Light Up The Darkness and Let Life Flourish in Ilu
May 17, 2018 by RSS Feed
Ilu (Free) by Brainium Studios LLC is a puzzle game that balances light and darkness. I know, it's a little cliché, but it's tastefully done in ilu. If you enjoyed other recent titles like Fliplomacy or even Umiro, then you'll like what ilu offers.
When I'm under a lot of stress, I need to take some time out to relax and take my mind off of things. Usually, my go-to game type is a puzzle because it helps me calm down and also keeps my brain busy, which is always welcome. And while I feel like I've played every kind of puzzle game there is on the App Store, I can't help but always be on the lookout for new ones. And so ilu was definitely one that caught my attention this week, and I must say that it does not disappoint.
Fliplomacy
Shobhit Samaria
Umiro
GHI Media, LLC
Visually, ilu is beautiful. The game contains a minimalistic aesthetic style that's completely rendered in 2D. It uses simple shapes to represent the board and the pieces, as well as a soft color palette that is full of soothing gradients. Each of the infinite stages contains a board that lights up yellow, to represent the light in the darkness. And as you solve each puzzle, lush green life blooms and flourishes, proving to be the icing on the cake on this already gorgeous game. All animations are smooth and fluid on my iPhone 8 Plus, and the game has an ambient and atmospheric soundtrack that's tranquil and zen-like. The sound effects are whimsical and create a dynamic track on it's own as light fills the board.
The great thing about ilu is the fact that the game is free and contains an infinite number of levels that are generated as you progress. Since the game itself is a free download, there are some ads that show up every now and then, but you can get rid of them with an in-app purchase. However, I was not bothered by the ads since they don't interrupt the gameplay, but I appreciate having the option to get rid of them completely.
The goal in ilu is simple: light up the dark board and make sure that no tile gets unlit. However, some tiles have dots on them — these dots signify that an adjacent square must be the source of the light, and all of the dots on a tile must be lit up accordingly. So if a square has one dot, it only needs one adjacent tile to be the light source. If it has three or four, then three or four adjacent spaces must be the source of the light.
While this sounds like a simple task, things get complicated as the board gets bigger and features more intricate layouts. Each time you place a light down, the entire row or column is lit up accordingly. Be careful not to overlap the lights though, as the dots can be cancelled out too. With ilu, it's all about the logic and sequence of the lights.
Controls in ilu are simple and intuitive. To place a light in a square, just tap on it. The light flows into the rest of the row or column, and if an adjacent tile has dots, they'll light up. The goal is to get all of the dots lit up, as well as the rest of the grid, in order to solve the puzzle and restore life. You can undo a light by tapping on the square, and there are buttons in the bottom left corner for resetting the puzzle or undoing your last move.
At the top of each puzzle is a bar that shows you how well you're doing in solving it. You can even see the difficulty level at the start, in case you're curious. However, don't worry about stars or anything, because the game doesn't use that system. Instead, the number of moves you do to solve it is calculated into the progress bar, as well as your overall, cumulative score. You can earn "perfect" on a puzzle, and it's shown in your stats, but it's not completely necessary.
Once you've completed all of the puzzles on a planet, you'll earn crystals. These crystals are to upgrade your suit and ship. Both of these are more like cosmetic upgrades, as they don't affect solving the puzzles — that's all logic. They affect how the world looks after you terraform them, as a result of restoring light and balance.
Ilu is a gorgeous logic puzzle game about balancing light and dark and restoring life.
The Good
Ilu is definitely a good game to check out for fans of logic puzzles. The graphics look sharp and crisp on Retina screens, the dynamic music and sound effects are fun, and the controls are simple enough for anyone to understand. However, the puzzles are a great mix of straightforward and intricate, and it just becomes more entertaining as you go. And while it's a free game with ads, they do not get in the way of the game itself, and there's an infinite number of stages that can be generated, giving you a lot of bang for your buck.
The Bad
Honestly, even though I'm not usually big on freemium games, ilu doesn't have the annoyances of the typical free game, which is a nice breath of fresh air. There's no energy system so you can play as long as you want, and the ads never get in the way. Perhaps if I must point out a fault, it's the fact that the upgrades can be a little pricey, and they don't change the gameplay at all.
The verdict
As a fan of relaxing puzzle games, ilu is definitely one I'm going to be keeping around on my devices. The game's visuals are breathtaking, especially as life blooms on each planet, and the dynamic music is fun and delightful. I love logical puzzles, and these are the kind that make you go, "Aha! That all makes sense now" quite often. The ads don't get in the way of enjoying the game, but I think I'll be sending some money to the devs in the future to show support for this elegant little gem.
You can find ilu on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for free. There are in-app purchases for ad removal and cosmetic upgrades.
9.0
OVERALL
Replayability 9
Game Controls 9
Graphics 9
Sound/Music 9
Gameplay 9
ilu
Brainium Studios LLC
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
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Sfara Guardian Is a Feature-Rich Personal Safety App for iPhone
May 16, 2018 by RSS Feed
Reviewed by Sarah Hanlon
It’s an unfortunate truth, but you can never be too careful in today’s world. Personal safety is something that should be at the top of everyone’s list, no matter how old/young you are or where you live.
Sfara Guardian Personal Safety is an outstanding free app that makes it incredibly easy to turn your phone into an enhanced safety device. This is truly one app that everyone should have.
Concept and Functionality: 
The goal of Sfara Guardian, by Driversiti, is to provide users with an overwhelming sense of safety by providing a wide variety of features that are easy to use.
In order to start using Sfara Guardian you’ll need to create an account and connect your phone number to the service. You’ll also need to enable location services (make sure it’s set to “Always On”) so the app will always have your GPS coordinates in case emergency services are called.
Once the app is set up, you’ll immediately feel safer. Finding your way around Sfara Guardian is a breeze, and I really love the fact that everything you need to access is one or two taps away.
From the main screen you can place an immediate call to emergency services, activate crash monitoring if you’re driving, or use the safety checkpoint feature and have the app ask for your pin at a specific time.
From automatic drive monitoring to the safety checkpoint tool, Sfara Guardian has all bases covered in case of emergency.
If you’re caring for older parents or grandparents who still drive, put this app on their iPhone and don’t take no for an answer!
The app even has a pending patent for “triple tap technology”, which allows you to discreetly contact emergency services while the safety checkpoint timer is running by patting your phone three times.
Features:
Sfara Guardian Personal Safety iPhone App
Though a few of the safety features in Sfara Guardian require a monthly subscription, you may find that it’s worth the price for peace of mind.
Free tools include roadside assistance, fake calling, a report card for driving habits, and quick access to a list of the closest emergency centers.
Services included in the monthly or annual subscription include crash monitoring, the checkpoint timer, and enhanced roadside assistance.
The primary reason for Sfara Guardian using a subscription-based platform is because the app connects you to real emergency personnel when something is wrong.
From what I understand, these professionals work as a middleman between you and local emergency services, and they’re trained to assess and handle emergency situations. Unfortunately I couldn’t test this for the review, but I would feel safe using the app myself.
Value:
Sfara Guardian is available to download from the App Store for free and is designed for iPhone. Subscription plans are $4.99 monthly or $59.99 annually, which is a very reasonable price if you rely on the app every day. There’s a 7 day trial period so you can take advantage of everything Sfara Guardian offers.
Overall, Sfara Guardian is a fantastic safety app that definitely gives you peace of mind. Whether you choose to stick with free features or commit to the full version, this is an app that’s worth a try.
Sfara Guardian Personal Safety requires iOS 10.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone.
Source link:http://www.theiphoneappreview.com/2018/05/sfara-guardian-iphone-app/
credit : theiphoneappreview
9 of the Most Popular Games for iPhone
May 14, 2018 by RSS Feed
Source link:http://www.theiphoneappreview.com/2018/05/9-of-the-most-popular-games-for-iphone/
credit : theiphoneappreview
Super Phantom Cat 2 is One Game You’ll Play Over and Over Again
May 11, 2018 by RSS Feed
Super Phantom Cat 2 iPhone Game
If you loved playing Super Mario Bros and have a warm place in your heart for that style of game-play, you’ll be thrilled to learn about this game.
Super Phantom Cat 2 is a delightful, challenging and just plain fun game that is easy to pick up and enjoy right away but will also keep you coming back again and again.
Features:
Super Phantom Cat 2, from developer Veewo Games, has just the right mix of ease-of-use, challenges and upgrades to make this game stand out from the crowd.
As you move along to the right you’ll be jumping onto platforms, jumping up under things to reveal coins, and all the while collecting daily bonuses and trying your best to just keep moving.
A very nice touch is that there are quite a few different landscapes with seven levels in each to play in. Mystic Forest is the first on you’ll encounter followed by Lost Garden, Torrid Oasis, Glacial Valley and Dark Spire. You can’t move to a higher level though until you’ve completed the one you’re in.
Social connections and a chat room add to the fun as you interact with other players.
Be careful as you scoot ahead, though, you lose a heart every time you run into any damage. As straightforward and somewhat familiar (for longtime gamers) as it is, it also has an easy introduction to the game via a tutorial mode that works very well.
While not a groundbreaking new type of gaming mechanic, Super Phantom Cat 2 is a fun new addition and will keep you busy for hours.
Appearance and Layout:
Super Phantom Cat 2 iPhone Game
The block-style graphics of Super Phantom Cat 2 go great with the lively arcade-ish background theme music. We highly recommend that you play with the sound turned up, we enjoyed playing along with it quite a bit.
Two thumb control gives your horizontally oriented iPhone (the only way it works) a very capable gaming interface that the developers did a great job with.
While the overall minimalist appearance of Super Phantom Cat 2 is pretty typical for an game of its type, the movement is very smooth and the various challenges along the way will engross you better than much more detailed graphics that can be heavy and slow.
Overall this game is an excellent combination of factors – visual, auditory, mechanics, and game features that come together to make a terrific game that we love!
Value:
Super Phantom Cat 2 is a free game with a variety of 10 different IAPs. You can play without buying any of them although with a game this much fun and with so much to offer we like to encourage players to support the developers who deliver this goods, such as Veewo Games. Even if it’s just the “Ad-free experience for $0.99, it let’s the developers know you appreciate their work.
All that said, none of the IAP purchases are necessary for enjoying the game making this a nice one to try.
Super Phantom Cat 2 is definitely a game you can play for free without feeling like you’re missing out on any special features. Plus the fact that it will instantly feel familiar since at its core it’s an updated version of, and in our humble opinion an improvement on, Mario Bros so you can enjoy it right away.
Super Phantom Cat 2 iPhone app requires iOS 8.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.
TheiPhoneAppReview’s Rating:
Source link:http://www.theiphoneappreview.com/2018/05/super-phantom-cat-2-iphone-game/
credit : theiphoneappreview
Pop All of the Tiny Bubbles in this Delightful Puzzler
May 11, 2018 by RSS Feed
Tiny Bubbles ($2.99) by Pine Street Codeworks is a relaxing physics-based puzzle game that lets you play at your own pace. If you enjoyed games like Level 24 and Ruya, then you'll get a kick out of Tiny Bubbles.
While I consider myself a gamer, one of my favorite genres to play are puzzles. There's nothing quite like being able to relax and keep my mind busy at the same time, you know? Though I've gone through most of the puzzle games on the App Store by now, I can't help but keep my eyes peeled for new ones that hit the market. And Tiny Bubbles is definitely one of my new favorites.
Level 24
FLG DEVELOPMENT, OOO
Ruya
MIRACLE TEA STUDIOS LTD
Visually, Tiny Bubbles is impressive with it's offering of a cute and whimsical cartoon style art and bright colors. And if you're colorblind? Don't worry, Tiny Bubbles has a mode for color blind players, and there's also a Dark Mode for more contrasting hues too. Everything's rendered in 2D with smooth, fluid animations that don't lag on my iPhone 8 Plus. The ambient music is atmospheric and immersive, and the sound effects of popping bubbles is zen-like.
Like most puzzle games, Tiny Bubbles is level-based. There are different chapters full of puzzles to solve, but there's an infinite mode as well. Each stage in Tiny Bubbles has a different objective that you must complete before it's considered cleared. These goals range from just popping all of the bubbles to having just enough bubbles to fill a target area, and much more. And to make things more challenging, you'll only have a certain number of moves to do it all in. However, there is no time limit or stars to earn, so you play at your own pace.
The controls in Tiny Bubbles are simple. At the top of the screen are the moves available to you, which includes colors that you fill bubbles in with, or abilities like scissors to cut the bubble outlines. To fill in a bubble with that color, just tap it. To use the scissors for cutting, just tap on the line you want to cut. Bubble physics takes care of the rest.
Eventually, you get to the point in Tiny Bubbles where you'll need to combine colors to get another color. Just tap on a colored bubble to mix the colors together and create a new shade. When you forget what colors create what, just long-press a bubble to see what colors it's made with. And when you cut the outline of a bubble, it can blend with another bubble, or pop entirely if you cut the external line.
Also, you'll encounter a fish named Bloopers. It blows bubbles that get added to the existing bubbles, thus adding another layer of challenge to the overall game. It can either add one bubble after you make your move, or blow continuous bubbles, so you need to think fast.
To clear out bubbles in Tiny Bubbles, you must make matches of like-colored bubbles in groups of four or more. Once bubbles pop, more cool bubble physics happen and everything shifts around and melds together. And with the 60 frames-per-second framerate, these bubble physics are just super fun to watch.
The game always tells you the objective before you begin, and there are hints if you get stuck. And even though it's level-based, you can choose to play stages as they open up (multiple paths get unlocked sometimes), so it's not too linear. New elements get introduced along the way, but the game does a good job of explaining each one as you go.
As far as the endless mode, you unlock it after a certain point in the game, but it's pretty early on so not too hard to obtain. After that, you earn "tickets" to play it after a certain amount of time, and once you're out of moves, you'll need to wait for more tickets. It's not the best implementation of an endless mode, but it's decent since you can spend the downtime playing the regular stages.
Even for the most casual gamer, it’s hard to go wrong with Tiny Bubbles. The gameplay is simple and accessible, and the music and visuals are stunning.
The Good
Tiny Bubbles is an excellent puzzle game for any fans of the genre. The graphics are stunning, especially Dark mode, and the frame rate is as smooth as butter. The music is soothing and delightful to listen to as well. I also love the sound effects, as they're whimsical yet still fairly realistic. The gameplay is simple enough for anyone to pick up and enjoy, but it's still quite challenging. The variety of objectives keep things fresh and interesting, and the endless mode is something to look forward to while you play.
The Bad
While Tiny Bubbles itself is a fantastic game, I'm not sure I like the way endless mode is set up. I believe it should be a standalone mode that lets you do just that — play infinitely, as long as you want. I was a bit annoyed to discover that I'd need to wait for tickets to play it, because that's just not endless, in my opinion. Still, I suppose it's not too bad, since the regular puzzles are fun to play as you wait for tokens.
The verdict
Tiny Bubbles is a welcome addition to my ever-growing collection of iPhone puzzle games. I'm in love with the unique visual style and sound design. The gameplay is interesting since it combines Tetris-like mechanics with physics puzzles, and knowing your color combinations is a true test. I just wish endless mode was truly endless, but the rest of the game is top notch.
You can find Tiny Bubbles on the App Store as a universal download on your iPhone and iPad for $2.99. There are no in-app purchases.
9.5
OVERALL
Graphics 10
Sound/Music 10
Replayability 9.5
Game Controls 9
Gameplay 9
Tiny Bubbles™
Pine Street Codeworks LLC
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
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