Nature, Time, and Space Intertwine in the Puzzling Kenshō
November 20, 2020 by RSS Feed
Kenshō ($3.99) by FIFTYTWO is a match-three block sliding puzzle game that provides players with a surreal experience. If you enjoy games like Threes!, but want visuals like Campfire Cooking, then you will love what Kenshō has to offer.
When life gets hectic, I like to sit down and play some games to relax. My go-to for this task is usually puzzle games that make me think, because I don’t like to just let my mind rot away. While I feel like I’ve played most puzzle games that the App Store has to offer, sometimes they slip under my radar and I don’t get a chance to play them. Kenshō is one of those games, and I’m glad that I’m discovering it now.
Threes!
Sirvo LLC
Threes! Free
Sirvo LLC
Campfire Cooking
Layton Hawkes
Visually, Kenshō is absolutely beautiful. The game is completely rendered in 3D that is stunning, with blocks that truly pop out at you and vivid dreamscapes of nature that unravel a deeper story. There’s also gorgeous particle effects and lighting that make the game stand out from the crowd. The color palette in Kenshō consists of bold and vibrant hues that contrast nicely with the dark backdrops, and the cutscenes between levels are fun to watch due to the graphics coming to life. The animations in Kenshō are buttery smooth and fluid, so there were no issues with lag or choppy frame rates on my iPhone 8 Plus. The ambient and atmospheric music is also captivating and immersive, while being a delight to listen to as you play. Honestly, Kenshō is a marvel in terms of visual and audio design.
In Kenshō, you’ll find the levels locked away behind doors, with each of them featuring some kind of creature from nature guarding it. While I’m not completely sure how many levels there are total in the game, I know that each stage is broken up into several different parts, so one level can be rather lengthy, especially since things get more challenging as more mechanics are introduced. The goal is simple and straightforward: slide the blocks to match at least three like-colored squares in a line, either horizontally or vertically. Eventually you’ll need to match the blocks with key fragments, which lead to key pieces. The key pieces are necessary to clear that part before moving on to the next one.
Controls in Kenshō are straightforward and intuitive. If you’ve played Threes! before, then you’ll know how this works. Slide your finger on the screen to move all tiles in that direction. You can also slowly drag to see a preview of what that move would look like before you complete it. At the top of the screen is a preview of the next block, so there’s strategy and planning involved.
While things start out easy, it gets more difficult and challenging as you progress. You’ll have black, crumbled blocks that move but can’t be matched with anything, stones that won’t move at all, and more. Key pieces also start having walls on the sides, meaning it will only get cleared out when you make a match on the sides that aren’t blocked. When you take all of these into consideration, Kenshō gets pretty hard. Once the board fills up with blocks that don’t match, then you’ll have to restart that part over.
A block sliding puzzle matching game with a great design.
The Good
Kenshō is definitely a puzzle game that stands out from the rest. At this point it’s a bit older, but still worth a download. It has exquisite and excellently done visuals that are immersive and engaging. The original serene soundtrack is another fantastic touch to the game, and it’s recommended to play with headphones to get the full experience. Controls are easy and intuitive, and the various game mechanics that are gradually introduced keep things fresh. And once you complete a stage, the game rewards you with a moment to kick back and relax with the peaceful cutscenes.
The Bad
Kenshō is a great game, but there’s one thing that I found kind of annoying. While you can "skip” the cutscenes by doing a long-press, this is more of a “fast-forward” function than a full on skip. I feel that sometimes these scenes are a bit long, and I just want to get to the next chapter. I think making it so that it skips the scene entirely would optimize the overall experience for those who prefer it.
The verdict
Even though Kenshō has been out for several months, I’ll admit that I messed up by letting it slip by me all this time. However, I was going through my iPhone games and stumbled upon this, and decided to launch it and give it a go. I’m so glad I did, because Kenshō is a real hidden gem for me. The game looks amazing, the music is relaxing, controls are simple, and the puzzles are great for those who appreciate strategy and challenge. Kenshō is a distinctive match-three block sliding game that everyone should check out.
Kenshō is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $3.99.
9.3
OVERALL
Graphics 10
Sound/Music 10
Game Controls 9
Gameplay 9
Replayability 8.5
Kenshō
FIFTYTWO
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You're the Law in JYDGE, a Dystopian Dual-Stick Shooter
November 20, 2020 by RSS Feed
JYDGE ($4.99) by 10tons is a dual-stick shooter that is a follow-up to the studio's previous hit, Neon Chrome. If you enjoyed other games like Kick Ass Commandos and ATOMINE, then you'll get a kick out of JYDGE.
It seems that dystopian futures are a popular trend lately, given some current events, and with recent releases like "Blade Runner 2049." While I'm one of the few out there who don't particularly care for the "Blade Runner" franchise, I still like the idea of dystopias, as they make for other interesting forms of art and entertainment, such as video games. I was a fan of Neon Chrome when it first came out, but I know that not everyone enjoys the roguelike aspect of it. Fortunately, JYDGE is here, and it's like an improved Neon Chrome that doesn't disappoint.
Kick Ass Commandos
Anarchy Enterprises
ATOMINE
Broken Arms Games Pty Ltd
Neon Chrome
10tons Ltd.
Visually, JYDGE is stunningly beautiful. Everything in the game is rendered in 3D with a top-down perspective, so you get to see a lot of the level in a single glance. The world that JYDGE takes place in is dark and dim, but filled with bright neon lights that provide excellent contrast. Everything is also super futuristic and reminiscent of "RoboCop" and "Blade Runner 2049," from the flying police car to the fanfare at the end of a successful mission. It's easy to discern enemy targets from hostages, and the JYDGE unit just looks cool. Animations are smooth and fluid on my iPhone 8 Plus, so I had no issues with lag or choppy frame rates. The soundtrack is rather atmospheric and immersive, as it fits the dystopian nature perfectly. Sound effects are also a nice touch.
While JYDGE and Neon Chrome share the similarity of being a dual-stick shooter set in a dystopian world, JYDGE is not a procedurally generated roguelike, which is what Neon Chrome is. Instead, JYDGE features pre-made levels split up across four acts that are set and do not change, even if you play it multiple times. Each mission must be cleared with at least one medal before you can move on to the next one, and some require a certain number of medals before they're available.
You get the medals by completing specific objectives (three total) on each quest, and you can replay them to try and get ones you've missed. These objectives can be easy ones, such as "Destroy all targets" or "Rescue all hostages." The second and third goals are usually harder, as they'll want you to get exit under a certain time limit, or take no damage.
The controls in JYDGE are simple, intuitive, and work well. The bottom left corner of the screen is your virtual joystick for moving freely around the environment. The joystick on the bottom right will aim and automatically shoot once it determines a hostile enemy in range. A laser helps you see where you're aiming. A button above the aiming joystick lets you interact with the environment, such as looting crates and talking to hostages.
Once you have special weapons equipped, such as rockets, there is a button to use your special ammo instead of regular. A refresh button is also there for you to reload your weapon. Each special and ammo type have their own number of rounds, but you have infinite ammo, so it's more like a cooldown between rounds.
If you think having all of the buttons on-screen makes it too cluttered, you can toggle the control displays in the settings. There are other things you can change as well, including audio, display, and some gameplay elements.
As you kill enemies and loot crates, you'll acquire a nice amount of cash. The cash may be spent to purchase cyberware slots and cyberware upgrades. Cyberware are enhancements to the JYDGE unit that make it more potent in battle. Up to four cyberware items can be equipped (if you have the cash for all slots) and include things like reducing damage, electrify nearby hostiles, a laser-assisted drone, and more. Your weapon, the Gavel, also has upgrades for special weapons and ammo that you can buy. There's a ton of cyberware and gavel upgrades available, and they can alter your play style to your liking.
JYDGE is an incredible game for any dual-stick shooter fan.
The Good
JYDGE is an incredible game for any dual-stick shooter fan. The graphics look great and truly bring out the dystopian theme, along with the immersive soundtrack. Like other games in the genre, the controls are simple enough for anyone to pick up, and I had no issues with movement or shooting. The auto-shoot feature is also rather helpful, since it doesn't require any additional input from you. And with all of the objectives to complete and upgrades to unlock, there's plenty of replay value. Plus, being able to customize your JYDGE to suit your own play style is awesome.
The Bad
While JYDGE is fantastic so far, I think the price for the game is a little high for an iOS game. For the launch, it's 50 percent off for the first week, but after that it will go up to $9.99. Since there are only 18 levels total, it doesn't seem like enough content to warrant the full price, especially on iOS. For the sale price it's fine, but otherwise, I feel a bit iffy on it's worth for mobile.
The verdict
I'm having a lot of fun with JYDGE so far. I know real dystopias are no fun, but JYDGE makes it so when you're armed with a super weapon and a ton of enhancements to take out the baddies. The graphics are great and a nice homage to sci-fi series like "Blade Runner," and the music is well done. The controls work out nicely and the objectives prove to be rather challenging, so you'll definitely be spending some time with this game.
JYDGE is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for $4.99 for a limited time only. After the promotional period, it will go up to $9.99. JYDGE is also available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and XBox One for $14.99.
8.7
OVERALL
Sound/Music 9
Gameplay 9.5
Replayability 8
Game Controls 8.5
Graphics 8.5
JYDGE
10tons Ltd
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It's Full of Sparks is a Charming and Philosophical Platformer
November 20, 2020 by RSS Feed
It's Full of Sparks (Free) by Noodlecake Studios is a fast-paced platformer that will have you contemplating life by the end of it. If you enjoy games like Sonic Runners Adventure or FEZ, then you'll like what It's Full of Sparks has to offer.
Most of us enjoy fireworks, but have you ever wondered what the life of a firework is like? Yeah, me neither. Honestly, it's never occurred to me, but it's interesting enough to make a game about it, since It's Full of Sparks exists. I consider myself having quite an open mind to things, so It's Full of Sparks is one of those games that I had to check out for myself. What Noodlecake did was create something that's as fun as it is philosophical.
Sonic Runners Adventure
Gameloft
FEZ Pocket Edition
Corporation Polytron Inc.
Lara Croft GO
SQUARE ENIX Ltd
Visually, It's Full of Sparks is gorgeous and a sight to see. The game's fully rendered in 3D with beautiful, crisp architectural structures. In a way, the graphics remind me a bit of Lara Croft GO, except cleaner because you're not dealing with ancient ruins. It's a modernized low-poly look that is rather trendy these days, and definitely eye catching. The colors in It's Full of Sparks are a nice mix of soft pastels and bold, vibrant hues that mesh together to create a lovely world of fireworks. Animations are smooth and fluid, with no issues of lag or frame rate choppiness on my iPhone 8 Plus. The music is rather whimsical and charming, and the sound effects are fun and quirky.
Since It's Full of Sparks is a platformer, it's level-based, which is pretty standard. The game starts off with a firecracker who's all fine and dandy, that is, until they realize that once the fuse (spark of life) is out, they explode and die. With that in mind, the goal of the game is simple: get these sentient firecrackers safely to the water to put out the fuse, and live a little longer. Ultimately, if you're successful on the journey, you'll meet The Old One, which is a mythical firecracker that's never had their fuse lit.
While you can enjoy the game at your own pace, there are also stars to earn depending on how fast you complete a stage. The faster you are, the more stars you get. From my experience so far, you'll need to replay a level multiple times to memorize what to do, and then do everything correctly on your speed run. This is great for competitive players.
Controls are simple and intuitive. In the bottom left are two buttons to move your firecracker left and right. On the right side, after you collect the corresponding artifacts, are colored buttons. When you obtain the colored glasses, you'll be able to see or unsee certain obstacles and objects that can help guide you safely across. You have to tap on these buttons at the right time to toggle them, and make sure you get the timing and positioning of your firecracker correct, otherwise, it may lead to untimely deaths.
It's Full of Sparks is a game where you're going to die a lot. Each time your firecracker dies, whether by exploding or falling, you'll have a chance to try again with a new firecracker. These firecrackers count as "lives." You start the game off with a handful of firecrackers, but once you're out, you'll have to get more lives.
Fortunately, the game can be fairly generous with giving you more lives for free. You can slowly get a few lives at a time as a free gift every so often, or watch a video ad to get 15 at a time. If you enable ads, you get 25 more. If the video ad system bothers you, unlimited lives can be bought via a $2.99 in-app purchase.
A beautifully rendered 3D platformer that lets you play as a firecracker.
The Good
It's Full of Sparks is definitely a gem in the App Store, as it's fun, challenging, and makes you ponder your own life (existential crisis, anyone). The game has stunning graphics that are pure eye candy, and the music is delightful to listen to. The levels start off easy enough, but the difficulty ramps up at a nice pace. It's also great that the game allows you to either play at your own pace or do speed runs, since you can move on to the next level without earning stars.
The Bad
While there's a lot of good about It's Full of Sparks, it's not perfect. During my testing, I experienced a handful of crashing right after "completing" the first stage. The game would just freeze up and become unresponsive, resulting in force quitting and trying again. It happened twice in a row before I was able to have it not crash and proceed with actually playing the game. I'm not sure what the cause is, but it should be ironed out in the next update.
I like the idea that each new life is a new firecracker, but I also think that you can burn through your lives too quickly since things get a bit twitchy. Though there are free ways to obtain more firecrackers, I feel like it's pushing you towards the in-app purchase.
The verdict
Despite the minor inconveniences, I'm enjoying It's Full of Sparks a lot. The game is downright beautiful on Retina HD and Super Retina displays. The whimsical music is great to relax to, and the controls are easy enough for anyone to learn. I always like challenging games, as it's incredibly satisfying when you manage to overcome a stage you're stuck on, and It's Full of Sparks provides just that. Hopefully the kinks get ironed out sooner rathe than later.
It's Full of Sparks is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone or iPad for free with in-app purchases.
8.3
OVERALL
Graphics 9
Replayability 8
Game Controls 8
Sound/Music 8
Gameplay 8.5
It's Full of Sparks
Noodlecake
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Crystal Cove Gives a New Spin on the Traditional Match-Three Puzzle
November 20, 2020 by RSS Feed
Crystal Cove ($1.99) by Andrey Spencer is a match-three puzzle game that isn't like anything you've tried before. If you enjoyed other unique match-threes like Kenshõ and You Must Build A Boat, then you'll enjoy what Crystal Cove brings to the table.
Life always gets a bit hectic for me, so I enjoy playing a wide variety of games to take my mind off of things for a bit. If you've been following my work here at AppAdvice, you should know that one of my favorite genres are puzzles, specifically, match-threes. I'm not sure why, but I'm always drawn to these types of games, as I find them relaxing and so easy to lose hours at a time to them. Plus, it keeps my mind ticking. Even though it feels like I've played almost every match-three game there is on the App Store, I still get a nice surprise every now and then. Crystal Cove is one of those titles that brings a smile to my face.
Kenshō
FIFTYTWO, OOO
You Must Build A Boat
EightyEight Games LTD
Crystal Cove features a super minimal 2D design that keeps the game simple yet elegant at the same time. The background features a clear illustration of what looks like a cove (hence the name), but it's not too distracting to take away from the foreground, which is where all the matching is done. The triangular game pieces pop out a bit with pseudo-3D, thanks to the three shades of one color. The color palette is basic with just three soft pastel hues, but I find it soothing and it goes well with the cove theme. There's also a color blind mode, where each color is represented by dots, so no one is left out. Animations are smooth and fluid, so I had no issues with lag or choppy frame rates on my iPhone 8 Plus. The ambient techno-like soundtrack is fairly calming, and helps you think about the moves you're making. The developer did an excellent job here with Crystal Cove's visual and audio design, as it's an overall tranquil experience.
Unlike most match-three games, Crystal Cove doesn't have levels. Instead, it gives players an endless escapade of relaxing block matching. You play until you're surrounded and have no more options except to restart and try again to beat your high score. While it doesn't sound like a lot, the game is surprisingly full of depth and strategy's involved, so you must think about each move if you want to do well.
At the start of each game, you have a colored triangle in the center of the board, which can fit a certain number of triangles. Along the top of the screen is a block that tells you the next three colors of triangles that will appear once you move. When you swipe left, right, up, or down to move, it places the next triangle in that spot. A light silhouette of adjacent triangles that you can move into get highlighted on the board, in case you don't know where to go.
As you match like-colored triangles in clusters of at least three or more (they must also be adjacent to each other), you'll fill up the colored crystals at the bottom. Once these are full, you can drag them to a triangle and change it to that color. They're useful for getting out of a jam, but you should use them often since they refill as you make matches.
If you make a mistake, you can undo your last move with the rewind button. Once you are surrounded with no where left to go, the game asks if you want to use a power-up crystal. Otherwise, you'll have to restart and try again.
Your final score in a round is determined by the number of matches you've made, obviously. However, there are other bonuses to earning points, such as clearing the board, getting consecutive matches and earning multipliers. Again, it looks like a simple game on the surface, but it requires thinking and planning if you want to nab the best score possible.
As you accrue points, they double as in-game money. You can spend these points in the shop for various skins with new designs. They are purely cosmetic, though, as they don't affect the gameplay in any way.
Crystal Cove takes the traditional match-three formula and spins it upside-down.
The Good
Crystal Cove is a fantastic gem of a match-three puzzler. The graphics are simple, clean, and look great with the pastel color scheme. Having the color blind mode is nice too, as it doesn't exclude anyone from enjoying the game overall. The music is upbeat, quirky, and rather charming, so it's delightful to listen to as you play. Controls are simple enough and work well, and having the game show you where you can move is helpful.
The Bad
There's a lot of good going for Crystal Cove, but it's not perfect. While the color blind mode is nice, I do wish that there were more themes available, in case one isn't a fan of pastels. It would liven up the game more I think, and add a bit of customization to it.
I also found that the controls get a bit unresponsive sometimes. It seems to happen when there are less options for me in terms of where I can move, but I'd swipe where I should be able to go and nothing happens. When this occurs, it takes me a few swipes before it seems to register properly.
And while I like the infinite play of the game, I think having some additional game modes would spice things up. Like a puzzle mode, where you must clear the board in a certain number of moves. I mean, variety is nice, right?
The verdict
As an avid fan of match-three games, Crystal Cove is one of my new favorites. I like minimal design that still looks elegant, and Crystal Cove has it. Plus, the music is fun, as it's on par with what I like to listen to regularly anyway. The game mechanic is interesting and brings a new spin on a tried-and-true puzzle formula. I was surprised at the amount of depth and planning that's involved here.
I just want to see optimized controls, more modes, and maybe new color themes in a future update, as it would add more variety to the game. Still, this is a solid match-three that fans of the genre should give a spin.
Crystal Cove is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for $1.99. There are no in-app purchases.
7.9
OVERALL
Graphics 8
Sound/Music 8.5
Gameplay 8
Replayability 7.5
Game Controls 7.5
Crystal Cove
Andrey Spencer
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
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Tap Away to the Futuristic Tunes of Cytus II
November 20, 2020 by RSS Feed
Cytus II ($1.99) by Rayark is a musical rhythm game that takes place in a futuristic world that's ruled by the internet. If you were a fan of the original Cytus, or Rayark's other music game, VOEZ, then you're sure to love Cytus II.
Ever since my high school days, when Guitar Hero and Rock Band reigned supreme, I developed a love for music games. I would go to arcades and play the aforementioned games with friends, or watch others partake in Dance Dance Revolution (I'm not a dancer). I'd even venture out into other music games, such as DJ Hero and Beatmania. Even though I'm not an expert at rhythm games like other people I know, I have fun with them. My first Rayark music game was VOEZ, which I even bought on my Nintendo Switch, because it was that good. I didn't play the first Cytus game, though, but I was eager for something new from Rayark, so I decided to pick up Cytus II. As someone new to Cytus, I'm not disappointed.
Cytus
Rayark International Limited
VOEZ
Rayark International Limited
Visually, Cytus II is incredibly impressive. If you're a fan of Japanese anime and manga, then you'll love the art style. The futuristic, cybernetic world looks like it came straight out of some anime series. The characters themselves have their own unique styles and aesthetics, and are incredibly well drawn, in my opinion. The digital world that everything takes place in is believable, with plenty of blues, grays, and neon lights to represent cyberspace. All animations are super smooth and fluid, so I did not get issues of lag or choppy frame rates on my iPhone 8 Plus. As a newcomer to the Cytus series, I'm definitely impressed by the graphics.
Since Cytus II is a rhythm game, the soundtrack is rather important, even more so than the story. The game has a total of about 50 songs to play, with many of them needing to be unlocked through progression. Cytus II features songs composed by songwriters from all over the globe, including Japan, Korea, US, Europe, Taiwan, and more. These songs span all sorts of genres, including electronic, rock, and even classical. Your choice of songs to play also depend on which character you play as, giving you reason to try out other characters.
One thing that should be mentioned, though, is the fact that while there are five characters total, you only get three with the initial purchase. The other two must be bought via in-app purchase, and they're $9.99 each. To me, that seems a bit high for a mobile game. So if you want to get access to all of the content in this version, you'll have to shell out over $20. A little steep for my tastes, but I digress.
In Cytus II, there's an interesting story that unfolds through the music. You see, in the cyTus internet space, a mysterious DJ by the name of Æsir is charming everyone worldwide with his music. Turns out he's holding the first mega virtual concert, with an idol singer and popular DJ opening acts, so the frenzy begins. Everyone wants to see what Æsir looks like.
The story unfolds through digital messages that users (other characters in the game) post, similar to forums like reddit. You'll be able to unravel the plot, get to know other characters through their replies and comments, and see what songs you've unlocked.
Each song that you can play has a few different difficulty levels. By default, you start with Easy and Hard. But as you play, you can unlock Chaos difficulty, which is not for the faint of heart. But keep in mind that the higher the difficulty, the higher of a score you can end up with.
Playing Cytus II is pretty easy, but takes some time and practice to get used to it. The game utilizes the "Active Judgment Line" rhythm play style, which means you must tap on the notes that appear as the judgment line hits them. There are five types of notes: regular blue ones need a tap, a circle that requires a long-press for a brief amount of time, an arrow that must be dragged, a bigger circle in the middle that needs a longer long-press, and double notes. While it's easy to tap them at the right time, things get harder when many notes appear on the screen at once, and it only gets more challenging with Hard and Chaos difficulties.
Like any other music game, it's important to hit the notes at the right time, since you'll rack up a combo. The higher your combo, the more points you'll get thanks to the multiplier. And the closer to perfect you get on a song, the better grade you'll receive at the end.
The grades are important, as you may unlock more songs by getting high marks on certain songs. The player you choose also gains experience points after successful performances. As they level up, the story advances, and new songs are unlocked as well.
The futuristic world of Cytek returns with even more music rhythm gaming for you.
The Good
Cytus II has a lot of good things going for it. The art is gorgeous, everything runs smoothly, and the variety and choice in song selection is amazing. The story is also rather captivating and engaging, which is a plus, since you don't normally play music games for the plot. I've always enjoyed Rayark's sense of progression in the game, since it motivates you to try higher difficulties to unlock more content.
The controls in Cytus II are also easy and intuitive. It does take some getting used to, but if you've played their music games before, or any rhythm game in general, then you'll feel right at home. I like the variety of notes that are in the game, as it keeps you on your toes.
The Bad
While I'm liking Cytus II as a newcomer to the series, I still think that the $10 price tag for the other two characters is a bit outrageous. However, that's my only qualm with the game, because everything else is pretty great.
The verdict
I'm enjoying Cytus II a lot so far, and it's definitely my new favorite musical rhythm game. I'm in love with the anime art style, and the music is quirky, upbeat, and catchy. The game's tutorial is helpful in terms of showing you what to do with each note type, and controls are simple. I recommend playing with your device on a table or other flat surface, so it's easier to see upcoming notes without your hands blocking your view. I just wish that the price for the other two characters were cheaper.
I recommend Cytus II for anyone who likes music rhythm games, or was a fan of the original Cytus. You can find Cytus II on the App Store as a universal download on your iPhone or iPad for $1.99.
9.4
OVERALL
Graphics 10
Sound/Music 10
Replayability 9
Gameplay 9.5
Game Controls 8.5
Cytus II
Rayark International Limited
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