9 of the Absolute Best Free iOS Games of 2017
December 18, 2017 by RSS Feed
9 of the Absolute Best Free iOS Games of 2017
Whatever type of game you like to while away the hours of your spare time or fill some dead time when on a queue, 2017 has been an outstanding year for new games. The best ones are challenging to play and beautiful to behold. Here are 9 that we think really hit it out of the part (although none are baseball games ;-).
As with any game where you are pitched against opponents you don’t know, the results can vary quite a bit, and when the skill levels or styles of play differ too much it can be a bit frustrating but there any number of ways the developers can improve this and we look forward to follow up versions.
In App Purchases: Yes
Who isn’t a fan of Transformers? Nobody! That’s who. This game starts out with a smile on the face of anyone whose downloaded it and from there it only gets better. The support for 18 different languages makes this game a true global phenomenon. Whether you’re building your 1-Star, 2-Star, or 3-Star Bot or focusing on completing your daily mission, this game grabs your full attention and doesn’t let go.
One of the possible downsides of trying to leverage such a successful franchise is, of course, not doing justice to it and leaving its fans somewhat deflated. Not the case here. Kabam has done a terrific job with the game play and the graphics and have even included a AI mode for when you’re feeling a bit lazy.
In App Purchases: Yes
If you’ve ever played old-style lo-res retro games, maybe you’re old enough to have enjoyed a game or two of ZZT, then you’ll feel right at home with this wonderfully enjoyable retro style game. Once you put on the mask, your endless runner kicks into high gear.
It’s sure to delight even young gamers who have no idea what the previous sentence is all about. Whether you’re doing your best to get past spike traps or avoid enemies that might blow up (literally) and get so big they’ll block your way, this game is incredibly well designed and will keep you going to get to the next level and theme.
In App Purchases: Yes
You know if you’re into action/strategy games, there is no maybe, and if, like us, you love them, then Dawn of Titans is not to be missed. It will quickly immerse you in a fantasy world that will totally take your breath away. Extremely well designed with great attention to detail, you’ll control thousands of giant titans, earn divine gems, and achieve great victories.
This game is definitely “console quality” and will amaze you with its stunning 3D graphics nonstop gameplay.
In App Purchases: Yes
When you need to step away from endless running and blood & guts for a minute, The Trail will entertain you with a fresh story line that harkens back to the old west. But don’t be fooled, this is not “story heavy” and while you will have to walk around some to get started, the effort is richly rewarded. At times it might even remind you of the classic Oregon Trail, but The Trail is well beyond that venerable title in sheer gameplay fun.
Gather resources, create better tools and clothes, make it to a town, build a home and share that experience with other players in the same town. This is not an “edge of your seat” type of game, but if you’re more of a builder than a fighter, you will absolutely love your time spent with The Trail.
In App Purchases: Yes
What would a list of great games be without at least one racing game. And Asphalt Xtreme fits the fill in spades. It’s so much fun to play you might forget to break for lunch. The Asphalt series has been around awhile and we think the creators of this game have really brought it all together here. The cars are varied (35 to choose from) and fast and the scenery is thrilling. Oh and did we mention there are no roads?
The tag line “No Road, No Rules” is apt and is a hint at the fun you’ll have playing this beautifully done global racing game. The more races you do the more chances you have to win and the more winnings you’ll collect to upgrade your ride or buy a new one.
**
9 of the Absolute Best Free iOS Games of 2017 – TheiPhoneAppReview.com
Source link:http://www.theiphoneappreview.com/2017/12/9-of-the-absolute-best-free-ios-games-of-2017/
credit : theiphoneappreview
Run!!! is a Challenging Endless Runner That Keeps You Coming Back
December 15, 2017 by RSS Feed
Reviewed by Sarah Hanlon
Run!!! is an addicting arcade game for iPhone that begs you to keep playing for a better score. Simple controls and unlockable characters make this a great game for everyone.
Concept and Gameplay: 
I’m all for complex and in-depth games, but sometimes the most fun is had when you have only one goal in mind – don’t fall in the hole.
Run!!!,developed by Kongregate, has one objective – travel as far as you can while avoiding obstacles such as holes in the floor. Controls are very simple – move left or right by sliding your left thumb, and tap to make your character jump. Beyond that, your only objective is to survive as long as you can.
Two game modes, Explore and Infinity, are available for you to play through. If you’re feeling adventurous, Explore mode is definitely the way to go.
You can complete levels and unlock additional characters and achievements while mapping the galaxy.
Infinity mode is perfect for competitive players who want to see how far they can go and earn the highest score.
Features:
Run!!! iPhone Game
As I mentioned above, Run!!! allows players to unlock additional characters with special abilities.
One of the cool things about this is that you can use these additional characters to continue your progress in Infinity mode if you happen to fail.
Run!!! features an in-game store where you can purchase powerups and characters with power cells. Power cells can be earned by playing, watching ads, or purchasing them.
Value:
Run!!! is available to download from the App Store for free and is universally compatible with iPhone and iPad.
Overall, Run!!! is a fantastic arcade game that’s so much fun to play I couldn’t put down once I started playing. It has tons of great features that will keep you coming back for more.
Run!!! requires iOS 9.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Source link:http://www.theiphoneappreview.com/2017/12/run-iphone-game/
credit : theiphoneappreview
Rewind Time and Get Weird in Life is Strange
December 14, 2017 by RSS Feed
Life is Strange ($2.99) by Square Enix is the mobile port of the 2015 game that was released on Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. The game is classified as an episodic graphic adventure game and consists of five episodes. It's similar to other games on the App Store, like Telltale's The Walking Dead and Batman.
If you've followed console gaming at all in the past few years, then you may have heard of Life is Strange at some point. It's just one of the many episodic-style games that are more of an interactive storytelling experience instead of a fast-paced shooter, or something along those lines. I've heard nothing but good things about Life is Strange since its release a few years ago, but I couldn't quite bring myself to purchase it on console. So when I saw that it was coming to the App Store this week, I had to check it out.
When Apple announced that you can pre-order apps and games on the App Store, I was curious about how this would work. So I saw Life is Strange being featured on the App Store before release, with a button to pre-order. I did this, and would like to comment that it works flawlessly. Once the game was available, it began to download automatically on my device and I was charged. It's simple, and a great way to remember big releases when life gets so hectic (Christmas is coming, after all).
Walking Dead: The Game
Telltale Games
Batman - The Telltale Series
Telltale Games
Visually, Life is Strange is as beautiful as ever. The game runs on Unreal Engine, so it's console quality on your iPhone or iPad. As someone who's never played Life is Strange before, I'm thoroughly impressed with the graphics, because the world and characters are incredibly lifelike. While some motions still look a bit jerky, the movements and animations for all of the characters are pretty realistic. The colors in the game are bold and rich, and the dynamic lighting and weather just make everything pop. The soundtrack is incredible, and the voice acting is superb.
Since Life is Strange is an episodic graphic adventure style game, players must progress through the story from the beginning. There are no levels, just episodes. At the moment, the initial download of $2.99 includes the first episode, and you can purchase Episode 2 for $0.99, and Episode 3 for $2.99. Episodes 4 and 5 are coming in 2018. Or, if you want to save money, you can get the Season Pass for $8.99, which includes all current and upcoming episodes.
For those who are unaware, Life is Strange's plot revolves around Max Caulfield, who's an 18-year-old senior photography student with an amazing gift. She has the power to rewind time at any given moment, causing her choices to have a butterfly effect. The game opens up with Max foreseeing a catastrophic storm, and ultimately, she must work on preventing this from destroying the town. But there's more to the game than that.
Early on in the game, you end up saving the life of Max's best friend, Chloe Price. The pair soon find themselves looking into the mysterious disappearance of Rachel Amber, a fellow student. This digging around reveals that Arcadia Bay isn't all it's cracked up to be. Not only that, but changing the past can ultimately lead to doomed futures.
Controls in Life is Strange are simple and work like typical point-and-click adventure games. To look around Max, just drag your finger around the screen. To move, just tap where you want her to go. Any objects that you can interact with will be pointed out to you, which just need a tap, and you can choose between "Look" or "Use" actions.
I found that the swiping for moving the camera around takes a bit of getting used to, because it felt like I kept looking in the opposite direction of what I wanted. But if it bothers you, the game's settings have controller options, where you can invert the X and Y axis for the camera. You can also use joystick controls if tapping-to-move is too tedious.
Once Max's rewind power is revealed, you can activate it by tapping on the button in the top left corner. You can rewind the scene or do a fast rewind if you're impatient. Or, you can use the "Quick Undo" to jump immediately back to the last part that required a decision from you. Sometimes you will need to rewind a scene multiple times, as you end up gaining valuable information that you can use to make a decision prior. All decisions you make in Life is Strange affect how the narrative unfolds.
An episodic decision based adventure game with the ability to rewind time.
The Good
Life is Strange is an excellent game that's well worth your time. It looks fantastic on my iPhone 8 Plus and the voice acting is well-done. The controls work out well enough for mobile devices, which is surprising. The story in Life is Strange is also captivating and engaging from the get-go, so once you start, chances are you'll be hooked.
The Bad
While Life is Strange is a fantastic addition to anyone's iOS game collection, it does have some quirks. I noticed a few frame rate issues in the beginning, where the scene was a bit choppy. Also, in the beginning with the storm, the controls were a bit fidgety, so I felt stuck and unable to reach the lighthouse. And the camera swiping felt a bit off, because it seemed to be the opposite of what I'm used to by default. Still, these are small quirks, and aren't going to stop me from playing.
The verdict
While I'm still fairly early on in Life is Strange, I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far. I love the realistic graphics, voice acting and music, and the controls are pretty decent for touch screens. It's my first time playing, and the story got me hooked right away. This is one iOS game that is well worth the money and I look forward to checking out the next episodes.
If you haven't played Life is Strange yet, then this is the perfect time to do so. Life is Strange is on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. The additional episodes can be bought through in-app purchases.
5.0
OVERALL
Replayability 5
Game Controls 5
Graphics 5
Sound/Music 5
Gameplay 5
Life Is Strange
SQUARE ENIX INC
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
Glopy is a Delightful and Charming Toy Box Puzzle Game
December 12, 2017 by RSS Feed
Glopy ($1.99) by Loquat Games is a skill-based puzzle game that is reminiscent of various wooden ball toys that children play with. If you enjoyed recent releases like GNOG and PUSH, then you will like what Glopy brings to the table.
I've always been fascinated with puzzles throughout my lifetime. Even when I was a kid just playing with physical toys, I was also drawn to the puzzle-type ones that you'd have to solve. Granted, I wasn't great with them and it would take me a while to figure out, but I still found peace and joy in them. When I saw Glopy on the App Store, I was intrigued, because it invoked fond childhood memories for me. So of course I had to check it out for myself. Needless to say, it doesn't disappoint.
GNOG
KO-OP MODE INC
"PUSH"
Maciej Targoni
Shadowmatic
TRIADA Studio LLC
Visually, Glopy is stunning. Everything in Glopy is rendered in 3D, and it all looks realistic and beautiful (reminds me of Shadowmatic). Glopy is full of elegantly crafted wooden balls that shine brightly, as if they've just been polished with oil. The wood texture is full of detail, and honestly, it looks like the real thing on the screen. The colors in Glopy range from the muted, earthy tones of the wood to bright and vibrant hues of the selected theme and decor of the level you're on. Animations are incredibly smooth and fluid, with zero issues of lag or choppiness on my iPhone 8 Plus. There's also an upbeat and quirky soundtrack that reminds me of children songs, which is fitting for the theme. Sound effects as you solve the puzzles are fairly true-to-life as well, since they're balls rolling along a wooden surface and clinking along.
Like other puzzle games, Glopy is level-based. At the moment, there are four different themes: Toybox, Rocket, Surfer, and Racer. These themes serve as chapters, and the backdrop and environment for each level is dependent on this theme. It also affects the color of the Glopy ball, as well as the game mechanics. Each theme has about six levels each. While that may not sound like a lot, it's plenty considering how challenging the game can be — don't be fooled by kiddy appearances!
The goal of the game is simple and straightforward: get all of the balls at the top of the wooden sphere into their matching slot at the bottom. The sphere itself is split up into four sections: the top, two middle sections, and the bottom. You use your finger to rotate the sectors of the sphere, and if you drag on the screen outside of the sphere, you rotate the sphere as a whole, giving you a better perspective on what you're looking at. Glopy also utilizes your device's gyroscope hardware for the physics, so you can have gravity take care of the ball positioning and more just by tilting your device.
The game starts out easy enough with the Toybox theme, but the difficulty picks up as more colored balls are introduced. That's because if a ball ends up in the wrong pocket at the bottom, then you've failed and must start over from the beginning. As you reach the other themes, there are more complications on the Glopy balls, as there are switches, winding pipes, and even color-changing pipes.
On top of all of the new mechanics that get introduced as you go, you have to also think about how gravity plays a role in the game. Since the flow of movement is mostly in the gyroscope controls, the balls can all go down at the same time if you're not careful. You have to be skillful to get the right balls moving at once, because the moment a ball ends up in the wrong spot, you'll have to try again. Glopy is a puzzle game about physics and patience.
A finely crafted 3D puzzle game with ornate spheres to interact with.
The Good
Glopy is one of the more gorgeous games I've played recently, and the wooden balls look good enough to be real. The music harkens back to childhood days, and the sound effects are as realistic as they can be, which is a nice touch. The concept of the game is unique, and the puzzles can be rather challenging. The controls work well and feel intuitive. New mechanics that get added as you go keep the game fresh and make you think.
The Bad
While Glopy is a fun and creative little game, it's definitely not a good fit for those who get frustrated with puzzles. This game relies on being patient and getting the timing and pipes lined up properly, so if you're looking for something a bit more action-packed, then this game isn't it. I did also find that rotating the bottom can be a bit jerky when you quickly move your finger in a circle, so the sensitivity there should be tweaked.
The verdict
As a fan of cute toys and puzzles, Glopy is a winner for me. I'm in love with the incredibly realistic graphical style, and the music is rather catchy. I like the gradual increase in difficulty for the puzzles, and the introduction of new mechanics comes at a steady pace. Controls work out well and feel natural on the touch screen, though the sensitivity could be slightly adjusted for better optimization.
I recommend Glopy if you like puzzle games that test your skills. Glopy is on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $1.99.
8.6
OVERALL
Graphics 10
Gameplay 9
Game Controls 8.5
Sound/Music 8.5
Replayability 7
Glopy
Hayrullah Emre KalafatGunes
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
Get Rolling and Save the Sweets in Super Donuts!
December 11, 2017 by RSS Feed
Super Donuts ($2.99) by Nice Westwood is an old-school platformer without a jump button. If that sounds a bit confusing at first, think of games like Sonic the Hedgehog, where momentum is the key to moving around. Super Donuts is similar to other games on the App Store, such as Eggggg and Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire.
When I was a kid, I remember spending hours on my SEGA Genesis system playing [Sonic the Hedgehog 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SonictheHedgehog2). It was one of the few video games I had (I didn't have many) and I have incredibly fond memories of it. I'd always make silly mistakes that end up costing me, but I never gave up and strived to beat the game on my own. Ever since then, I've grown rather fond of platformers in general, including other classics like _Super Mario Bros. So whenever a new platformer style game hits the App Store, I have to check it out, as it's one of my favorite genres. When I saw Super Donuts on the App Store, I was intrigued — I love donuts, sweets, and platformers, so this was almost like a dream come true.
Eggggg - The Platform Puker
Hyper Games AS
Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire
Play Pretend LLC
Sonic The Hedgehog Classic
Sega America
Visually, Super Donuts! has a retro 16-bit pixel art style that definitely harkens back to the golden age of gaming. It has a cheesy look and feel to it all, which makes me love it even more. The game is rendered in 2D fashion, and the colors are bright and vibrant, just like the good old days. Animations are smooth and fluid, so I had no issues of lag or choppiness on my iPhone 8 Plus. There's also an upbeat and quirky soundtrack that I found delightful to listen to. The sound effects are pretty fun to hear too. I'm a bit surprised that the game doesn't have chiptunes, considering that it's inspired by the classics, but the sound is still done well for what it is.
Like classic platformers, Super Donuts is level-based. There are several different areas in the world of Sweetzerland, and each have a handful of stages. In total, Super Donuts has over 40 levels right now, which should be enough for anyone to get their platforming fix at the moment.
The levels can be pretty straightforward, but some are a bit lengthier and trickier to get through, so there's a bit of time involved if you plan on getting through all of the available levels. The goal in Super Donuts is easy enough: find all of the lost baby donuts that were taken away from home and rescue them. Of course, this is always easier said than done at times.
The controls in Super Donuts are incredibly simple and intuitive. In the bottom corners, there are buttons that let you move your donut character left or right. The only catch to everything is the fact that there is no jump button. That's right — this is a platformer that is sans a jump button.
"Then how do you jump?" is what you're probably thinking. Think of how Sonic moves when he's going fast and goes off a sloped ramp or bounce pad. He's able to gain air because of momentum, and that's how you "jump" in Super Donuts. When you move left or right, you can gain a bit of speed since you're rather round (you're a donut, after all). us your momentum and the law of physics to get the donut off the ground and reach platforms it wouldn't reach otherwise.
Additionally, there are power-ups that you can find that give you a much-needed boost. These power-ups include Bounce, Sticky, Giant, Super Sprinkles, and more.
In each stage, your main objective is to find the baby donuts that are hidden somewhere on each stage. Roll over them to collect them, and then the exit gate opens up on the stage. Along the way, you can collect the sweets, including the secret one that's tucked away somewhere just out-of-reach unless you put in the extra effort to get it. If you manage to collect all of the sweets, then there's a special treat awaiting you, but it takes skill and patience to get this.
Super Donuts! is a fresh and sweet take on the classic platformer genre, and it harkens back to many classics.
The Good
Super Donuts is a nice throwback to the classic platformer games of yesteryear. The game retains the vintage pixel art style that many of us grew up on and love, and the music and sound is designed well. The controls work well enough and it's easy enough for anyone to pick up and play. The goal is straightforward but there's still plenty of secrets for those who want to go back and get 100 percent completion.
The developer is also promising free updates with new features (high scores and speed runs) and levels in the future, so it's something to look forward to once you finish the game.
The Bad
I'm thoroughly enjoying my time with Super Donuts so far, but I did notice that the controls seem less responsive than I'd like them to be. For example, if I'm speeding along towards the right, but want to quickly turn around, I just seem to stop when I press the left button, rather than stop and then move in the other direction. It's a bit annoying and I then have to check to make sure I'm pressing the button touch area, so it isn't as streamlined as I hoped. The developer did say that an update is coming soon with some fixes, so hopefully this is one of them.
The verdict
Despite my small issue with the controls, I'm still having a good time with Super Donuts. The graphics take me back to my childhood days, and the music and sounds bring a smile to my face. I like the idea of a non-traditional platformer (in this case no jump button) and this game executes the concept nicely. I just hope to see more optimized controls in the future, and I look forward to the levels that are in store in upcoming updates.
8.7
OVERALL
Replayability 9
Graphics 9
Gameplay 9
Game Controls 8
Sound/Music 8.5
Super Donuts!
Nick Westwood
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
Follow Mid Atlantic Consulting
Subscribe Mid Atlantic Consulting
APP review today