Saturday, September 14, 2013

iOS Showcase

When it comes to portable gaming, I don't like saying that games on the iOS are games in the same sense as games like Pokemon or Professor Layton. When it comes to systems I'll sooner grab my 3DS or my PlayStation Portable before I grab my IPod touch. So no, I don't think that phones are going to destroy portable gaming, and that's because developers don't think that people are going to buy phones and Ipods for the games, in the same way you don't watch Nichijou for a complex plot. So that being said, a lot of iOS games then to be a little less then great, but there are quite a few of them that people claim are really great, so let's take a look at a select few titles and see if these games are worth getting freaking board games for.

The first game on our list is the infinite jumping game Doodle Jump. In this game you play as a little green...something that has nothing better to do than jump up on green platforms in order to get as high as he can. The only controls in this game is to tilt the device left and right to move and press the screen to shoot, as jumping is automatic. Now you might be thinking "Why would I have to shoot in a game where I only jump?". Well during little green something's jumping, aliens and monsters attack the little green something because, I dunno, maybe they got sick of attacking Ravenholm or something. So you have to shoot them or you'll get knocked off by so much as touching them. Unless you touch them from up top because that makes you suddenly invincible. You also have to watch out for black holes that swallow you whole, moveable platforms, breakable platforms, exploding platforms, and a few other surprises. There are also different skins that come with the game, changing the look of the game, and even a bit of the gameplay. Overall, Doodle Jump is pretty fun, and an iOS game I recommend, as its cheap and worth the small amount of money you'll pay.

Next is a jumping game in the different sense, Tiny Wings. In this game you play as a tiny bird who is unable to fly. Thankfully the islands he lives around have a ton of hills, and he happens to be the heaviest bird alive, so he can slide down the hills in order to fly. And that's the gameplay as well. You touch the screen and your bird will fall. You let go and he lightens up. The challenge of the game is wondering when you should touch the screen to gain speed, or when to let nature take its course. I'll tell you, its really quite exciting getting a big jump combo and flying high and fast, before the excitement is shot down by you inevitably messing up. On top of having high score boards this game also has achievements which unlock as you complete a list that the game gives you. This game also has a single player race mode, where you play as one of four birds and you must race to the end as fast as possible. These races will really put you to the test, because those other birds can be brutal. This game is also fun and cheap, so if this is your kind of game, its worth picking up.

The next one is already pretty well known, but its Fruit Ninja. This is probably the simplistic game in this showcase. Hit fruit, don't hit bombs. In order to score points in the many different modes you need to try to get combos by hitting fruit in one clean swipe. There are 3 main modes: Classic, Zen, and Arcade. In classic, you try to get as many points as you can, and whenever you miss a fruit, you get a strike, and when you get 3, game over. Bombs will also end the game immediately. There's Zen, where there's no bombs, no power ups, and just fruit, making it a good mode to practice combos in. Then there's my favorite, Arcade, where you have to get as many points possible in a set am mount of time, avoiding bombs which make you lose time, and using crazy power ups to win. Overall, this game is a blast, and its available on other systems as well, so this game is definitely one to give a shot, because on iOS its, well, cheap, as all games here are.

Next is a game by the same developers as Fruit Ninja is an infinite running game called Jetpack Joyride. You play as Barry, a guy who has really nothing better to do than break into a lab, and steal their jetpack. Taping the screen makes Barry rise while letting go makes him drop. You have to use these controls to avoid electric barriers, missiles, and lasers while collecting coins and going as far as possible. This game, like Tiny Wings, has an achievement system that rewards you with coins when you clear a certain amount. This game can be very fast paced and it can get very crazy, but its a good time. The game is available on the iOS and the PlayStation handhelds, so its worth picking up, though its recommended that you get it on iOS as the PlayStation versions cost money, while the iOS version is free, if memory serves.

Now we get to the big ones. Now its Temple Run, an infinite running game where your goal is to escape the treasure guardians by running as fast as humanly possible. You swipe left and right to turn when the game requires it, swipe up to jump, swipe down to slide, and tilt the device to move left and right to get coins. All you have to do is run and last as long as possible. Touching basically anything will probably kill you, but with revives and power ups, its pretty easy to make it through. Then there's the sequel, Temple Run 2, which is much of the same with a few differences. For one, the setting is different. Two, there's new mine cart sections where you tilt left and right not only to collect coins, but to stay on the right path to keep going. Third, there's the gems which you can get while running which can be used for things like revives and things of the sort. I like Temple Run 2 better than 1, but since both are free, its worth giving both a try.

Now there was one other iOS game I wanted to talk about, but after thinking about it, that one will fill up a whole review in it of itself. Plus I have a LOT to say about this particular series and its insane following. I won't say what it is, but I don't think it requires much imagination. But I can get this review out of the way, Candy Crush Saga. Its horrible. A three way matching game that tries to rip you off at every possible turn. Its like Bejeweled if it was owned by EA-OH WAIT.

The Silent Protagonist wanted to play Grand Theft Auto this week, but school still sucks.

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