"If there is an app for that"

The Thief of Wishes Is a Gorgeous Storybook App for iOS

April 02, 2018 by RSS Feed

Reviewed by Sarah Hanlon

Once in awhile, an interactive story app comes along that adults can enjoy just as much as children.

The Thief of Wishes is an incredibly gorgeous storybook app that is a true pleasure to read for kids and adults alike.

Concept and Functionality:

The Thief of Wishes, from Lucyna Markowska, is a story about a young girl, Catharine, and her journey to bring peace to a nightmare-infested world. What’s truly unique about this story, however, is that you can choose the outcome of it.

Every few pages you’re asked a question, and your response determines how the story progresses. This means it can be read different ways each time you revisit it.

Unlike many of the interactive story books available that are “quick reads”, The Thief of Wishes is a very lengthy book that children will thoroughly enjoy sitting down with time and time again.

The storyline doesn’t feel rushed or forced; it’s very obvious that the developers have taken their time to create a truly authentic children’s book.

When it comes to the visual aspect of The Thief of Wishes, I honestly can’t say enough great things about it. Not only is the artwork beautiful, but the animations and sound effects really contribute to the story itself.

Features:

The Thief of Wishes iPhone App

The Thief of Wishes has a few extra features that make it more than an interactive storybook. For example, there’s a neat minigame that requires you to match flowers. You have 40 attempts to solve the puzzle, and there are quite a bit of flowers to remember.

This simple but effective logic game helps children strengthen their puzzle skills while staying within the app.

In addition to a fun game, The Thief of Wishes has two reading modes so the app can be customized based on your child’s reading level. Listening mode is great for younger children who are just starting to get the hang of reading, while self-reading mode helps build word familiarity and skills.

If you enjoy using iMessage stickers, it’s worth noting that The Thief of Wishes comes with its own sticker pack, too!

Value:

The Thief of Wishes is available to download from the App Store for $2.99 and is universally compatible with iPhone and iPad. When it comes to overall value, I can’t say enough great things about this interactive storybook.

Not only is the story intriguing and educational, but it’s also beautiful to look at and experience. If your child is ready for a bit of advanced reading, I can’t recommend The Thief of Wishes enough!

The Thief of Wishes requires iOS 9.1 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Source link:http://www.theiphoneappreview.com/2018/04/the-thief-of-wishes-iphone-app/

The 27 Absolute Best Apps for Your Summer Vacation

April 01, 2018 by RSS Feed

The 27 Absolute Best Apps for Your Summer Vacation

Are you ready for summer and, more importantly, summer vacation? I know we are. After polar vortices, the odd “bombogenesis” and the usual cold weather, we can’t wait!

Hopefully you’re thinking about an exciting vacation trip coming up or maybe you’re still in the planning stages, wherever you are in your process there are plenty of apps out there to help you figure out what to do, when to go and even how to budget for it all.

The question is, which apps are worth your time and which ones ain’t? How do you sift through all the chaff to get to the wheat? Well, as you might have guessed, that’s exactly what we’re here for :)

Vacations can be stressful, we get it. But with the right apps at your command the stress can be greatly reduced thereby increasing your relaxation – and isn’t that what vacations are for?

Whether it’s searching for the most interesting itinerary, the cheapest fares, trying to remember if you packed everything for everyone, keeping the kids occupied in the back seat or calming them down at bedtime, or finding the nearest toilet (cause someone didn’t use it in the restaurant or hotel when they had the chance) there’s an app for every situation.

These 27 curated apps will help you through it all and transform you into a summer vacation hero!

Google Trips – Free

Is there anything that Google doesn’t have an app for? If so, drop us a note and let us know because we haven’t found it. So, of course, Google Trips is the perfect tool for anyone trying to organize a vacation.

It automatically gathers your travel reservations from Gmail thereby letting you to see your flight, hotel, restaurant bookings, and rental car plans all in one place. It will provide you with day plans wherever you are and let you know about things to do nearby.

Notes: Google Inc., iOS 9.1+, iPhone, iPad, 7 Languages, Family Sharing

Guides by Lonely Planet – Free w/IAPs

Lonely Planet has a long and distinguished track record of being a top travel resource. Happily their app is well designed and offers a broad selection of their terrific city guides. Got spotty or expensive cellular data? They have you covered with offline maps, phrasebooks, and advice on the best activities to consider.

One thing to note about language support is that English comes with the app but there are 8 additional languages available that cost $1.99 each.

We suggest you start out perusing their excellent website and also think about buying one of their books for any city where you will be spending a good amount of your time. They provide the years of experience, all you have to do is enjoy your adventure.

Notes: Lonely Planet Global Inc., iOS 10.0+, iPhone, English, Family Sharing

Sygic Travel – Free w/IAPs

Making the most of the time you have means that you have to do a bit of planning. Sygic Travel provides very well thought out itinerary planning along with some advice based on what it knows about your plans. You’ll see where tourist attractions are located and GPS nav even when you’re offline ($7.99 to use it offline).

For those who also like to maximize sleep time, you’ll be glad to know that opening hours for attractions are provided along with time and distance estimates so you know when you have to finish breakfast and exactly how long your adventures will take. If you’re anywhere where the weather frequently changes you’ll appreciate the weather info provided. It will definitely come in handy.

Notes: Tripomatic s.r.o., iOS 8.2+, iPhone, iPad, 14 Languages, Family Sharing

Roadtrippers – Free

The classic American vacation is epitomized in that old car jingle from back in the day “see the USA in your Chevrolet”. Road trips are cool and fun and give you the best chance to really see the beautiful country (no matter what country you’re in) in between here and there.

This app is perfect for driving cross country, whether you’re rediscovering Route 66 or jumping on and off Interstate 20. It offers an easy way to plan your road trip and with its millions of POIs for you to consider along the way, the driving becomes a more integral part of the experience.

From great local diners to unusual roadside attractions to state and national parks, and hotels to stay at along the way, to paraphrase Woody Guthrie – this app was made for you and me.

Notes: Roadtrippers, iOS 10.0+, iPhone, iPad, iMessage, Apple Watch, English, Family Sharing

Packr Travel Packing – Free w/IAPs

Let’s face it, packing is probably the most boring part of prepping for your travels. Whether for business or pleasure, it’s not what you want to be doing. That’s where Packr steps in and helps you with with this tedious effort. Packr is the organization tool you need to make packing an easier and less stressful task.

Using information about your destination, travel dates, and expected activities it will make sure you pack the right things so you can enjoy the trip to the max. It learns your preferences from your previous trips and so gets more useful the more you use it.

Notes: Jeremie Leroy, iOS 8.0+, iPhone, iPad, 10 Languages, Family Sharing

Hopper – Free

Keeping travel costs to a minimum is more about the future than the past. While you may have gotten a certain fare or rate last year or last month, what about your trip 2 months from now? Hopper jumps in by predicting the future price of flights, based on what it knows, and tells you when’s best to buy your chosen destination.

You don’t have to check manually for changes, Hopper does that automatically for you and will alert you via push notifications the moment that prices drop. It’s possible to buy a flight in a matter of seconds. They will check the fares of over 250 airlines worldwide and also provide you with 24/7 service to help you out all through your travels.

Notes: Hopper, iOS 9.0+, iPhone, iMessage, English, Family Sharing

Skyscanner – Free

If one app that does it all is more to your liking then Skyscanner is for you. Whether it’s flights, hotels, or car rentals the app will save you significant cash that you can use for that dopey (but fun!) double-decker tour bus or those earrings with Lady Liberty hanging on them.

While it offers you much of the same services that others do, it does it in a comprehensive manner and with a very nice UI that we like a lot. Want notifications about a price drop? No problem! But why stop there when you can also use it to compare future flights and deals.

You can even use it like a digital map dart board and search ‘everywhere’ for your random last minute vacation. Just one thing, if you do that you have to promise to follow through on the trip before you search. Are you gutsy enough?

Notes: Skyscanner, iOS 9.0+, iPhone, iPad, 34 Languages, Family Sharing

Trip Plans – TripHobo – Free

On a tight budget? Then TripHobo is the travel app that will suit you best. It lets you easily create personal travel plans based on your needs, interests, and budget. Even better, you can view other people’s itineraries for ideas and inspiration, or if you are really stoked by what you find you can simply copy their exact vacation plan.

You’ll see key information on destinations, local public transportation details, prices and maps, and more. We suggest you try booking hotels though it as well since there may be deals there that other service won’t have access to.

Notes: TripHobo, iOS 8.0, iPhone, English, Family Sharing

RV Parks & Campgrounds – Free

For a fun family vacation it’s hard to beat RV’ing. Pack up your gear, load up on food and beverages and hit the road. This app will be invaluable to you as you research places that will accommodate your particular RV in the locations you’re most interested in. Do you need a drive-through spot or are you looking to be lakeside? Easy access to activities for the kids or are you looking to be as secluded as possible?

This terrific app has got you covered with over 40,000 RV parks, campgrounds, rest areas, and gas stations. So whether you’re planning ahead for the fall or looking for something this weekend, RV Parks & Campgrounds will be a resource for you time and time again.

Notes: ParkAdvisor LLC, iOS 8.0+, iPhone, iPad, English, Family Sharing

USA Rest Stops – Free w/IAPs

OK, you’ve decided on a road trip, great.  Now you’re far from the familiar and guess what, someone close to you (I’m talking in the same car) needs a rest stop. Be it a bio-break, quenching a parched throat or souvenir shopping, this app will help you find the closest rest stops along your route on the closest highway or interstate.

You’ll find traditional rest areas as well as state welcome centers. If you ever expect to travel the same route again then you’ll want to mark your favorite rest stops along with notes/reviews so you’ll remember why you liked it and don’t miss them. Also, when it notifies you that you’re in range of a rest stop you can see what others have posted about it. You might decide to let it pass for the next one.

Notes: Innovative Software Technology, LLC, iOS 7.0+, iPhone, iPad, English, Family Sharing

Road Trip Games App (Classics) – $1.99

If you’re traveling on that road trip, be it a 5 seater sedan or pick-up with a 40′ RV you will want to keep any youngsters who are along for the trip reasonably entertained. This app is one way to do just that. Back in the day you might have looked for license plates from different states or played 20 Questions or I Spy.

Whatever you remember from your childhood is probably now in digital form and part of this app. It includes Hangman, Dots & Boxes, Tic-Tac-Toe, The License Plate Games, Draw It! and more. Nothing makes a trip go faster and be more fun than having fun games that children and adults can both play. We also like the fact that there is a one-time download fee so you don’t have to worry about IAPs or ads.

Notes: Rogue Creative Development LLC, iOS 9.2+, iPhone, iPad, English, Family Sharing

Dr. Seuss Treasury – Free w/IAPs

If you have kids on your trip with you there’s no better way to keep them occupied than having Dr. Seuss books handy. There are the all-time favorites such as The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham as well as many others. Over 50 in total!

This amount of such high quality content doesn’t come for free but, depending on your particular situation it might well be a great bargain. They have a variety of plans and the one we think may be the best is the subscription plan for one month ($3.99) which would most likely cover your trip. One of the full access plans might also be well worth it.

Notes: Oceanhouse Media, iOS 9.0+, iPhone, iPad, English, Family Sharing

Spotify – Free w/IAPs

Music makes any activity more pleasurable and summer vacation is certainly no exception. Of course while that used to mean downloading your favorite MP3s (remember those?) so you can build you playlist to play on your iPod (remember those?). That was so last decade. Now it’s all about streaming.

Spotify is definitely one of the best, if not THE best, streaming service due to its totally awesome UI and capabilities. Plus, it has a free to use version and features music from every artist you can think of. You can get as specific or general as you like and can easily search for tunes from your favorite artist or discover new music by searching for a genre you like. Explore and enjoy! Summer vacation starts when you say it does!

Notes: Spotify Ltd, iOS 9.0+, iPhone, iPad, iMessage, 20 Languages, Family Sharing

GasBuddy – Free

When you finally get all your gear and travel crew set and on the road the last thing you need is to run out of gas or pay more than you have to for it. GasBuddy will make sure you know which stations are nearby and which ones offer you the best prices for the grade of gas you need.

Viewing your options couldn’t be easier or more straight forward. As with all of our favorite apps GasBuddy provides a very well designed UI to make sure getting the info you need is quick and easy. Do you want to sort gas stations by distance or price? Easy peasy. One note, besides benefiting from their huge database you can also report gas prices to help others find cheap gas. As a bonus there’s a chance to win $100 in free gas every day and a new “Pay with GasBuddy” plan that saves you money on gas. That doesn’t suck.

Notes: GasBuddy Organization Inc., iOS 10.0+, iPhone, iPad, iMessage, Apple Watch, English, Family Sharing

First Aid by American Red Cross – Free

We all like to imagine that our vacations will be exactly as we plan with no unforeseen incidents or accidents. Well, that’s probably not going to happen. Accidents do happen and when they do during your travels or on vacation you want to be prepared.

The American Red Cross’s First Aid app is one of those apps that you may not think of at first but if you ever need you will thank your lucky stars that you have it. It will help you in situations from anaphylactic shock to CPR chest compressions. Most of us are not that well prepared for the unexpected health emergencies so their tips on how to prepare for them, as well as guidance on when to call 911 and and how to find the nearest hospital are invaluable.

Notes: American Red Cross, iOS 10.0+, iPhone, iPad, English, Family Sharing

Waze – Free

If you’re not already using Waze we have one question, where have you been? This app is the perfect intersection of hard data and social knowledge. By letting users add to what the app “knows” it enables everyone to benefit.

Waze is truly the next generation of GPS app. Seriously. Through its community knowledge base you can avoid accidents, road problems and speed traps, and also see real-time traffic updates. Of course as with any good GPS app it will provide turn by turn visual and voice navigation. Waze goes beyond the standard capabilities though and, for example, makes it easy to alert your friends and family to your ETA.

Notes: Waze Inc., iOS 9.0+, iPhone, iPad, 41 Languages, Family Sharing

Little Stories. Bedtime Books – Free w/IAPs

Once you’re at your destination and you’ve taken advantage of all the apps that help you before and along the way, it’s time to settle down. With all the excitement from the day of travel, that can be a real challenge for the little ones.

That’s where Little Stories. Bedtime Books comes in handy. It a creative and fun set of tales in which your kid plays the main part. It’s super easy to get started – all you have to do is put in your kid’s name and gender and then enjoy reading fairy tales that star your son or daughter.

With the included melodies and pictures you kids will be delighted and happy as they get ready for bed.

Notes: Diveo Media, iOS 9.0+, iPhone, iPad, iMessage, 3 Languages, Family Sharing

OpenTable – Free

Once you arrive at your chosen destination it’s priority one to make sure you get to sample the coolest places for food and drink. Of course “coolest” can mean different things to different people so how do you cover all your bases?

You can be sure to make the most of the little time you have to experience the local flavor by using OpenTable. With it you can search for the types of restaurants in the area that you want in the Discover section. Whether they’re new and hot or tried and true local favorites you’ll be able to plan your meal times to your best advantage. Not sure or too many conflicting opinions? Try OpenTable Insider Picks. Once decided you just make reservations right from the app without having to talk to anyone.

Notes: OpenTable, Inc., iOS 10.0+, iPhone, iPad, iMessage, 7 Languages, Family Sharing

Weedmaps: Marijuana & Cannibis – Free

You may or may not have specifically chosen your destination or stop over based on the state’s, province’s or country’s marijuana policies but once you’re there, hey, what the heck?

Weedmaps is the resource you need to do it right. It features a comprehensive marijuana directory so you can see what’s around quickly and easily. It offers up-to-date listings throughout the US, Canada and Europe and, in case you’re in need of a valid prescription, also helps you locate doctors that know what ailments weed can be helpful for.

It will also help you learn more about marijuana brands and products, see brand photos and videos, and search for locations selling the ones that strike your fancy.

Notes: WeedMaps, iOS 10.0+, iPhone, iPad, 3 Languages, Family Sharing

Spark Camera – Free

One of the best parts of going on vacation is showing off your adventures when you get back to your friends and coworkers. They’ll be itching to know how your trip was. Of course you can tell them about it but why not also show them?

Spark Camera makes it easy to keep a daily vacation montage going just by holding your finger on the screen to record. It’s so simple to use you will actually use it!  You can get a few seconds here, a few there, some of the kids playing in the pool, some of you in front of the Taj Mahal and wrapping it all up with you going back to the airport. Then you add filters and music and voila! You have your vacation movie short to share with everyone.

Notes: Spark Camera, iOS 11.0+, iPhone, 9 Languages, Family Sharing

Trail Wallet – Free

No matter how much you have put aside for your vacation you’d always like to spend more than that, and you will if you’re not careful.

So the questions is, how do you easily manage your budget while enjoying your vacation? Simple, answer (wait for it…) – there’s an app for that! :)

Trail Wallet is the easy way to keep track of your budget and make sure your day-to-day spending doesn’t go overboard. It categorizes your purchases and expenses so you can quickly see how much of your budget is being eaten up by food of if your travel costs are taking you for a ride. It will also switch to your current local currency so even if you’re on your “bucket list” international sojourn they’ve got you covered.

Notes: Simon Fairbairn, iOS 9.0+, iPhone, iPad, English, Family Sharing

Flush – Toilet Finder & Map – Free

OK, this might be a delicate subject for some of you but let’s get real, we all have to “go” sooner or later. The usual problem is, of course, that one or more of your travel group will not “go” sooner in the hotel, restaurant, or campsite and instead have to “go” later when you’re all out and about in that city you’ve always dreamed of exploring.

When you’re in unfamiliar territory finding the appropriate facilities can be a challenge. Flush will help you cut down the time it takes to get there and so you’ll be back to your itinerary faster with less hassle and headache.

Notes: jRuston Apps, iOS 9.3+, iPhone, iPad, English, Family Sharing

DMD Panorama – $1.99

Even though your iPhone has quite a range of built-in capabilities, if something provides a decidedly better user experience and results, isn’t it worth it? Of course the answer is “it depends” but in this case we’re all in.

DMD Panorama is one of those apps that is well worth the price of admission even though you can slog along without it. It transforms your iPhone camera is a very capable 360 degree panorama device and even makes creating panoramic selfies a breeze.

Besides greatly improving the process of making panoramas, it also adds to the viewing side of things with a very nice 3d viewer.  One terrific bonus is that you when you share your results those folks you’re sharing with don’t have to have the app installed, they just watch the looping video that you posted. You can also check out any of the over 1.3M panoramas shared by others all over the world. You can even play around with Virtual Reality using Google Carboard.

Notes: Dermandar, iOS 7.0+, iPhone, iPad, 10 Languages, Family Sharing

Skiplagged – Flights & Hotels – Free

There are definitely some obscure tricks to the trade when it comes to finding the cheapest airfares and hotel room. And, of course, there are plenty of websites and apps that will scour the service providers based on your travel parameters, some will even notify you if the price changes or when the price is likely to be lowest.

So how does Skiplagged stand out from this very competitive crowd? Simple, they look under rocks that the others don’t. Are you hip to “hidden city” flights or arbitrary round trips? No? Not to worry, this app is all about angles the other apps don’t touch.

Sure it will notify you if fares change and do all the other things you expect, but it does that plus all the things others don’t do. If you have some other fave low-cost travel app we challenge you to give Skiplagged a whirl and let us know what you think.

Notes: Skiplagged LLC, iOS 10.0+, iPhone, iPad, 2 Languages, Family Sharing

HappyCow – $3.99

If you follow a Vegan or Vegetarian diet traveling can definitely be more of a challenge than for those that don’t. We hear you, it can be a serious inconvenience if you haven’t thoroughly planned ahead or are lacking the info you need when you need it.

Thankfully HappyCow has done the heavy lifting for you. It lists vegan and vegetarian restaurants in nearly 10,500 cities in over 180 countries worldwide. That’s a lot of cities and, as you’d expect, goes well beyond the big familiar ones like London (Book & Kitchen) and New York City (Blossom du Jour), to obscure places like Vatra Neamului, in Chi?in?u, Moldova.

Notes: HappyCow, iOS 9.0+, iPhone, iPad, 11 Languages, Family Sharing

Cool Cousin – Free

Have you ever traveled to a destination that someone who has the same tastes as you has already explored? If so you know they can’t stop telling you about all the cool places, events, restaurants and more that they checked out. What a great way to prep for that big trip you’re planning! But what about the destinations that your family and/or friends haven’t been to? What do you do then? Sure you can go to Yelp or Google search but will you really get the advice you want?

Well now you have a “Cool Cousin” in 14 popular destinations that help you find those spots that only locals know about. When you get off the tour guide route and move over to the “off-the-beaten-path” route you really get to see what the city is all about. Trusted locals contribute their knowledge of what’s worth your time and you can bet that their recommendations are not in your typical guide book.

Notes: Cool Cousin, iOS 9.0+, iPhone, English, Family Sharing

MyPostcard Photo Postcard App – Free – $1.99/postcard including worldwide mailing

It may seem a bit “old school” but sending a postcard is one of the coolest things you can do while traveling. Add to that the fact that it’s not some card you found at the local store but a special photo that you took, it can totally make someone’s day. And not just your grandma who is not online. We’ve gotten postcards and trust us, everyone loves getting a postcard from someone they know who is traveling.

Whether you’re traveling in your own country or in foreign lands, the MyPostcard team will send your postcards and greeting cards for you anywhere in the world.

You take the picture and they make it simple to create the look and message you want and send it on its way.

Notes: mypostcard.com GmbH, iOS 9.0+, iPhone, iPad, 8 Languages, Family Sharing

**

Do you have some other apps in mind that should be on this list? Let us know about them in the comments section.

The 27 Absolute Best Apps for Your Summer Vacation – TheiPhoneAppReview.com

Source link:http://www.theiphoneappreview.com/2018/04/the-27-absolute-best-apps-for-your-summer-vacation/

Hack Your Way Through Mysterious Cyberspace in Hyperforma

March 30, 2018 by RSS Feed

Hyperforma ($4.99) by Fedor Danilov is a unique and modern spin on the old-school arcade game of Brick Breaker. If you enjoyed the timeless classic, or other creative spins like Breakforcist, then you'll get a kick out of Hyperforma, especially if you like cybernetic and futuristic themes.

With all of the crazy going on in life right now, I'm thoroughly enjoying the moments I have with pretty much any game these days. I grew up on the classics like Tetris and Brick Breaker when I was younger, so I'm always curious about fresh new approaches to these timeless genres. When Breakforcist came out, I was addicted and couldn't stop playing it, since I love cute things and breakfast foods. But at the end of the day, it was still just your traditional brick breaking game, for the most part. However, when Hyperforma appeared on the App Store, I was curious and had to give it a shot for myself. It looked like nothing I tried before.

$2.99

#Breakforcist

Kevin John

Visually, Hyperforma is beautiful and stunning. Everything is rendered in 3D with an angled, top-down perspective like what you'd find in Monument Valley. However, since the theme is cyberspace and hacking, there are a ton of fine, futuristic details about the environment that immerses you into the game's world. I love the various rune-style hieroglyphics and nodes on the surfaces of the architecture, and the light effects are gorgeous. The color palette in Hyperforma is a fantastic mix of dark shades with contrasting vibrant hues, which totally gives off the futuristic vibe. Animations are buttery smooth and fluid, and I experienced no lag or choppiness issues on my iPhone 8 Plus. The soundtrack is atmospheric, immersive, and rather amazing to listen to, so headphones are recommended to get the best experience.

Hyperforma is level-based and also has a storyline, so players must go through each stage in chronological order. There's no skipping around either, so while it starts out easy, it gets progressively more difficult and relies on your skills to complete.

In Hyperforma, players enter a world that takes place 256 years later, after the demise of mankind. Only the Ancient Network is left behind, which is nothing more than empty, endless cyberspace. However, you take on the role of an anonymous explorer, who dives into the cold remains of cyberspace and wants to uncover the secrets of the past civilization. You'll have to hack your way through Titanic Interfaces and their secured Forms before you can uncover the past, though.

The controls in Hyperforma are simple and intuitive, though it takes time to master. Essentially, when you "hack" an interface, it's essentially a game of Brick Breaker, except it's in 3D and a lot more intricate. You swipe up to "launch" the hacking beam, and your goal is to destroy the black blocks that surround the core, which has a unique symbol on it. To hack some cores, you'll have to get around their security, which is indestructible white blocks. Some of the black blocks also have symbols on them, and these can do things like detonate and destroy adjacent blocks once they're hit.

As the hacking beam bounces around the screen, you'll want to rotate the interface in the center by dragging your fingers around the screen. So instead of moving a paddle, you're moving the 3D structure to ensure that the beam hits the blocks you want. When there's an opening to the core, you'll want to tap on the "Attack" button near the middle of the screen to hit it, as that's the only way to get inside the core and get the key.

You'll have to watch out for the red lasers that move along the edges of the screen as you rotate the core. If you hit these, then you've failed and have to try again. It starts out with one laser, but then more can show up as you make progress, so keep an eye out for those.

When you successfully hack a core and complete a stage, you'll earn some experience points. As you level up, you'll get stronger and gain access to new hacking skills, like dishing out more damage and getting rid of multiple blocks at a time. To access your skills, just tap the button at the bottom to bring up what's available and then select the one you want to use. There's a cooldown for each one before you can use it again.

Hyperforma is a challenging brick breaker arcade game that's unlike anything you've played before.

The Good

Hyperforma is a bold new take on a classic arcade game. The visuals are absolutely gorgeous and I believe they represent "cyberspace" quite well. The sound design is excellent as well, with a quirky EDM soundtrack to go along with the futuristic theme. The gameplay is great, as it takes a classic and completely turns it into something special and unique. I'm also liking the fact that it starts out easy, but becomes much more challenging as you go on. This is definitely one of those games that will take some time to complete, but you'll enjoy every minute of it as you get better.

The Bad

There's a lot of good going on in Hyperforma, but I can see how this could be a little too hardcore for more casual gamers. The difficulty curve after a few levels is pretty big, so one may end up more frustrated than anything else.

I also wish that there was a way to adjust the sensitivity for the controls, because at the moment, it can feel chaotic at times. Even the slightest little slip of your finger can change the format of the core drastically, and this can lead to some unfortunate deaths. But the game is about players finding the balance on their own, so I'm not sure if having sensitivity adjustment would conflict with this.

The verdict

Despite being a bit unforgiving at times, I'm enjoying Hyperforma a lot. The game's exquisite graphics are a sight to behold, and the music and sound is excellently done too. Gameplay is familiar yet completely new at the same time, and it's challenging. I enjoy the designs for each stage, and how new mechanics are introduced. The difficulty level is pretty gradual, but things can feel a bit unforgiving. However, I only see that as more reason to keep coming back and do better.

Hyperforma is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for $4.99. There are no in-app purchases.

9.1

OVERALL

Graphics 10

Replayability 9

Sound/Music 9

Gameplay 9

Game Controls 8.5

$4.99

Hyperforma

Fedor Danilov

Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews

Restore Life and Color to the Puzzling World of Umiro

March 29, 2018 by RSS Feed

Umiro ($2.99) by Dice Roll and published by Devolver Digital is a gorgeous and soothing puzzle experience filled with mystery and awe. If you enjoyed other games like Ruya and Lynk, then you'll get a kick out of Umiro.

Spring has officially begun, and things are going into high gear in my life. With wedding plans that still need to be done, taxes to pay, and health thins I get paranoid about, there's hardly a moment when I'm not stressing out lately. So when I have some time to relax, I'm definitely relishing in those precious moments, especially when my fiancé is around. One of my tried-and-true solutions to de-stressing is games, especially calming puzzles that take my mind off of reality for a bit. When I saw previews of Umiro a few months ago, I knew that this game would be a fine addition to my repertoire. And now that it's finally available, I was right.

$0.99

Ruya

MIRACLE TEA STUDIOS LTD

$0.99

Lynk.

Michael Le

Umiro has an aesthetic that appears to be inspired by games like Monument Valley, but it's still distinctive enough to stand on its own. So you get the angled, top-down perspective, but the game doesn't feature optical illusions as you'd expect. However, due to the point-of-view, the stages appear unique and are highly detailed. Umiro makes use of a nice range of colors, from bold and vibrant hues to soft pastels that contrast nicely with each other. The character design in gameplay is a bit more on the minimalist side, but you can still tell them apart easily due to their exclusive looks. Animations in Umiro are smooth and fluid, and I experienced no issues with lag or choppy frame rates on my iPhone 8 Plus. The atmospheric soundtrack is pretty tranquil and relaxing, and the sound effects are a nice touch.

On top of it all, there are some cutscenes between some stages that reveal more about the story. These are beautifully handcrafted drawings that evoke emotion and set the overall tone for the game itself. It's clear that Umiro was made with love and care.

In Umiro, you'll discover the two schoolmates, Huey and Satura, who are in Umiro with no memory of their past or how they got there. Their memories are somehow locked away in crystals, so their only hope of understanding their situation is to reach the crystals that correspond to them, as they're color coded. Huey needs the blue crystals, and Satura's are pink. The yellow crystals are optional, but they reveal more secrets behind the mysterious world of Umiro, so they are worth the effort to collect if you can. The crystals not only help Huey and Satura recover their forgotten memories, but they restore life back into Umiro itself.

There are four chapters in Umiro at the moment, and each one has a handful of puzzles to get through. To get access to chapters two through four, you need to complete all of the stages in the previous chapter first, and there's no way around that. The goal in each stage is to guide Huey and Satura to their respective crystals while avoiding dangerous obstacles and hazards along the way. Again, the yellow crystals are optional, but they do reveal more about the game's world to you. However, they are more dangerous to reach, so you'll need to devise alternative ways to reach it, as well as have impeccable timing.

The controls in Umiro are simple and intuitive. To get Huey and Satura to move, you'll just need to draw a path from them to their corresponding crystals. Once the paths are drawn, just tap on the "Play" button and they will move along the drawn path. Sometimes there will be more than one crystal for a character, so you will need to repeat the process. The Play button does not become active until all characters have a path drawn out for them.

If one of them touches a hazard, such as the black balls that roam around, then you've failed and have to try it again. Fortunately, there are no time limits, move restrictions, or stars to worry about, so you can play the game at your own pace.

Work together to bring color back.

The Good

Umiro is a beautiful and relaxing puzzle experience for everyone. The visuals are simply stunning and exquisite, with clear inspirations from other popular games, but a distinctive enough aesthetic to stand on its own two feet. The sound design is incredible as well, with the zen-like soundtrack that's designed to help you tune everything out and focus.

Path-drawing puzzle games are always challenging, but Umiro is even more so due to the fact that you must have two characters go at the same time. The game starts off easy enough, but the difficulty increases gradually, and is never overwhelming. It's a great puzzle game for everyone.

The Bad

There's a lot of good going for Umiro, but it's not perfect. I can see the game being frustrating at times because your path may be off by just a tiny bit, and you end up dying multiple times because of it. There's also no hints in the game either, which makes it even more challenging if you're just trying to rush through it (don't do that).

The verdict

Umiro is a gorgeous game with an amazing soundtrack, and it was all crafted with care by the developers. The puzzles are challenging, but once you solve one you've been stuck on, then it just becomes even more satisfying. The base goal is easy enough, but adding in the optional yellow crystals mean completionists have something more to strive for, and it reveals even more about the colorless world. It's a nice bonus to look forward to. I'm enjoying the game a lot so far, and it's definitely going to keep me busy when I need it.

Umiro is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. There are no in-app purchases.

9.2

OVERALL

Graphics 10

Sound/Music 10

Gameplay 9

Replayability 8.5

Game Controls 8.5

$2.99

Umiro

Devolver Digital

Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews

Gobble Up All the Delicious Candy in Num Yumms

March 28, 2018 by RSS Feed

Num Yumms (Free) by The Paper Robot is a cute puzzle game about numbers and hungry little monsters. If you enjoyed other mathematical puzzle games like the classic Threes! and Mesh, and like seeing adorable critters, then Num Yumms could be your next time killer.

Life's been getting pretty hectic for me lately, with several life things that are stressing me out immensely. When I need a break from everything, I like to just cuddle up in a corner on the couch and fire up some game on my iPhone to pass the time and forget about things for a while. My genre of choice for these moments is usually puzzle games, since they tend to keep my mind stimulated and I have a good time. As I was perusing the App Store this week in search of something new, I stumbled on Num Yumms and I couldn't resist. When there are charming and endearing little monster critters, how do I say no?

$2.99

Threes!

Sirvo LLC

Free

Threes! Free

Sirvo LLC

$1.99

The Mesh

Creatiu Lab, SCP

Visually, Num Yumms has a simple and clean design that is reminiscent of Threes, which seems to have inspired many games. While Num Yumms is supposed to be 2D, the Num Yumm pieces and numbered candy tiles have some depth to them, so it seems closer to pseudo-3D, if anything. The game uses a fantastic mix of bright and vibrant hues that contrast nicely with the soft blue glow of the grid background. There are many different types of Num Yumms, and each one has their own unique and distinctive appearance, but they're all equally lovable. Animations are smooth and fluid, with no issues of lag or choppiness on my iPhone 8 Plus. Num Yumms also has an upbeat and quirky soundtrack that is rather delightful. To top off all of the cute going on here, the sound effects are fun and add more personality to the monsters.

There's only one game mode in Num Yumms, and it's perfect for those moments when you have time to spare. It's a high score chaser, and after every run, you'll know you can do better (or so you think) and therefore the replay value is pretty good. The goal in the game is to feed the Num Yumms candy, which is spread out all over the grid.

The number on the Num Yumm shows how much candy they can have, and the numbers on the candy pieces indicate the value of that piece. Each Num Yumm only gets five turns to reach their target goal, after which you get a new Num Yumm to feed. If you're under or over after five moves, then you lose a turn, which is shown at the top. If you're out of turns or there are no more moves to be made, then it's game over. Your score is a combination of the number of candies eaten and eggs hatched.

Controls in Num Yumms are a simple affair. Just swipe up, down, left or right to have your Num Yumm move one space. You can only move on the squares with candy tiles on them, and make sure you reach the target number on the Num Yumm, otherwise you lose a turn. Some spaces will have walls blocking them, and other candies may make you lose a turn or shuffle the board, so options may be limited. The game requires you to plan out your moves carefully, and make sure that your math adds up.

Since Num Yumms is a free game, there are video ads that play every now and then between rounds. You can get rid of ads through an in-app purchase of $1.99. As you play and discover new Num Yumms, you can view your collection by tapping on the egg in the top right corner.

Num Yumms is a cute and endearing mathematical puzzle game that's friendly enough for the entire family.

The Good

Num Yumms is an entertaining way to pass the time. It's full of cute critters with delightful sounds, and the gameplay makes you think. While it seems like a simple concept at first, it's surprisingly in-depth with the math and requires some planning ahead. You also need to keep an eye out for special candies, since they can affect the turn pretty drastically if you're not too careful.

The Bad

While it's a simple high score chaser that's bound to provide some fun, I do wish that there were more game modes. Perhaps a puzzle mode, or even time attack would be fun additions. It's a solid game, but more modes would add some more variety. I mean, it does get a bit repetitive at the moment.

The verdict

I'm a big fan of puzzle games, even if there's numbers involved, and I think Num Yumms is a great addition. The visuals, especially the monsters, are cute and charming. The sound design is well done as well. Controls are simple and easy to learn, making this a family-friendly game for everyone to enjoy. The ads are not too intrusive since they don't interrupt current games, but the option to get rid of them is available if they bother you. I just hope to see more modes added in the future, as it would keep the game fresh.

Num Yumms is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for free. There are in-app purchases.

8.5

OVERALL

Game Controls 9

Graphics 9

Sound/Music 9

Gameplay 8

Replayability 7.5

FREE

Num Yumms

The Paper Robot LLC

Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews