"If there is an app for that"

Be the Best Blackjack Player in Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition

May 11, 2017 by RSS Feed

Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition ($2.99) by Headup Games GmbH & Co KG is what you get when you combine the classic card game Blackjack with Street Fighter. If you like both fighters and card games, then this game is a perfect match-up.

When I was growing up, I remember spending much of my time playing solitaire on the computer, and I know that it was the first card game that I’ve played. Since then, I’ve expanded into other forms of solitaire games, such as Spider Solitaire, but they were never enough for me. I learned to play other classic card games in person as well, like Blackjack, though I’m not the type of person who goes to Las Vegas to gamble this way. And another thing that was extremely popular as I was growing up was Street Fighter, and while I gave the game a shot whenever I could, I was never great at it and always ended up getting my butt handed to me in the game by more skilled players. Still, I find it fun to play whenever I have the chance to, though it’s far from my favorite fighting game. When I first heard of Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition (SBB2TE for short), I was instantly drawn in — it’s a combination of Blackjack (one of my favorite classic card games) and Street Fighter — how can anyone say no? Needless to say, this is one interesting mashup and it does not disappoint.

Visually, SBB2TE is a fantastic homage to the classic 16-bit Street Fighter 2 because it features the same retro pixel art style, and the tagline is “The Card Warriors,” which references SF2’s “The World Warrior” name. Despite the pixelated graphics, SBB2TE has highly detailed environments that range from private blackjack tables to ritzy casinos, and each of the 12 characters that you can play as have their own unique appearance and personalities that make them stand out from each other. Even the cards and betting text are pixelated, though easy to read, and after each round, the characters always have a slogan (one of several) they like to share that is similar to what you’d find in Street Fighter games. Colors in SBB2TE are bold and vibrant, which is fitting considering the gambling nature of the game (casinos are always flashy). Animations are smooth and fluid, and there’s an upbeat and quirky soundtrack to go along with each location, which is nice. The sound effects also add a nice finishing touch to the game.

There are four ways to play SBB2TE: Single Player Combat or Simply Blackjack, Unranked Versus, and World Championship. The real meat of the game lies in the Combat mode, because it features the 12 characters all competing against each other to become the greatest Blackjack player of all time. It is also where the story of the game is, as players are invited by the owner of the largest casino in Vegas for a game of cards. However, the real reason for the tournament is so that the owner can defeat the competing clan’s family. There’s 10 different storylines to uncover as well, with all of them having their own distinctive endings and character dialogues. SBB2TE features characters that come from all over the globe, so there is some decent diversity in the game: Kamiko from Japan, an undercover FBI agent named Mark, Danny from China, Gregor a South African warlord, and more. In Combat, you travel the world to face off against your opponents, and go through 10 rounds of Blackjack — whoever wins the most rounds, or doesn’t run out of money first, wins.

If you aren’t in the mood for Combat, the Simply Blackjack mode lets you choose your favorite character and location, and just play an infinite amount of rounds against the dealer. If you are out of money, you’ll get an opportunity to spin a wheel and possibly get some more cash to bet. This can continue for as long as you want, so think of it as the game’s zen mode.

For those who prefer to gamble against other real life players, there is the Online Unranked Versus and World Championship modes. Unranked is more of a PvP for fun, whereas the World Championship is ranked and you must viciously make your way to the top of the leaderboards. These online matches can have up to four players at once, and you’re able to freely drop in or out of a game at your leisure. However, getting into a match is dependent on how many openings there are at the moment, and so far I haven’t had much luck joining a room. On the plus side, SBB2TE has cross platform support with Android for the multiplayer matches, so you can play together with your Android buddies as well.

So how does the game work? Regardless of the mode you choose to play, it’s rather simple in terms of what you need to do. For those who are unfamiliar with Blackjack, the goal is to get a total number of 21 with the cards you’re dealt, or at least as close to 21 as possible without going over. If no one in the round gets a “Blackjack,” then the person who’s closest wins. The first thing you do on each round is place your bets — you start out with $1000, and the default bet is $50. To increase it, just tap on the number of chips you want to throw into the betting pool, or start over by tapping on the “X” button. To finalize your bet, tap on the checkmark. Then you are dealt cards by the dealer. From here, you can choose to stand with what you have or get another hit and see if you can get closer to 21, but if you go over then you lost that round. Once all players are done with their hand, the player who has Blackjack or is the closest will win the betting pool.

Occasionally, you will get the chance to do a double, split, or insurance. Double lets you double your bet but you only get one additional card. If you are initially dealt a pair of identically ranked initial cards (a pair), you can split it into new separate hands and get a second card for each. Insurance is a side bet that the dealer has blackjack and is treated independently of the main wager.

Even if you’ve never played Blackjack before, I think SBB2TE is pretty newbie friendly. The controls are simple as they only utilize basic taps on buttons, but the gameplay is interesting and fun, especially when you’re going against another NPC or person. The graphics are stunning, the music and sound is amazing, and there is a lot of replay value to be found here. It’s also great for quick play sessions, or if you prefer to spend an hour or two just playing Blackjack — it’s all up to you. Plus, there are two additional characters that can be unlocked after you meet certain criteria, so there’s also a reason to keep playing aside from getting your Blackjack fix. I just wish that the online matchmaking process was a bit faster.

I highly recommend giving SBB2TE a try if you’re into classic card games, Street Fighter, or just like hybrid games. Super Blackjack Battle 2 Turbo Edition is available on the App Store as a universal download on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV for $2.99. There are no in-app purchases.

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from : Mid Atlantic Consulting, Inc.

Balance the Ball Is a Challenge, but Totally Worth a Try

May 11, 2017 by RSS Feed

Balance the Ball is an exciting and challenging combination of skill and patience.

Developed by Joseph Burton, this free iPhone game is tough to put down.

Reviewed by Sarah Hanlon

You’ll need to survive three stages without falling off the ledge or hitting various obstacles.

Naturally it sounds easy, but it’s not!

Overall, this is definitely a game you can play over and over again.

Not only is it challenging, but it’s fun to compete against yourself or your friends for the best high score.

Balance the Ball requires iOS 8.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

TheiPhoneAppReview’s Rating:

Source link:http://www.theiphoneappreview.com/2017/05/balance-the-ball-iphone-game/

Fight as Your Favorite DC Heroes and Villains in Injustice 2

May 10, 2017 by RSS Feed

Injustice 2 (Free) by Warner Bros. is the mobile version of the upcoming sequel to the original Injustice: Gods Among Us that came out in 2013. If you enjoy fighting games and love the DC Universe, then Injustice 2 is a must, especially if you’re waiting for the console version for Xbox One or PlayStation 4.

With all of the comic book and superhero movies that have been hitting theaters each summer for the past several years now, the hype and love for comics seems to be a love or hate thing with most people these days. Honestly, I have always loved superhero themed things since I was a kid, though I don’t read comics too much because there’s so many storylines and universes nowadays for me to follow, and I’ve long preferred Marvel over DC. However, since my boyfriend is a much bigger DC fan than Marvel, I’ve been watching more DC animated movies and listening to various explanations of the Justice League and have started taking more of a liking towards the DC universe as of late. So when I saw Injustice 2 arrived on mobile a bit early, I had to check it out and give it a spin myself, especially since fighting games are also a great way for me to take out some frustrations. No matter if you’re a veteran DC fan or newbie to Injustice, this one definitely does not disappoint.

Visually, Injustice 2 packs in some gorgeous console-quality graphics that look stunning on Retina screens. While it may not be the same as looking at the game on a 4K television with a PlayStation 4 Pro, it’s still fairly impressive considering that this is a game that runs on a device you carry in your pocket. The animated cutscenes look and feel like movies, and are entertaining to watch even if you normally skip that stuff. During actual gameplay, all of the character models of your favorite DC heroes and villains are insanely detailed and have realistic movements that don’t feel out of place. Lighting effects are done well, and the dark, gritty color palette sets the tone perfectly. I also love how the style that each character’s portrait is drawn in, because they all look unique and pack in fine details and vibrant colors. Animations in Injustice 2 are smooth and fluid with no lag issues on my iPhone 7. Be warned — the game requires a device that can run iOS 10 and higher along with at least 1GB of RAM, so you will need a newer iPhone or iPad that’s capable of that to play the game. The soundtrack is ambient and just what you’d expect from a fighting game with popular DC characters, and the sound effects are nicely done. To top it off, there is also some voice acting that only adds to the game’s authenticity.

While Injustice 2 is a fighting game at the core, there are several different modes available that players can go through. At the moment, there is the single-player Campaign and Story Modes, Arena for online PvP, Challenges, Resource Missions, and Operations. A League mode is coming in the future. Right now, I’ve only done the Campaign and Story so far, along with Operations, because the rest are locked.

Campaign has players going through a series of battles before facing off against a boss fight, and then moving on to the next round of fights. Boss matches can be replayed at any time, which is good for grinding for experience points for each of your teammates. For each successful fight, you earn experience and even a handful of loot, which can be hero shards (needed to obtain characters), character gear, gold coins, or gems. But be careful — each battle takes up some energy, which you only have so much of (this is a freemium game, after all).

The Story mode will reveal the story behind Injustice 2 in a series of mini episodes, and each one contains a fight or two at some point throughout the scenes. You’ll have to win these pre-determined fights in order to progress through the story, which I have found to be pretty immersive and interesting. Fortunately, they don’t take up energy to play, but you also can’t change your team.

Operations is basically where you send available characters off to do “missions” on their own, which take a certain amount of real time to complete. You get various items and rewards for finishing these, but if you’re impatient, you can use gems to speed up the process.

When you begin playing Injustice 2, you’ll only have access to Batman and Harley Quinn after she gets you through the tutorial process. After that, you’ll have to unlock characters by collecting the required amount of hero shards, or even getting them by luck through chests. The game has a free basic chest that you can open every couple of hours, but if you want more than that, you’ll have to drop some dough for enough coins and gems to do so.

Controls in Injustice 2 are simple enough, and nicely designed for the touch screen. To perform a basic attack, just tap on the screen. Swiping to the right allows you to perform a rush attack, which involves the character lunging forward with a barrage of attacks. A swipe to the left lets you evade, but if you tap immediately after that swipe, you can do a ranged or projectile attack, depending on the character you’re currently controlling. Swiping up lets you do a jump attack, while a downward swipe does a crouch attack. There are buttons in the bottom right corner that let you use a character’s special moves as long as the gauge is charged, and a button in the bottom left lets you block and take less damage from attacks. Your team for each battle can be up to three characters, and all you have to do in battle is tap on their portrait to switch to them.

Doing enough attacks and blocks charges up the Super Move meter, which appears in the bottom center of the screen when it’s full. Tapping on this when it’s ready allows the currently active character on your team perform their Super Move, which is a dazzling cinematic display of sheer awesomeness and does a hefty amount of damage to the current enemy, if not KO’ing them. In order to be good at Injustice, you’ll need to read the opponent’s moves often and learn when is the best moment to attack, defend, and switch teammates, because otherwise you’ll be eaten alive.

I mentioned earlier that you can get character-specific gear as loot rewards from battles. These raise a character’s stats and modify their abilities, and improve their threat level, which means a higher overall threat level for the team. Before each fight, you can see your total threat level as well as the enemy team’s numbers, so it gives a good idea of how easy or difficult it is going to be.

I’ve only just started playing Injustice 2, and honestly it’s my first one, but so far I’m loving the experience. The graphics are fantastic for a mobile version of a console game, the roster is expansive, the fights are challenging but fun at the same time, and the controls work well for what it’s worth. I do wish that it wasn’t such a pain to get hero shards to get more characters, because of course the good ones are always super expensive and costly, and I could do without the energy system, but hey, I suppose that’s a good reason for me to pick up the PlayStation 4 version eventually.

I recommend checking out Injustice 2 if you’re a fan of the original game, love DC, or just want a fun fighting game. You can find Injustice 2 on the App Store as a universal download on the iPhone and iPad for free with in-app purchases. The console version of Injustice 2 will be available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 for $59.99.

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from : Mid Atlantic Consulting, Inc.

Can You Survive Long Enough to Become Champion of Penarium?

May 09, 2017 by RSS Feed

Penarium ($1.99) by Team17 Software Ltd is a arena arcade game that puts the spotlight on a sinister circus in town where the contestants are forced to entertain a rather sadistic crowd. If you enjoyed games like the classic Super Crate Box, then you will love what Penarium has to offer.

Life has been getting a bit stressful for me lately, so I usually like to dive into some good old video games to take my mind off of things. While I have been leaning towards playing whatever I can on my Nintendo Switch, I still make time for iOS games every so often throughout the day. Usually, I prefer to relax with some puzzles, but sometimes I just need the fast-paced action of arcade games to keep me occupied for a while. With arcade games, I prefer ones that have a simple concept and are easy to pick-up-and-play in short bursts or even longer play sessions, depending on how I’m feeling at the moment. When I saw Penarium on the App Store over the past few days, I knew that it was something I had to have, because it seems to have everything I love — retro graphics, action, explosions, and just downright zany. Now that I finally have my hands on it, I have to say that it does not disappoint in the slightest.

Visually, Penarium is gorgeous largely thanks to the vintage pixelated art style that it features. If you played the classic 16-bit games of yesteryear, then you will feel right at home with Penarium’s animated cutscenes and graphical style. Even the text shown in the dialogue boxes and cutscenes is pixelated, though it’s a bit harder to read on my iPhone 7’s smaller screen, at least for my eyes. Penarium has a rich, earth-tone color scheme that fits well with the overall theme of a crazy traveling circus, and animations are buttery smooth and fluid with no lag on my iPhone 7. There is also a rather fitting circus theme song that plays throughout the game that is fun to listen to, and the sound effects are top notch. Overall, the developers did an excellent job with Penarium’s visual and audio design, because honestly, it’s reason enough to get the game — the gameplay is just icing on the cake.

Even though Penarium is an arcade game at its core, it does have a level-based Campaign mode that is entertaining as well. For the campaign, each level will feature a different challenge that players must complete before it’s cleared, and then you can move on to the next stage. There are two more circuses to unlock after the first one, though it will take some mastery of the game before you can get access to them. Since there are no ways to skip a level, the campaign is super linear and requires skill to beat all challenges. These missions consist of smashing a certain number of barrels, getting enough potions into each cauldron, and more. It’s always different and new traps get introduced at a gradual pace along the way to spice things up.

If you opt for the Arcade mode, it’s just a high score chaser where you see how many barrels you can smash before you die in some hilarious way by the deadly traps that are laid out all over the stage. Make sure to collect the coins that drop from smashed barrels, because you can buy power-up cards in the shop. Regardless of the way you play this game, both modes are enjoyable in their own unique ways, so you can play either one when the mood calls for it.

The objective for both modes is pretty clear cut: survive as long as you can by avoiding the deadly traps that the ringmaster has set up while smashing the barrels or collecting other items (dependent on challenge). If you get hit by a trap or fall off the stage platforms, then it’s game over.

Controls in Penarium are simple enough for anyone to understand, and it’s all rather intuitive and responsive too. In the bottom left corner will be two buttons for moving left and right. The bottom right will have the button to jump, and thanks to the amazing power of being in the circus, you have the ability to double jump by tapping the button twice. The game also wraps the edges, so you go from one end of the stage to the other when you go behind the curtain, unless the deadly spike trap bumper is there. I found the controls to be incredibly well done, as the placement and position feels perfect, and the responsiveness is high.

I’ve only started Penarium today, but I’m already in love with it. The graphics are stunning and take me back to my childhood days, and the circus theme music is both dastardly and charming at the same time, somehow. It’s also hard to find platformer style games that nail down the controls, but Penarium did a great job with them, because they feel like perfection as it is, though you can customize them in the settings. The gameplay mechanic itself is rather fun and frantic, so it’s a great way to test your skills, and there are no in-app purchases or extras. On top of it all, the game is fairly humorous thanks to the wacky ways that Willy can die for the audience, and the ringmaster has some funny bits of dialogue as well. Overall, Penarium is just a fantastic game that should not be missed.

I recommend grabbing Penarium if you’re a fan of arena arcade games, or just want a game that is just as good as Super Crate Box. You can find Penarium on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $1.99. There are no in-app purchases.

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from : Mid Atlantic Consulting, Inc.

Research Heirlooms with StuffSavvy

May 09, 2017 by RSS Feed

Reviewed by Marilyn Chau

StuffSavvy is perfect for anyone wanting to research their old treasures, heirlooms and that weird thing in the basement your grandmother left you.

While not meant to replace an official appraisal, this app can still provide you with a quick estimate of the value of an item.

Features:

If you’ve ever felt less than “savvy” about your collection of “stuff,” this cool app, by Apjam Ltd, is here to help.

Users simply submit a photo of whatever item they are curious about by uploading it to the app. If you like you can also add a self-written description.

A “Savvy Specialist” will then provide you with an emailed, detailed description of the item and its worth within 24 hours; this service costs $4.99 per item inquiry submitted.

Testing out StuffSavvy, I found this “24-hour turnaround to be true; I was emailed once my item was submitted, with a follow-up email soon after that gave me detailed information about the history, estimated retail value, and predicted rarity of my item.

The whole process was seamlessly smooth, and I got the information I wanted in a quick, convenient manner.  

Appearance and Layout:

StuffSavvy iPhone App

Easily my favorite part of this app was its design. StuffSavvy features an incredibly easy to use layout.

First time users should have no difficulty with navigating through this app. Because the intended use of this app is fairly straightforward, the layout of the app is very straightforward as well.

Using the app is really only done for one end of the exchange (when you submit a photo with/without an item description), and all communication regarding the collectable is relayed to you via email.

Because of this, the layout of StuffSavvy is very, very simple to understand.

The example photographs and general graphics of the app are very tastefully chosen, making using StuffSavvy an aesthetically pleasing experience overall.

Value:

StuffSavvy is free to download. However, actually utilizing the features of the app costs users about $5 per inquiry, and at that rate, researching a closet full of collectables would certainly add up to a fairly significant fee.

If you’re selective, though, the value of the items will far outweigh the cost of finding out what they’re worth.

Still, for users who wish to sell items but don’t want to take the time to research current prices themselves, StuffSavvy could be a very useful app.

Overall, its features and design are great, and it is extremely useful in the right context.

That being said, the fee associated with finding out about your “stuff” might make you think twice before actually using it for every little thing lying around.

StuffSavvy requires iOS 9.1 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.

iPhoneAppReview’s Rating:

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