Your Brain Will Flip for the Challenging Puzzles of Invert
April 24, 2017 by RSS Feed
Invert - A Minimal Puzzle Game ($1.99) by Noodlecake Studios Inc and Glitchnap is a puzzle game that is fit for those who love brain teasers, logic puzzles, and even Rubik’s Cube fans. If you enjoyed recent games like Vignettes, Polycolor, or even Trilogic, then you will love what Invert brings to the table.
When I’m under a lot of stress (which happens to be a lot these days), I like to just sit down and play some games for a while to take my mind off of things, even for just a little bit. Personally, for me, I find puzzles to be one of the best types of games I can play when I need to relax, because they’re usually tranquil enough while being challenging at the same time, since I like to keep my mind stimulated. Though sometimes I do feel like I’ve played the best puzzles that the App Store has to offer, I can’t help but always be on the lookout for new titles that may spring up, and Invert is one of them. What surprised me even more was that it was from Noodlecake Studios, who has other awesome games, like the Super Stickman Golf series, under their belt, so I had to check out Invert for myself.
Visually, Invert is just as its name claims to be, which is minimalistic in both form and function. If you’re a fan of minimalism, then Invert is perfect. The game features a flat aesthetic design that is simple and clean while also being pleasing to look at. Invert makes use of a fantastic color palette that features various soft pastels and vibrant hues that compliment each other nicely, and watching the tiles shift color is mesmerizing, to say the least. Animations are smooth and fluid as the tiles flip over and you go from screen to screen, and the atmospheric soundtrack is calming. There’s also some amazing clicking sound effects as the tiles flip and change, so I recommend playing this one with the sound on and a good pair of headphones.
Like many other great puzzle games, Invert features several different game modes, and each mode contains the same 20 level packs to go through. Despite having the same stages, the modes themselves are all quite different, which just adds to the variety and replay value of Invert overall. The game modes contain: Campaign, Challenge, and Expert. In Campaign, you have a limited number of moves to solve each puzzle. Challenge will have you racing against the clock, but you can use as many moves as you need. Expert requires 100 stars before it’s unlocked, so it’s definitely something you have to strive for before knowing how that plays. The level packs each feature their own unique name, color scheme, and game mechanics that are introduced at the start of each chapter, so the difficulty curve is fairly gradual and never overwhelming. The goal of Invert is simple and straightforward: make all of the tiles on the board the same color using as few moves as possible. Sounds easy enough, right? But like any good puzzle game, things get trickier as you advance. You can check your progress to earning a star at the top of the screen while you’re on a puzzle.
The controls in Invert are rather intuitive and easy-to-learn. On each grid of tiles, there will be pegs along each row and column, and tapping on these lets you flip that row or column’s tiles over. At first, the game starts off simple, with toggles for each individual row or column. But then you have switches of different shapes that do different things, like the rectangular peg that flips over a 2×3 section on the grid, or the squares that just flip over the tiles in a 2×2 formation in the corner. The grid and tiles even appear in other shapes in later levels, which just add to the complexity of the game’s intricate puzzles. If you ever make a mistake, you can go back one move with the “Undo 1 Move” button in the bottom right corner. Or if you know you messed up more, you can just restart the level (if in campaign) with the restart button that is adjacent to the undo. You can always return to the level select screens by tapping on the back button in the bottom left corner, and the game saves your progress in that pack so you can pick up where you left off.
The best thing about Invert is the fact that this is a premium game that contains no in-app purchases. It also relies entirely on your puzzle solving skill, because there are no hints or level skips, so you have to keep at it if you want to make progress. For the most part, this is fine though, since all of the puzzles can be solved through trial-and-error after a few attempts. And while some later stages can prove to be rather tricky, there’s nothing that patience and critical thinking can’t solve.
I’m still early on in Invert, but so far I’m loving the game, especially as a puzzle fan. The minimal style is aesthetically pleasing, and the colors are eye-catching. However, if the colors are too bright when you play in the dark, there is a Night theme that you can switch to in the menu to turn everything into grayscale, which is a nice addition. The music is soothing as well, so it’s easy to put your attention into solving the puzzles. Controls are intuitive and responsive, the myriad of puzzles can be fairly challenging, and the gameplay mechanics are introduced at a gradual pace that never overwhelms. The only thing that is missing are hints for those who prefer immediate gratification when it comes to puzzle solving, but I think it’s better this way since there’s no way to squeeze more money out of you for hints through in-app purchases or watching ad clips. And as I said, everything can be solved by trial-and-error.
I highly recommend giving Invert a try if you’re looking for a challenging puzzle game that will give your brain a workout. You can find Invert 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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Watch Objects Transform Into Each Other in Vignettes
April 21, 2017 by RSS Feed
Vignettes ($2.99) by Armel Jestin is a relaxing, zen-like exploration game about shapeshifting objects. If you enjoyed other recent titles like Polycolor, KAMI 2, and Cosmic Express, then you will love what Vignettes has to offer.
Life gets pretty stressful, and I’ve been feeling the pressure lately. Fortunately, I am able to take reprieve in video games across a multitude of platforms, including iOS, which is always on me thanks to my iPhone. Though sometimes I need to vent my frustrations through destructive games like CATS, most of the time I prefer to unwind with something peaceful and calming, such as a puzzle. I heard about Vignettes coming to iOS for a while now, and it was definitely a head-turner because of the unique concept, which is, at least to me, a combination of exploration and puzzle. Now that it has arrived on iOS, I can assure you that it does not disappoint.
Visually speaking, Vignettes features a gorgeous minimalistic aesthetic that works out well for what the game is. The graphics are mostly flat, but the objects themselves are able to rotate, so it’s more like a mix of 2-D and 3-D in one. There are hardly any shadows though, so there’s a lack of depth in terms of layering. Vignettes’ objects are pretty simple in terms of their appearance, though you will find more complex items the further you get, but the way they morph into other objects when you hit the correct angle is seamless. The colors used in Vignettes is a nice mix of both soft pastels and bold, vibrant hues that make everything stand out nicely. Color is a big part of Vignettes as well, since it helps dictate the overall mood and tone of objects that you’re working on, and the transitions from color-to-color are fluid. Animations are smooth in the game, so there was no lag on my iPhone 7 during my testing. The game also has a rather soothing ambient soundtrack in the background (it changes depending on the object in front of you), which will help put your mind at ease and allow you to focus, and there are some whimsical sound effects that tell you when an object has changed. Overall, the developer did an excellent job in terms of the visual and audio design for Vignettes.
Vignettes starts off with a treasure chest on the screen, and on your first launch, this chest will morph into other perspectives as you rotate it with your finger. But after this initial experiment, you just tap on the chest to open it and find the last object that you dealt with previously, or the very first object that the game introduces you to, which is a telephone. From there, you just move and rotate the object until you get the proper angle at which the object transforms into another item, and you just keep going until you are able to uncover them all. A line of circles along the top of the screen will tell you your current progress, with found objects being represented by a larger circle. I’m not sure how many objects there are in total to discover in Vignettes, but you can see a map of your object progress by tapping on the button at the bottom of the screen. This lets you check out what the current object branches out into, and if there’s anything left to find, you’ll know because of the “?” symbol. Sometimes you’ll have to think about what the next object may be before you shift into it, because for the most part, the objects are related somehow.
The controls in Vignettes are incredibly simple and intuitive. Since all you are doing in the game is rotating objects (until you get the shifting angle), you just need one finger to do so. You can drag your finger anywhere on the screen to rotate and twist the object in that direction. You can even use two fingers to rotate it in the 2-D plane. On top of the seamless transitions into other objects, you can interact with each item by just tapping around. Sometimes interactions will change the colors on the screen (affecting the mood and tone), or you hear different sound effects and other cool things. It’s important to interact with the objects because there are also hidden secrets that you can find only through interactions, so if you’re a completionist, make sure to tap, tap, tap!
Again, if you want a hint as to how many objects the current one can transform into, just tap on the button at the bottom for an object map. You can also tap on the other buttons to view the item collections (portraits with all related objects that you’ve found), hidden secrets, go back to the start (telephone), or access the game’s menu.
I believe I’m still pretty early on in Vignettes, but so far the experience has been a pleasant one. I love the unique art style of the game and how everything just flows and melds together without missing a beat. The music is tranquil and perfect after a long day, and the controls are intuitive and responsive. Vignettes may appear simple on the surface, but the game is much deeper than that once you start, and it ends up being hard to stop. Plus, the interactions with some objects provide fun extras, such as rescuing cute cats, time travel, selfies on a mountain, and more. They’re not exactly obvious, but part of the fun is discovering all of these secrets for yourself.
I highly recommend Vignettes if you are looking for a distinctive and placid object exploration puzzle game. You can find Vignettes on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. There are no in-app purchases and there is even an iMessage sticker pack to boot.
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See Hilarious Battles Ensue in CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars
April 20, 2017 by RSS Feed
CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars (Free) by ZeptoLab UK Limited is the latest game from the same developers who brought you the Cut the Rope series of puzzle games. If you have been waiting for a new game from ZeptoLab that’s not only different than their usual fare, but also brings cute cats into the mix, then look no further than CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars.
When I’m under stress, I like to take a break from reality and chill out with video games. While my usual remedy is a relaxing puzzle game, sometimes I feel a bit more destructive and want to take my anger out on something, which is why I turn to games. While I was never really into things like BattleBots, I know many people are, and I will admit, it can definitely be fun to watch robots fighting each other to the death. I remember growing up when Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots were a thing, and it was always fun to watch others play or even participate yourself if you could get your hands on the toy. No matter what you’re into, it is just downright satisfying to watch two robotic things just fight each other, so when ZeptoLab announced CATS, I was intrigued — not only did it feature battle bots, but cats pilot them. Seriously, what’s not to love here?
Visually, CATS is stunningly beautiful. The game definitely has a cartoonish aesthetic to it, but that’s to be expected from a game that involves battle bots and cats. Despite the cartoon-like style, there’s a lot of polish involved in here, as you can tell from the incredibly detailed environments and even the facial expressions of the cats themselves. The color palette in CATS has a nice range of muted earthy tones to bolder and more vibrant hues, but no matter what you’re looking at, the game is certainly packed with a lot of eye candy. All of the parts that you can unlock and collect to build your battle bots with have their own distinctive appearances and quirks, so no stone is left unturned when it comes to the game’s details. Animations in CATS are buttery smooth and fluid, and the classic rock soundtrack adds some fun tunes to your hilarious cat battle bot action. Sound effects are just as you’d expect from a game involving customizable battle bots, so it’s all in good fun.
CATS is an arcade-like battle bot brawler, where you can participate in Quick Matches against other bots or go in the Championship Tournamnent. The quick match mode lets you do one battle at-a-time, and if you can get a win streak going, then you have the opportunity to earn boxes with more parts for your battle bots. As far as the championship mode goes, you have to win a certain number of matches out of a set in order to be promoted and move on to the next ranking. However, if you are able to meet the win threshold, then you will also have the opportunity to get bonus boxes that can contain powerful new parts to work with. The meat of CATS is in the bot building, customizing, and upgrading. When it comes to matches, they are automatic and the players have no control in terms of how their bot moves, so the only way to even have a say in the outcome is to make sure you strategically build the best battle bot with the parts you have.
The controls in CATS are simple enough, especially since there is no user input during battles. When you want to customize your bot, just tap on it, which is found in the center of the screen. Then you can scroll through your available parts in a ribbon along the top of the screen, and just tap on the body, weapons, or tires you want to see to view details about it. Each part has a varying amount of health, attack, and power. The power is determined by the body, which also has a set number of health points. The health points can be increased by equipping tires, and your attack increases depending on the weapon you choose, though you’ll have to keep in mind the amount of power a weapon requires too. To equip a part on to your chosen body, just drag it on. Eventually you can fuse parts together to make one piece stronger, and sometimes a piece will offer bonuses when they’re equipped on certain bodies. When you’re satisfied with what you’ve built, just tap on the button to return to the main screen, where you can try out your new creation in a Quick Match or Championship Tournament
Unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, the battles in CATS are mostly determined by how you built your bot, as well as a bit of luck, so users have no control over how they turn out aside from how they built their bots. Still though, the battles can be quite hilarious to watch, as bots may flip over and be rendered useless or be propelled backwards, or other funny outcomes. After a certain amount of time, bulldozers are revealed on both sides of the screen, and whoever gets hit by the bulldozer first will lose the battle automatically. The health for both bots will show up at the top of the screen, similar to a fighting game.
CATS is a purely player-versus-player (PvP) game, so all of the Quick Match and Championship fights are against other players’ creations. So if your bot appears as an opponent for someone else who is playing, and you win, you also get coins and rewards for successfully defending. On top of everything, the game does have a betting feature where you can place bets on a match, and if you bet correctly, you can get a super upgrade on the part you bet. Unfortunately, after the first tutorial bet, you aren’t able to see which bot is taking the lead in bets, so it becomes a 50–50 chance of winning. But if you like to take chances, this game is full of them.
I’ve only just started CATS, but so far I’m enjoying the experience, aside from the somewhat annoying tutorial in the beginning. I wish that the tutorial was optional, or at least gave you the option to edit your battle bot before your crazy uncle enters you in the tournament, because I was losing constantly for having a bad design and had no opportunity to fix that. Aside from that, the game is gorgeous to look at, the music is fun, and there are a ton of customization options available for you to create your ultimate battle bot. I just wish that there was a way for you to control your bot in battle, but this auto battle mechanic does mean it’s easier to play this game in short bursts throughout the day, at the very least. Plus, it’s just fun to see what you can come up with when it comes to the parts that you manage to get a hold of. I do find the timers for boxes to be a tad frustrating, but the gems that you need to unlock them faster are not too hard to get, but of course you can buy them through in-app purchases if you’re impatient (this is a free game, after all).
I recommend giving CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars a try if you’re looking for a fun, pint-size arcade battle bot game. You can find CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars on the App Store as a universal download on your iPhone and iPad for free with in-app purchases. The game also has an iMessage sticker pack for your enjoyment.
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Fly Through a Gorgeous Dreamscape in Fairyland Story
April 20, 2017 by RSS Feed
Fairyland Story (Free) by LI WEN is an endless runner that is a bit different than other ones that you may have played in the past. If you liked titles like Hyperburner, Infinite Skater, and Kayos, then you may like what Fairyland Story has to offer.
These days, I’m feeling pressure from stress, and I always turn to video games or other hobbies to relax and take my mind off of things for a while. I have plenty of games on my iPhone, but my favorite genre to turn to in times of stress are relaxing games, such as puzzles or zen-like escapes. And though infinite runners were a classic genre that got a bit out of hand and worn out in recent years on the App Store, sometimes they can still be good for quick play sessions and other moments when you just want to chill out for a bit. Honestly, I haven’t had the desire to play an infinite runner in a long time, but Fairyland Story looked rather interesting with the unique design, so I had to check it out.
Visually speaking, Fairyland Story is rather beautiful with its distinctive art style, which represents looking through a kaleidoscope. The game carries a somewhat flat aesthetic that is layered, so it almost looks like paper cutouts that unfold and unravel as you go. If you’re a fan of symmetrical geometric shapes, then Fairyland Story has you covered, because all of the designs are symmetrical in some way. The color palette ranges from soft pastels to bolder and more vibrant hues to muted earthy tones, and it’s all dependent on what level you manage to reach. The various objects and obstacles that you come across fit the fairyland theme rather well, and animations are pretty smooth and fluid for the most part. I’m not sure if it’s because of my iPhone 7’s RAM issue, but sometimes the game did get a bit choppy in terms of frame rate. The game has a whimsical and atmospheric soundtrack that is delightful to listen to, and definitely helps calm you down after a stressful day. To top things off, the sound effects are bubbly and charming, making the entire experience pleasant.
While Fairyland Story is an infinite runner at heart, it still has chapters and levels like you’d expect from puzzle games, and there is a a lightweight story behind everything. You discover a young girl who is sick from an illness and has never experienced the outside world. But then one day, she is whisked away by a fairy who heard her wishes and takes her on a grand fairyland adventure through a magical world. At the moment, Fairyland Story has seven chapters with a total of over 50 levels spread out across them. Each level sports its own special colors, looks, and obstacles, but it’s always going to be a magical experience. The goal is to fly through this dreamland and get as far as you can. Once you reach the end of a level, you move on to the next area, but if you want to continue from the beginning of a further chapter, you’ll have to pay up with stars. It’s easy to recover stars though, as you’ll need them while playing to keep your momentum going.
The controls in Fairyland Story are simple and intuitive, though you may need to adjust the sensitivity for the best responsiveness. As the young girl is basically flying through a tunnel of geometric shapes and fairy tale objects, you must direct her flight. To do this, all you have to do is drag your finger or thumb around on the screen, and she will move in that direction. It’s easy to learn but hard to master, and since the game just requires one finger or thumb, it is great for playing while you’re waiting around with just one free hand. As I mentioned, the default sensitivity felt a bit weak, so I had to increase it for better fluidity in terms of movement.
There will be plenty of stars floating about, and you want to make sure you collect them — not only are they used for your score, but you need them to keep your momentum, and if you get a bunch of stars in a short amount of time, you reach maximum speed. If you stop getting stars, you’ll start to slow down, as indicated by the gauge at the bottom of the screen. If the bar is empty, you’ll begin to drift backwards — use this opportunity to grab any missed stars to continue, otherwise the run ends. There are also power-up items that you can collect, which can give you a spare life or take it away (red is good, black is bad). The game ends when you hit an obstacle or run out of momentum. You can choose to continue by watching a video ad or paying stars, though the latter can be rather costly. The stars can also be used in the shop to unlock more items and upgrade them for more potent effects.
Since Fairyland Story is a free game, there are ads that show up rather frequently, which I found to be annoying. If the ads bother you, there is an in-app purchase for removing all ads, as well as other IAPs for unlocking all characters and getting more stars.
Despite the constant overload of ads and high cost of continuing or starting from a certain checkpoint level, I find Fairyland Story to be a decent enough time waster. The graphics are nicely done and the music is relaxing. Controls work best once the sensitivity is maxed out, and the gameplay is a bit different from your typical infinite runner fare. I did think that the abundance of ads was a bit annoying, so maybe the developers can consider lightening up that load a bit? I also think that it should be a one-time cost to unlock the chapter checkpoints so that you aren’t paying it over and over again.
If you are looking for an infinite runner with a different spin on things, then I recommend giving Fairyland Story a look. Fairyland Story is available as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for free. There is also an iMessage sticker pack available. The game does have in-app purchases.
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Help Kiwis Recover Lost Eggs in Mallow Drops
April 17, 2017 by RSS Feed
Mallow Drops ($2.99) by John Kane is a gravity puzzle that is a combination of platformer and sliding block games. If you enjoyed puzzlers like Slayaway Camp, Red’s Kingdom, and Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire, then you will get a kick out of the adorable Mallow Drops.
Life has been stressful for me lately, but I always take reprieve in video games or other hobbies, such as card games lately. Games are always a great stress reliever for me, and one of my favorite escapes as of late. Though I enjoy gaming on all platforms, when it comes to iOS, I usually prefer the puzzle genre, because they’re relaxing but stimulating at the same time. And while I feel as if I’ve gone through all of the puzzle games (or at least the ones that truly matter), I can’t help but still be on the lookout for new ones, and Mallow Drops caught my eye over the weekend — I can’t help but be drawn to cute things, after all!
Visually, Mallow Drops carries a somewhat retro aesthetic, as the game features a classic 16-bit pixel art style. If you grew up with classic consoles like the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis, then you will feel right at home with these old-school graphics. Despite the pixelated style, Mallow Drops still manages to pack in a good amount of fine details and textures to the environment, especially the backgrounds, which are actually previous levels you’ve already completed. The color palette in Mallow Drops is full of earthy tones and soft pastels, and everything melds together beautifully. Animations in the game are super smooth and fluid, and there are even seamless transitions to the next stage since you can see the previous one floating in the distance with a slight blur to it. I had no issues with lag when it comes to shifting gravity or moving around, so it’s clear that the developer put a lot of work and care into this gem. To top things off, Mallow Drops has a soothing atmospheric soundtrack that is rather whimsical, so it’s fun to listen to as you play, though there are options to turn the music and sound off if so desired.
Like many other puzzle games, Mallow Drops is level-based, with several different chapters for players to go through, though they must be unlocked one-at-a-time. Each level pack contains about 20 stages, so there are plenty of puzzles to solve at your leisure. Another nice thing about Mallow Drops is the fact that you can play the stages out of order, since clearing a puzzle unlocks the next few stages at once, so you can play available levels in any order you’d like. When all stages are cleared, the next chapter unlocks. The goal of the game is simple enough: help two kiwi birds recover their lost eggs and then reach the portal to get out of the broken and shattered stage. While it starts off fairly easy, things get trickier as you find more intricate stages, obstacles, and even other critters who will jump and drop to get in your way.
The controls in Mallow Drops is intuitive and responsive. For the sliding block mechanic, all you have to do is swipe your finger in the direction that you want your kiwi to go, and it moves in that direction nonstop until it hits a wall or obstacle. As far as the gravity element of the game, just rotate your device and the laws of gravity will take effect. If something on the stage is able to move due to gravity, it will shift, and this is key to solving the puzzles due to the sliding block aspect. Since the game does not have a star system or move limitations, you can take your time on each stage and solve it at your own pace. Once you finish a puzzle, the game tells you how long it took you, how many moves you made, as well as any deaths. If you’re into statistics and want to do better, then this is a great bit of information.
I’ve only started Mallow Drops recently, but so far it’s proving to be a fun and delightful puzzle experience. I’m a big fan of endearing puzzle games, and Mallow Drops falls right into that category. The graphics are a nice homage to the classics and also rather adorable to look at, the music is soothing, and the controls are easy enough for anyone to understand. I like the mashup of both gravity and sliding block puzzle game elements, as it creates an interesting mix of puzzles to solve, and the fact that you can play at your own pace makes it a winner. I can see Mallow Drops as a game that I’ll be returning to for a while.
I recommend giving Mallow Drops a try if you’re a fan of cute little puzzle games and want a challenge. You can find Mallow Drops on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. There are no in-app purchases. There is also a Steam version for $4.99.
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