It’s a blockbuster week, friends! Tons of amazing games out to play on the App Store, and after the jump we’ve put together the highlights — don’t miss the chance to take Max Payne on the go, live as a crow, or experience the latest title from the makers of Game Dev Story …
Max Payne Mobile
Perhaps one of the three most famous and influential shooters of all time, Max Payne brought us bullet time and an incredibly dynamic protagonist. More than a decade after its initial release, Rockstar has brought the game to our iPhones with great care.
Not only is this port a faithful one, but it’s been polished up with HD textures to look its very best on the Retina displays. The touch controls are responsive and customizable, and you’ll find that the cinematic gameplay experience hasn’t been diminished one bit — a relief to fans.
It’s also worth noting that Rockstar has made the price very attractive for what is, in essence, a blockbuster title from last generation. Even cheats are still intact, making it clear that no effort has been spared making this version of the game as authentic as possible. It may even be the definitive one. Don’t miss the opportunity to relive the beginning of the Max Payne saga.
Price: $2.99
Developer: Rockstar Games
Download: App Store
Crow
One of the more anticipated indie titles, Crow has finally made it to the App Store, and it doesn’t disappoint.
Richly story-based, the game puts you in the unusual position of playing as a crow, with the power to curse or save foes. The game is built on a custom engine developed in-house, and while it’s no Unreal, it’s definitely impressive and gives the majesty of flight a suitably exciting feel. With the exception of the fact that it’s over fairly quickly, Crow is a unique and memorable gameplay experience that isn’t afraid to lean heavily on its story — an aspect that many iOS games are too eager to neglect.
It may not be for everyone, but anyone looking for something fresh in the App Store should give Crow a try.
Price: $4.99
Developer: Sunside, Inc.
Download: App Store
Burnout CRASH!
Back in the realm of familiar titles, EA’s famous Burnout franchise has made its way to the App Store with Burnout CRASH!
Not known for its subtlety, the series is about crashing cars and doing so in the most spectacular possible ways. Rather than directly copying the existing games, EA took a risk and adapted Burnout for the touch environment by implementing a mainly swipe-based control scheme and putting the focus on crashes more than on actual driving and racing — depending on how much of a purist you are, this may annoy you or intrigue you.
Either way, the gameplay is solid and the only noticeably lacking element is the fidelity of the physics which, in a game about crashing cars, ought to be more dynamic than this. Still, it’s nothing a good update can’t fix, and there’s nothing like Burnout when it comes to satisfying your road rage.
Price: $4.99
Developer: Electronic Arts
Download: App Store
Epic Astro Story
Can you hear that? It’s the sound of a thousand eager Kairosoft fans rushing to grab the latest piece of interactive drug released by these App Store maestros.
We’re headed to space this time, tasked with managing a colony on a distant world. While the basics are largely the same as you’re used to, Kairosoft has included battles to add a fresh facet to the gameplay, and it makes a tremendous difference, keeping Epic Astro Story from feeling too much like another skin on an old game.
As always, be prepared to be utterly absorbed by this game — it’s addictive, it’s fun, and there’s nothing like managing a space base to get your sci-fi fantasies fulfilled.
Price: $3.99
Developer: Kairosoft Co., Ltd.
Download: App Store
Rogue Ninja
There’s old-school, and then there’s really old-school in the gaming world. Not your average “oh let’s just have some pixel art” kind of retro, but full on crazy difficult, unforgiving, no saves, odd controls kind of full-monty throwback to the earliest days of gaming. Meet Rogue Ninja.
Not for the faint of heart, this game plays like an ancient Zelda title, but offers you no save points and no mercy. Dungeons are procedurally generated, and the aim of the game isn’t so much to cultivate progress over the long term like in modern RPGs. Instead, the focus is more on a play-by-play experience where you earn your way through the dungeon freshly each time you pick up the game.
Clearly this won’t appeal to many folks who have grown up expecting a different definition of gaming, but if you’re aching for a very simple, very streamlined, and challenging new game, then Rogue Ninja is going to make you very happy.
Price: $0.99
Developer: Rogue Ninja
Download: App Store
What Have You Been Playing?
Hopefully there’s something for everyone in there, but if you’ve been playing something else that we completely neglected then please let us know in the comments!