Welcome to 2011, everyone!
Now that there’s a desktop Mac App Store it’s tempting to focus only on that, but there have been some cool releases on the good old iOS App Store and we’ve got some of them collected for you below.
Wizard Hex
Wizard Hex
It’s interesting how some of the most entertaining titles on the App Store are the ones based on ancient board games that seem far removed from our fast-paced modern age. Wizard Hex is one such title, taking core gameplay reminiscent of Chinese Checkers and adding extra layers of strategy in the form of elemental powers and stackable pieces.
It won’t take you too long to pick up the game’s basics, but it’s immediately evident that Wizard Hex is a game that offers patient players a wealth of deep strategy. One of its most notable features is the exquisite aesthetic: smooth animations, gorgeously detailed pieces and backdrops, and unobtrusive sound design come together to make a captivating presentation.
The developers are promising large expansions to the gameplay in the form of spells — coming soon in 2011. Anyone who enjoys a good strategy game ought to polish up on the basics in the meantime though, so if that’s you then go grab Wizard Hex and enjoy!
Price: $2.99
Developer: Trouble Brothers, LLC
Download: App Store
Mr Greed
Mr Greed
Mr Greed is the pick-up-and-play selection of the bunch, featuring a refreshing no-frills approach to gameplay that makes it the perfect time waster for short waiting periods or moments of boredom.
The game is a tilt-controlled collection game where you, Mr Greed, have jumped out of an airplane and are trying to collect as many diamonds as possible while you fall. You’ll have to dodge various other falling objects and obstacles as you reach for the diamonds, of course. The controls are responsive but not overly sensitive, which is a good thing in this case, and the pacing is balanced enough that it’s easy to pick up yet also challenging to achieve a high score.
For what it is — a simple, attractive, and easy to pick up and play game — Mr Greed is a great success. It won’t offer you much in the way of depth or intellectual challenge, but it sure does makes waiting rooms more fun.
Price: $0.99
Developer: Gentle Brothers’ Game
Download: App Store
Grimm
Grimm
Grimm is a side-scrolling piece of art that happens to also be a very fun game. Produced by ROBOX Studios, Grimm feels like a pleasant cross between the whimsy of Tim Burton and the macabre darkness of Limbo.
The game’s wonderful premise is that Mother has abandoned her baby at a train station, and you must guide the little carriage through several levels of faux-Victorian era madness to reach the safety of home, all while avoiding the mysterious and creepy Mr. Grimm who’s trying to stop you. Gameplay features a lot of rolling and jumping, but you’ll find a great deal of amusing puzzles that also require you to do things like launch the baby out of the pram as a weapon.
All of this weird awesomeness is wrapped up in a truly spectacular art style featuring mostly monochrome, high contrast, hand-drawn art, smooth animations, and an uncluttered interface. If you have a dark sense of humour or an appreciation for Tim Burton style creations and fun poetry between levels, then Grimm will be the perfect little diversion.
Price: $0.99
Developer: ROBOX Studios
Download: App Store
Zombie & Lawn
Zombie & Lawn
What’s that, more zombies? Yup. Still causing trouble in suburbia? Yup. This time plants aren’t involved though, at least not as the protagonists. Zombie & Lawn is an obvious homage to a certain other title of similar style, except instead of a tower defense setup, you actually control a character and wield a lawnmower against your undead foes.
As Thomas and his people mower, you scoot about the lawn chewing up hordes of zombies and various kinds of plants. The designs are eccentric and sometimes quite amusing, and having to attack them from certain angles and avoid their attacks makes it more challenging that it would seem. There are also two different game modes, one of them described above (the “Day” mode), and the other where you must defend dogs from the zombies for a certain span of time.
There are items to pick up, different stages and backgrounds, huge boss zombies, and different difficulty levels to keep you coming back for more. Despite its obvious references to other games that have explored this territory, Zombie & Lawn manages to refresh the material and bring enough new things to the table to make it worthy and entertaining on its own.
Joan Jade & The Gates of Xibalba
Joan Jade & The Gates of Xibalba
Our final item of the week is a fresh addition to the ever-popular hidden item puzzle genre. Joan Jade & The Gates of Xibalba is a story-driven puzzler with a variety of minigames to break up the object hunting tedium. This proves to be a huge advantage, because you never feel stuck doing the same thing for too long.
The premise of the game is that you are playing as famous archeologist and mother Joan Jade as she struggles to reunite with her children. As with many other games in the genre, the environments and artwork are stunning and display a great sense of style and detail. The various puzzles you will encounter are also well designed, with different ways of testing your mettle.
There’s a lite version if you’re not convinced, but anyone who enjoys rich and rewarding hidden object puzzlers will no doubt enjoy Joan Jade, especially considering it’s one of the few titles of its kind to shake up the formula a bit and introduce some variety in the gameplay.
Price: $3.99
Developer: Alawar Entertainment
Download: App Store
What Have You Been Playing?
What’s been on your list of things to play for the new year? Tell us about any fun discoveries you’ve made in the comments!