Master the Art of Bushido in Roguelike Puzzler Swap Sword
November 30, 2016 by macjeff
Swap Sword ($2.99) by Alec Thomson is a fantastic mashup of the traditional match-three puzzle game and a roguelike battlefield. If you enjoyed games like You Must Build A Boat and Hero Emblems, then you will love Swap Sword.
Even though a lot of my time these days has been spent on my 3DS for Pokémon Moon, I still can’t resist some great gems on iOS for whenever my 3DS is not handy. For my mobile gaming cravings, I can’t help but always return to some kind of puzzle or roguelike game for quick gaming sessions whenever I have a spare moment. With my love of both genres, it’s not surprising that I can’t resist a new match-three roguelike RPG game, so when I saw Swap Sword on the App Store, I knew I had to check it out for myself. Needless to say, I’m not disappointed and it’s well worth the money.
Visually, Swap Sword has an awesome retro aesthetic, featuring a highly detailed pixelated art style. Seeing the game in action on my screen definitely takes me back to my childhood with the classic consoles like Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. Despite the pixel art style, I found the game to be packed with incredible detail due to the textures and shadows on each individual game piece, characters, and enemies. The colors used in the game are bright and vivid, which is certainly pleasing on Retina screens. Animations are rather smooth and fluid, so I had experienced no lag on my iPhone 7. While the game doesn’t have a soundtrack playing in the background, it does have some delightful sound effects that are fun to listen to while you match and slay your foes, but of course, you can turn them off if you prefer as well. And while there’s no background music, you can always provide your own, which is nice. Overall, the developer did a great job with the visuals, because they’re one reason I keep coming back.
Since Swap Sword is a roguelike game, that means that you’ll be starting from the beginning no matter how far you got previously before you died. If you’re not a fan of the roguelike system, then this game is not for you. But if you enjoy an always-different experience thanks to the procedurally generated dungeon layouts, then this game is packed with the good stuff. The game features several different types of terrain that you’ll come across, and while the order that they appear seems to be preset, the layout for each run is different. So while you may have done exceptionally well before, there is no guarantee that you’ll get the same results again. The goal is simple: get as far as you can through all of the different terrains and dispatch your enemies as quickly as possible until you find the door to the next area. While that sounds easy enough, the stages get increasingly difficult as you find new environments and foes that come with the territory.
The mechanics and controls in Swap Sword are pretty straightforward, especially if you’ve played any match-three RPG before. To swap adjacent pieces with each other, just swipe on top of the piece you want to move in the direction you want. For it to be a valid move, the piece must line up to make a match of at least three or more in a row or column. If it does not, the game won’t allow you to swap the piece.
The game board will consist of various types of pieces, such as green mp diamonds, shields to protect you from a hit, keys to reveal the stage exit, dynamite to blow up a row or column (watch out — this hurts you too), and walls that can protect you from enemies. If you’re ever confused about a game piece and what it does, you can long press on it to get a tooltip that explains it. Speaking of enemies, they will show up as eggs at first, but as you take your turn, they will soon hatch into various creatures that are out to get you. Once they’ve hatched, they will be able to move a space after you make a match, so the key is to plan strategically. You can swap with an enemy to attack, or line up three or more to clear them out in clusters.
If you stay on a stage long enough, “Death” eventually arrives, and your sword isn’t fast enough to kill them off, so your only option will be to run through the door to escape. When you clear the current stage, you’ll be presented with one of three random power-ups or upgrades for your character, and it’s recommended to read them carefully and choose wisely. To use a power-up in the next level, just tap on the green diamond button (mp) at the bottom to bring up your available stash and then pick the item you want to use. When you run out of your three hearts by taking hits from foes, then it’s game over. Your score is determined by the amount of coins that you end up collecting over the run, and the coins only appear once you collect enough keys to reveal the exit.
I’ve only started playing Swap Sword since I downloaded it yesterday, but so far I’m enjoying the game a lot. I’ve always had a love for match-three roguelike RPGs, and Swap Sword is a refreshing take on the standard fare that is out there. There is much more strategy required if you want to get far, and it’s a fun high score chaser. Plus, who can resist the charm of such great pixel art graphics and the way of the bushido?
I highly recommend checking out Swap Sword if you’re a fan of match-three puzzle games and love a dash of roguelike RPG action. You can get Swap Sword on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. There are no in-app purchases.
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
Reunite With Feline Friends in Aurora - Puzzle Adventure
November 29, 2016 by macjeff
Aurora - Puzzle Adventure ($1.99) by Silverback Games is a fresh new take on the match-three genre that is perfect for cat lovers out there. If you’re the type of person who just wants to sit back and relax with a fairly relaxing but challenging puzzle game that makes you think outside the box, then Aurora is a game to consider.
While much of my holiday break was spent stuffing my face and playing Pokémon Moon, it’s time to get back into the grind, at least until Christmas rolls around. And with finals coming up for me and plenty of other stressful activities (like making sure that everyone gets the right Christmas gift), sometimes I just need a breather. Personally, this means puzzle games for me, as they help me relax but still keep my mind stimulated. I stumbled upon Aurora while browsing the App Store over the holidays last week, and when I saw the gorgeous screenshots and the fact that cats are involved, well, how can I say no?
Visually, Aurora is beautiful. The game is rendered in 3-D with an angled view, which is important to note because perspective is everything in this game, just like it was in Monument Valley. Aurora also takes place in a surreal environment, which are floating structures in a dreamlike skyscape setting that are filled with colorful, vibrant blocks. Aurora, the protagonist in the game, is a nicely rendered character model with natural movements and the cats that she must reunite with are just downright adorable. The colors in Aurora are a nice mix of vivid brights to softer pastels, and there are even special textured blocks that have unique properties. The animations in the game are smooth and fluid, though the camera movement can seem a bit sudden at times when you’re rotating the stage. The atmospheric soundtrack is rather charming and whimsical, and the sound effects are a nice finishing touch to the game overall.
Like all other puzzle games, Aurora is level-based. Players will have to help Aurora navigate through several different chapters that are blocked off by gates that are encased in ice, and each section has a handful of levels to clear before you can move on. At the moment, the game has over 200 levels to match your way through, and each stage must be cleared before you can move on to the next one. Along the way, you’ll collect magical orbs that can charge your hammer that can break ice blocks, and there are even treasure chests that can be filled with some collectible artifact goodies to help you in your quest of reuniting with Aurora’s feline friends. There are also keys that you’ll need to collect to unlock the gates that will give you access to the next chapter. The goal of the game is simple — clear out the blocks that are in your path by matching them up in groups of three, and then Aurora can find a path to get to her cats. But perspective is everything in this game, so check all of your options first before making a move.
The controls in Aurora are as simple as they come. Each stage can be rotated so you can get a good look at everything from a different angle. To rotate, just drag your finger around on the screen. However, the game automatically thinks that you mean to go to the next available angle when you rotate, so it kind of jumps to it. It’s a bit annoying, and the developers should make it so that there’s more freedom in rotating. When the perspective is right and the blocks are lined up in groups of at least three or more, just tap on the color that you want to clear out. Once all of the blocks are gone and there is a safe path to her cats, then Aurora will proceed to move forward and collect any goods along the way. When you have the bomb power-up available, just tap on the button to use the bomb and place it where you need it, but use it sparingly — you only have so many in stock before having to collect more.
Fortunately, the game does not impose any move limits or time restrictions, but the puzzles do get more complex as you go, as various elemental blocks are introduced, as well as spikes, spinning cubes, and more. There are even bonus levels with some nice rewards if you manage to clear out all of the blocks before finding your cat.
While I’m still pretty early on in the game (there’s 200 levels after all), I’ve been thoroughly enjoying it so far. The game is just stunning with the exquisite graphics and rendering, plus the color palette is definitely soothing. The audio is fantastic as well, as it immerses players in a zen-like world. The controls work out well, though I just wish that the game didn’t automatically take you to the next angle and give you a bit more freedom with twisting and rotating. Hopefully that’s fixed in the future. Otherwise, Aurora – Puzzle Adventure is a solid game for both puzzle fans and cat lovers. Plus, you get a good amount of content for your money.
I recommend checking out Aurora – Puzzle Adventure if you haven’t already. It’s a perfect mix of challenging perspective puzzles with a dash of match-three, and there are cats. What’s not to love?
Aurora – Puzzle Adventure is available on the App Store as a universal app for your iPhone and iPad for just $1.99. There are in-app purchases for butterflies (hints) and the bomb power-up.
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
Hear, Here – Learn English Homophones Is Perfect for Adults and Kids Alike
November 29, 2016 by macjeff
Reviewed by Sarah Hanlon
Learning a new language can be a daunting task, but only if you don’t use all of the tools available to you.
Hear, Here – Learn English Homophones is a terrific new app that turns learning English homophones into a game.
It allows you to learn how to distinguish between homophones like air and heir, knight and night, and more.
Concept and Functionality: 
Hear, Here, a free app by Jorge Negrotti, is a fun matching game that will definitely help you hone your homophone skills. Unlike other educational games that tend to be boring, this helpful app will teach you to associate homophones both audibly and visually.
Perhaps the best thing about Hear, Here is that there isn’t a learning curve. You don’t have to worry about being incredibly proficient in English in order to play the game.
Even if English is your native language, Hear, Here is a great way to practice homophone recognition so you can sharpen your skills. It’s also a great game for kids who are studying homophones.
Features:
hear, here – Learn English Homophones iPhone App
No game is complete without achievements or goals. Hear, Here is no exception, and one of the things I really like about the game is that you progressively unlock new words.
There are a total of 300 homophones that you can study. You can even unlock in-game achievements, though it seems that these aren’t integrated with Game Center.
If you’re concerned about forgetting what you’ve learned, Hear, Here includes a very helpful album where you can go back and study homophones you unlocked. You can tap on them in the menu and hear the spoken version of the word, as well as similar sounding words.
Value:
Hear, Here is available to download from the App Store for free and is designed for iPhone. If you happen to find that the app is a helpful learning tool that’s also fun to play, you can optionally unlock an additional 300 words for $1.99.
Personally I think this is a small price to pay for helpful game that makes language learning fun.
I highly recommend giving Hear, Here a try because it’s perfect for both native English speakers as well as those who are learning English as an additional language.
Hear, Here – Learn English Homophones
requires iOS 8.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
TheiPhoneAppReview’s rating:
credit : theiphoneappreview
Intro to Revel POS QSR Lets Restaurant Owners Control Every Aspect of Business
November 28, 2016 by macjeff
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fPi66LgtYI]
Reviewed by Sarah Hanlon
In the ever-changing world of the restaurant business, new technology is always hitting the market. Whether it’s aimed towards increasing productivity, managing your employees, or becoming the financial hub of your business, you always have tons of choices if you’re a business owner.
Intro to Revel POS QSR is the incredible go-to app for your restaurant.
Created by Revel Systems iPad POS, this all-in-one iPad app lets you take orders, accept payment, and even manage payroll. The software is trusted by numerous brands such as Cinnabon, Popeyes, and others.
Concept and Functionality: 
One thing I want to mention before delving into my review of Intro to Revel POS QSR is that I couldn’t actually take the app for the in-depth test drive that I’m used to doing. This is because you need an account with the app, and that means being part of an actual restaurant. Unfortunately everything I’m basing this review on comes from the demo and personal research.
Intro to Revel POS QSR hails from a family of apps that are designed to help businesses with every single aspect their industry. Revel certainly knows what they’re doing when it comes to creating business-related software for processing orders and payments. This particular app is geared towards quick service eateries (fast food) where menu items are fairly cut-and-dried.
Naturally an app like Intro to Revel POS QSR takes a bit of time to set up once you’ve invested in the software, but it’s time well spent. You have the ability to customize everything to your liking, including payment methods and item modifiers.
Revel was even named the best iPad POS system by TopTenReviews, so business owners can feel confident that they’re investing in software that’s well-known in the industry.
Features:
Intro to Revel POS QSR iPad App
Usually I’m weary of apps that promise to do so many different things because they end up being too spread out.
I’m happy to say I found this app to be just the opposite.
Intro to Revel POS QSR is simple enough to navigate easily, but robust enough to allow business owners to solely rely on the software.
For example, business owners can use the Revel system to create loyalty programs, manage inventory, track sales data, manage payroll, and so much more.
One of the main features of Intro to Revel POS QSR is the ability to continue functioning even if the internet goes down; the app will simply sync data to the cloud once everything is back online.
Value:
Intro to Revel POS QSR is available to download from the App Store for free and is compatible with iPad. The Revel POS system requires a subscription, and the price is completely dependent on your needs.
Overall, Intro to Revel POS QSR is an incredible app that will certainly give business owners an advantage. It’s backed up by a world-renowned company that has earned quite the reputation in the market, so you know you’re putting your faith in a great product.
Intro to Revel POS QSR
requires iOS 8.0 or later and is compatible with iPad.
TheiPhoneAppReview’s rating:
credit : theiphoneappreview
Line ‘Em Up and Knock ‘Em Down in Dominocity
November 22, 2016 by macjeff
Dominocity (Free) by NoStopSign, Inc. is a fresh new take on the classic dominoes game that many of us have known our entire lives. If you love watching a set of dominoes fall and cause a chain reaction over and over again, then Dominocity is the game for you.
While there are actual rules to the game of dominoes, I never actually played them as a game. Instead, I just liked to line them up somehow and knock them down — the results just feel oddly satisfying, even though you are knocking down your previous hard work. I never came up with those awesomely complex and elaborate layouts that much more creative people have created, but those are also fun to watch when you can find video of it. From what I’ve seen, there haven’t been a lot of domino games on the App Store, so when I first heard of Dominocity coming, I was intrigued. Now that it’s here, it’s a fun little time waster, though it definitely could use a bit more polish.
Visually, Dominocity is gorgeous. It has an old-timey aesthetic that reminds me of the 1920’s, complete with all of the flashy glamour. The 3-D rendering is done well, as you can see everything clearly thanks to the angled perspective. The dominoes themselves feature a wide variety of different patterns and textures that you can unlock as you play, and they are all unique but still have that elegance that came in the 1920’s. Dominocity uses a rich color palette that mixes soft pastels, bold and vibrant hues, and various shades of gold. Everything looks fairly realistic as well thanks to the nice use of lighting and shadows, and animations are smooth and fluid on my iPhone 7. The background soundtrack is a snazzy jazz tune that is rather soothing, and definitely gets you in the mood for knocking over some nicely-themed dominoes. In terms of visuals and audio, I think the developers did a fantastic job in those departments.
At its core, Dominocity is a puzzle game that involves dominoes. There are eight different chapters that have a handful of levels in each of them, and players can play the stages in a chapter in any order that they like. The thing that sets each stage apart is their shape and layout — some are much more complicated than others. However, you’ll need to earn enough stars on the available levels in order to unlock the next set of puzzles. The goal in each stage is to line up the dominoes on the platform so that it reaches the end, but the trick is that you only get a limited number of dominoes to use, so each one counts. To earn stars, you’ll have to complete the stage in a certain amount of time — the faster you are and the less dominoes you use, the more stars you earn, as well as diamonds to unlock more domino skins. What seems like a simple game is actually much more challenging than you’d first think, thanks to limited dominoes and level timers.
The controls in Dominocity are simple enough, but I think that they can use a lot more optimization. To drop a domino in place, just watch for the moment when the line is in the spot you want to place a domino on, and then tap on the screen. But as levels implement curves and bends into the formula, things get a bit more finicky. You can rotate your current domino piece by dragging your finger around either clockwise or counter-clockwise, but I found this to be extremely tedious and cumbersome. Sometimes it would not rotate clockwise without going fully counter-clockwise first, and this picky control scheme leads to wasted time as you try and get the turn correct. I hope that the developers can fix the rotation part soon, because it’s tainting an otherwise fun game experience.
As I mentioned earlier, there are many different skins that you can get for your dominoes as you play and earn diamonds for successfully completing a stage with at least one star. There are also a good amount of opportunities for free diamonds in the form of gifts, but no in-app purchases for diamonds. Since the game is a free download, there are ads that pop up every now and then, but you can get rid of them with a $1.99 in-app purchase.
I want to love Dominocity, I really do. But at the moment, the annoying controls for rotating the dominoes taint the experience, since you get stars based on how fast you complete it, and well, when you’re fighting with the controls, that means lost time and less stars as you struggle to make the controls work. I hope that the developers can seriously consider optimizing the rotation controls better, because that’s the only flaw of the game right now. Otherwise, the gorgeous graphics and charming jazz soundtrack are captivating, and the puzzles themselves are fun and challenging. It’s a nice diversion on the App Store if you love dominoes.
If you think you can deal with some subpar controls, then by all means, check out Dominocity. But if you prefer an optimal experience, I’d recommend waiting for an update with better control schemes.
You can find Dominocity on the App Store as a universal download on the iPhone and iPad for free. There is only an in-app purchase for ad removal at $1.99.
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
Follow Mid Atlantic Consulting
Subscribe Mid Atlantic Consulting
APP review today