"If there is an app for that"

Master the Bow and Arrow in Vikings: an Archer’s Journey

November 08, 2016 by macjeff

Vikings: an Archer's Journey ($2.99) by Pinpin Team is an endless runner that brings archery into the mix. If you enjoyed other minimalistic infinite runner games like Alto’s Adventure and the like, but want to feel like an awesome archer at the same time, then Vikings: an Archer’s Journey is the game for you. It’s pretty much what Temple Run: Brave should have been.

When the App Store first came out in 2008, I remember endless runner games being all the rage back then, but they’ve slowly dissipated over the years. And even though we’ve had a saturation of these games over time, there have only been a few standout ones, such as Canabalt, Temple Run, Ski Safari, and Alto’s Adventure, to name a few. But most of these still just had one core game mechanic in it, which was to just jump and avoid obstacles, and let’s face it — that can still get a bit boring after a while. But what about when an endless runner combines the precise art of archery? Well, that’s what Vikings is, and I was instantly drawn to it. Over the past few years, I’ve developed a liking for archery (thanks to certain movies and games), though I never tried it in real life yet, so naturally, I had to try Vikings myself. Needless to say, if you’re into runners, vikings, Norse mythology, and archery, then you’re in for a treat with this game.

Visually speaking, Vikings is a stunningly gorgeous game. It has a minimalistic aesthetic that reminds me strongly of Alto’s Adventure, except this game is filled with snow, vikings, and evil demons from Norse mythology. The game retains a flat look and feel for the most part, but the dynamic lighting, backdrops, and even the glowing effects give the game a layer of depth that works. Despite the minimalism, I felt that everything was fairly detailed for the art style, and the colors are beautiful as they range from soft pastels to bolder, more vibrant hues as time passes. Animations are buttery smooth in the game, and I experienced no lag on my iPhone 7. The game also has a rather whimsical and ambient soundtrack that is delightful to listen to, and it definitely immerses you into the Nordic setting of Helheim. Overall, I am in love with the visual and audio style that the developers have come up with here.

Even though the game is an infinite runner at heart, the developers have implemented a story to go along with the action. Players will take control of Nott, a Valkyrie that has incurred the wrath of Nordic gods, and her punishment is having her loyal wolf, Oder, sent to the Underworld in a dwelling of the deceased, also known as Helheim. So Nott gathers up her crew and sets out on a journey to recover her faithful companion. As an endless runner, there is only one game mode to play, but since it’s also combined with a “shoot ‘em up” game mechanic, things get interesting and challenging pretty quickly. Plus, each run is procedurally generated, so it’s never the same thing twice.

Controls in Vikings are easy to learn because it’s rather intuitive, but hard to master. Like all infinite runners, your character will be running forward automatically, so you don’t have to worry about that. What you do have to worry about, though, is avoiding obstacles like spikes and gaps in front of you, and to do that, just tap on the right half of the screen to jump. For the archery part, just touch-and-drag on the left half of the screen to aim your bow and arrow, and then release to shoot. It’s similar to the Angry Birds-style slingshot aiming, but can get a bit more complicated since you’re also moving at the same time. As I mentioned, the controls are easy when you look at them separately, but when you have to use both while you’re in motion, it can be a bit hectic as you get further along in the game.

While Nott starts out with a standard, single arrow shot, the game does provide various power-up runes that are easily noticeable — they’re brightly colored stones with glowing symbols on them. To collect these, just have your character run into it, and the power-up is yours to use, though it’s only for a brief amount of time, so use it wisely. The power-ups include formidable boosts like Bullet Time, Multi Arrows, Explosive Arrows, and more.

You can get a score multiplier if you manage to rack up a combo of successive kills, and if you can max it out, you’ll go into the almighty Fury mode, unleashing your rage upon your foes. The game also has objectives (shown at the start of each run) that you’ll want to complete, because the more goals you accomplish, the closer you are to unlocking another member of Nott’s crew to use in battle. Since there is no other way to unlock these characters to call upon their aid in battle, players will feel more motivated to meet objectives and make their lives easier when playing the game.

While I’m enjoying the game a lot so far, I did think that the game difficulty was a bit unforgiving, even in the beginning. However, the developers have told me that the next update (coming this week) should fix the difficulty with enemies and levels, while also bringing plenty of other welcome improvements, so I’m looking forward to that. I also felt that sometimes it seemed like Nott’s movement, especially while jumping over some spikes, can feel a bit slower than usual, so maybe that can be optimized in the future as well.

Otherwise, the game is incredibly fun and one I’m keeping around for a while. The graphics are downright beautiful and look great on Retina screens. The music is captivating and soothing, despite the dark theme of the game. The controls are simple, but do take time and practice to master fully, and I’m still working my way there. It’s been a while since I really got into an endless runner game, but this one has rekindled the spark thanks to the mashup of shooter and runner.

I highly recommend checking out Vikings if you’ve been wanting a challenging but fun infinite runner with precise shooting elements, or just love Norse mythology. You can find Vikings: an Archer’s Journey on the App Store as a universal download for just $2.99. There are no in-app purchases.

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Lose Yourself in the Gorgeous Puzzles of Roofbot

November 08, 2016 by macjeff

Roofbot: Puzzler On The Roof ($2.99) by Double Coconut LLC is a gorgeous puzzle game about a small robot who is just trying to cure the planet and save his family. If you enjoyed titles like A Good Snowman Is Hard To Build, Monument Valley, and even Maestria, then Roofbot is another fine gem to add to the ever-growing collection.

As a gamer, I’ve gone through a rather large variety of games in my lifetime so far, but there is always one genre that I’ll always keep coming back to, and that is the good old classic puzzle game. That’s because even after a long day of work or school or whatever personal things I’m going through, I like to sit down and unwind with a puzzle of some kind to keep my mind stimulated but relaxed at the same time. During my time here at AppAdvice, I have probably gone through most of the puzzle games on the App Store, but I can’t help but get drawn to new ones that come out each week. When I happened to come across Roofbot listed in the “New Games We Love” section (a bit buried under all of the Halloween stuff), I knew it was something I had to get into my hands.

In terms of visuals, Roofbot knocks it out of the park with the gorgeous, isometric perspective graphics. The game starts out with some opening scenes that explain the situation, and these are beautifully drawn and animated. The levels themselves feature zen-like rooftop architectures that are composed of ever-changing tiles, and some elements make me reminisce about Nanuleu, which I don’t think is a bad thing (games inspire other games). The angled perspective makes it easy to see everything that is happening on the screen and also gives it a nice layer of depth. The colors in Roofbot are bright and vivid, and the light particle effects are definitely eye-catching. I also appreciate all of the fine details in the backgrounds of each stage, as you get the sense that each rooftop is different from one another, so it’s always something new to look at. The animations are smooth and fluid with no lag on my iPhone 7, and the soothing, ambient music is rather immersive. The bubbly sound effects are also a delight to hear. Overall, Double Coconut did a fantastic job with the game’s audio and visuals.

Like many other puzzle games, Roofbot is level-based with players clearing previous stages in order to advance to the next one. At the moment, there are five different chapters that have 20 levels each. So for the price of entry, you’re getting a total of 100 challenging puzzles that only get more intricate and complex as you progress.

The goal in each puzzle is to reach the glowing portal tile at the end, but the tile itself can only be lowered by getting the energy objects into their proper slots. While it sounds easy, the truth is that the game is more complicated than that, because the architecture of the roof changes as you move along it, more energy shapes are introduced, and new game mechanics (like portals) are thrown into the mix. This means that each move you make will either take you to the goal or trap you on the roof, so tread carefully and think about each move before you make it.

Controls in Roofbot are simple and intuitive. To move your robot, just swipe your finger in the direction you want to go in. While the tutorial makes it look like you can just do one single swipe to move along until you hit a dead end, the truth is you just move one square at a time. You can also swipe anywhere on the screen to move, not just on top of the robot, so it’s easier for one-handed play. But again, make sure you think about your moves carefully, so don’t just swipe quickly, otherwise you may find yourself trapped as the tiles sink behind you and leave no clear path forward. And since there is no scoring mechanism or time restriction, you can take your time and play the game at your own pace.

If you ever get stuck, the game offers a generous amount of hints from the get-go. Using a hint will reveal the path you should take for one energy ball, but you’ll have to use another one if you are still stuck. The game initially gives you 25 hints and forces you to use one as part of the tutorial, but it’s still much more generous than other games I’ve tried, where you only get like five hints or some single digit number like that.

So far, I have been enjoying Roofbot, even though I’m still in the early stages of the game. I am in love with the graphical style and the audio is delightful. The controls work well, though I did make a mistake every now and then because it seems a bit sensitive to touch, but thankfully there’s an undo button. The game’s difficulty level increases at a gradual pace, so it doesn’t get too difficult too fast, which is always great, making it good enough for the entire family to enjoy. I just wish that there weren’t in-app purchases for hints, but at least you get a good amount to start with (hang on to them — persistence is key to solving levels).

I highly recommend giving Roofbot a try if you are looking for a fun, cute, and challenging puzzler to check out in the upcoming days. You can find Roofbot on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. There are in-app purchases.

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from : Mid Atlantic Consulting, Inc.

Parallyzed is a Challenging Platform Runner About Sisterly Love

November 08, 2016 by macjeff

Parallyzed: Surreal Platform Runner ($2.99) by Double Coconut LLC is a challenging runner game that tests your platforming and reflexive skills. If you enjoyed titles like Duet Game, Entwined Challenge, and Almost Impossible, then you will like what Parallyzed brings to the table.

While I may not always show my emotions clearly when it comes to various forms of entertainment like movies and television (with a few exceptions), I think it’s different when it comes to games. That’s because games let me take part in the story, and I feel a bit closer to the characters because of this. I experienced this with some games before, such as Stay, Mum, because who doesn’t relate to stories that involve close ties with family? Earlier this week I reviewed Roofbot, but I wasn’t aware that the same developers also had another game on the App Store — Parallyzed. I was intrigued to this title because of the sisterly bond thing, which I have in real life, so I had to give it a shot myself. Needless to say, while it comes from the same developer as Roofbot, it’s an entirely different game experience.

Visually, Parallyzed is gorgeous, as the game features an enchanting dreamscape setting that is full of both wonder and darkness. The character models for the sisters are drawn in a simplistic style but the design still stands out nicely, and the colors in the backdrops are vibrant and lush. But while the colored parts of the game look beautiful, there are plenty of dark elements as well, such as the Limbo-like silhouettes of the platforms and obstacles that you’ll come across. The light particle effects are done nicely, and the animations overall are smooth and fluid. The atmospheric soundtrack behind the game carries a rather spooky and eerie tone to it, which is fitting given the grim nature of the game. Again, Double Coconut has done another fantastic job in terms of visuals and audio.

While Parallyzed is a runner at the core, it is not an infinite runner, so it is level-based. The game starts you off with two tutorial stages that explain the core game mechanics before you are left to your own vices. In Parallyzed, you’ll find the story of two twin sisters who are deeply connected to each other, though they both have their own personalities, abilities, and attributes. But one day, the older sister, Red, goes into a jealous moment and pushes her younger sister, Blue, off of a swing, which resulted in her paralysis. With Red’s unique ability to enter Blue’s mind, she hopes to work with her to help bring her back from her coma and into the real world. The goal in each stage is to help both Red and Blue reach the endpoint in one piece, but it’s much harder than it seems, since you have to match them to their proper glowing light orbs and avoid dangers spikes and other hazards along the way.

In Parallyzed, players control both sisters at the same time as they run alongside each other in parallel platforms. If you tap on the left side of the screen, the sisters will jump. A tap on the right side of the screen lets them swap places with one another. The game starts out simple enough, but as you get further along, the levels pick up the pace, throw more hazards at you, and need you to switch sisters much faster. It’s also important to note the sister’s differences in size, because it can be used to your advantage. A good example is the fact that the smaller sister, Blue, can jump quicker than Red, but may not be high enough for larger spikes. Making sure to have the right sister in place to jump over spikes but also having them in their correct position for the light orbs can be a difficult test, but it’s great for those who want a challenge. There are other items that can also alter gravity, adding another twist to the gameplay.

While the levels can go quickly, things get hard fast. The game keeps track of how many attempts you try on each stage, and each failure tells you your progress percentage. What it comes down to in this game is memorization of the spots where you need to switch places and jump, because otherwise, you’ll be dying at the same spot numerous times before you’ll advance.

Even though the game only has a total of 14 levels, the difficulty level of the game is fairly high, so it will take some time to get through all of the stages. In fact, you will die a lot, hence why the game tracks the number of attempts you’ve done, though it’s just for good fun — the game doesn’t penalize you for more attempts, as the goal is to just reach the end. Parallyzed also has the ability to share your replays through ReplayKit, and a recent update gives you the option for an animated GIF to share, rather than full video.

I’ve only started with Parallyzed so I’m still early on in the game, and I’m trying to make my way through the first level still. As I mentioned, it’s a challenging game that requires good memory, patience, and stamina, because you will end up failing a lot. Even though it may be frustrating, I am still enjoying the game because of the exquisite aesthetics and music that send chills down my spine. The two-touch controls are intuitive and feel natural, which is always a good thing. And while the game does not appear to have a lot of levels, time and practice are required to get through them all (especially since it just gets more difficult), so I believe you get your money’s worth in Parallyzed. Just a fair warning to the casuals out there: this gloomy game is not for the faint of heart.

I recommend giving Parallyzed a go if you want a challenging platformer and reflex game and don’t mind a bit of darkness in the story. You can find Parallyzed on the App Store as a universal download for the iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. There are no in-app purchases.

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from : Mid Atlantic Consulting, Inc.

Line It Up and Get the Perfect Shot in Cue[D]

November 08, 2016 by macjeff

Cue [D] ($1.99) by Spiel Studios is a fresh new take on the traditional game of billiards. Rather than going the classic cue sports game route, Cue[D] combines puzzles with pool for a welcome challenge, especially to fans of the genres.

While many people out there go to billiards clubs at least once a week, it’s not something that I do too often. But when I do hit up a local billiards place, I do enjoy a game of pool here and there with others, despite not being a pro at it (but the point is to have fun). There’s just something so satisfying about hitting the ball with the cue stick and hearing the clack of the white ball hitting another ball and then chaining off from that, and then watching them drop into the pocket holes of the table. Since I don’t go to the billiards clubs often, I take joy in playing various pool games on my phone, though I haven’t played any in a while. So when I saw Cue[D] on the App Store this week, I was intrigued and had to give it a shot, especially since it took pool and combined it with puzzle elements. Needless to say, it’s a fun and addicting distraction to have around.

Like standard puzzle games, Cue[D] is level-based and has 100 stages for you to go through from the get-go. There aren’t any different level packs or chapters — it’s all just one giant pack of puzzles, and you’ll have to go through them in order, though there is a bit of leniency here. Since the game unlocks around two stages after the one you are currently on, you can skip a stage if you’re stuck and (maybe) come back to it later. You only get five complete skips with the initial download, and more will have to be bought through in-app purchases, so use them wisely.

The levels are fairly linear but still give you a bit of leg room if you are super stuck and just need a breather. The goal of each stage is simple: strike all the lighted pegs on the table and then pot the ball. But watch out — you only have a limited number of moves available, which is shown on the hole that you need to get your ball into before you’re out of moves.

The controls in Cue[D] are simple and intuitive. Just use your finger and drag anywhere on the screen to bring up the light blue cue stick and aim your shot. The longer the stick is, the more power will be behind it. To strike the ball, just release your finger from the screen. While it’s probably best to wait until your ball stops moving for your next shot, the game does let you aim the ball even while it’s still in motion, so if you’re a super pro, then you can try to complete the level faster. You earn bronze, silver, or gold medals on each stage depending on how fast you are and how many shots you took, so less is more here.

I’ve only been playing Cue[D] since this morning while enjoying my coffee, and I must say that it’s hard to put down once you get into it. The graphics are simple enough and look alright, the music is quirky, and the controls are super easy for anyone to learn, even allowing one-handed play. I hope that more levels are added in the future, because this is a game that I’ll keep coming back to when I need my fill of pool and puzzles. I just wish that it didn’t have in-app purchases for more level skips, since the game is already a paid game in the first place, but I suppose I’m just being nit-picky there.

I recommend checking out Cue[D] if you are a fan of puzzles and pool. It’s a unique mix that works out well in the end. You can find Cue[D] on the App Store as a universal download for just $1.99. There are in-app purchases for more level skip if you need more.

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Infiltrate Mice Dungeons and Recover the Stars as Nekosan

November 08, 2016 by macjeff

Nekosan (Free) by 1Button SARL is a twitchy reflex platformer that is both challenging and cute. If you enjoy a good ol’ game of cat and mouse, and like to test your reflexes, then Nekosan is a fun little time waster. It is from the same guys who brought you other great gems, such as Bicolor and Mr Jump, so expectations are a bit high, considering their previous work.

These days, I don’t have a lot of time for full console games in my downtime, but thankfully I still have my iPhone games to play and enjoy when I have a few spare moments. For these quick chunks of downtime, I like to have a game that I can pick-up-and-play in short bursts throughout the day, rather than having to invest hours into in order to feel like I’m making any progress. This is one of the biggest reasons why I like puzzles on my iPhone, and even some quick platformer games. So naturally, when I heard of Nekosan from 1Button, I had to check it out — plus, how can I resist a game with cute cats and mice?

Visually speaking, Nekosan carries a minimalistic aesthetic that is delightful to the eyes. The game features solid background colors for each stage, but the layout of the level is essentially a cutout in the center of the background, with nice contrast due to the patterned backdrops in the cutouts. The cat and mice are fairly simple looking but still adorable, and there are nice, small details such as snow and grass that are layered on top of the platforms, floors, and spikes. The colors range from soft pastels to richer and bolder hues, but everything meshes together nicely. Animations in Nekosan are buttery smooth and fluid, so I had no issues with lag on my iPhone 7. The game soundtrack is rather upbeat and quirky, making it rather charming to listen to and fits the eccentric nature of the game well. To top things off, the sound effects are cute, and will bring a smile to your face, even if you’re failing at the levels.

Nekosan is a level-based platformer game, so players need to advance through it one stage at a time. At the moment, there are eight level packs to go through in Chapter A, and they consist of about 10 parts each. So while it may only seem like there are eight “levels,” you have to get through 10 challenging tests to complete it, so there is more than meets the eye here. You also only have a limited number of lives to start out with (nine lives to be exact), but you get refilled with some extra if you can get through all of the sections. The goal in each stage is to collect and recover all of the stars that the mice stole. Once all stars are in your possession, that means you can move on to the next stage. There are also secret fish that you can try to acquire as well, though it is not necessary in order to complete the stage. In fact, the fish are used to purchase other playable felines, but this is purely cosmetic. Your score on each level is determined by the amount of time that it took you to complete all of the stages in the level, so think of it like a speedrunner.

The controls are pretty simple and allow the game to be played with one hand, but it does take some time to get used to and master. With one tap, your cat will start moving forward in the direction it is facing. The cat stops once it hits a wall, and you can tap the screen again to have it go back the other way. If you tap on the screen while it is already in motion, you’ll have it jump. To reach high places, you will have to do continuous wall jumps, so once you’re on a wall, just tap again to jump in the opposite direction, and keep doing that until you get where you need to be. Eventually you will come across mice, and the trick to these critters are to avoid them, but if you need to, you can also jump on top of them and “squash” them for a few seconds, a la Mario-style. Again, the controls do take some time to get used to, and they are far from perfect, but I did find them to be rather responsive for the most part. It’s just the timing that has to be right on harder stages.

My only complaint about the controls is that the game does not include any guidance on how to play in the beginning, so players are left trying to figure things out on their own. I was confused at first, and only after tapping the screen did I manage to find out how to play. Usually I am not for handholding in video games and like to figure out stuff on my own, but this can’t be said for everyone. That’s why I think there should at least be some basic tutorial, even optional, that shows the ropes to all players, because otherwise, the controls are a bit confusing.

The game starts off pretty easy, but things get a bit more complicated as you get further along, since new obstacles and challenges are introduced at a gradual pace. For example, spikes are thrown at you early on, but like any good gamer knows, spikes are bad, so you have to avoid them or you will lose a life. Eventually, you’ll also stumble across floating switches to toggle walls, swarms of mice, moving platforms, crushing pillars, and much more. If you have had any experience with platformer games in general, then you know the drill. If not, well, it’s pretty straightforward.

Nekosan can be fairly difficult if you don’t take the time to practice, so be prepared to run out of lives a lot. If you run out of lives, you’ll have the opportunity to continue, but at a cost. Otherwise, if you opt to not continue, you’ll have to try the level again from the beginning, and hope you do better the next time.

One thing that bothered me about Nekosan is the abundance of ads. It seems like an ad pops up after every other stage you complete, and it interrupts your game flow, as they are rather abrupt. Fortunately, they aren’t video ads and you can dismiss them immediately, but they are still annoying. There is an in-app purchase to remove all ads for $2.99 though, so that is an option if you cannot stand them. Other in-app purchases include a pack of nine lives, keys to unlock levels you haven’t reached yet (if you’re stuck), and Maurice the pig, and these all cost you $0.99 a pop.

I’ve only had time to check out Nekosan this morning, but I’m enjoying it so far, aside from the overabundance of ads and unique control scheme. The minimalistic design is pleasing, the character are adorable, the music is fun to listen to, and the gameplay is rather challenging, as it combines reflexes, platformers, and a dash of puzzle (you still need to figure out how to clear a stage). I just hope to see ads to be less obnoxious in the future, and some kind of guide on the controls for new players. Otherwise, 1Button has done it again with a fun game to pass the time with.

I recommend giving Nekosan a try if you are into platformer puzzles with a dash of reflex testing. You can find Nekosan on the App Store as a universal download for the iPhone and iPad for free . There are in-app purchases, as well as an iMessage sticker pack included.

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from : Mid Atlantic Consulting, Inc.