In the wake of our grand unveiling of iPad.AppStorm, we’re also shuffling some other things around here to keep the content dynamic. Among these adjustments is the fact that this Game Friday column will now move to a bi-weekly schedule to make room for some more in-depth reviews. So keep an eye out for those, but don’t be dismayed: this new schedule also means we can bring you only the cream of the crop every other Friday, so it’s a win-win scenario.
In the meantime, you’re encouraged to keep sending us email tips and feedback; we love getting them and hope you continue to enjoy Game Fridays! Now with all that out of the way, let’s dive into this week’s selection…
Atari Greatest Hits
Atari’s Greatest Hits
Perhaps the biggest splash on the App Store this week was make by veteran giant, Atari, who has finally come to the iOS platform — and brought 100 of its greatest hits with them!
This collection of games obviously offers a lot of value. Pong comes for free, and you can purchase games within the app in “packs” for $0.99 each, or just buy the full 100 titles for $14.99. Regardless of your choice, you’re looking at hours of nostalgic entertainment. What makes this refresh particularly exciting is the inclusion of Bluetooth multiplayer capabilities for several of the titles (Sky Diver, Tempest, Canyon Bomber, Warlords, etc.)
Unfortunately, the controls have not made the transition with perfect grace for all of the titles, and in some cases the smaller screens make for a frustrating additional layer of challenge. Nevertheless, this is clearly an important gesture and updates will no doubt follow to clean up some of the lingering issues. Besides, what Atari fan can pass up the opportunity to carry an entire arcade in their pocket?
Birzzle
Birzzle
Okay, so we have Angry Birds homages and we have Bejeweled copies, so I guess it was really only a matter of time until someone brought the two together. Luckily, Enfeel Inc. did a fantastic job melding these two inspirations to produce Birzzle: an extremely addictive, beautifully produced, and appealing puzzle game.
As you would expect, the goal is to group like-coloured birds together in the largest possible groups in order to cause them to explode and clear the way. More birds keep falling from the top kind of like in Tetris, and you can move birds around and stack them strategically to prepare combos. There’s an interesting system that turns large groups of birds into “power” birds that explode in more interesting ways, and you’ll eventually encounter items, locked birds and more.
There’s a lot to love in Birzzle, but the most obvious recommendation we can give is simply that it does a great job of capturing and keeping your attention.
Price: $0.99
Developer: Enfeel Inc.
Download: App Store
Spazcon
Spazcon
We all know how much of a struggle it can be to get to the top, so it’s easy to sympathize with Barry, the data entry clerk you play as in Spazcon. Barry’s goal is to become president of the company, and apparently at Spazcon they take the “climbing up” analogy to heart, because in order to reach his goal, Barry must bounce his way up to the top floor of the building.
In each level, there are a number of coffee mugs that you must collect to unlock the next level, and once you have them all, you must make your way to the elevator to progress. This is achieved by drawing lines beneath Barry to help direct him. It all works pretty well, and despite being a little on the easy side as you get started, the delicious retro art and music make it a fun ride.
Keep an eye out for achievements and bonus levels as you go, and expect more levels to appear in this simple title in future updates.
Price: $0.99
Developer: TouchTilt Games
Download: App Store
Mos Speedrun
Mos Speedrun
Still in the retro realm, Physmo gives us an amazing little game called Mos Speedrun. Everything from the glorious chiptunes to the mock-curved edges of the screen make for a thoroughly convincing old-school feeling.
Thankfully, the gameplay supports this production polish, and using either control mode feels comfortable and responsive with a little practice. As you make your way through the side-scrolling levels collecting coins, you’ll find yourself encountering zombies, bees, and other nasties. You’ll also probably die a lot, but it’s not discouraging — especially since the game features a playthrough ghost that can help you avoid making the same mistakes twice.
With the added (and VERY clever, by the way) idea of having secret levels that are accessible by opening the game via QR codes on certain websites, you’ll find yourself engrossed in this game in no time. I know I did.
Cover Orange
Cover Orange
Our last pick of the week is actually not new, but its consistent updates, great design, and fun gameplay make it worth mentioning — especially since it may have flown under your radar.
From the same folks who brought us Beyond Ynth (which we’ve covered previously), comes Cover Orange. In short, your goal is to protect the oranges in each level from the malevolent clouds that pass overhead. In each level, you must arrange the given materials in such a way as to build some sort of roof over the heads of the oranges. If you’re successful, you move on to the next of the game’s 180 levels.
Support for this game has been admirable, with monthly level updates, new Game Center achievements, and more. It’s little wonder that it’s been downloaded more than 2 million times. That many people can’t be too far wrong.
Price: $0.99
Developer: FDG Entertainment
Download: App Store
What Have You Been Playing?
We hope you enjoy this week’s titles. Tell us what’s been keeping your attention in the comments, and we’ll see you back here in two weeks time with the next collection!