"If there is an app for that"

Clear the Grid by Spelling the Best Words in AlphaPit

June 10, 2016 by macjeff

AlphaPit (Free) by Shane McCafferty is a new word game with a twist. If you love word games but are tired of the usual fare, then AlphaPit is one you should consider. It’s from the same developer as Word Forward, which was a popular game from two years ago.

Since I’m a writer, one of my favorite puzzle genres are word games. But this should surprise no one, right? Even though I don’t think of myself as the best when it comes to the genre, though, I still have a lot of fun playing these games because they make me think, and we all need some mental stimulation to keep our minds sharp (otherwise, it’s just a waste). I’ve gone through dozens of word games in the past several years, but from what I’ve noticed, a lot of them seem the same, just with different skins or a few changes in rules. So when I saw the news of AlphaPit hit my inbox a while back, I was intrigued by what the game was bringing to the table. It’s not just another Scrabble or Boggle type of word game, and it’s much more challenging.

In terms of visuals, AlphaPit looks sharp for a word game. Players are greeted with a minimalistic aesthetic that works well. While the graphics look flat like most games nowadays, there’s a bit more depth to it due to the ability to change the letter tiles, which can appear to be depressed the further it is from the original state. The pinstripe gray background helps make the colored letter tiles stand out nicely, which also “pop” out with the shadows and slight 3-D appearance. It’s easy to tell when letters are selected due to the colored outlines, and the typeface used in the game is easy-to-read. The animations are smooth and fluid despite the subtlety, and things are made interesting with a techno EDM soundtrack. It’s refreshing to see this, especially in the word game category.

Like typical puzzle games, AlphaPit features levels that one must solve before moving on to the next. At the moment, the initial free game download includes 200 puzzles, which is a ton of content for nothing. And since it takes some serious wordsmith skill and time to solve, it’s not surprising that AlphaPit will keep you busy for a long time. One of things that caught me off-guard with AlphaPit is the fact that while it’s a free game, there are no in-app purchases. You can replenish your supply of power-up items to solve puzzles by watching ads, but there is no way to get rid of the ads (they only show up voluntarily) or even buy more power-ups through in-app purchases. It’s nice to see this, though, so it requires skill and patience to complete the game.

So what exactly is AlphaPit, and what makes it stand out from other word games on the market? The App Store description talks about depth and loneliness, and that’s true, though you shouldn’t get all philosophical about it (unless you want to). The objective of each puzzle is to clear out the board of letter tiles by spelling out words that consist of at least three letters. However, when you spell out words, the tiles have to be connected to each other (horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and even backwards). All tiles must be removed from the board for the puzzle to be complete. While it sounds simple enough, things get pretty tricky and you’ll have to use your noggin’ to get rid of all tiles.

To spell out a word, just tap-and-drag along the letters you want to use. If the word is accepted, the tiles vanish — otherwise, they’ll remain on the board or tell you if you’re under the three-letter requirement. If you’re unable to spell out words with the current tiles, there are a few things you can do.

The first thing is to tap (forward) or hold down (reverse) a letter, as this allows you to cycle through the previous or next three letters in the alphabet, depending on how far the tile is sticking out.

Secondly, the game also gives you two tiles in your “hand,” which are shown in the bottom left corner. These tiles can be swapped out with any tile that is currently on the board, which can be handy when you just can’t think of any words to spell out.

The last option you have are the three power-ups that are available at your disposal. The power-ups are: Undo, Shuffle, and Bomb. The Undo one is pretty self-explanatory, as it lets you undo your previous move. Shuffle is great when you can’t make any more words in the current setup, so it will shuffle the letters around, but the tiles remain in the same spots. Bomb lets you eliminate any individual tile, which is great when you just have one or two lonely tiles remaining on the board.

In regards to the power-up items, everyone will start out with three of each with the initial download. However, if you run out and need more, you can obtain three more by watching a video ad. As I mentioned earlier, there are no in-app purchases in the game, so if you need more power-ups, you’ll have to endure the ads. At least people can’t cheat by buying a ton of power-ups and not actually solving the puzzles, so there’s a plus.

My favorite part of AlphaPit, though, is the fact that you can play the game at your own pace. There are no points to score or time limits to worry about, so you can just focus on finding words to spell or figuring out new words with the tools you have. Just sit back, relax, and spell.

I’ve gone through a ton of word games since I’ve picked up my first iPhone, but AlphaPit is a real gem. The rule of having to use every tile on the board opens up a ton of possibilities that you may not have thought of, and being able to swap out letters keeps things fresh. Plus, the game looks good with minimalistic aesthetics, the music is soothing to listen to if you enjoy EDM, and controls are simple enough to understand. And tons of levels and no in-app purchases is the icing on the cake.

I highly recommend checking out AlphaPit if you’re a word game fan. You can get AlpahPit on the App Store as a universal download for free.

Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews

Jump Through a Typographic World in MAJUSCULA, a Gorgeous Platformer

June 09, 2016 by macjeff

MAJUSCULA ($0.99) by Vince Hegedus is a super challenging platformer that’s based on the wonderful world of typefaces. If you are the kind of person who loves a skill-based platformer and also enjoys learning about typography, then this is a match made in heaven.

As a kid, I grew up with the classic games like Super Mario Bros. and Sonic. These games were big parts of my childhood, and they also ignited the spark of love that I have for platformer games. They’re like the ultimate challenge at the time, so as I got older, I always love seeing new titles emerge that remind me of my glorious childhood. In recent years, I’ve done a lot of writing on my laptop and iPhone, but one thing that struck out to me about digitally writing was typography. In fact, it’s been a topic that has interested me greatly for the past few years, as I’ve grown fond of specific typefaces and deplore others. I am no expert in the field, but it’s something I find fascinating.

Naturally, when I heard about an upcoming game that combined both platformer with typography, I was enthralled. And now that it is on the App Store, I’m excited to have my hands on it. From my initial first impression though, let me warn you — this game is not for the faint of heart.

In terms of visuals, MAJUSCULA is beautiful with a minimalistic aesthetic. The game focuses on various hues of black, gray, and white, giving it that popular LIMBO feel. The only splash of color that you’ll see is the orange of the ball that you control, who is just trying to make it through the world of typography. The physics involved in the game are fairly realistic, so there’s no fake game mechanics here. Animations are buttery smooth and there is no lag in the frame rate, which is great since death is always around the corner in MAJUSCULA. The soundtrack by Essa is ambient and soothing, adding another layer of depth to the game.

Since MAJUSCULA is a game about typography, it has an interesting level concept. Each stage is in the form of a letter, and when you clear it, you’ll learn about a typeface that starts with that letter, such as who designed it, when it was created, and even how it looks (all data from Wikipedia). Now, since each level is a letter, and there are only 26 letters in the alphabet, there are only 26 levels in the game. While this may not seem like a lot (and it really isn’t), I’ll tell you now: the game can be incredibly difficult. So while there won’t be more than 26 stages, you’ll be spending a lot of time trying to survive flawlessly during those few levels because it’s easier said than done. You also can’t go back and replay levels either, as it is one streamlined journey. However, there is a reset button if you want to start over from “A.”

Controls in the game are simple enough — just tap the left half of the screen to go left, and the right to go right. You control a bouncing orange ball, which I’m assuming is the dot that is found in lowercase “i,” “j,” or maybe it’s just a period. The dot is automatically bouncing and you have no control of the bounce, which makes the game a bit more challenging than you’d originally think. Because of this, you’ll have to time your horizontal movements carefully, as there are dangerous hazards and obstacles like spikes, pools, rotating cogs, and more. As they always say, it’s easy to play, but hard to master — you need to muster up all of your skills in order to beat this platformer.

While the objective of each stage is to reach the end of the level (marked by a flag), the game also has a point system. I’m honestly not sure how the scoring is done, but it seems that you points based on how far you manage to get or how fast you complete the stage. The game is not clear on how the scoring is done, so I can’t be too certain. The point of the scoring system is for the Game Center leaderboards though, if you’re into that.

I have been waiting for MAJUSCULA for a few weeks now, and I’m not disappointed with the final result. The game is gorgeous with minimalistic graphics and the atmospheric soundtrack. The controls are intuitive and don’t take a lot of time to learn, but the timing is everything so it is still hard to master. The gameplay itself is rather difficult and challenging, though this may not appeal to casual gamers. But if you have any interest in typography, then this game is worth checking out. I just wish that there was some clarification on how the scoring system worked, because it’s pretty vague.

I recommend giving MAJUSCULA a try if you’re a fan of nail-biting platformers and like to learn about typography. You can find MAJUSCULA on the App Store as a universal download for the iPhone and iPad for just $0.99. There are no in-app purchases.

Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews

Lay Waste to Dungeon Foes in the Action-Packed Heroes of Loot 2

June 08, 2016 by macjeff

Heroes of Loot 2 ($1.99) by Pascal Bestebroer of Orangepixel is the sequel to the original classic, Heroes of Loot. If you’re a fan of action-packed dungeon crawlers that are inspired by roguelikes but without the permanent-death-so-you-start-over-from-square-one element, then Heroes of Loot 2 is the perfect match up for you.

When I have some time to spare during the day, I usually end up pouring an hour or two into a video game of some kind. And while I love puzzles on mobile platforms, I can’t help but feel drawn to some epic dungeon crawling adventures every now and then, since I’m a big fan of the genre since I played Diablo 2 years ago. Ever since I discovered Diablo 2, I fell in love with dungeon crawlers in general, and have been eager to try out new ones, whether they’re in 3-D or 2-D, and whatever platform I have access to. I’ve been a fan of Orangepixel for some time now, especially with their last release, Space Grunts. But since that dungeon crawler was more turn-based, it did get a bit tedious when I jus want to go bum-rush everything and lay waste to the room. That’s where Heroes of Loot 2 comes in.

Visually, Heroes of Loot 2 follows in the footsteps of other Orangepixel titles, as it has the super pixelated art style going on. Since I grew up in the late ’80s and ‘90s, pixel art is always welcome to me, as it reminds me of my childhood playing NES and Genesis. Despite the pixelated aesthetic, I found Heroes of Loot 2 to be fairly detailed throughout the dungeon environments, as the walls and floors are textured, lit up torches flickering with flames, and fragile objects breaking and crashing as I obliterate them with ease. The characters all stand out well on their own, even though they all appear similar but with different colors, and enemies come to life with their own boisterous spirit. Animations in Heroes of Loot 2 are smooth and fluid, though sometimes the movement feels a bit slow from the controls, and the soundtrack is sure to get you in the adventuring mood. In terms of the visuals and audio, Orangepixel has done it again.

The one problem I have with the visuals is the fact that sometimes areas are not lit enough. I’m not just talking about brightness either — sometimes I can barely see my characters or where I am going because it is pitch black. I’m sure that may just be part of the design, but it leads to a somewhat frustrating experience when you can’t even see where you are. I hope that this is corrected in the future.

Heroes of Loot 2 starts out with four heroes who set out on an adventure of a lifetime before they’re interrupted by a call for help. If you played the first Heroes of Loot, then it may look familiar to you. Orangepixel makes sure to add in that necessary splash of humor to make everything just a bit more exciting, and it pays off in Heroes of Loot 2. There are funny cutscenes that are worth watching, though they are skippable if you just want to get right to the action.

Before you start each run, you’ll have to pick two heroes (one ranged and one melee) out of four: Ranger, Wizard, Warrior, and Valkyrie. Each hero has their own special talents and abilities: Ranger can pierce through multiple enemies with arrows, Wizard has unlimited magic, Warrior can crush foes with a powerful whirlwind attack, and Valkyrie has a quick-spinning melee attack and also detects secrets and hidden loot. While you may already pick a preference as to what your ranged and close-up heroes will be, it’s important to note that you’ll need to use both character skills to complete quests and make it to the end game.

Each run has players traversing through a series of dungeons that is filled with menacing enemies and bosses while also having valuable loot. Your goal is to go from the starting point to the stairwell to the next floor without dying by the hordes of enemies that come out of the darkness. Sometimes you will encounter special rooms, like the “Arena” room, where you must clear out all enemies before you can move on. Boss battles are easily identifiable because the enemy is usually much bigger than smaller mobs and the room is sealed after you enter so you can’t leave until the boss falls.

Your health and mana/energy are displayed in the top left corner of the screen, and it’s pretty self-explanatory: once the red gauge is out, you’ve died and will have to start anew. But don’t worry — you retain your hero levels and any new skills that you acquire by collecting books, so the next runs may end up being a little easier as you play more. Sometimes you will also find items that will enhance your heroes, even if it’s just for a short amount of time. Take advantage of these as often as you can, because they’re good for our small heroes.

Controls in the game are simple enough to understand, though I do feel that they can be better optimized. In the bottom left corner will be a virtual joystick for moving and aiming your ranged attackers. The bottom right has buttons for talking to NPCs or attacking (use the joystick to aim) and switching between your ranged or close-up hero. I did find that sometimes I’d accidentally switch heroes as I’m trying to just attack with one because my thumb slipped over the button because I thought I’d aim ranged attacks with the action button, rather than the movement joystick.

Perhaps I’m just used to dual-stick shooters in this sense, but to me it makes more sense to aim ranged attacks with the right action button instead of the movement joystick. Most of the time I prefer to back up while shooting what is in front of my character — in Heroes of Loot 2, I found myself shooting at nothing as I’m backing up trying to defend myself and not get hit. Maybe it would be easier to get used to the controls if you’re not accustomed to dual-stick shooters, but I hope that the developer can consider changing how the controls work in a future update, or at least make the controls a bit more customizable, because right now you can’t change anything other than having a fixed or floating virtual joystick.

And while Heroes of Loot 2 may feel a bit repetitive for those who are not too familiar with the genre, it does spice things up a bit, especially from the original. As you explore the dungeon floors, you’ll encounter some NPCs that you can interact with. Sometimes these will just be shopkeepers that can sell you items that help you out, but other times you’ll find characters who have a problem that they want you to solve. These NPCs will give you “quests,” and the objective for them will not always be the same, so it keeps things fresh and interesting. You’ll get rewarded for completing them, so it’s not always for nothing.

Speaking of shopkeepers, like any good dungeon crawler adventure, it’s important to just break everything you can — enemies and broken items (like boxes, vases, and lights) can drop money, potions to recover health and energy, and gems. Sometimes merchants will take gold coins, but other times they want shiny blue or purple gems. Explore and break everything you can to scavenge up that pretty change and get yourself some useful items along your journey.

I wasn’t expecting Heroes of Loot 2 to drop so suddenly this week, but it was a welcome surprise. I’ve only just started the game, but I can see myself pouring many hours into this gem in the coming weeks. The graphics are awesome, the music is fun, and the gameplay is challenging and fun. I just hope to see some better optimization for the controls in terms of ranged attacking, because I find it a bit tedious and annoying in the current implementation. Still, Heroes of Loot 2 is one that shouldn’t be missed.

I recommend giving Heroes of Loot 2 if you’re a fan of dungeon crawlers or you’ve enjoyed Orangepixel’s previous games. You can get Heroes of Loot 2 as a universal download for the iPhone and iPad for just $1.99 (50 percent off until Saturday, June 11). Heroes of Loot 2 is also available on Steam for $9.99.

Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews

Think Quick and Act Fast in Caldera

June 08, 2016 by macjeff

Reviewed by Marilyn Chau

Caldera is a simple yet challenging game that is easy to pick up, difficult to master, and impossible to put down.

Requiring rapid hand-eye coordination, this app will keep you challenged to think quickly.

Features:

With bright colors and easy controls, Caldera, from Hellstorm Studios, is a game that will appeal to many players.

The object of the game is to clear the screen of different colored paddles. This is done by matching the color of the paddles with the color of the incoming color-changing ball. The player controls the rotation of the paddles while the ball bounces from north to south.

It sounds easy, but after the first few levels, the game demands quick thinking and timing. For some, Caldera definitely will have a feeling of being a sort of “throwback” game, reminiscent of PONG.

I particularly appreciated the simplicity of Caldera. It doesn’t require a long time to complete a level; if you mess up, you’re able to jump right back in.

This is great for those times when you have a little break and want to do something to keep you occupied and entertained. As players progress through the levels, the game gets pretty challenging.

Caldera iPhone Game

The game requires quick thinking and taps to control the “wheel” of paddles. It could possibly be frustrating for some, but rewarding to others.

I found myself struggling, since you can’t know when exactly a ball might change colors.  

Instead, the game requires you to make the taps in a short period of time. Still, this fast-thinking adds to the appeal of Caldera, particularly for players who appreciate good time-challenged games.

Appearance and Layout:

Similar to Caldera’s actual gameplay, the game features a simple, yet fun style.

The game incorporates bright colors that contrasts the black and white paddles and ball, lending to an overall pleasing aesthetic.

Since the actual core gameplay of Caldera is simple, there isn’t much needed in terms of appearance and layout. Navigation through the game’s menus is easy, just like the controls for the game itself.

The actual gameplay is its main feature, and the rest is icing on the cake.

Value:

Caldera is free to download with occasional advertisements and a $0.99 IAP to eliminate them. Overall Caldera is a very well crafted game that will offer up hours of entertainment.

Caldera requires iOS 7.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

TheiPhoneAppReview’s rating:

Flip Your Way Through Infinite Puzzles in Flipominos

June 07, 2016 by macjeff

Flipominos ($2.99) by Ultramegatronic is a procedurally generated puzzle game that contains an infinite amount of levels. If you love a good brain teaser-like puzzle game, then Flipominos is a match made in heaven.

I’ve said it many times before but I’ll say it again: I love mobile games, but the genre that fits in perfectly with the platform are puzzles. And honestly, who doesn’t like a good, challenging puzzle every now and then? I’ve gone through my fair share of puzzle games on iOS over the years, but let me tell you — I can’t get enough of them. They’re perfect gems to kill some time with, and they’re stimulating for your mind, which is always a good thing (don’t let that brain go to waste). So when I saw Flipominos on the App Store, I was intrigued by the minimalist concept and the procedurally generated levels with infinite possibilities, so I had to check it out for myself.

Visually, Flipominos has a super minimalistic aesthetic, as it features a bland light gray background and monotone checkered grid layouts for each stage. The only sign of color lies within the blue cube structures and the matching squares on the grid. The 3-D rendering of Flipominos is decent enough, but I wish that it had some shadowing to give it a bit more depth and soul. Still, for a minimal aesthetic, the game looks fine. Animations are smooth and fluid, and while there is no background music, the sound effects are a fun touch.

In Flipominos, every level is procedurally generated, though the main piece that you must match to the proper spot will be the same — it’s the layout that will vary. The game claims that there is an infinite number of levels, but states in the App Store description that there are currently 4.3 billion, which is a lot of puzzles. Flipominos has players go through the levels one-by-one, though you can also go back and replay stages through the “Level Select” menu option. Some stages will be fairly easy, but others will be more tricky. There are no stars to earn or points to rack up, but you can get a “perfect” if you make no mistakes on a puzzle. Other than that, the game is essentially just solving it at your own pace.

So what is Flipominos, exactly? Each grid features a different layout, but you have some blue squares shown on the grid. On top of the board will be a blue cube structure, and your job is to get that structure to match up with the marked base area. To move your object, just swipe anywhere on the screen in the direction you want it to move. If the structure can’t be moved that way, you’ll know with flashing red squares and your object unable to advance. Once the structure matches up with the base, you’ve completed that stage and will move on to the next.

While the stages start out pretty easy at first, there will eventually be obstacles, such as lasers and spikes that you must avoid and maneuver the cube structure around. These additions make the levels trickier than they appear, but it’s a good challenge that is always welcome.

Plus, if you get stuck, there is a unique hint system. Instead of just providing you with a hint in the game, you’ll use an automated Twitter-based hint system, where you can send a tweet to @flipominos. If you follow them, you’ll get a direct message that shows you the complete solution. If you don’t follow them, then you’ll only get to see what the first few moves should be before you have to figure out the rest on your own. For full details on this distinctive hint system, check out this link.

I only downloaded Flipominos yesterday but I’m finding that it is pretty difficult to put down once you get going. I think the graphics could have used a bit more “oomph” with some shadow detail, but the current style is still going to appeal to the minimalists out there. Controls are intuitive and easy to learn, and the puzzles do get challenging the further you get in the game. Plus, with over a billion levels in the initial download, there is going to be plenty of content to keep you busy for a long time. What’s not to like about Flipominos?

I think the only drawback is the fact that the hint system requires a Twitter account, and I know that there are some people out there who don’t understand what the point of Twitter is and don’t care for it. Perhaps the developer should consider an alternative hint system for those who do not use Twitter and don’t plan to just for one game.

I recommend giving Flipominos a try if you enjoy stimulating puzzle games. Flipominos is available on the App Store as a universal download for $2.99. There are no in-app purchases.

Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews