Think Quickly in NumerDropHeaven
May 17, 2017 by RSS Feed
Reviewed by Marilyn Chau
NumerDropHeaven is a new fast-action puzzle game that will challenge your quick thinking and reaction skills.
Available for free through the iTunes Store, this app combines a sense of “missions” with more traditional “Bejeweled-style” gameplay.
Features: 
NumerDropHeaven, by the up and coming developer Takashi Mikami, challenges players to think quickly as they direct falling number-coded puzzle pieces.
Wisely directing these pieces will mean advancing within the app and completing set “missions.” Failing, however, will mean that you’ll need to retry that level.
In fact, it is these character-guided “missions” that sets NumerDropHeaven apart from other apps with similarly styled puzzle challenges.
While the idea behind this mission-style is quite solid, and it should be a fun addition to this popular gaming concept, the actual execution of it needs to be tweeked a bit.
The instructional entry video is very prolonged. While a minor issue, the English within the app is also somewhat confusing to understand.
While not a groundbreaking new type of puzzle, NumerDropHeaven is a fun new combination of games already very popular in other already-existing apps.
Appearance and Layout:
NumerDropHeaven iPhone Game
The graphics NumberDropHeaven, or just Number Drop as its iTunes icon states, are perfect for a game of this type.
The inclusion of cartoon-style characters gives this app an added visual element that helps to visually elevate it above other non-themed games of its type.
While the overall appearance of NumerDropHeaven is pretty typical for an app of its type, the layout of the game really is lacking.
Specifically, navigating through NumerDropHeaven was not entirely intuitive. Additionally, sometimes “back/forward” directional arrows didn’t seem to be responsive, which further added to frustration when figuring out my way through this app.
Value:
NumerDropHeaven is a free app. There are some optional in-app purchases within the game, however, and an informational screen immediately at the beginning of the app warns you of this.
These purchases really aren’t necessary for enjoying the general features offered in the app, however, making this a nice game to try.
NumerDropHeaven is definitely an app you can play for free without feeling like you’re missing out on any special features. Plus that fact that it will instantly feel familiar since at its core it’s a version of the ever-popular “match falling puzzle pieces quickly” gaming concept so you can enjoy it right away.
Overall, we found the concept of NumerDropHeaven to be intriguing in the way it combines elements form other popular games.
As stated the navigation through this app, as well as the English in it, needs some work, and we’re confident these improvements will come.
That said, we can’t wait to see where this talented developer takes this interesting concept next.
NumerDropHeaven iPhone app requires iOS 8.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.
TheiPhoneAppReview’s Rating:
Source link:http://www.theiphoneappreview.com/2017/05/numerdropheaven-iphone-game-review/
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Outrageously Ride the Shining Sea in Run-A-Whale
May 16, 2017 by RSS Feed
Run-A-Whale ($0.99) by Guillaume Loquin is an infinite runner adventure that allows you to ride a whale in three different ways, almost like a skateboard. If you enjoyed games like Alto’s Adventure and Tiny Wings, then you will appreciate having Run-A-Whale.
While infinite runner games started off strong in the early days of the App Store with titles like Canabalt, they have definitely waned off in popularity in recent years, with a few exceptions like the more recent Alto’s Adventure. I know I started off in the beginning by downloading most of the endless runners, but of course, my interest in them dropped significantly after realizing that most of them were just rehashes of each other. But I’m not saying that every infinite runner that comes out is the same thing as before, because there are some developers who think outside the box and differentiate themselves from the norm. Run-A-Whale by Guillaume Loquin is one of those titles. If you need a game to relax to this week, do not hesitate to pick this one up.
Visually speaking, Run-A-Whale is stunningly gorgeous. The game is rendered in 3-D with a low-poly graphical style that amazingly still looks smooth on Retina screens. The sea landscapes are dreamy and calming, until you get to the boss battles, that is. Run-A-Whale has a beautiful color palette that features a mix of soft pastels, bold and vibrant hues, and even darker tones when it’s at night. The backdrops are usually simple fare, like lighthouses, cliffs, or even ports, and sometimes there’s a dreamy fog in the distance that makes it look and feel even more surreal. In the foreground, you’ll see the crystal clear depths of the ocean and all of the sea-life that it holds in crystal clear detail and textures, and all of the character models and movements are fairly realistic, despite the over-the-top nature of the game. Run-A-Whale features pragmatic water animations so that what’s under the surface of the water appears to move with the waves, and there is a dynamic day and night cycle along with real weather effects. Animations are smooth and fluid with no lag on my iPhone 7. There is also an ambient soundtrack with whimsical tunes playing in the background, as well as tranquil nature sounds like birds chirping, waves crashing, and much more. Overall, for a first release, this developer has done a top-notch job with Run-A-Whale’s visual and audio design.
Since Run-A-Whale is an infinite runner game, there is only one mode, naturally, and the objective is clear: see how far you can get on each run. To keep the game from being stale, there is a goal system in place, where players have three tasks to try and complete. Once one of these goals is accomplished, you get a star. When you have three stars, you’ll level up. The levels matter only for facing the boss battles, and there are a total of five to fight, with a new boss appearing every five levels. With that said, the game has 90 goals for players to go for, so there is plenty of replay value to be had here, so you do get your money’s worth.
The controls in Run-A-Whale are simple and intuitive, clearly made for touch screens. You’re a pirate who happens to grab hold of a whale and then goes on the ride of a lifetime. Your whale can swim (duh), slide, and fly, so the pirate can totally ride in style. The whale starts off automatically by swimming, but you tap-and-hold anywhere on the screen to have the whale dive below the surface. A bar at the bottom of the screen shows the whale’s oxygen meter — when it reaches red, your oxygen is low and if you’re out, the run ends. Your whale will jump once you lift your finger off of the screen, so it’s all about timing and precision here. There are also bouncy balls, cannons, and other things that you can come across in the water that can help you gain enough momentum to take flight, so keep an eye out for those. On top of everything, there are wooden piers that will be along the way that your whale can slide on if they jump and land on them, kind of like grinding a rail on a skateboard. It’s also a lot of fun to watch the people on the dock run when they realize a whale is sliding towards them. But with all of the cool stuff in the water, you’ll want to avoid obstacles such as boxes, rocks, spikes, mines, and more.
As you ride the whale across the sea, you’ll find many shiny gold coins scattered about. You’ll want to collect as many as you can on your runs because they can be spent in the shop to get different hats for your pirate, or you can go for cooler looking whales. Some hats are locked until you reach a certain level though, so be warned. Whales are also significantly more expensive. The game even has power-up items that you can collect during each ride to help you out, such as shields to protect you from a single hit, or coin magnets to make gathering coins easier.
I’ve only started Run-A-Whale recently, but so far I’m finding the experience to be rather enjoyable, despite the decline in popularity for infinite runners in general these days. The visuals in Run-A-Whale are downright exquisite, especially all of the realistic effects such as the water rippling and affecting what you see below the surface, as well as the dynamic day, night, and weather cycles. The music and nature sound effects will bring you pure zen, and the controls work out well for the touch screen. The goals keep you coming back for more, and some of them are rather hard to do, which just means you’ll just keep trying until you get them, and the addition of bosses is a nice touch. And to top everything off, Run-A-Whale has zero in-app purchases — you pay the dollar and get everything in the game! The only way to get enough coins for everything is to play the game.
I recommend giving Run-A-Whale a try if you want something to help you unwind after a long day. Run-A-Whale is on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $0.99. There are no in-app purchases but there is an iMessage sticker pack included.
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Create a Snarky AI Named CARROT in Artificial Superintelligence
May 16, 2017 by RSS Feed
Artificial Superintelligence ($2.99) by Grailr LLC is the latest entry in the CARROT series of apps, and this time it comes in the form of a simulation game. If you enjoyed games like Reigns, and love how snarky a computer can be, then you will get a kick out of Artificial Superintelligence.
Ever since 2013, which is when CARROT first infiltrated the App Store with her sarcasm and wit, I’ve been hooked, as well as many others. I played Portal and love how snarky GLaDOS is, so it brought a smile to my face when I saw the same kind of attitude was the selling point of a to-do app, alarm clock, then a weight tracker, calorie counter, and weather forecast app. There’s just something about opening an app up and have it make fun of you in some way that makes it fun and spices things up from the mundane. It’s definitely not for everyone, but if you have a sense of humor, then the CARROT apps are definitely amusing. I’ve been a fan of the CARROT apps ever since the beginning, so I’m always happy to see another installment for the CARROT line, so when the news of Artificial Superintelligence reached me, I knew I had to check it out. Needless to say, it doesn’t disappoint, but it is also geared towards a specific crowd.
Visually, Artificial Superintelligence features the same simple and clean aesthetic that the CARROT apps have become known for, and this is not a bad thing. If you’ve used the previous apps at all, then the game will look and feel familiar to you already, and who can resist the chubby meatbag that appears as an avatar in CARROT Fit? Since this simulation game has the theme of a fresh new startup in Silicon Valley, you’ll see many computers lined up on the screen in workspaces adjacent to you, an ever-expanding skyline in the horizon, and plenty of pixel art to represent computer things. Since this simulation requires reading text and making decisions that will impact the ending you get, the pixelated text looks good and is quite legible. The colors in the game range from soft pastels when things are peaceful to bold and vibrant tones when things are a bit more chaotic or futuristic. No matter the scenario, though, I found the color palette to be rather eye-catching. While the game is a bit subtle with the animation factor, everything runs smoothly on my iPhone 7, so I had no issues with lag. The game does not have a soundtrack, but it does have realistic old-school computer sounds and other fun clicks. Overall, I think the developer did a great job with Artificial Superintelligence’s visual and audio design to have it fit alongside the other CARROT apps.
In Artificial Superintelligence, players take on the role of a startup founder who is building the world’s first sentient supercomputer. During the beginning of the game, you start off with a fully sentient AI, named CARROT, and you witness the end of human civilization as we know it because of your AI. But then you talk to a scientist who explains to you about the parallel worlds in the multiverse that you’re in, and you manage to escape and replace your own self in a parallel world. From here, you start building your AI again from scratch, and hope you can manage to complete it before some silly fate falls upon you based on your decisions. After each attempt, you will “escape” into another parallel world, and just continue to repeat the process for all eternity. There are an infinite number of parallel worlds, and some of them have suffered far worse fates, or just never evolved at all.
As you work to train your AI, you’ll get strange and bizarre requests from investors, employees, tech bloggers, hipsters, and other people in the industry. The game presents all of the dialogue or interactions with each character, or even the AI itself, in a box along the top half of the screen. You’re given two choices to respond with, and you can view those options by moving the slider at the bottom to the left or right, and then drag-and-release on your final decision. Each choice you make has an impact on your human resources, finances from investors, government ties, and Internet fame, all of which can be viewed at the top of the screen. There will also be red markings on each faction when you view a decision (though you can’t tell if it’s positive or negative), so you’ll see how your choice affects your progress.
Once a factor reaches the red, your fate is determined and you’ll end up with one of 52 different endings, though sometimes you may have the opportunity to redeem yourself and get out of the red, but at a cost of another element. To get a high score in Artificial Superintelligence, players must get their AI’s intelligence level as high as they can before meeting their fate. On each run, it will start off super dumb, but as you make your decisions and train it, the AI gets smarter and smarter, hopefully to the point where she is the smartest being out there.
While it may seem like the same thing, each run will bring about a different cast of characters, environments, and opportunities. Based on what answers you pick, your fate can end up completely different from a previous run, or you may get the same fate twice at some point — who knows. And to keep things even more interesting, the game has “tasks” that you want to strive for, such as “losing a patent lawsuit,” “make yourself sick,” “enrage a fluffy bunny,” and much more. When you have such objectives available, you’ll want to try and make choices that will eventually lead you down these paths, though sometimes it will take a bit of time. Unfortunately, you don’t get rewards for completing these goals, but they are pretty fun to try and do nonetheless.
I’ve only started playing Artificial Superintelligence over the weekend, but so far I’m finding it to be a fantastic experience. The graphics are cartoonish and follow the clean aesthetic of the other CARROT apps, the sound effects are charming and fun, and the slider control for picking decisions is intuitive and feels natural. I love the variations between each parallel world, the snark and humor in the game is top-notch (though not for everyone), and the tasks are fun to try and accomplish if the opportunity arises, though I do wish that you got some kind of in-game reward for completing them. The only problem I have with Artificial Superintelligence is the fact that sometimes the worlds seem too similar, and should definitely have more variation or randomness in them. Still, this is a game that I will continue to come back to whenever I have some spare time throughout my day.
I recommend giving Artificial Superintelligence a try if you love the snarky charm and wit of CARROT apps, and like geeky simulation games. You can find Artificial Superintelligence on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. There are no in-app purchases and the game includes an iMessage sticker pack for your enjoyment.
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IOTransfer Is a Fantastic iTunes Alternative for Media and Data Management
May 15, 2017 by RSS Feed
Reviewed by Sarah Hanlon
iTunes is a pretty decent way to manage your iPhone or your iPad, but sometimes their software just isn’t for you. Luckily there are alternatives available.
One terrific alternative to Apple is IOTransfer, a slick utility that makes device management virtually painless.
This iTunes alternative is a great way to transfer media between your computer and your iDevice.
Concept and Functionality:
I’ve tried other iPhone management software before, but I found most of them to be buggy, clunky, and downright difficult to use.
IOTransfer is a pleasant surprise and is a program that would definitely serve its purpose as a way to transfer media between your computer and your iPhone or iPad.
Downloading and installing IOTransfer was pretty painless. I didn’t find any bloatware or spam while installing, which is always a good thing. Once installed, all you have to do is connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer.
Once connected, you’ll see all of your media broken down into groups on the left side of the screen. This makes navigation incredibly easy, and personally I like the overall layout of IOTransfer.
I don’t think users will have trouble with locating what’s on their iDevice.
Features:
Reviewed by Sarah Hanlon
IOTransfer includes plenty of features to make it a great alternative to the ever-popular iTunes software. Unlike many other programs, IOTransfer doesn’t bottleneck you to one media type.
IOTransfer offers seamless transfer capabilities for videos, photos, and music. Where iTunes can be troublesome, and even buggy, IOTransfer seems to take up fewer resources than iTunes. If you’re running an older computer, this can be a great thing.
Naturally there are limitations for the trial version of IOTransfer, but I think it gives you enough of a chance to take the software for a test drive to see if it’s right for you.
Value:
IOTransfer is available to download from their website for free, but only as a limited trial. You’ll be able to take the software for a test drive, but you won’t be able to take advantage of all features without paying for an annual subscription.
A single license subscription for one computer and one year will cost you $24.99, and a family license for three computers and one year will cost you $29.95.
Overall, IOTransfer is a great iTunes alternative if you’re looking to back your iPad or iPhone up to your computer, as well as transfer media between your computer and mobile device.
IOTransfer – for Mac and Windows
Source link:http://www.theiphoneappreview.com/2017/05/iotransfer-software-review/
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Embrace the Chaos of Space in Steredenn, Now on iOS
May 12, 2017 by RSS Feed
Steredenn ($3.99) by Pixelnest Studio is a bullet hell shoot-em-up game (shmup) that also throws in elements of roguelikes into the mix. If you enjoyed games like Shooting Stars, Soul Knight, and even classics like Dodonpachi Resurrection, then you will love what Steredenn has to offer. Steredenn is also available on Steam, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
When I’m feeling a bit stressed out, I like to take out my frustrations in the form of video games, and I know I’m not the only one. Usually I’m in the mood for a stimulating puzzle game, but sometimes that just doesn’t cut it. I have the urge to shoot things with lasers and even watch things get blown up in fiery explosions of awesomeness. For these moments, I like to fire up some kind of arcade game, and one that usually involves shooting baddies with an arsenal of different weapons. That’s why I like bullet hell shooters, even though they’re rather difficult, but still challenging and I get my fix of laser beams and various blasts. So when I heard Steredenn was going to hit mobile, I was instantly excited to get my hands on the game. Now that it’s here, I can say that it does not disappoint.
In terms of graphics, Steredenn is a visual feast of gorgeous pixel art. If you grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s with consoles like the NES, SNES, and SEGA Genesis, then you will feel right at home with the style of Steredenn. While it features a pixelated aesthetic, it’s still incredibly modern and smooth, as everything just blends and meshes together seamlessly. The various spaceships (your crew as well as enemy ships) are packed with plenty of fine details and textures, and the colors range from dark earthy tones to bright and vibrant neon lasers, lights, and explosions. All animations are polished and fluid, with no lag on my iPhone 7. To top things off, Steredenn has a rather awesome blood-pumping metal soundtrack going on, so if you’re a fan of headbanging tunes, then Steredenn has you covered. Overall, Pixelnest did an excellent job with Steredenn in terms of visual and audio design.
Steredenn has three game modes that are sure to appease everyone: Normal, Daily Run, and Arena. In the normal mode, since the game is roguelike, levels are randomly generated (for the most part) and infinite, so each run features different enemy ships, obstacles, and boss fights. However, the goal is simple enough: fly, shoot, and survive for as long as you can while racking up those precious points for a high score. The Daily Run gives players all over the world the same run for the day, with everyone having the same gun and bosses, and you’re competing for the top spot on the leaderboards daily. But be warned — you only get a single chance per day to show off your skill. Arena mode is where you can go face off one-on-one with bosses that you’ve previously defeated in the normal mode. This is great for training and honing your skills. And even though three game modes does not seem like too much, the randomness of the normal mode means infinite possibilities for each attempt, so there is still plenty of replay value.
The controls in Steredenn for mobile are pretty simple and intuitive for what it’s worth. To move your ship around, just drag your thumb anywhere on the left half of the screen. To shoot, just long-press on the right half. When you have power-ups available on the screen (new guns or weapons or even ship upgrades once you defeat a boss), just hover over the one that you want to pick up, and then double tap anywhere on the screen. When you have two weapons available, you can swap between them at any time by just swiping upwards on the screen. By default, the control sensitivity is on high, but you can change it in the game’s settings to low or normal. Personally, I found the default to work rather well compared to the other ones, so I just stuck with that. If you have a MFi controller, Steredenn has full support for that and the developers say that it is the optimal experience for the game, so make sure to use it if you have one laying around.
One thing I’ve noticed in my time playing Steredenn is the variety of weapons that you can use to decimate your foes. Unlike other shmups, Steredenn has a large myriad of different ones, including up-close-and-personal melee options. While you can find the standard fare like shotgun, laser beams, and spread shots, I found huge saw blades and even the hard-to-master Jaw. These melee weapons do have a bit of risk involved since enemy bullets will be flying towards you and emanating from enemy ships, but watching foes get chomped on is oh so satisfying.
I’ve only started playing Steredenn since last night, but so far I’m in love with the game. It’s fairly difficult, which is to be expected from a bullet hell shooter, but because of the roguelike elements, such as randomly generated runs, it’s refreshing and even more challenging since you can’t predict what comes next. Even though the boss battles wreck me, I still can’t help but keep coming back to it. The Daily Run also gives you something to look forward to each day, and the arena is a nice way to just practice and get better. And as a fan of pixel art games, the graphics are top-notch and some of the best I’ve seen lately for a bullet hell space shooter. And who can resist a great metal soundtrack?
The only downside to Steredenn is the fact that you can’t play your own music while you’re in the game, even if you turn the music and sounds down completely. Hopefully the developers can change this in a future update, because while the metal soundtrack is great and all, sometimes I just want to listen to my own tunes.
I highly recommend checking out Steredenn if you are looking for an action-packed bullet hell shmup to check out. You can find Steredenn on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $3.99. There is also an iMessage sticker pack included. Steredenn is also available on Steam (PC and Mac), Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 for $12.99.
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