Get Aliens Home in Cosmic Express, a Cute Puzzler
March 21, 2017 by RSS Feed
Cosmic Express ($4.99) by Draknek Limited is a puzzle game about building train routes for an awkward space colony of adorable little aliens. If you enjoyed titles like Mini Metro and Conduct THIS!, then Cosmic Express is another fine gem to add to your collection of train puzzlers.
When I’m not exploring Hyrule on my Nintendo Switch these days, I like to take a breather and relax with some quick game time on my iPhone. If you’ve followed my work over the past few years, then you’ll know that I’m a complete sucker for puzzle games because while I like to relax, I prefer to keep my brain stimulated somehow, and I find puzzles to be the best medicine. When Mini Metro came out, I quickly fell in love with the train puzzle genre because not only am I a fan of trains in general, but I love the complexity behind them — they look easy at first, but there’s much more to trains and subways than what you see on the surface. Cosmic Express caught my eye on the App Store in the past few days because of the cute aliens, but I also noticed that it was from the same developers of A Good Snowman Is Hard To Build, which was another delightful puzzle game. Because of this fact, I knew Cosmic Express was a game that I had to check out, and I can definitely say that I’m not disappointed.
Visually speaking, Cosmic Express is gorgeous and packed with a ton of charm. The game is rendered in 3-D with an isometric perspective, which is great because it helps players see the entire grid where they’ll be laying train tracks on to solve the puzzles. It looks a bit more cartoonish than the other train games I’ve mentioned earlier, but that’s just part of the allure of Cosmic Express. The color palette features a nice range of soft and vibrant pastel hues, and everything contrasts nicely with one another, so it’s easy to tell things apart. The alien creatures have a distinctive skin color and appearance, all of which I found to be rather endearing, and it’s not hard to tell what their destinations are. Animations are smooth and fluid, so I had no issues with lag on my iPhone 7. There is a subtle, ambient soundtrack in the background and there are fun and quirky sound effects that you’ll hear as you have your space train kick into motion. I believe that Draknek Limited did another excellent job in terms of the visual and audio design with Cosmic Express.
Like other puzzle games before it, Cosmic Express is level-based, and players have to complete previous puzzles in order to unlock access to the next stage. While it’s fairly linear, it does give a bit of leeway as you progress, because some stages branch off to open up later levels early. While I’m not sure how many levels there are in total, the App Store description mentions “hundreds of levels,” so you can be sure that there is plenty of bang for your buck. Cosmic Express is also pretty relaxing, as there are no points or stars to worry about collecting — the goal is to just get all of the aliens in the space colony to their proper destinations, and then have the train exit to move on to the next area. It sounds simple enough, right? As you advance through the stages one-by-one, you’ll soon realize that even such a basic concept gets intricate and complex.
Controls in Cosmic Express are straightforward, intuitive, and work well even on smaller screen devices. The start of the track will usually be on the left side of the colony bubble, and your job is to place tracks down on the grid so that it picks up each alien as a passenger, drops them off at their appropriate destination (color coded), repeats the process for each alien, and then goes to the exit, which is located on one of the other sides of the grid. To place tracks down, just touch-and-drag from either the start or end point of the track. Tracks cannot cross over each other, so the trick is to figure out a path that will pick up all aliens (one-at-a-time) and drop them off and then reach the exit in one go. Once you have all of your track laid out, just tap on the “Play” button to have the train move. If the train is unsuccessful, then you can tap on the “restart” button to try again. Since there are no points, stars, or penalties to worry about, Cosmic Express is a rather meditative game, making it a perfect way to relax.
I’ve only managed to play through some of the beginning levels, but so far the game is thoroughly enjoyable. I love adorable graphical style, the audio is a delight to the ears, controls work well (even on small screens), and the puzzles themselves can be fairly challenging, despite the cartoonish aesthetic. I’m still in the early stages, but I can see myself coming back to this one for a while.
I highly recommend checking out Cosmic Express if you’re a train puzzle game fan. You can find Cosmic Express on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $4.99. There are no in-app purchases.
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A Closer Look at 7SultansCasino mobile
March 21, 2017 by RSS Feed
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7sultans Casino offers a themed gameplay website and mobile app that allows players to indulge in their love of slots, table games and even live poker through a safe site with top level security. The website can be played both on desktop devices and through a mobile download so can be enjoyed wherever you are.
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The main website offers over 700 different games for players to try while the 7sultans mobile casino offers an impressive 90 different games specially designed for the format. The games include slots, table games and scratch cards as well as casual games. The table games section includes classics such as blackjack and baccarat while there are also versions of the games from around the world, such as the Vegas Downtown Blackjack.
There is also a Video Poker section where players can enjoy a real casino style experience. There are many different variations here to try something different including Louisiana Double and Bonus Deuces Wild.
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Promotions are a big area for online casinos and a way to attract players as well as keep them coming back. With 7sultans, there is a new player bonus where you can receive up to five 100% deposit matches up to a total of $500. On the first deposit, you will also receive either 25 free spins or 10 free credits, spending on which you would prefer.
The website also operates a monthly promotion that has a different theme and payout each month. Past promotions included players winning a share of a $500,000 or $200,000 prize fund. The promotion has a theme around the time of year to add a little fun and usually involves rewards for regular play.
In addition to their normal bonuses, the website also offers a Loyalty Rewards program for returning players. All players who bet with real money are automatically entered into and the more you play, the more reward points you earn. You can then use these credits to earn different levels of the program and better rewards. These include birthday bonuses, monthly loyalty bonuses and special weekly promotions not open to other players.
Withdrawals and deposits
Putting money into a casino website and withdrawing it safely is another of the big areas that players are concerned about. For 7sultans, there are a number of payment options available. You can deposit and withdraw money through a Visa and MasterCard as well as through e-wallets such as Neteller and Skrill.
Deposits are normally instant to allow you to play. Withdrawing money can take a little longer due to the processing times of different companies. Typically, e-wallets process payments in a maximum of 48 hours, though they are often instant. Payments to cards can take 2-4 days depending on the bank.
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Both the website and mobile app use the latest in digital encryption to protect player’s details when they log on. This includes using a 256-bit SSL digital encryption – the same level of protection used by banks and other financial institutions to protect bank account information. They also have a policy of not giving out any information about website users to any third parties.
7sultans Casino also offers several options for support. You can use a Live Chat facility and there are phone numbers to call them. There are also email, iMessage, Skype and WhatsApp facilities to speak to someone about any queries.
Conclusion
Whether you play through the desktop website or the mobile app, 7sultans Casino offers great quality gameplay with a safe and secure website that protects user’s details. There are plenty of safe payment methods available to players can easily withdraw their winnings.
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Be in Control of the Ghostly World of Oxenfree, Now on iOS
March 20, 2017 by RSS Feed
OXENFREE ($3.99) by Night School Studio is the iOS port of the 2016 critically acclaimed supernatural mystery graphic adventure video game that was originally on PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. If you enjoy stories with weird mysteries and the supernatural, then Oxenfree is the perfect title for you to check out. Plus, this is a great opportunity to play Oxenfree if you’ve never had the chance to do so before on other platforms.
These days, while a lot of my gaming time is being spent on my Nintendo Switch with Breath of the Wild, I like to check out what’s available on my iPhone for those times I want a break from exploring Hyrule. I’m a big fan of the supernatural, which is why Netflix’s “Stranger Things” appealed to me, and I’m always up for a good story. To be honest, though, I didn’t actually hear about Oxenfree until I saw that it was nominated at the Game Developers Choice Awards at GDC 2017 when I attended the show, and it definitely intrigued me. Ever since then, I had been thinking about picking it up for my PlayStation 4, but then I saw that it just became available on iOS last week. Needless to say, it was a perfect opportunity for me to finally take this adventure out for a spin, and I am not disappointed.
The visuals in Oxenfree are stunning and gorgeous. The graphics are insanely rich in detail and texture, and everything looks and feels hand illustrated. While the camera view is mostly zoomed out for the most part, players can still see the beautiful scenery and various environments as they were meant to be seen. The characters all have their own distinctive appearances and personalities, and the voice acting for all of them is incredible. Colors in Oxenfree range from dark and gloomy tones to some brights that tell you of the supernatural. The choice of typography for the decisions that pop up feel like handwritten scribbles, giving it even more of an authentic feel, since we are dealing with teenagers, after all. Animations are smooth and fluid, so I had no lag issues on my iPhone 7.
One of the best things about Oxenfree is the audio. The game is best played with sound on, so you’d best grab your favorite headphones to immerse yourself in the story and world. All of the dialogue is voiced out with subtitles (in case you miss something), so it helps you care about the characters that you’re dealing with, since it feels more real. The game also has a hauntingly good VHS synth-pop soundtrack that I found to be an absolute delight to listen to. Plus, Alex (the main character you control) has a radio with her that emits realistic static radio sounds, and things start to sound rather scary once the story gets going. Needless to say, Night School Studio has done an excellent job with Oxenfree’s visual and audio design, and it’s no wonder why the game was nominated in the Game Developer Choice Awards.
Since this is a graphic adventure game, Oxenfree starts out with the beginning of the story, so players will sit through the dialogue and watch events unfold as decisions pop up on the screen and you pick an option. These choices will constantly appear throughout the game as the characters interact with each other, but it’s important to note that the decisions you make will affect relationships between characters and the eventual outcome of events in Oxenfree. There are multiple endings to Oxenfree, so if you’re a completionist and want to know all of the possible endings, then there is high replay value.
For those who are unfamiliar with Oxenfree, the story goes like this: Alex brings her new stepbrother, Jonas, along on a ferry ride to a remote military island for a beach gathering with some friends. Everyone is just doing what normal teenagers do at the beach until Alex, Jonas, and Ren (Alex’s best friend) wander off to find a suspicious cave that ends up being the portal to a ghostly world that reveals the island’s past. From this point on, how you have Alex deal with the eerie events, her peers, and the ominous spirits that have become unleashed upon the world is entirely up to you.
While a lot of the game is various scenes with the characters talking and interacting, there are puzzling gameplay elements that players can sink their teeth into. Again, choices matter in this game, so think quickly about what your best answer would be when the options pop up, as they do disappear after a few seconds. To move your character around (it’s mostly Alex, but sometimes you’ll be in control of the other kids), you can just tap-and-hold your finger on the screen in the direction you want to go, or just tap the spot you want to move to. Whenever there is something fishy in the area, you’ll be asked to use Alex’s radio, which can be done by tapping on the radio icon in the top right corner. Then just slide your finger horizontally on the screen to adjust the radio dial until you finally scan what you need (visual clues let you know when you’re close). The radio is the tool that let’s Alex communicate with spirits and specters, as well as manipulate the world around her, so it’s a vital piece of the puzzle.
I’ve only just started Oxenfree over the weekend, but so far I’m loving it. The graphics are just downright superb, though I do wish that the camera could have been a bit more zoomed in, because things appear small on my iPhone 7 screen (no Plus). Still, I love the amount of detail that the artists put into the visuals. On top of that, the voice acting is excellent, the music is stirring, and the sound effects are captivating. The controls work well enough for the touch screen, as I did not have any major issues. But the best parts about Oxenfree are the story, characters, and of course, the supernatural.
I highly recommend picking up Oxenfree if you are a fan of supernatural themes and have not played the game before. You can find Oxenfree on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for $3.99. The game is 20 percent off for a limited time.
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Get Bewitched by Quirky Charm in the Puzzling Beglitched
March 17, 2017 by RSS Feed
Beglitched ($3.99) by Alec Thomson is a quirky puzzle game about insecurity and hacking. If you love computers and solving puzzles, then Beglitched is definitely one you don’t want to miss out on. It’s similar to other games like 868-HACK and makes you feel like Adam Jensen of Deus Ex.
A lot of my gaming time these days is spent in Breath of the Wild on my Nintendo Switch, but there’s no denying it — there have been a plethora of great iOS games that have come out as well. When I’m not exploring the vast world of Hyrule and solving puzzles in shrines, I like to take a break and chill with my iPhone for a quick, bite-size gaming session. If you have followed my work here at AppAdvice, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of puzzle games, especially when they bring something distinctive to the App Store. Puzzles are my favorite because they make me use my brain, and there’s nothing that tops the rewarding satisfaction you get when you finally figure out the correct solution, even if it takes you a while. When I saw Beglitched on the App Store, I was intrigued by it due to the fact that it involved computers, but it was also pastel and seemed like nothing I’ve played before. Plus, it’s also made by the same developer of Swap Sword, which is a game I enjoyed quite a bit, so I had to check it out. After figuring out the basics, I’m hooked.
The visual style in Beglitched is unique and follows along with some of Thomson’s other games, as it features a pixelated aesthetic that is downright cute and charming. Despite the pixel art, Beglitched is rather detailed in the fact that the entire game is essentially a computer simulation, and players feel like they’re really hacking on an old-school laptop computer with the pop-up dialog boxes and file systems. The character sprites, icons, and puzzle pieces are bursting with their own bubbly personalities and it’s pretty easy to figure out what the symbols on the puzzle pieces are for. The color palette of Beglitched is definitely eye-catching with the mixed myriad of pastels and brights, and it all meshes together nicely. Animations are smooth and fluid, so I had no issues with lag on my iPhone 7. There is an ambient, atmospheric chiptune soundtrack that is an absolute delight to listen to, and the realistic computer sound effects are just icing on the cake if you’re into computers at all. Overall, Thomson has done another excellent job in terms of visuals and audio with Beglitched, and it’s well worth the cost of admission alone to experience them, in my opinion.
Since Beglitched simulates an alien computer that your character stole from a famous hacker named Glitch Witch, the “levels” in the game are actually programs on the Desktop. At the moment, there appear to be about seven levels to play through, and each has several sections to solve and battle through. Only the first one is available at first, with the rest of them locked. You’ll have to successfully hack your way through the first stage in order to unlock the next one, and repeat the process to get all of them. Things get progressively more difficult at a gradual pace as you get deeper in the computer. I did find the game a tad confusing at first, but once I started to tinker around with it, I figured it out just fine.
On each section of a program, you’ll want to go around the insides of the computer and find any hidden nodes that light up — these can contain various items or portals that take you to the next area. Others can have enemies on top of them, of which you must defeat in a battle of wits on a puzzle grid that’s a mix of Minesweeper and Bejeweled. Watch out for eggs though, because it will scramble the layer you’re on and you’ll have to pretty much restart.
Controls in Beglitched are simple enough. To move around on the node map, just tap on the one you want to move to. Sometimes the paths to it are pretty straightforward, but other times you’ll have to hit up multiple nodes before reaching the one you want. This means the possibility of an enemy encounter if you aren’t careful, so be prepared.
During enemy encounters, the screen changes to a grid of puzzle pieces, similar to what you would find in match-three games like Bejeweled. Your opponent will be hiding in a spot on the board, and it’s up to you to find them and use the bomb piece to expose and defeat them. Swap pieces by touching and dragging them to an adjacent spot. However, to find the enemy, you’ll have to use the computer and compass pieces pinpoint their location, and these are activated with a tap (then just hold down on them to check again). You get several cycles of actions on each turn before the enemy attacks you, but you also have to make sure that your energy levels are sufficient enough to take action as well. To recharge, just match up three or more batteries. Some pieces can create a bigger, more potent piece by combining four or more, and it’s possible to create chain reactions to snuff out the hackers. Each time the opponent gets an attack in, you lose a heart — once all hearts are gone, you lose and will be booted out to the Desktop. If you can successfully solve the puzzles and survive the battles in a program, then the next one unlocks and you repeat the process.
The game does provide some helpful hint text if you get stuck, but there aren’t any obvious solutions given to you, so you still have to do the majority of the problem solving here. Like I mentioned earlier, I was a bit confused when I first started playing, but with a bit of time and practice, I’m getting the hang of the game, and it’s rather addicting. There’s also a good amount of humor in the game, which just adds to the awesome factor. I mean, come on, you can’t be such a leftclicker with this clever title.
I’ve only unlocked the second program so far, but I’m enjoying my time spent with Beglitched. The pixel graphics are endearing, the soundtrack is fun to listen to, the sound effects add a realistic layer to the charming and quirky game, puzzles are fairly challenging, and the combination of Bejeweled and Minesweeper for battles is an interesting take that keeps you coming back for more. From what I’m reading in iTunes reviews, the game is not too long, but it does make you think hard on some parts, so it’s not something you can just breeze through.
If you’re a fan of puzzle games and computers, but also want something fresh and new, then I highly recommend giving Beglitched a try. You can find Beglitched on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $3.99. There are no in-app purchases.
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Euclidean Lands is a Perfect Mix of Medieval Combat and Puzzle
March 16, 2017 by RSS Feed
Euclidean Lands ($2.99) by kunabi brother GmbH is a beautiful puzzler from the guys behind Blek that is pretty much what you get if Monument Valley and Hitman GO had a baby together. If that doesn’t get you intrigued on what Euclidean Lands has to offer, then think of other games like After the End: Forsaken Destiny and Causality — if those types of games are what floats your boat, then Euclidean Lands is just another gem that you need in your collection.
These days, while most of my time has been getting poured into The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on my Nintendo Switch, I like to take a break from exploring the vast map of Hyrule and turn to my iPhone for some quick gaming sessions. As a huge puzzle game fan, Monument Valley has been one of my favorite iOS games of all time, and with good reason too. I also enjoyed the Hitman GO game fairly thoroughly, despite never playing a Hitman game in my life previously. Both of these games were a first of their kind on iOS, so naturally, I have a soft spot in my heart for both of them. So when I saw Euclidean Lands on the App Store, I immediately thought of both of these titles, which proves to be an interesting mashup and something I had to check out for myself. After spending some time with the game, I’m definitely not disappointed. While it is a hybrid of the two games, there’s enough in this game to make it stand up on its own as well.
In terms of visuals, Euclidean Lands is downright beautiful with an isometric aesthetic that features cube-like structures that you can swivel and rotate, just like a Rubik’s Cube. Everything is rendered in 3-D and the game is almost like an optical illusion, similar to Monument Valley. However, unlike Monument Valley, your protagonist and all of the enemies that stand in your way are more like chess pieces on the cube, and you must maneuver your character strategically to dispatch your foes without getting killed yourself. The color palette in Euclidean Lands is stunning, as you’ll find various pastel shades and vibrant, bolder hues that combine into a soothing masterpiece. There is also some text in the game levels that provide subtle hints from time to time, and the typography fits in with the isometric style. Animations are smooth and fluid when you move the cube and navigate your character around, and the particle effects that occur when an elimination happens (you or the enemies) is just icing on the cake.
Euclidean Lands’ understated, ambient soundtrack is fairly tranquil and relaxing, which should help you focus on solving the puzzles. The magic behind the game’s audio lies in the sound effects though, which sound like realistic game pieces being moved along stone or some other similar material. Needless to say, kunabi brother GmbH has done an excellent job with Euclidean Lands’ visual and audio design.
Following in similar fashion as other puzzle games, Euclidean Lands is level-based, and players must go through the stages one-by-one in a linear fashion, as levels unlock when you clear the previous one. At the moment, there are five chapters and 40 levels in total. The game does not provide any hints or in-app purchases, so the only way to beat Euclidean Lands is by using your brain. The first several levels start off simple enough, but things get much more intricate and tricky as you progress through the game, though it’s rather gradual and never overwhelming. In fact, it’s important to check the text on a stage if there is any, since they may provide you with hints on what you should be doing in order to complete the level, such as grabbing shields to protect you from frontal attacks.
Controls in Euclidean Lands are pretty straightforward and intuitive. The cube mass on each stage can be rotated left and right by dragging your finger around the screen. To rotate the sides or center of the cube (think of a Rubik’s Cube), just touch-and-drag that panel in the direction you want to move it in. Your character can only move one space at a time, and this is done by tapping on the empty square that you want to go to, if it’s accessible. If there’s a wall or some other obstacle, then you won’t be able to move to it. Enemies will occupy squares as well, and the only way to get rid of them is to attack them from the sides or back. If you try to attack them head-on, you’ll die unless you have a shield item, as mentioned earlier. Once all of the enemies are dispatched, then the portal gate opens up (red circle that will glow), and when you reach it, you’ll advance to the next stage, earning up to three medals depending on how well you do. I do wish that it was possible to rotate the cube vertically though, as that would make it easier to see where the enemies are, rather than having to rotate each panel.
To keep things interesting, some enemies have longer attack ranges than others, and you can see how far they can attack due to the red line and “x” marker in front of them. Some may even have shields that protect them, so you have to figure out a way to sneak up on them. Eventually, the cube architectures will begin to morph as you defeat foes, making it harder than it first appeared. There will also be other things like slopes, teleporter squares, and even bosses that start to appear, upping the ante each and every time.
I spent a good chunk of time with Euclidean Lands so far, and while I’m still in the early stages (things get pretty hard!), I’m absolutely loving the game. The graphics are exquisite, the sounds are delightful, and the controls are easy for anyone to learn. While the levels start out basic enough, I love how the difficulty increases on each level until you have something that is so intricate and complex, yet you can’t help but keep playing anyway, even if it will take you a while to figure out the solution. This is a fantastic strategy puzzle that will appeal to anyone who is looking for a challenge. The only improvement that should be made is the ability to rotate the stage vertically, so it would be easier to get a view of what’s to come and plan your method of attack accordingly. Other than that, Euclidean Lands is a solid release and one of the best puzzle games released so far this year, in my opinion.
I highly recommend checking out Euclidean Lands if you’re a fan of puzzles, stealth, and strategy. You can find Euclidean Lands on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. There are no in-app purchases.
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