Spring is in the air (I know this because there’s a St. Patrick’s Day edition of Angry Birds Seasons out) and that means that all nature’s glories are emerging from the winter gloom: birds, trees, iPad 2s…
If you happen to be enjoying the weather (standing in line) out in the wilderness (beside an Apple Store) and need some extra help distracting yourself from what’s around you, we offer the following collection of excellent titles — careful though, some of these are obscenely addictive!
Hot Springs Story
Hot Springs Story
If ever there was an iOS game that could be accused of being obscenely addictive, it wouldn’t be Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja…it would be Game Dev Story. Everyone who’s played or is currently playing it is nodding right now. See, although it’s odd, has a decidedly Eastern aesthetic, and is essentially about micromanaging a game design company, it manages to be so utterly and effortlessly engrossing that it’s downright challenging to stop playing.
Hot Springs Story takes that same winning formula and applies it to the creation and management of a Japanese hot springs inn, of all things. If you haven’t played Game Dev Story, then first of all go get it and schedule some hours off, but in the meantime you ought to imagine the gameplay as something like a cross between Sim City and an RTS where you place structures and can upgrade their efficiency.
Building the best hot springs spa is no cakewalk, and you’ll find yourself having to be strategic about placing and managing items and people to attract VIP guests. For fans of Kairosoft’s titles, this game has already bought itself. For everyone else, you owe it to yourself to check this out. If you haven’t played Game Dev Story, I’d recommend you start there, but either of these games will keep you very busy and very happily addicted.
Price: $3.99
Developer: Kairosoft Co., Ltd
Download: App Store
Air Supply – 1bit Run
Air Supply – 1bit Run
Forget 8-bit. You want nostalgic lo-fi? Try one bit graphics. This is Air Supply. Joining the ranks of the running genre, Air Supply offers some novelty in its unique presentation. The white (or green, etc) on black graphics are wonderfully retro and give it an arcade feel. Don’t worry though, as animations, music, SFX, and the general polish of the game are all top-notch.
As the title suggests, the reason for your mad dash across the landscape has to do with your diminishing supply of air. As you run, you’ll need to pick up O2 canisters to keep breathing, as well as powerups to help you defeat the enemies you’ll encounter while shooting, jumping, and jogging along.
There are even a number of achievements to encourage you to keep striving for a high score. For its great aesthetic, excellent gameplay polish, and simple fun factor, Air Supply gets our recommendation!
Price: $0.99
Developer: Quantum Sheep
Download: App Store
My Star
My Star
Games of the sim variety on the iPhone have generally revolved around creating a town, or a city, or some manner of environment. My Star offers a departure from this convention in its focus on the development of a single character: a rock star. It’s an interesting twist and you’ll find that the concept has been executed with impressive levels of content quality and quantity.
Playing the game involves collecting accessories with which to adorn your star, as well as decorating his/her room, playing musical instruments to improve their skill, posting virtual posters in real world locations, and playing various mini-games. The game is very socially minded, so you’ll find lots of opportunities to make friends and share your progress in various ways. You can even opt to get emails and text messages from your star.
The free price tag here comes, as always, with the caveat of having many items in the game available as in-app purchases if you’re not patient enough to earn the in-game currency by playing. Either way, My Star is a competent and enjoyable spin on the sim genre that anyone — but particularly music fans — should be into.
Aralon: Sword and Shadow
Aralon: Sword and Shadow HD
Although it’s already becoming less of a novelty to see a large-scale fantasy RPG make its way to the iPhone, every now and again we have to stop and be impressed by just how epic a gaming experience can be had in our mobile phones. Take Aralon: Sword and Shadow for instance.
Not only are the graphics truly stunning, but the 30+ hour quest takes place in a completely 3D world with a day/night cycle, hundreds of items, many complex skills such as fishing, swimming, etc., a pet and henchmen system, 8 types of mounts, 3 playable races, factions, side-quests…all on your phone. The best news is that all this daunting amount of content is well optimized for the system, though you’ll need a 3GS or newer device to run it properly.
Though pricey and quite hefty, Aralon may literally be the most expansive 3D RPG on the platform to date, and the fact that a console-scale title is available on the go for a mobile phone is no doubt going to make a lot of RPG fans very happy.
Price: $9.99
Developer: Crescent Moon Games
Download: App Store
Hunters: Episode 1
Hunters: Episode One
Rounding off this week’s list is an interesting game called Hunters: Episode One, that sits in the turn-based strategy corner and sports some fancy features that set it apart from the pack, not to mention excellent graphics and smooth gameplay.
The game begins on your ship, where you can view your units (mercenaries known as Hunters), equip them, and deal with salvaged loot. The game itself unfolds once you’ve accepted one of the missions from the bridge. Every real world day, you get a replenished set of contracts to play through, and each hour the trade area will be filled with new items. It’s an interesting incentive to keep playing, and for the most part it works. Once you’re playing a level, your turn will consist of moving your mercenaries across the well designed levels and dealing with the enemies you will encounter.
The beginning levels are quite easy, but as you progress you’ll find yourself sorely challenged and needing to be strategic about your equipment upgrades and movement patterns, which is just as it should be. The game is available for free with the limitation that you can only get your team to level two — an in-app purchase removes this cap, though you are not prevented from continuing to play at a low level for as long as you like.
Price: Free
Developer: Rodeo Games
Download: App Store
What Have You Been Playing?
That does it for this week; we hope you enjoy our picks and that you will drop us some comments to let us know what other discoveries you’ve made this week!