Limited time offer: grab the slick City Book app for free on iPhone and iPad
June 06, 2017 by RSS Feed
AirPano City Book, normally priced at $2.99, is currently on offer for free if redeemed through the Apple Store app. The elegant city viewing application is best described as an interactive, photographic composition of selected cities, including but not limited to New York, Paris, Barcelona, Moscow, Rome and Shanghai.
Just like City Book's sibling app Travel Book ($4.49), it offers delicious views and angles on your favorite places in the world, which can be zoomed, panned and also experienced in a virtual reality mode. Moreover, each city accommodates a nicely presented City Guide comprising conventional tips on food and culture as well as more unorthodox talking points such as urban legends, lifehacks and more.
The free offer remains valid on the Apple Store app all the way through July 15. To obtain and redeem your voucher code, pop open the app and scroll down the Discover tab until you cross the green poster advertising it. From there, simply follow the instructions to redeem the free app on your App Store.
Source link: http://www.idownloadblog.com/2017/06/06/airpano-citybook-ios-free/
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Unravel the Secrets of Sacred Geometry in Monument Valley 2
June 06, 2017 by RSS Feed
Monument Valley 2 ($4.99) by ustwo Games Ltd is the sequel to the critically-acclaimed puzzle game that launched in 2014, and served as inspiration to many other Escheresque-like titles on the App Store. If you enjoyed the original, or just love a calming puzzle game that is more about the overall experience, then Monument Valley 2 is one that you should definitely not miss.
Even though I’ve gone through hundreds, maybe even thousands of iOS games since 2008 and my time here at AppAdvice, very few have have left long-lasting impressions on me. I consider myself to be a heavy gamer usually, though I still love to just unwind with a good puzzle game. One of those amazing games that are incredibly memorable and one that I recommend to everyone is Monument Valley — even though the game was fairly short compared to other puzzle games and wasn’t too difficult, it was the experience that made it great. I completed the core game of the original Monument Valley, and even bought all of the additional DLC levels through in-app purchases as they were released. But I still yearned for more, even after the developers said the “Forgotten Shores” expansion was the last content that Monument Valley would be receiving. Lo-and-behold everyone’s surprise, including mine, when Monument Valley 2’s worldwide premiere was revealed during the WWDC 2017 keynote yesterday. Needless to say, I bought Monument Valley 2 in a heartbeat and found myself once again immersed in a beautiful and artistic world.
App Feels Like
Monument Valley
ustwo Games Ltd
Even though I’ve gone through hundreds, maybe even thousands of iOS games since 2008 and my time here at AppAdvice, very few have have left long-lasting impressions on me. I consider myself to be a heavy gamer usually, though I still love to just unwind with a good puzzle game. One of those amazing games that are incredibly memorable and one that I recommend to everyone is Monument Valley — even though the game was fairly short compared to other puzzle games and wasn’t too difficult, it was the experience that made it great. I completed the core game of the original Monument Valley, and even bought all of the additional DLC levels through in-app purchases as they were released. But I still yearned for more, even after the developers said the “Forgotten Shores” expansion was the last content that Monument Valley would be receiving. Lo-and-behold everyone’s surprise, including mine, when Monument Valley 2’s worldwide premiere was revealed during the WWDC 2017 keynote yesterday. Needless to say, I bought Monument Valley 2 in a heartbeat and found myself once again immersed in a beautiful and artistic world.
Visually, Monument Valley 2 is just as gorgeous and stunning as the original, but is amazingly even more polished, something that I didn’t think was possible after the first game. Once again, the world of Sacred Geometry is rendered exquisitely in 3-D, complete with the tricky, mind-blowing optical illusions that the original game was known for. While the first game had more soft and pastel hues with some darker, gloomier colors, I felt that Monument Valley 2 features a bolder and richer color palette right from the get-go. I’ve been especially loving the rich purple shades in some levels, and the colorful stages feel bright and cheery. Like the original game, Monument Valley 2 has a soothing melody playing the entire time you’re playing, which is incredibly immersive. It adds to the overall experience, and it’s definitely recommended to play this game with the sound always on — otherwise, you’re missing out! Once again, ustwo has knocked it out of the park in terms of visual and audio design with Monument Valley 2, but that’s to be expected.
Surprisingly (at least to me), Monument Valley 2 is a standalone adventure with a separate story, so you do not even need to play the first game (though you should anyway) to enjoy Monument Valley 2. In this follow-up, players will unravel the story of Ro as she teaches her daughter about the mysteries of the valley. Like the original, players will have to solve a series of puzzles in linear fashion to progress in the game, and secrets and even some familiar faces will begin to surface.
While the core of the puzzles remains the same (interact with the architecture and discover illusionary pathways), I felt that these individual stages felt a bit lengthier and a tad trickier than the stages in the original. Also, the gameplay works a bit differently since some stages require you to control both Ro and her daughter, so you are controlling two characters instead of just one. Sometimes Ro and her daughter will be together, and other times they’ll be separated, and it’s up to you to figure out how to reunite them — the daughter cannot move on her own, and will follow Ro’s lead if able. This new gameplay element adds an entirely new layer of depth to an already fantastic puzzle experience, and makes it more challenging than the first.
Controls in Monument Valley 2 are simple and intuitive. To move Ro, just tap on the spot you want her to move to. If she is unable to reach that point, you’ll know because she won’t move. When the architecture in the stage appears to have handles or some noticeable pegs sticking out, then that means that you can interact with these objects by dragging on them. The game does not penalize you for making mistakes, so you can take your time and play Monument Valley 2 at your own pace. While some puzzles are a bit more stimulating than others, everything can be solved through trial-and-error. There are seamless transitions between each part of a stage, and at the end, there are new light beams that allow players to draw kaleidoscope-like shapes with their finger. The moment you lift your finger from the screen, the shape gets saved and will appear around the thumbnail for that stage on the level selection screen. The light shapes are cosmetic and just add a personal touch to the game.
Overall, Monument Valley 2 is a stunning and worthy sequel to the original critically-acclaimed puzzle game. This follow-up has even more breathtaking graphics, an immersive and captivating soundtrack that is also soothing, and simple controls that anyone can understand. The new gameplay mechanics of controlling two characters instead of one is a refreshing change and welcome addition to the series, and the light beams that allow you to draw custom shapes at the end is a great way to add some personalization to the game.
Like the first game, the puzzles themselves are not overly difficult, which may be a letdown for those who prefer a bigger challenge. The game is also still short, as all of the stages can be completed within a few hours if you don't stop. And even though it adds in some new gameplay elements, at the core, this is still just another Monument Valley.
I bought Monument Valley 2 yesterday as soon as I noticed that it was on the App Store during the WWDC keynote, and I have had a hard time putting it down once I get started. I have gone through about eight levels so far, so I’m not sure how many total stages there are, but I’m loving the added mechanic of controlling two characters to solve the puzzles. The visuals are breathtaking like the original, but with much more vibrant tones. The soundtrack is engrossing and adds to the experience, and the controls are easy enough for anyone. The original Monument Valley was a monumental experience for me, and this sequel only reinforces that.
I highly recommend Monument Valley 2 if you were a fan of the original or just want a relaxing and compelling puzzle experience. You can find Monument Valley 2 on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $4.99.
8.9
OVERALL
Graphics 10
Sound/Music 10
Game Controls 9
Gameplay 8.5
Replayability 7
Monument Valley 2
ustwo Games Ltd
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
Unfolding A Colorful And Challenging Sequel In Kami 2
June 06, 2017 by RSS Feed
The original game first launched back in 2013, and now there’s a brand new sequel. Kami 2 doesn’t go about reinventing the wheel and instead focuses on delivering more of the great puzzle mechanic. With that said, there are a couple of changes beginning with a new triangular tile layout which allows for more complex challenges in the placement of the alternating colored regions. The sequel also introduces a level editor, which allows you to create levels as well as access tons of user generated levels including daily puzzles.
Game Plays Like
KAMI
State of Play Games Ltd
Flud.
Appsolute Games LLC
Kami 2 is the sequel to the wildly popular original by the same name. It delivers a zen like setting, which is juxtaposed against challenging, and sometime frustrating puzzles. It all comes down to figuring out the right order of operations to transform each color section one by one. The sequel also introduces a level editor that connects to user generated levels and daily challenges.
Kami 2 excels by continuing the style of the original allowing you to sit back and contemplate each puzzle. There's a great mix of Zen relaxation with perplexing brain teasers as you try to figure out the right sequence of color tapping. It all comes down to making larger and larger sections of the same color and trying to pick up as many smaller colored sections as possible with each tap. Like any puzzle, it's great to see the solution come together, but that's even truer in Kami as you get to witness each triangular tile flip to a new color that radiates outwards from where you tap. There are 100 precisely crafted levels to play through, and then you have a potentially near infinite number of levels to play with the user created content. Just the first batch of levels shows great creativity in the user-generated challenges, and it's thanks to the effortless level creator that lets you draw the colored sections you would like.
It would be nice to see a little more ingenuity in Kami 2, as it feels more like a level pack update than a true sequel. The challenge has definitely increased, but it's mostly the same game. The main problem with the sequel is the actual level structure. You unlock six levels at a time, but you can't unlock the next level pack, unless you solve all six previous puzzles. To make matters worse, you can only complete a level if you solve it in the set number of moves. You're restricted from making an extra move to simply solve a puzzle. There is a hint system, but it's tied to the free to play structure, so you can only get additional hints by buying them. The game would benefit from a video ad system to unlock hints. As it stands, if you can't figure out a level, and if you don't want to buy a hint, you literally can't progress through the game.
Kami 2 delivers a refined puzzle experience with a brilliant mechanic within a beautiful package making it well worth picking up.
4.3
OVERALL
Design 5
Duration 4
Gameplay 4
KAMI 2
State of Play Games
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
Test Your Puzzle Solving Skills in Stolen Thunder
June 06, 2017 by RSS Feed
Stolen Thunder ($0.99) by Jason Nowak is an action puzzle game that is both stylish and challenging. If you liked games such as Ticket to Earth and Tavern Guardians, then you will enjoy what Stolen Thunder brings to the table.
The world is a rough place, especially these days, and sometimes all you need to take your mind off of things is a good little game on your iPhone. These are the moments where you can sit down and take a breather and forget about reality for a while, even if it’s just for a few minutes. When I’m stressed, I love to just kick back with a puzzle game, and even though I feel like I’ve gone through all of what the App Store has to offer, I’m always keeping my eyes peeled for new ones. When I saw Stolen Thunder on the App Store, it was one I did not want to miss, and for good reason.
App Feels Like
Ticket to Earth
Robot Circus Pty Ltd
Tavern Guardians
WOMBO COMBO GAMES INC.
Visually speaking, Stolen Thunder has a super unique aesthetic that’s definitely eye-catching, to say the least. The game features a minimalistic design with the basic geometric shapes and lines, and the typography is a tad cryptic, which is done purposely to make you think of a futuristic space world that could be filled with aliens (at least that’s what it did for me). There’s also a rather dark background that consists of black mixed with shades of green and purple that will make you think of intergalactic settings, and the other objects that you’ll encounter (keys, enemies, hazards, etc.) are brightly colored with neon hues that provide excellent contrast with the dusky backdrop. Overall, Stolen Thunder’s futuristic graphics have a retro touch to them, as I definitely am reminded of games from the ‘80s, such as Tempest. Stolen Thunder also has an ambient and atmospheric soundtrack that is delightful to listen to, and the sound effects are a nice touch. By the end of the day, Stolen Thunder is a great example of good simple and clean visual and audio design in a mobile game.
Right now, Stolen Thunder features 12 unique challenges for players. While this does not seem like a lot of value for your money at first, there’s actually a good amount of replay value involved. Since the game ramps up the difficulty gradually as you go, it takes time and practice to fully master the game and get the best times possible. This is the kind of game that you will want to go back to until you’ve completed and collected everything, and even finish the stages faster, so it’s great for those who like to challenge themselves while also being perfectionists. Even if you’re not one of those types of people, the game still provides some good entertainment for the launch price. The main goal in Stolen Thunder is to navigate your triangle through a labyrinth of connected pathways in order to get it to the glowing gate at the end, while collecting the three hexagons scattered on each level and avoiding obstacles as best as you can.
Controls in Stolen Thunder are simple enough and allow the player to play the game entirely with just one hand. To move your triangle ship character, just swipe in the direction that you want to go in. The front tip of your triangle is where your thunder weapon is, and to use it, just tap on the screen to strike whatever is in front of you. Sometimes you will need to do a bit of repositioning to get the triangle to face your target, since if you bounce back from hitting a wall, you revert back to that original direction you were facing. If you want to move faster, just swipe-and-hold to continuously move. You can’t fall off of the path since the game just pushes you back on platforms, so at least you can’t die by falling off, though there’s plenty of other ways to die in this game.
As I mentioned earlier, the goal of Stolen Thunder is to reach the end gate while collecting the mint green hexagons and avoiding hazards and enemies. Enemies will be fairly obvious in appearance (hot pink with a yellow “x”), so strike them down before you encroach on them, because you lose a life (the upside down caret ^ objects) if you run into them, or other obstacles like fire and lightning. There are also yellow walls that you need to break with your lightning strike, as well as switches that may need to be toggled before you can cross. There are also bright yellow keys that open locked gates, which usually hold a shiny hexagon behind them. If you lose a life, you can refill your gauge by finding lonely carets along the pathways, but don’t think that you’re invincible.
You’ll also find other things as you get further along, such as cloning machines, so you’ll have to work as a team and switch freely to solve the puzzles. The map can also be zoomed out so you can clearly see where you need to go. Other levels may be continuously moving in a direction, so you have to think and act quickly to survive, because you’ll die instantly if you fall behind.
The graphics in this game are unique, since they're both futuristic but with a retro touch as well. The ambient music is soothing so it helps you focus on the puzzles that are laid out in front of you. While there are only 12 levels, they ramp up in difficulty and you'll want to replay them to get all of the orbs and even beat your previous time. Controls are simple enough to allow the player to play with just one hand, making it a great game to play while waiting around.
The responsiveness of the controls could be tweaked a bit to be better streamlined, as I had a few misguided swipes that made me go in the wrong direction. There should also be more levels, because 12 may not seem like a lot to some people, especially for a paid game.
I’ve only started playing Stolen Thunder this morning but so far I love the experience. The retro-yet-modern graphics are nice eye candy, the music is soothing, and the controls are simple and intuitive, though sometimes the responsiveness can be a bit off (detects wrong direction when I swipe). The provided levels are definitely challenging, though I still would prefer more stages added in the future. Regardless, Stolen Thunder is still a good action puzzle game for your iOS device, and it’s pay-once-play-forever, which is nice to see in the days of freemium.
I recommend Stolen Thunder if you’re a fan of puzzle games with a bit of action in them. You can find Stolen Thunder on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for $0.99 for a limited time. There are no in-app purchases.
8.0
OVERALL
Gameplay 8
Design 8
Duration 8
Stolen Thunder - A Unique Action Puzzle Adventure
Jason Nowak
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
Watch Civilization Grow in the Puzzling Level 24
June 06, 2017 by RSS Feed
Level 24 ($0.99) by Super Mad Games is a puzzle game about growing civilization from rags to riches, and it’s rather addictive. If you enjoyed games like Triple Town, Topsoil, and even Threes, then you will love what Level 24 has to offer.
When I’m under a lot of stress, I like to take a breather and sit down with some relaxing puzzle games on my iPhone. For me, it’s simply the best way for me to take my mind off of reality for a while and just chill out, while stimulating my brain at the same time. I’ve gone through a ton of puzzle games on the App Store, especially during my time here at AppAdvice, but I can’t help it — I’m always on the lookout for new ones to keep me busy. When I saw Level 24 on the App Store, I knew that I had to have it, and I’m definitely not let down.
Game Plays Like
Triple Town - Fun & addictive puzzle matching game
Spry Fox LLC
Topsoil
Nico Prins
Threes!
Sirvo LLC
Threes! Free
Sirvo LLC
Visually, Level 24 has a unique low-poly, cel shaded style that is both quirky and charming. While the game is rendered mostly in 2-D, there is a bit of shading detailing that makes each individual tile pop with depth. Since the game is about watching civilization evolve and grow, the tiles represent chunks of Earth, so you get to see the layers of crust on each square, as well as a type of building or object from various time period on top. The colors of the tile also give you a good sign of what era you’re dealing with, and it’s fun to watch everything come together and become modern as you play. The color palette in Level 24 ranges from muted earth tones (of course) to bold and vibrant hues, and there are even some nice particle effects as you transition from game to menu and leaderboards. The heroes that you can collect and earn are great representations of their real life counterparts, and serve as a symbol for their time. Animations are smooth and fluid with no lag on my iPhone 7, and there is a whimsical soundtrack and bubbly sound effects that are downright delightful. Overall, Level 24 is a fantastic package in terms of visual and audio design for a puzzle game.
There is only one game mode in Level 24, but honestly that’s all you need with a simple puzzle game such as this one. The main goal of the game is to tap and match the tiles on the board until you get to level 24 (hence the name), which is the ultimate future living of the human race — living in space. However, getting to the destination is harder than you think, and the game is all about the journey there. It’s a puzzle game that is a high score chaser, similar to Threes, but the heroes that you unlock give you nice bonuses during play, so you’ll want to strive to get them all.
The controls in Level 24 are simple enough. Each game consists of a board that’s full of tiles. A number badge in the corner of each square represents the level of the tiles in that cluster. Your goal is to tap on the groups of tiles that have at least two squares in them to condense them down into one tile that becomes a higher tier. The main destination is to eventually get a tile that is level 24, but that’s harder said than done. If you are unable to make any more matches, then the round is over and your score is tallied up with bonuses from applicable heroes.
While the game seems easy, there’s a lot of planning involved, and you want to strategically tap on the right point of a cluster so that it falls downward in a good spot for further matching. If you get stuck, there are also power-up items that you can use (though limited in supply), which include shuffling the board, undo, and detonating a single block. While you can get more power-ups by completing missions, some heroes will grant you bonus items, which can prove to be advantageous. Heroes range from Ghandi to Confucius and Marilyn Monroe to Steve Jobs. Each character has unique abilities that affect the game, and they’re unlocked by meeting certain achievements, so you’ll want to keep playing if you are a completionist and need everything. Up to three heroes can be equipped before starting each round.
For those who are competitive, Level 24 also has a daily tournament mode where you can compete with players all over the world for the best score. To accomplish this, you’ll need good heroes on your team and this will take some time, so there is plenty of replay value involved.
Level 24 offers up fresh new puzzle gameplay that anyone can pick up and learn, and it's rather relaxing and stimulating at the same time. The graphics are cute and stylish, and the music is fun to listen to along with the bubbly sound effects. While the game's description did mention swipe controls, it's more like taps, which is more intuitive and the use of 3-D Touch to destroy tiles with bombs is great. Level 24 has a lot of replay value since you have a ton of heroes to collect and global leaderboards each day.
The gameplay, while addictive and fun, does get a tad repetitive since there is only one game mode. There should be more modes added in the future, such as a puzzle mode where you have to complete a board in only a certain number of turns, or an endless mode even.
I’ve only downloaded Level 24 this morning, but I’m finding it to be pretty hard to put down. I’m in love with the unique visual style and the sounds, and the heroes are nicely detailed to remain true to their counterparts. The gameplay is easy to learn but hard to master, and while things may get a tad repetitive, it’s still a good time sink when you have some downtime throughout the day.
I recommend giving Level 24 a try if you’re a fan of puzzles and want something refreshing. You can find Level 24 on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $0.99. There is also an iMessage sticker pack.
8.0
OVERALL
Design 9
Gameplay 8
Duration 7
Level 24
Super Mad Games
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
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