Curating the best of the new games that show up each week on the App Store gets more and more exciting — and more difficult — with each new hardware release. As developers clamber to push the envelope and carve out new niches for them to thrive in, we do our best to help you stay on top of it all.
Join us after the click to see what’s in store this week!
Battleloot Adventure
The bountiful ocean of RPGs on the App Store is joined by a new title this week, most closely resembling a slightly more whimsical Battle Heart but having a personality all its own.
In the world of Kameloot, your intrepid adventurer will join forces with powerful allies and conquer orcs, monsters and … taxes. All in the hopes of winning the “Grand Gossip Notoriety Prize” from the legendary city you’ve chosen to align yourself with. The story is fluffy and unfolds with a good sense of humour, and the strong turn-based combat keeps things from feeling too superficial as you strategize the best way to make use of your party’s abilities.
There are many quests to complete, and the controls are simple and responsive (except for blocking), allowing you to attack, assist, block and even string together wicked combos that earn you stars — fuel for your mighty special attacks. It’s an exciting title no matter how you look at it, and the superb visuals make it a treat to explore the realm of Kameloot.
Price: $0.99
Developer: Digital Tales
Download: App Store
Chaos Rings II
Although one can’t possibly do justice to a full Square Enix RPG in a couple of paragraphs, it’s worth mentioning that the sequel to their iOS powerhouse, Chaos Rings, has appeared and brought with it a torrent of improvements that elevate it to the very top of the App Store’s role playing options.
Though the price tag may initially put off many buyers, Square has priced the game accordingly and it’s important to note that there is a lot more game in here than you might be used to from the many shallow games that come out more often. Chaos Rings II, like its predecessor, aims to bring a Final Fantasy level of depth and sophistication to the iOS world, and it succeeds in almost every way. The design and art, both visual and audio, are gorgeous and unmistakably Square, the story is engrossing and seriously compelling on a level that few if any other iOS RPGs have reached, and the extensive experience of the creators shines through in the subtleties.
If you wanted to try a truly console-level gaming experience on the go, Chaos Rings II is the way to do it. It won’t compete with Infinity Blade for graphics, but it doesn’t need to. And — bonus — no in-app purchases!
Price: $17.99
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Download: App Store
Infinite Flight
Though it seems like a natural platform for them, flight simulators have been relatively few and far between in the App Store. Rising to compete with the famous X-Plane, Infinite Flight is the newcomer on the block from Flying Development Studios, and it enters the ring with a very strong offering.
Rather than trying to offer a wealth of planes right off the bat, Infinite Flight focuses its efforts more on making sure that each aircraft handles uniquely and represents an accurate simulation of its real-world counterpart. You can fly any of the 5 (so far, more are coming) planes around the San Francisco Bay area as well as Southern California (for a total of 137 airports), and with adjustable time of day and weather settings, you’ll be well equipped to set up a detailed simulation.
The graphics and controls are appropriate and generally quite impressive, and they are unobtrusive enough that you’ve always got a beautiful view of the environment, though there is no doubt room for growth. The developers are very open to feedback and have already promised an update enabling HD graphics for those who want to play the game on their new iPads too.
Price: $4.99
Developer: Flying Development Studio LLC
Download: App Store
Bitter Sam
Bitter Sam is an entertaining and slightly morbid little gem, with a protagonist who is depressed and hanging — by his waist, though the metaphor is dark. He is quickly kidnapped by an evil scientist and forced to explore the caverns below the madman’s lair, collecting crystals to earn his freedom.
The controls are tilt-based and work extremely well, allowing you to manoeuvre Sam precisely through the 100 levels across 5 worlds. There are a number of interesting powerups, including an exploding pig balloon, and it gets increasingly difficult to keep Sam from having his rope cut by tricky environmental hazards.
Surprisingly fun, you’ll find yourself addicted to Bitter Sam quickly if you’re not careful. It’s charming and so well polished, with impeccable animations and very responsive controls, that just-one-more syndrome sets in quickly.
Price: $0.99
Developer: Moon Active
Download: App Store
Kung Fu Rabbit
It’s been a busy month for BulkyPix, as they continue to emerge as one of the finest game publisher/developers in the App Store. Their latest release, developed by CTools Studio, is Kung Fu Rabbit, a deceptively familiar side-scroller that sets itself apart by doing everything right: it’s a perfect example of the genre with a strong visual style and amazing controls.
You’d think that there are only so many ways to go about crafting an on-screen D-Pad control scheme, but CTools has managed to make Kung Fu Rabbit feel incredibly responsive and very organic, without succumbing to any of the imprecision that plagues so many other would-be winners of the side-scrolling universe. The game itself tells the story of a rabbit fighting to save his kidnapped students, and it unfolds adorably, supported by the beautiful art design.
Kung Fu Rabbit doesn’t break much new ground, but it offers a wonderful gaming experience for fans of the genre, and the fact that it’s also AirPlay enabled makes for a great little extension that allows you to appreciate the gorgeous visuals on the big screen. Cinematic side scrolling!
What Have You Been Playing?
That’s all for this week! Join us again in seven days for more App Store gaming goodness, and in the meantime let’s hear about your favourite titles of the week!