-based game, so you can play at your convenience.

Once your friend(s) make their guesses, it’s your turn to award them points! It’s 3 points for every drawing they get right, and if you reply within 5:30 hours, you get extra bonus points as well.

The points you earn are the amount of coins you get. Collect and save your coins to purchase new backgrounds, stencils, ink colors, pens, brushes, and more! The more your play, the more fun things you can purchase from the Doodle shop.

We Doodle is a freemium app, so you’ll get the ocassional ads. You can remove the ads by going to the “Doodle Bank” and purchasing the upgrade for $4.99. The ads are somewhat bothersome in the iPhone version, but are non-intrusive on the iPad version. Of the two versions, the game is more fun to play on the iPad because of the screen real estate.

Some tips when playing:

• If you want to save the image you drew, take a snapshot of it. You won’t see the full image again after you submit it.
• Be careful not to close the app when taking a snapshot. You will lose your image if it wasn’t submitted yet.
• Useful tools to purchase are the brushes and inks colors. I didn’t find the stencils, pen, spray can very useful in my drawings.
• If you want to earn more XP and coins quickly, play the Live mode (as games are played instantly and coins are awarded right after).
• Turn Doodle Assist off. It tries to connect all of your lines even when you don’t want them to.

Overall, it’s a fun game to play with your friends and I’m sure it’ll bring out your creativity. You might just unlock the hidden artist inside of you!

iPhone/iPod Touch Version (Free) | iPad Version (Free)

Veterans Day bargain iPhone apps

Saluting all of our wonderful and amazing heroes on this Veterans Day! Thank you for keeping our country safe! Here are some bargain apps for you on this honorable day!

Smurfs’ Village – Gargamel invaded the Smurfs’ Village and now they’re all scattered all over the forest! Help them rebuild their village and find one another again! If you enjoy games like We Rule and Farmville on the iPhone/iPad, you’ll love this even more. You have the farming of berries, and the building of houses, mushroom houses, but what makes this game stands apart are the mini-games and quests for each level. Mix some potions with Papa Smurf, bake some goodies with Greedy, unwrap a present from Jokey, and more! The graphics are beautiful and so true to the original smurf cartoons, hitting a soft spot for us Smurf fans. Connect with your Facebook account for even more fun, including gift giving to your friends as well as visiting their Smurf Villages. Best of all, it’s absolutely free! Universal App (Free)

Fruit Ninja – easy to play, but challenging to master! Use your ninja skills and slash fruit as they fling in the air. Don’t let a fruit fall down untouched! Also be careful and watch out for the bombs! Slash as many fruits as you can and climb the leaderboards in Game Center! Fun game and well worth the 99 cents. Also available for the iPad with even more multi-touch fun.
iPhone/iPod Touch Version (99 cents) | iPad Version ($4.99)

Strawberry Shortcake – Celebrate 30 sweet years of Strawberry Shortcake! This app brings me back to my childhood! Help Strawberry Shortcake serve up some delicious smoothies! Sort the fruits and glasses as quickly as you can! Also meet her best friends — Blueberry Muffin, Lemon Meringue, and Orange Blossom! iPhone/iPod Touch Version (99 cents)

Empire Story – Create an Greek/Roman empire based on your wild imagination! Build and decorate it with arenas, Colosseum, temples, and wonders. Use your storm8 account to send gifts and visit your friends’ empires. Achievements will be published to Game Center, and the game is absolutely free. Universal Version (Free)

Geared – a beautifully designed puzzle game where you try to fit gears into place to make them spin like clockwork! With over 150 unique levels, this game is quite challenging and an excellent brain teaser. The iPad version is free for this week only. iPhone/iPod Touch Version (99 cents) | iPhone/iPod Touch Lite (Free) | iPad Version (Free)

Slice It! – Once you slice it, you can’t stop! Slice various shapes to get the same ratio or surface area. You’re given the number of slices to create, and the shape to create it from. Cut and slash and level up! Adorable graphics and animation. New universal version with Game Center. Universal Version (99 cents)

Pocket Frogs – Collect, breed, and discover new species of beautiful frogs! Take your frog out to the pond so it could eat dragonflies in the air. Or enter a frog race to gain more gold or bring home a new frog. Play online or offline. And you can find your friends via Plus+ social gaming network. Lots of new updates in the latest version. New Game Center achievements, Frogdex (index of frogs), and more! Still absolutely free! Universal Version (Free)

Words with Friends – Challenge your friends with a round of everyone’s favorite crossword game! Newtoy’s popular “Words with Friends” game is now available in a free ad-supported iPad version. Grab it now if you own an iPad! iPad Ad Version (Free) | iPad Version ($2.99) | iPhone Version ($2.99) | iPhone Ad Version (Free)

Trade Nations – Start with creating your own small village and turn it into an amazing city! Harvest raw resources like wood and wheat. Trade them in the markets for gold to build more homes and farms. Create jobs for your villagers and turn your village into an efficient and productive city. You can use magic beans to complete jobs more quicker. Expand your village by adding new buildings, creating new jobs, adding decorations, and more! Sign up for a jujuPlay account for the social aspects. Universal App (Free)

Toys R Us – is a smaller version of the Toys R Us Christmas Book. It’s a fun way for your kids to create wishlists of items they want. Tap and drop items into their wishlists. The animation is fun, but the catalog is lacking a lot of products. Hopefully they improve this in the near future. iPad Version (Free)

app review: Humail email app for iPhone and iPod touch

Email. It’s become such a lifeline to our lives that we don’t think much about it anymore. But what if there’s a new way to look at email again? A more ‘emotional’ way? Well, there is, and that’s where Humail comes in.

Humail is a new email client for your iPhone. When it’s launched, the first thing it does is sync your contacts. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sync your email accounts, so you’ll have to add those in manually.

When you view all new emails, you’ll be presented with folders and envelopes to flick through, almost like Cover Flow in iTunes, but in the up and down direction. All of your various email accounts will be separated by a translucent tab that informs you of which email account it is and how many new messages are in there. This interface is also present when you go to view mail accounts separately and the different folders.

The reasoning behind this ‘envelope’ view is to make your email more ‘emotional’ again, kind of like how real mail is. The envelope colors can be different to distinguish from contacts you know and unknown contacts. 

On the envelopes you’ll find some nice details: the date of the email is marked as the ‘postmark stamp’, and if there is a contact photo or logo, it’s placed as the postage stamp. The subject of the email is included next to these two things, and in the middle there is a brief preview of the message itself. Tapping on that message preview will bring you to the actual message.

In this envelope view, you can also filter out messages by contacts, attachments, and unread messages. Select a message by scrolling to it, and there will be some options on the envelope as well: Reply/Forward, Move to folder, and Bookmark. Off to the right will be the trash can to can the message.

The Settings is where you want to go for things like setting how many messages to show at once, the preview, and ask before delete. There’s five envelope designs to choose from to distinguish the unknown contacts from your own contacts. As far as contacts go, you can choose how often the address book in Humail is updated – Weekly, Hourly, or Daily.

This app holds a very interesting concept, but I’m not sure how other users will think of it. After all, you are essentially paying for an email client on the iPhone. 

Personally, I like eye-candy apps, and this is one of them. I’m not sure how much more practical this is to use than the regular iPhone mail app, but it sure is nice to look at. If you don’t go through tons of emails a day, then this could work out better for you. For me and the dozens of emails I get a day, it can slow me down. The personal touch to email is very nice though, if you’re into that. 

The only thing I want to see improvement on is the graphics (not Retina display ready) and speed. I noticed some lag when refreshing my emails in that envelope view. The iPhone may slow down if you are using the app for a while too – I noticed the device animation when going back to the home screen was a little jerky after using Humail for an extended amount of time.

It’s a promising little email client though. If you’re just bored of Mail.app, give Humail a try.

review by Christine Chan

rating: 3.5 stars out of five • App Store link

app review: Cut The Rope

It’s no secret that iPhone app developers are constantly looking to be the next Angry Birds. And they should be; that’s a game that literally cane out of nowhere, with no previous brand recognition, and went on to take a combination of cuteness and addictive gameplay to become a money making machine on the App Store. It’s become as much of a must-have game for any platform as Tetris or Bejeweled. I don’t know if Cut the Rope is the next Angry Birds, but it seems to have all the pieces in place to make the best run at that title as anything to come out on the App Store recently.

The premise of Cut the Rope is fairly simple: You receive a package containing Om Nom, an adorable green monster, and instructions to feed him candy. (No word, however, on whether or not to feed him after midnight or to keep him away from water.). You’re then presented with a series of levels with Om Nom in one place and a piece of candy dangling from a string in another, and your goal is to cut the rope and guide the candy to Om Nom’s waiting mouth.

The game plays like a cross between Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja. You’ll swipe your finger at the rope to cut it and rely on gravity and the candy’s inertia to guide it to Om Nom. Of course, obstacles quickly get introduced, and soon you’re dealing with cutting multiple ropes at once with multitouch, bungee cords, spikes, spiders which climb up the ropes, movable anchor points, and winches to lengthen and shorten the ropes, among other obstacles. Combine that with three stars to collect on the way down to Om Nom’s waiting maw, and Cut the Rope keeps things fresh through 100 levels, even through multiple play throughs. And while that may sound intimidating, the game does a good job of introducing new elements gradually and integrating simple tutorials into the levels where new elements are introduced.

This is all set to a charming presentation, with colorful graphics and playful sound. On Nom is cuter than the angriest bird, and the look of sadness on his face when the candy doesn’t make it to him in one piece is priceless. In fact, it took me a while to determine that the graphics aren’t optimized for the Retina Display – they look good enough that it’s difficult to tell that they’re not. The jaunty background music just adds to the whole package. It would be nice if the game let you ping to zoom to allow you to see all of the larger levels that don’t fit on the iPhone screen, but even those levels aren’t so big that it’s an issue.

The colorful presentation and intuitive controls make the game very kid friendly, as well. My 3 year old keeps coming back to Cut the Rope whenever we hand her one of our phones, and she can even complete some of the earlier levels on her own. Even on the levels she can’t get through, she loves just experimenting with the different

If I had one complaint about Cut the Rope, it’s that there are occasionally too many things going on at one time and the game can have a hard time determining what you mean to do. There’s a very subtle difference, for example, between swiping to cut a rope and swiping to move an anchor point, or a short swipe at a short rope and a tap at a bubble to get it to pop. These misfires aren’t constant, but they can make the difference between Om Nom getting his candy or having to wait a bit for his next meal.

All in all, Cut the Rope is a delightful game, delivering a good amount of challenge, that deserves a spot on your iPhone. With 100 levels, there’s plenty of candy to feed to Om Nom, with the promise of additional content to come. If the devs deliver on that promise, Cut the Rope could, indeed be an Angry Birds killer. Even just in the current state, though, Cut the Rope is a steal at it’s current price of 99 cents and is perfect for anyone who’s finished (or gotten impossibly stuck in) Angry Birds and is looking for the next great challenge.

review by Steve Loopipe

rating: 4.5 stars out of five • 99¢ • App Store link

app review: Shibuya

There are many puzzle games on the App Store, but few can be simple to understand but at the same time challenging. Shibuya, created by NeverCenter, is reminiscent of classics such as Lumines and the king of all puzzle games Tetris; the player is challenged by falling pillars, and enchanted by a beautiful soundtrack that turns the game into an experience.

Shibuya is a simple game to understand: falling empty slots must be filled in with colored pillars before hitting the ground and similar colors must be matched up to create high scoring combos. This all occurs while holding the iPhone in a horizontal manner and tapping on the slots with the most potential. Depending on the difficulty that is chosen, the slot’s speed will increase making your tapping more frenetic.

Shibuya’s strength is in taking established puzzle concepts and adding a new spin to it. Its soundtrack, supplied by Millionyoung, provides a futuristic-techno sound that compliments Shibuya very well. With that said, it would have been a spectacular experience if the music was connected to your actions, such as your combos affecting or changing the beat, or even affecting the look of the field. There were also a few random moments where my touch commands where ignored, and caused me to lose the game.

Shibuya is a solid puzzle game that will have you hooked for hours and which is perfect for quick sessions. It is a easily one of the best iPhone games on the market, and one that encompasses everything that people love puzzle games for. Shibuya includes achievements, Quick Play and Endless modes.

review by Bagner Estrada

rating: 4.5 stars out of five • App Store link

Hot iPhone and iPad apps for October 2010

Looking for this week’s hot games? Look no further, and download away! Below are some hot bargain apps for the week of October 18th, 2010!

Sally’s Salon Luxury Edition – the latest update added new sparkling graphics that makes Sally and her salon really shine! If you’re not familiar with the game, it’s a time management styled game where you get to play Sally who runs a salon. Wash, cut, trim, and color customers hair! Do it in a timely manner, and get awarded with plenty of points! Normally $2.99, now 99 cents. iPhone/iPod Touch Version (99 cents) | iPad Version ($2.99)

We Doodle is like pictionary for the phone! Play with your friends on Plus+ game network, or start a new game with a random player! You’re given 3 words you need to draw. You can skip up to two words. Your opponents gets a few seconds to guess each of the illustrations. If they’re correct, you can award them points! Points earned can be trade for better brushes, stencils, backgrounds, colors, and more! One downside on the iPhone version is the ads that frequently show up when you take turns playing the game. iPhone/iPod Touch Version (Free) | iPad Version (Free)

Instagram is just the latest craze! It’s like Twitter with pictures! Take a photo and apply a filter to it. Upload and share with your friends. App can be configured to post photos to various locations. Followers can comment on your photos, just like twitter! App is absolutely free, and there’s a great community of photographers there. Come join! iPhone Version (Free)

ScrapPad – If your iPad is loaded with all your photos, why not put them all in a digital scrapbook? ScrapPad allows you to make fabulous layouts by dragging and dropping elements. Simply select embellishments, pinch and squeeze to resize, turn to rotate, to your heart’s content. Add in your photos and text to make the perfect personalized scrapbook. Normally $4.99, it’s on sale for 99 cents for a limited time. iPad Version (99 cents)

TED – The TED conference brings remarkable people with inspiring minds to speak. These amazing videos are online and and available to all, but there’s just something special and nice watching it on your iPad. The interface is just beautiful. Tap on a video to read more about it and watch it. Tap on the corner for to watch the video on full screen. An iPhone version is also available. iPad Version (Free) | iPhone/iPod Touch Version (Free)

Trainyard is a fun puzzle game where you draw out tracks to help the trains reach their destination. The first few puzzles are super easy, but wait until you get to the later levels. Simple and easy to play, but hard to master! Try out the free version.
iPhone Version (99 cents) | iPhone Version (Free)

iShred: Guitar + Effects – whether you’re just learning how to play the guitar, or an expert, you’ll greatly enjoy this app! Strum your favorite songs practically anywhere! Create new songs, change your guitar pedals, and record it! Normally $4.99, but on sale for 99 cents today. iPhone Version (99 cents)

app review: Mirror’s Edge

A few weeks back, I reviewed a great game titled Canabalt by Semi Secret Software, which introduced the player to the form of free running i.e. parkour. Not to be outdone, Electronic Arts has decided to bring their critically acclaimed Mirror’s Edge title to the iPhone and introduce some new tricks to the free running genre.

While Canabalt put you in the shoes of an 8-bit sprite, running for his life, attempting to survive as long as possible; Mirror’s Edge is more about getting from point A to point B playing as delivery woman Faith, following a semi-narrative about an Orwellian society, while performing free running maneuvers such as sliding under pipes, jumping rooftops, or running across billboards. The game also pushes the iPhone to achieve an impressive visual style similar to its console big brother. It is worth noting that the game was made specifically for the iPhone 4’s retina display (Review done on iPhone 3g).

As the character of Faith, your mission is to reach the end of each stage while evading the various obstacles in your way. The controls are simple to use: you tap left or right to run in that direction, swipe up to jump, swipe down to slide. Many other swiping controls are revealed which for the most part work great. The biggest negative in this game is that while the swiping controls work, they are not perfect when attempting to achieve multiple evasive maneuvers or attacks; the game suffered from instances where it ignored or did not register certain attacks on enemies or when trying to avoid an obstacle. This ruins the flow that the game attempts to build to as the illusion of free running gets interrupted by these issues. The soundtrack for the game is also very timid when compared to the frenetic Canabalt score, which seemed to build and build as you moved faster and faster.

If you loved Canabalt or want an introduction to the genre: Mirror’s Edge is above and beyond the perfect iPhone game even with its minor issues. It is challenging while introducing game mechanics that have not been seen on the iPhone. Besides the main story, the game includes Speed Run where you can time your runs and then challenge your friends on Facebook. It is definitely exciting to think about the possibilities for the Mirror’s Edge sequel and the ideas that it will sprout in other talented developers. I encourage you to purchase these games that attempt to be different.

review by Bagner Estrada

rating: four stars out of five • App Store link

Top iPhone apps: We City, Angry Birds, Osmos, Sonic, Spore and more

Looking for new apps? Start October off right with some great iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad games and apps at the best lowest prices!

We City – Love the city? Why not build your own city from scratch? From the makers of We Rule and We Farm comes the new We City! Start out by building a school, factory, and a few houses and apartments. Collect money from taxes and selling products to build a convenient store, fast food restaurant, pet store, and much much more. The graphics are gorgeous and music is quite soothing to listen to. Best of all, it’s free! Use your Plus+ account to find your friends and purchase items from their stores! iPhone/iPod Touch Version (Free) | iPad Version (Free)

Super Monkey Ball 2 is a popular hit on the iPhone! Dive into the new 3D world of Super Monkey Ball 2 with your favorite 4 monkeys! If you love this game on other platforms, you’ll love it even more with the iPhone’s accelerometer and touch screen. Have better control as you launch your monkeys off of various ramps and collect bananas. There’s also plenty of mini games to keep you busy, including Monkey Golf, Monkey Target, and Monkey Bowling! This game is jammed-packed! Originally $9.99, this game is on sale fr 99 cents for a limited time.
iPhone/iPod Touch Version (99 cents) | iPad Version ($7.99)

Osmos – You get to play the part of a moving orb, or mote as the game calls it. Your mission is to move around and swallow up orbs smaller than you. Move around by tapping in front and slow down by tapping in back of your orb. It gets really addictive! Normally $2.99, it’s now 99 cents for a limited time. iPhone/iPod Touch Version (99 cents) | iPad Version ($4.99)

Angry Birds – This popular game has been recently updated to include Game Center. Now you can climb up the worldwide leaderboard! Slingshot birds to knock out the pesky pigs! Score big points when you do it in just a few shots. Definitely worth the 99 cents!
iPhone/iPod Touch Version (99 cents) | iPhone/iPod Touch Lite Version (Free) | iPad Version ($4.99)

Sparkles the Game – Your mission is to save Crowberry Woods! The game play is pretty simple. As a row of snake-like orbs enters the screen, tap where you want your orb to land. Match 3 or more orbs to make them disappear! Make several matches in a row to receive powerups. But be careful, don’t let the orbs fall into the abyss! So work quickly! Normally $2.99, but on sale today for 99 cents. There is a free version, so try before you buy!
iPhone/iPod touch (99 cents) | iPhone/iPod Touch Lite Version (Free)

Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2 – Take home the world’s fastest hedgehog and race with him into all sorts of adventures! Run around on loops and spins, and hold on to all your rings! Sonic the hedgehodge is a speedy one, can you handle him? Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2 are both available for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Originally $5.99, they are both on sale for $1.99 for a limited time.
Sonic the HedgeHodge 1 / iPhone ($1.99) | Sonic the HedgeHodge 2 / iPhone ($1.99)

Spore Creatures^TM – Create, explore, and evolve! Create your land creature and explore the big wide open spaces while eating lower lifeforms. As you grow bigger, evolve and gain new abilities! It’s survival of the fittest! This game is an excellent follow-up to the hit Spore Origins. Normally $6.99, it’s now 99 cents for a limited time!
iPhone/iPod touch (99 cents) | iPhone/iPod Touch Lite Version (Free)

PAC-MAN Championship Edition – Think you’re the ultimate Pac-Man fan? Play Pac-man in various modes including Mission, Championship, Challenge, and Online Tournament (using Facebook). Complete each mission and see who is the dot-chomping champion! Normally $2.99, on sale now for 99 cents. iPhone/iPod Touch Version (99 cents)

Glee Karaoke – If you love singing and you’re a Gleek, this app was made especially for you! Sing your favorite Glee song while earning fans and plenty of starburts! Everytime you sing a song, you’ll earn starbursts as a reward. Sing better, follow missions and share your recordings to earn even more starbursts. The latest app updates include a one-time practice for any track before you buy as well as support for iPod Touch 4 users. Normally $2.99, get it for 99 cents. Universal App (99 cents)

Star Wars: Cantina – If you enjoy time management games, as well as Star Wars, you’ll love this one! You get to play the part of galactic adventurer Nia Adea, running your little cantina on Tatooine! Serve drinks to your customers quickly and accurately because they could get a little difficult! Originally $6.99, it’s now only 99 cents.
iPhone / iPod Touch Version (99 cents) | iPad Version ($4.99)

Diptic is a sweet little photography app that lets you combine multiple photos to create new image. Adding and updating the image is really easy. Export to your photo roll or email to your friends. Originally $3.99, now free just today. iPhone / iPod Touch 4 Version (Free)

Bargain iPhone Games

Looking for new iPhone games? Here are a few of this week’s best bargain apps. But hurry, get them soon before the sales are over!

Pocket Frogs – Collect, breed, and discover new species of beautiful frogs! It’s actually quite adorable. Take your frog out to the pond so it could eat dragonflies in the air. The more they eat, the happier they are. On the way, you may find fun virtual gifts on the lilypads! It could more gold coins, potions, stamps, or additional frogs! Play online or offline. And you can find your friends via Plus+ social gaming network. Universal Version (Free)

Mr. Runner – First there was Mr. Space which was a highly addictive, fast-paced game. The object was to place Mr. Space in a safe area before the walls and ceilings could drop on him. Mr. Runner has the same concept, except you’re running and stopping in safe spots before the celling collapses. Very fast-paced as well, and it’s free! iPhone Version (Free)

TwentyFour! – It’s almost time to head back to school! This app would help sharpen your brain for those difficult math problems. You’re given 4 numbers on the screen. You need to place the +, -, *, and/or divide signs between the numbers so they end up equating to 24. It’s quite a challenge! Get as many as you can for a higher score! Normally $1.99, this app is on sale for free this week. iPhone Version (Free)

Shrek Forever After – Based on the original movie, this game is super fun! The game ties the movie together very well. Shrek heads into the forest to retrieve all the kids birthday presents that Donkey dropped. He gets attacked by Robinhood and his merry men. Punch your way through to reach the next level where Rumpelstiltskin awaits! It’s a face moving game with beautiful graphics. A definite buy for any Shrek fan. Hurry, it’s only 99 cents today so get it soon!
iPhone Version (99 cents) | iPad Version ($5.99)

Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck’s Revenge is a story-adventure game about a pirate exploring and island. Walk around and talk to people on the island by selecting various messages. The answers and replies are quite hilarious. The graphics have been remastered and look amazing. Normally $7.99, but on sale for 99 cents just today! iPhone Version (99 cents) | iPhone Lite Version (Free) | iPad Version ($4.99) | iPad Lite Version (Free)

app review: Solipskier

If you have ever wondered, “There must be a game out there that combines an electric guitar soundtrack with skiing” then Solipskier may be the answer. Solipskier is an iPhone game created by MikenGreg Games Co.; a two-person team that showcases creativity without the need of large teams or million dollar budgets.

In Solipskier, the player’s main goal is to have the skier run through as many gates as possible while avoiding cliffs. The skier, though, is not under the control of the player, and instead skis along the path that is made. The more gates you are able to run through, the faster his pace quickens. The game is not just about getting the highest score, but about what happens in between your runs. While on your runs, you can cause the skier to ski and complete tricks in the air (earning bonus points), and achieve a temporary rainbow colored cape (amazing, I know).

Even though the complete Solipskier experience aspires to reach a psychedelic state, it instead just hints at it. It would have been amazing for the game to encourage the use of tricks, utilize the background and engulf it in colors when reaching top speed or achieving tricks. The cape that appears on the skier is unfortunately all you get. The biggest problem with the game is that it was originally made for keyboard and mouse controls. This means that the game was mostly left unchanged from its desktop brethren, and causes one big problem on the iPhone: your finger will cover up an important portion of the right side of the iPhone’s smaller screen. Your finger will unfortunately cover the pop-up messages, which alert you of upcoming gates and jumps, and become a cause for frustration.

Overall, Solipskier is a fun game but one that could be so much greater. The current $2.99 price tag does not give you much beyond the game, Facebook and Twitter updates, highscore chart, and sound options. Even though there are negatives that detract from the experience, Solipskier should be checked out especially at a discounted price.

review by Bagner Estrada

rating: three stars out of five • App Store link

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