Restore Peace and Order to the Board in Fliplomacy
November 20, 2020 by RSS Feed
Fliplomacy ($1.99) by Shobhit Samaria is a unique puzzle game where you must restore peace to the board by convincing certain tiles to change sides. If you enjoyed recent titles like Dissembler or Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle, then you'll get a kick out of Fliplomacy.
Puzzles are my saving grace lately, with all of the different things in my life that are stressing me out. After a long day, I just want to sit down with my fiancé and just relax with some games on my iPhone. While it feels like I've gone through most of the puzzle games on the App Store, I just can't help myself: I'm always keeping my eyes peeled for new ones. And when I saw Fliplomacy on the App Store, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Needless to say, this one doesn't disappoint.
Dissembler
Ian MacLarty
Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle
Blue Wizard Digital LP
The visual style in Fliplomacy is distinctive and carries a minimalistic aesthetic to it. While the game looks like it could have just been done in flat, 2D drawings, it's more of an isometric 3D appearance due to the angled top-down perspective that's fairly popular these days. The tiles on the board also have a bit of depth to them, so they pop out against the soothing color gradient backgrounds. The default Diplomat character in the starting theme is a voxel-style humanoid, and the flags are simple and basic, like what you'd expect on a golf course. Animations are smooth and fluid, with no lag or choppy frame rates on my iPhone 8 Plus. The atmospheric and ambient soundtrack is soothing, which is perfect for unwinding with after a long day.
When you start Fliplomacy, there's only the main theme, which is a pink-to-lavender backdrop, and your Diplomat is in pink, who must change purple flags to pink. As you complete a certain number of puzzles, more themes become available for you to use. These themes change your Diplomat's appearance, as well as the flags, and the symbols on the squares to represent special tiles. I love the other themes, and seeing how awesome the red blue theme with playing cards looks definitely keeps me motivated to keep going until I unlock it.
Like many other puzzle games, Fliplomacy is level-based. There are 150 puzzles that are split up over five chapters, so there are 30 stages in each. Unlike most puzzle games though, everything is unlocked from the start, so you can play the game in any order you want. So if you get stuck, don't worry! Just go try a different puzzle and go back to the other one later. The freedom of playing however you want is definitely fantastic, and alleviates any frustrations you may have.
So what's the goal in Fliplomacy? It's pretty simple: as ace Diplomat, you must convince the squares on the board that have changed sides, with flags that are the opposite color as you. To do this, you must jump over these squares to make them change color. Just swipe your finger in the direction you want to move in, and the Diplomat moves one space at at time, unless it's a flag, which you jump over.
There's a bit of variety in the puzzles and their objectives. Some of them just require you to get all of the flags the same color, and the fewer moves you do it in, the more stars you earn (up to three). Others have a limited amount of moves, so you have to think carefully about how to solve the puzzle. Eventually, later puzzles also need you to reach the "done deal" square to finalize everything, or you need to collect all of the briefcases before it's complete. The various goals spice up the game, and are much appreciated.
The game starts out simple enough, but as you progress, new mechanics are introduced as well. The game likes to handhold you through these new elements though, as there's always a tutorial pop-up that appears whenever there's something new. Unfortunately, if you make a mistake and restart when there's a new mechanic, then you have to go through the tutorial boxes again, which is rather annoying.
If you're wondering what mechanics are added as you go, there will be squares that can change the color of all flags in a row, column, or the entire board, disappearing squares (so you can't go back), warping points, and more. As these get shown to you, you'll have to think carefully about your plan to reach all the flags and change their sides. Using your head here is part of the fun, as the game is inspired by classics like Othello and Checkers.
Fliplomacy is a fantastic puzzle game that is sure to delight fans of the genre.
The Good
Fliplomacy is a fantastic puzzle game that is sure to delight fans of the genre. The graphics are nice, clean, and minimalistic but with enough oomph to appeal to everyone. The sound is calming and tranquil, so it is great for helping you forget about reality for a bit and focusing on the challenging puzzles at hand.
For a game that is only two bucks and has 150 puzzles that you can solve in any order, there's a lot of value for your money. Controls are responsive and intuitive, so it's a great choice for anyone in the family.
The Bad
While Fliplomacy is great, there is one issue I can see and that's the fact that there are no hints. Even though you can just move on to another puzzle and come back to the one you're stuck on at a different time, sometimes you'll just want to solve it right away. I think that Fliplomacy could benefit from having a hint system, and since there are no in-app purchases, more could be earned by completing puzzles. It's not a huge deal, but just something I hope the developer considers adding in the future.
The verdict
If you're a fan of challenging puzzle games that make you use your head, then Fliplomacy is an excellent addition. I love the kitschy visuals, and the various themes that you can unlock keep you motivated to play. I enjoy ambient music, so the soundtrack is delightful. On top of it all, the ability to play the game as you please in any order you want is great, and honestly, I wish more games allowed you to do that. It's just not much fun being stuck and frustrated on a level with no other options.
Fliplomacy is a must for any puzzle lovers. It's available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for $1.99.
9.1
OVERALL
Replayability 9
Game Controls 9
Graphics 9
Sound/Music 9.3
Gameplay 9
Fliplomacy
Shobhit Samaria
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Old Man's Guilt is a Challenging Puzzle Platformer
November 20, 2020 by RSS Feed
Old Man's Guilt ($0.99) by Yugeun Song is a puzzle platformer about an old man who had only one particular reason for coming to a deserted island. If you enjoyed other games like Umiro and Old Man's Journey, then you may like Old Man's Guilt. No, it's not related to Old Man's Journey, so don't get them confused.
These days, I feel like things are just moving way too fast for me to handle. When you have a lot of things going on, this is just natural. That's why I just want to take some time to myself and unwind with some games on my iPhone, as it helps me forget about my worries. I'm a fan of puzzles that keep my mind stimulated, and I also love platformers since I grew up with them. So of course, these two put together are the perfect kind of game, right? When I saw Old Man's Guilt on the App Store, I was intrigued, as I love puzzle platformers.
Old Man's Journey
Broken Rules Interactive Media GmbH
Umiro
GHI Media, LLC
Visually, Old Man's Guilt carries a retro aesthetic, thanks to the 16-bit graphics that are reminiscent of titles like Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery. The backdrops are pretty simple, with transitional layers to make objects appear farther off in the distance, and the foreground is pretty detailed and textured, even with the pixelated style. The colors in the game are mostly muted earthy tones with some darker hues as you progress in the story. It sets the overall tone and theme of the game, which I thought was nice. However, I noticed some of the text appears fuzzy and not crisp on my iPhone 8 Plus's Retina HD screen, which irked me. There's also a rather slow transition animation for dialogue text that you can't speed up or skip, which is also annoying. There's not much of a soundtrack to the game, but it's full of sound effects to mimic the feeling of being on a remote island, which is relaxing and nice to hear.
Even though Old Man's Guilt is a puzzle platformer, it's not really a game where you pick and choose which stages you want to play, and there are no stars to earn. Instead, players go on a narrative journey to discover the reason behind the old man's presence on the island. He first arrived on the island in a much younger state, but he grew old and now needs help to get to his destination. That's where you come in. Players must help guide the old man through a series of puzzles and avoid traps and dangers, all to discover his reason for being there.
Controls in Old Man's Guilt are simple and work out alright, but could be more responsive. In the bottom left are two directional buttons for having the old man move left and right. The bottom right corner has a button for jumping, and another for interacting with environmental objects like ladders, switches, and more.
My biggest issue with Old Man's Guilt is the fact that the old man is, well, super slow. I suppose this is due to the fact that he's an old man and doesn't move like he used to, but for a game, I consider slow movement a hindrance. It feels like forever for him to get a running start, and I end up worrying about whether or not I'm going to make the tiny jump over a spike in the ground or not. It probably goes against the whole premise of the game, but I wish the old man would move just a tad faster.
It gets a bit tiresome when you're still trying to figure out the game and end up dying, only to have to try again from the beginning. And when you move that slow, it just feels like forever. I think a checkpoint system would also help, at the very least.
Since the game is more of a narrative experience, there isn't a way to go back to previous levels and replay them. This makes sense though, since you don't get anything for finishing stages anyway, so there's little reason to go back. But if you get stuck, there are also no hints or a way to skip a level, so you'll just have to keep trying until you get it.
A pixel art based puzzle platformer.
The Good
Old Man's Guilt is an interesting game, as the story behind the old man is the hook. The graphics are pretty decent, and the sound is realistic and relaxing. The controls are basic and do a decent enough job, and the puzzles can be rather challenging.
The Bad
There are a few issues with Old Man's Guilt that I'm having with the game in its current state. For one, the fuzzy text needs to be fixed, as it's quite painful to see these days when everything is optimized for Retina HD and Super Retina screens. I would also like to be able to make the dialogue text transition faster, or skip it entirely.
And while I understand that the main character is an old man, the slow movement speed doesn't translate that well to a puzzle platformer, at least in my opinion. It ends up being more frustrating than anything, even more so when you die and have to start over. The game could use some checkpoints, at least, to help ease the pain of one small mistake.
The verdict
I wanted to like Old Man's Guilt, but with the current issues I'm having with the game, it's more frustrating than anything. I hope to see improvements made in future updates, but for the time being, this one is going on the back burner.
If you think you'd have better luck with the game, you can find Old Man's Guilt on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $0.99.
7.0
OVERALL
Sound/Music 8
Game Controls 7
Graphics 7.5
Gameplay 7.5
Replayability 5
Old Man's Guilt
YUGEUN SONG
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Bank Those Balls in Trick Shot 2
November 20, 2020 by RSS Feed
Trick Shot 2 ($2.99) by Jonathan Topf is the sequel to the original Trick Shot that came out in 2015. Even back then, it was a lovely game, though a tad simple, but that's to be expected from a member of the ustwo team (makers of Monument Valley). If you love deceptively simple puzzle games, then Trick Shot 2 brings you more devious fun.
These days, I'm feeling a lot of pressure from life, so I need some time to relax. Though the number of chances I get for relaxation is few these days, I prefer just unwinding with some iPhone games for a while. Nothing beats just kicking your shoes off and laying on the couch with some downtime, right? I remember Trick Shot coming out years ago and I fell in love with it immediately, since I'm a sucker for physics-based puzzle games. Trick Shot 2 came out this week (to my surprise), and I knew I had to have it. Needless to say, it doesn't disappoint, and includes a ton more features than its predecessor.
Trick Shot
Jonathan Topf
Monument Valley 2
ustwo Games Ltd
Visually, Trick Shot 2 seems to have come a long way from the first game. The graphics still retain the simplistic look, but the new game elements and mechanics have much more polished appearances that you just didn't see in the original. There's a plethora of weird and random objects in Trick Shot 2, such as UFOs, pens and pencils, eggs, modern chairs and office furniture, donuts, fruits, and much more. Everything has its own unique aesthetic, texture, and the game is full of bright, bold, and vibrant hues. Animations are buttery smooth and fluid, so there are no issues of lag on my iPhone 8 Plus. The jazzy soundtrack is rather upbeat and quirky, making it a delight to listen to while you play. Once again, the developer knows how to hit it out of the ballpark.
Like other puzzles, Trick Shot 2 is level-based. There are eight chapters at the moment, and each one has about 10 stages. However, there's a built-in level editor this time around, which means anyone can build their own level and share it with others. In fact, every stage that is available from the get-go in Trick Shot 2 was built using the level-editor. However, to gain access to the level-editor and even download other user-created levels, you'll have to complete Chapter 2 first.
The levels in Trick Shot 2 are composed of boxes (your objective) and various objects that are either stationary or move. Or they have special abilities, such as teleportation, activate switches, turn on power, and much more. It's up to you to find out what everything does as you play. The goal is always the same though: get the ball (from the dotted line box) into one of objective boxes, which you can easily recognize from the level number on it. Once the ball gets in, you can move on to the next stage.
Controls in Trick Shot 2 are as simple as they were in the first game. Just touch-and-drag on the empty, dotted-line box and a ball appears out of thin air. As you pull, you're able to see the aiming trajectory of the ball, with thinner lines meaning more power's going to be applied. When you release your finger, the ball launches.
Trick Shot 2 is a game about precision and timing, as you want to get the right angle and power in your shot to get the ball where it needs to go. And with moving obstacles later on, timing is key.
The game starts out easy enough, but things get progressively more difficult as you go. If you get stuck, you can use some stars to get a friendly robot to provide you with hints. They cost 25 stars for one hint, and you can earn more by playing, or buying them through in-app purchases. The robot basically shows you the trajectory that you need, but you still have to do it manually.
When you unlock the level editor, you can edit pre-made levels by swiping from the top right corner. Or you can start fresh with a completely original creation. The level building process is easy, as it consists of just drag-and-drop controls. Just position the start and goal boxes, and then add in your obstacles and other fun objects. You can then save it and upload it or even work on it more later.
Try to launch the ball into the box in this puzzle sequel.
The Good
Trick Shot 2 is an excellent follow-up to an already great game. In fact, it takes the original and adds a bunch of cool new stuff to it. The graphics are even more gorgeous, and the various objects add a touch of personality to everything. The music is delightful to the ears, and controls are intuitive. There's already a ton of challenging levels included with the game, and the level editor means the opportunity to download unique stages created by other players, as well as creating your own special puzzles. There's a lot to love about Trick Shot, and this sequel just made it better than ever.
The Bad
As hard as some stages can be, I wish that hints didn't seem so expensive. I have a feeling I'm going to need them a lot, so having them a tad cheaper would help. I also wish that there was an option to turn off the haptic feedback, since some people may want it off to conserve more battery power.
The verdict
I loved the original Trick Shot, so naturally I'm not disappointed with Trick Shot 2. The game ups the ante in terms of excellent visual design, the music is enjoyable, and the controls are easy to pick up. You get a lot of value for your money, considering that there's a ton of levels included as well as many new user-created ones to check out, and you can make your own. Just be prepared for a challenge — some of these are tricky, but it's a perfect game to play on-the-go.
Trick Shot 2 is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. There are in-app purchases for hints.
9.3
OVERALL
Gameplay 10
Replayability 9
Game Controls 9
Graphics 9.5
Sound/Music 9
Trick Shot 2
Jonathan Topf
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Spin Your Way Through the Delightful Puzzles of Windrose: Origin
November 20, 2020 by RSS Feed
Windrose: Origin ($0.99) by Baris Araci is a sliding block style puzzle game that anyone can play, but only the skilled can master. If you liked games such as Slayaway Camp and Red's Kingdom, then you'll enjoy Windrose: Origin as well.
My life has been rather hectic lately, so I relish every moment I have where I can just sit down and relax by doing nothing. During these times, I like to bust my iPhone out and just get some bite-size gaming sessions in, and one of my favorite genres for these moments are puzzles. No matter what kind of puzzle it is, I'm bound to enjoy it. When I was perusing through the new releases last week, I stumbled on Windrose: Origin, and it looked like the kind of thing I needed right now, so I had to check it out. Honestly, I'm not disappointed by it and happy I picked it up.
Slayaway Camp
Blue Wizard Digital LP
Red's Kingdom
Cobra Mobile Limited
Visually, Windrose has a minimalistic aesthetic that is sure to please. I'm a fan of simple and clean graphics, and Windrose has just that. The game features mostly flat visuals, though there are some shadows that appear to give the tiles some depth, so it's pseudo-3D. Other graphical elements include basic geometric shapes, such as circles and squares, and there's a touch of particle effects that are displayed in the trail the "windrose" leaves behind as it moves. The color palette is lovely, as it features a dark steel gray background with vibrant hues that contrast nicely against it. The typography is modern and wraps it all together nicely. Animations are smooth and fluid, with no issues of lag on my iPhone 8 Plus. The soundtrack is rather atmospheric, but I have to admit that it does get a bit repetitive after a while, as there isn't much variety. Still, Windrose is a nice overall package in terms of visual and audio design.
Like many other puzzle games, Windrose is level-based. At the moment, there are four chapters with about 16 stages each. In order to unlock the other chapters, you need to obtain a certain number of stars. Each level must also be cleared before you can move on to the next one. There's no way to skip a puzzle, but there are hints that you can use to reveal the solution to a puzzle. Up to three stars can be earned on each stage, which is dependent on the number of moves it takes you to solve it. The fewer, the better of course. However, there are no move restrictions, so technically you can play the game at your own pace as well, but those stars are important.
Controls in Windrose are a simple affair. To move your windrose, just swipe in the direction you want to go in. It continues to slide across the board until it hits a square tile or wall. You must collect all of the orange dots before the end portal opens up, and then getting to the portal completes the puzzle so you can move forward. Since the windrose does not stop moving until it hits an obstacle, you must think strategically to get the circles and then to the end portal in as few moves as possible.
While Windrose: Origin is not a new gameplay concept, it's still fun and enjoyable to play. It encourages problem solving, and the fact that you don't need to purchase more hints make the game so much better. If you're stuck, then just get the solution without worrying about wasting them.
Windrose: Origin is a delightfully simple but challenging puzzle that anyone can enjoy.
The Good
Windrose: Origin follows a tried-and-true formula that any puzzle lover will appreciate. The minimalistic visuals are easy on the eyes while looking great. The music, though a tad repetitive, is done well for the most part. Controls are intuitive and easy enough for anyone to pick up and play, and the puzzles have a nice range of difficulty to them. But with the solution system in place, this game is great for the entire family to pick up and enjoy whenever there's some downtime.
The Bad
While I'm enjoying Windrose: Origin so far, it can still be improved. Again, while the music is nice, it does get repetitive after a while. Adding some variation in the tunes would help prevent it from getting stale. And even though I like the current colors, I think having the option of unlocking more color themes via stars would be a nice addition and keep things fresh.
The verdict
Windrose: Origin is a relaxing and challenging puzzle game that anyone can enjoy. As a fan of puzzles, this is definitely one I can turn to whenever I'm waiting around somewhere, or just want to unwind. The controls work well, the gameplay is challenging, and access to all solutions without annoying in-app purchases is a winner. I just hope to see more variation with colors and music in the future. And more levels are coming, according to the developer.
Windrose: Origin is available on the iPhone App Store for just $0.99.
7.7
OVERALL
Game Controls 8.5
Gameplay 8
Replayability 7.5
Graphics 7.5
Sound/Music 7
Windrose: Origin
Baris Araci
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Dreams Take Flight in Ava Airborne
November 20, 2020 by RSS Feed
Ava Airborne (Free) by PlayStack Ltd and Laser Dog Games is an infinite flyer full of traditional gliders and unorthodox contraptions, collectibles, dangers, and just a lot of cute fun. If you love games like Tiny Wings and Alto's Odyssey, then Ava Airborne is another fine addition to the collection.
I, like many others, have always dreamed of flying. And no, I don't mean by a plane either, but actual flying. The type that you only dream about, but it's one of those things you've been wanting since you were a child. While it's still on my bucket list one day, I doubt it's happening anytime soon because of other things — being an adult is hard. Fortunately, there's video games, and Ava Airborne is one that brings your dreams of flight to virtual reality. It's also partly made by Laser Dog, who brought us fantastic games like Hopiko. So I have high expectations for Ava Airborne, and they've been met.
Tiny Wings
Andreas Illiger
Alto's Odyssey
Snowman
Visually, Ava Airborne is gorgeous. The game features a minimalistic aesthetic that's rather beautiful, and everything is rendered in a 2D style. Ava Airborne has a unique and oneiric dreamscape environment that's full of interesting contraptions and obstacles. The protagonist is a little girl with stick-like limbs who just wants to fly, like the rest of us. The color palette is a fantastic mix of soft pastels, bold and vibrant hues, and muted shades, so everything is appealing to the eyes. The backdrops are blurred out slightly, but still have serene scenes that are peaceful to look at. Animations are buttery smooth and fluid, so there's no lag on my iPhone 8 Plus. The game also has an upbeat and quirky soundtrack that's delightful to listen to, and the sound effects are excellent.
Since Ava Airborne is an infinite flyer-style game, there's only one game mode, and the goal is to cover as much air as you can. You start out with the basic glider, but as you fly and earn miles, you rank up and have the ability to purchase new contraptions. These contraptions change how you fly, and even allow you to move through the air faster. Some also change the music and visuals. However, you can only unlock a new contraption by ranking up, and having enough sweets (in-game currency) for it.
As you play, each contraption can be upgraded as well. Doing this makes them more effective, since they all have their own unique multipliers when it comes to earning experience to rank up as well as sweets gained. So as you level up, make sure to save up those sweets and get as many contraptions as you can to play around with.
Ava also has some flying companions that are able to help her out during her flights. You can unlock new companions and collectibles along the journey by obtaining them from flights, free gifts, or by ranking up. The companions can save Ava from crashes and other dangers, while collectibles give you cool trails and other fun stuff.
Controls in Ava Airborne are simple and intuitive. Just long press on the screen to glide (or tap to do it in spurts) and release to fall. It's all about timing when it comes to soaring through the air and avoiding the obstacles like explosive balloons and lasers.
One thing I'm not fond of with other infinite style games is the fact that when you hit something, it's usually game over from there. However, Ava Airborne does things a bit differently. If you hit something, you have an opportunity to recover by rapidly tapping both sides of the screen to recompose yourself and keep flying. However, the number of taps increases after each hit, so it does have diminishing returns.
There are also trampolines on the ground and cannons in the air that you can fall into and it helps you recover as well. Ava Airborne is rather forgiving when it comes to mistakes, making this a much more relaxed-feeling game.
After each flight, you get experience points based on how well you do. To obtain sweets, you must pop balloons while flying, as they seem to like hiding in them. The final amount can change depending on the contraption you have equipped. You can also double the amount of sweets you've earned by watching an optional video ad.
Since Ava Airborne is a free game, there are ads, as I just mentioned. But they're all optional, and non-intrusive.
Help Ava hang glide through the sky filled with obstacles.
The Good
Ava Airborne is a unique endless flyer that has a lot of style and personality. The visuals are cute, endearing, and just delightful on Retina screens. The music is fun and eccentric, and the sound effects are nice, especially when popping balloons. The controls are simple enough for anyone, and the gameplay is simple but challenging. Even if you aren't a fan of most endless games, this one is worth checking out because it's done so well.
The Bad
There's a lot of good stuff in Ava Airborne, so it's hard to find anything bad about it. Though the only thing I can think of is the rapid tapping to recover is a killer on my wrists, but I think that will vary for everyone.
The verdict
For a free game, Ava Airborne is pretty good. I love the fun visuals, the sound is awesome, and the gameplay is challenging but keeps you coming back for more. I'm a fan of endless games that do things differently from the rest, and Ava Airborne is one of them. The game is great for a free title, and even though there are ads, they're completely optional, which is nice. This is definitely one of those games I'll be coming back to whenever I have a spare moment throughout the day.
Ava Airborne is available on the App Store as a universal download for free. There are in-app purchases.
9.2
OVERALL
Replayability 9
Graphics 9.5
Sound/Music 9.5
Gameplay 9.5
Game Controls 8.5
Ava Airborne
PlayStack Ltd
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credit : appadvice
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