As a result of what will always be remembered as the worst release week in the history of the App Store, try as we might we were unable to find a single new game worth playing for you. We’re very sorry.
On the bright side, there’s always the option of resorting to past titles or playing board games. We also recommend knitting if you need to relax.
…Yes, we’re kidding. Happy April Fool’s Day, everyone. Click through to have a look at some truly great new titles that we’ve discovered this week!
No Gravity
No Gravity
If the title of this game sounds familiar, it’s because it’s based on a PSP game. Fans of space shooters like Freelancer should rejoice because No Gravity brings the thrill of space dogfighting to your iPhone in style.
Throughout the 30+ levels, you’ll be using touch or accelerometer controls to pilot a ship and blast baddies using one of 6 weapons. You can choose to flip between first and third person views (I much prefer third person, but it’s a matter of preference), but either way you’ll be treated to some truly gorgeous visuals regardless of your device. The game runs smoothly on the iPhone with retina graphics and features a special “ultra” mode with 2x graphical fidelity for the iPad 2. Needless to say, it’s a real stunner.
There’s nothing too groundbreaking about the story, but the gameplay is solid and space shooters of this kind are so rare that you’ll want to snatch it up anyway.
Price: $2.99
Developer: Realtech VR
Download: App Store
Drop the Chicken
Drop the Chicken
Drop the Chicken enters the fray of puzzle games following in the footsteps of Cut the Rope. The aesthetic is obviously a tribute, and while the premise is less endearing than feeding an adorable monster, Drop the Chicken nevertheless manages to capture a lot of the same addictive gameplay.
Each level requires you to move obstacles and tools in such a way as to ensure that the chicken you’ll be dropping from up top will bounce, slide, and otherwise safely make its way down to the cozy nest below — while collecting as many flies as possible. As one would expect from a game of its type, it’s very easy to pick up and play, and the challenge only really ramps up when you start trying to maintain a three star rating on all levels.
There are a lot of interesting mechanics that come into play as you get to more advanced stages, and the presentation is uniformly excellent, from the crisp graphics to the amazing musical score. There’s a lot to recommend about Drop the Chicken, so have a look and welcome your new addiction.
Price: $0.99
Developer: Sharp Creative Agency
Download: App Store
Death Rally
Death Rally
From the masters at Remedy Entertainment (who brought us the Max Payne series), Death Rally comes tearing up the track in a noisy and unapologetic manner. This is one ballsy game. To call it a racing game doesn’t really do justice to the furious combat-driven action that takes place.
With a huge single-player career mode, you’ll find yourself racing and fighting across all sorts of environments. Your performance will allow you to unlock new cars, upgrade old ones, and outfit them with the kind of weaponry that will allow you to stay ahead of your opponents. Make no mistake, this is not an easy game. This game will kick your ass for a while until you get used to its intensity, and it will keep challenging you from there on in.
For someone after a relaxing time waster, Death Rally is a poor choice. For more serious gamers who want a beautiful, advanced title to show off their iOS device with, Death Rally does a great job. The fact that it’s a challenging, addictive, and long game wrapped in gorgeous visual design make it an easy recommendation.
Price: $4.99
Developer: Remedy Entertainment Ltd
Download: App Store
City of Secrets
City of Secrets
First of all, a disclaimer: I was a huge fan of point-and-click adventure games and I wish they were still popular. That being said, City of Secrets is still one of the most fantastic games to hit the App Store in a long time. Somewhere between the humour of Monkey Island and the quirky artwork of Machinarium, this gem from Aidem Media just screams quality.
The story is more complex than can be described in a paragraph, and in any event it is well worth your time to explore it. Many clever references that break the fourth wall, make fun of the game creators, and otherwise subvert traditional gaming principles are just part of the appeal of this game. It’s almost too smart for its own good. As you navigate through the game’s diverse environments, you’ll find your two protagonists getting into all sorts of unusual situations from which you must extricate them. The graphics are gorgeous, the dialogue is all spoken (by good voice actors), and the atmosphere is perfectly realized.
If I could give one tip, it would be to think outside the box. This game will challenge you to think creatively. And it will amuse you along the way, so it’s an adventure that is hard to resist. The fact that it’s only 99 cents is a steal that you’ll only realize once you get into the game. Grab it before they change their minds!
Price: $0.99
Developer: Aidem Media
Download: App Store
DeathJob
DeathJob
Last up is a running game with a funny premise and some nicely drawn graphics. DeathJob asks you to take on the role of Rip, a “retirement representative” whose responsibility is tracking down and catching caricatures of famous people who are apparently evading death.
The controls are pretty simple: left tap to jump, and right tap to swing your scythe to clear obstacles. At this point, the game could use a bit of polish and refinement, not to mention some expanded content, but it is undeniably an idea that could be developed into something great and we can only hope that the developers, Organic Apps, are willing to put in the effort to get it there.
In the meantime, it’s still an accomplished time waster, and the caricatures you’re chasing are quite amusing.
Price: $0.99
Developer: Organic Apps
Download: App Store
What Have You Been Playing?
We hope you enjoy checking some of these fun games out, and as always we’re eager to hear what you’ve been playing this week, so pop into the comments and let us know.
And, of course, if you’ve got any fun April Fools pranks you want to share as well, we won’t mind!