Reunite With Your Lost Love in the Puzzling Asymmetric
November 17, 2016 by macjeff
Asymmetric ($1.99) by Klemens Strasser is a puzzle game that will give your heartstrings a slight tug. If you enjoyed games like Stay, Mum and Love You To Bits, then you will enjoy what Asymmetric brings to the table, especially if you’re a fan of puzzles.
Lately, there’s been a deluge of great action and arcade games on the App Store, and while they’re great and all (like SteamWorld Heist and RunGunJumpGun), I do need a break from these games every now and then. When I want to relax but still keep myself entertained and stimulated with a game, I tend to pick a puzzle game to do the job. So when the message about Asymmetric, a simple puzzle game from a student and indie game developer, hit my inbox a few days ago, I was intrigued and caught my attention. I’ve tried it out, and it’s rather impressive and worth a look for puzzle lovers.
Visually, Asymmetric features a simple and clean aesthetic that would appeal to fans of minimalist design. The game has a nice color palette that consists of whites, grays, blacks, and splashes of color that provide a great contrast with the background tones. Even though the two main characters are nothing more than basic circles, they have their own facial expressions drawn on them that breathe a bit of life into them, and the various obstacles that you’ll eventually come across, such as portals and rocks, are easy to recognize when you encounter them. While there is not too much detail otherwise with the visuals, the developer did give it a bit of depth with the shadowing on blocks, so it’s not completely flat. To top things off, Asymmetric features an atmospheric and soothing piano soundtrack that is composed by Stefan Putzinger, and it’s an absolute delight to listen to while you play. I truly love puzzle games that have tranquil music like this, because it helps me relax and focus on the puzzles at hand.
Like other puzzle games, Asymmetric is level-based. The game has six different chapters with a total of 66 levels to go through (12 in each except the first one, where there’s only six). In order to unlock a chapter, you’ll have to clear at least nine stages in the previous one, but you can access any level in a chapter as you please — they don’t have to be played in chronological order. The goal of the game is easy enough: get Groopert and Groopine to their respective goal points (green circle) from the starting point (blue circle). But be warned — it is much harder than it first appears.
The controls in Asymmetric is straightforward and intuitive, but it does take some time to master because there’s a catch: they move in opposite directions of each other. To have them move, just swipe anywhere on the screen, and both move at the same time. With this in mind, you’ll have to plan your moves before you move them, because things get more complicated once the other game mechanics come into play, like blocks in your path, portals, holes, speed pads, and more. On top of that, each level only gives you a limited amount of moves, so you have to think carefully about the most efficient way to get to the goal. The move counter does not go down if both characters are stuck and unable to move in the opposite direction of your swipe.
Once you get both Groopert and Groopine to their proper destination, then the level is complete. You get awarded coins depending on how many moves were left by the time you completed it. This means one coin per move remaining, so the more moves remain, the better. The coins can be used to get new character sets in the shop, or you can spend them to get hints on levels that you are stuck on. The hints will partially solve the puzzle for you, and it’s up to you to figure out the rest. Considering that you can get coins quickly if you’re good at the game, it shouldn’t be too hard to make up for used coins. There are no in-app purchases for coins, which is rather refreshing to be honest.
For those who are much more creative, there is a built-in level editor for you to create your own Asymmetric stages. While there is a “Featured” tab while you’re in the level builder section, it’s not active at the moment and only says “Coming Soon!” so we can only assume that it will be available after more players submit their creations to share with other players.
I’ve only spent a bit of time with Asymmetric, but it’s a rather enjoyable experience so far. I love the minimalistic graphics, the classy piano soundtrack is top-notch, and the controls are intuitive and responsive, though it does require some patience and practice. The levels are challenging enough, and the coins are a nice reward that can’t be bought, so it’s rather refreshing and a true test of your mental prowess. Plus, with the level editor ready from the get-go, it gives players even more reason to keep playing even after beating all of the main levels. Hopefully the featured section opens up soon so new user-created levels can be downloaded.
I recommend giving Asymmetric a look if you’re a fan of puzzle games and want something challenging to check out over the upcoming holidays. You can find Asymmetric on the App Store as a universal app for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV for just $1.99. There is even an iMessage sticker pack and zero in-app purchases.
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
Free Apps to Download TODAY ONLY 11/17/2016
November 17, 2016 by macjeff
English Spanish Dictionary - General , Tayasui Sketches Pro , Mic'd and more
iPhone:
Mic'd ( $2.99 → 1 ) Timothy Hise Mic’d is beautifully simple. Its interface consists of a single big red button in the middle of the screen that when tapped will begin recording audio and when tapped again will stop. Swipe down to access all of your recordings, play them back, and share them. Mic’d is also able to remember playback positions and begin recording on launch. If you have an Apple Watch, you’ll be able to record and playback audio right from your wrist. Mic’d includes 3D Touch support as well.Universal:
English Spanish Dictionary - General ( $9.99 → 1 ) Word Magic Software English-Spanish Reference Dictionary is remarkably easy to use. You’re able to enter a word in English or Spanish, and it will instantly provide you with a translation, pronunciation, definitions, and example phrases. Words can be marked as favorites for quick access later on, and all of your data can be synced with Dropbox. The app includes a ridiculous amount of content with over 718,000 entries, 524,000 translations, 558,000 synonyms, 98,000 definitions, and 40,000 examples, all of which is stored offline.
Tayasui Sketches Pro ( $4.99 → 1 ) Tayasui.com Tayasui Sketches artfully mixes simplicity and power to provide you with the perfect canvas. It offers a wide variety of art creation tools including felt and ink pens, watercolor and acrylic brushes, an airbrush gun, and oil pastel. Brushes and pens can be edited in a variety of ways, and you’re able to layer your strokes to create depth. What really makes Tayasui Sketches stand out, however, is its stylus support. It allows anyone with a Wacom, Hex, Adonit, Pencil by 53, and Pogo Connect stylus to add strokes that change their angle and width based on pressure.
Audio Spectrum ( $2.99 → 1 ) DEXUS Pawel Krzywdzinski Audio Spectrum is a real-time FFT spectrum analyzer. It provides you with a visual representation of what you’re hearing, and can be used to measure the response times of audio equipment or analyze various sounds. The app includes three sampling rates to choose from, the ability to zoom and pan charts, and the ability to export and share charts. External microphones are also supported and are highly recommended for better results.
Toca Hair Salon ( $2.99 → 1 ) Toca Boca AB Look at that hair! Tock Hair Salon allows you and your child to create some of the wackiest hairstyles ever seen. Your child can choose from six adorable characters and give them brand new hairdos. As your child shampoos, combs, cuts, and colors hair, the character will react with funny faces and sounds. The app includes a wide variety of trimming and styling tools, 12 hair colors, loads of accessories to add, and the ability to take snapshots of their unique creations.Source link: http://appadvice.com/apps-gone-free
credit : appadvice
Free Apps to Download TODAY ONLY 11/17/2016
November 17, 2016 by macjeff
Tunable: Tuner, Metronome, and Recorder , NoLocation - Remove exif data from photos , iExit Interstate Exit Guide and more
iPhone:
NoLocation - Remove exif data from photos ( $1.99 → 1 ) Jackson Cole NoLocation allows you to quickly and easily remove EXIF data from your photos. The data can be removed from new photos taken within NoLocation, or you can import any photo from your library. Keep in mind that NoLocation doesn’t overwrite the original photo. It simply makes a copy of the photo without any of the EXIF data included.Universal:
Tunable: Tuner, Metronome, and Recorder ( $2.99 → 1 ) AffinityBlue Tunable provides you with instant visual feedback, which is absolutely necessary for any musician. As notes are held out, a white line will show you how steady your pitch is. The straighter the line, the more consistent you are. Tunable also includes a chord generator, a metronome, AirPlay support, and the ability to record your practices and performances.
iExit Interstate Exit Guide ( $0.99 → 1 ) Metrocket, LLC Your GPS may tell you how to get to your destination, but iExit will tell you all about the stops along the way. As you approach each exit, iExit will display the businesses, amenities, rest stops, hotels, and more within the area. You’re able to view the data in list or map form. Want to plan ahead? No problem. iExit allows you to search the next 100 exits for your favorite businesses.
My Very Own Alphabet App ( $0.99 → 1 ) Wendy Coyle Today only: Unlock the full version free of charge! Simply create a profile and swipe until you’ve reached the fifth letter. You’ll then see a full version unlock button at the top of the screen. Tap it and confirm your action. Angus will take your child on a personal journey through the alphabet. Tap on Angus’ head to hear the name of the letter and on his belly to hear the sound of the letter in an Australian accent. You’re also able to record your own audio and attach an associated image in order to personalize the experience.
Orca Puzzles for Kids Jigsaw Wonder Edition ( → 0 ) Eggroll Games LLC You won’t be able to resist the wonder of this jigsaw puzzle game. Each of the 30 jigsaw puzzles features a breathtaking orca photo to reconstruct. The jigsaw puzzles can be broken up into as few as four pieces and as many as 24. You’re also able to choose whether or not you want a colored background and outline hints. What more could you ask for?Source link: http://appadvice.com/apps-gone-free
credit : appadvice
Free Apps to Download TODAY ONLY 11/16/2016
November 16, 2016 by macjeff
Tunable: Tuner, Metronome, and Recorder , NoLocation - Remove exif data from photos , Orca Puzzles for Kids Jigsaw Wonder Edition and more
iPhone:
NoLocation - Remove exif data from photos ( $1.99 → 1 ) Jackson Cole NoLocation allows you to quickly and easily remove EXIF data from your photos. The data can be removed from new photos taken within NoLocation, or you can import any photo from your library. Keep in mind that NoLocation doesn’t overwrite the original photo. It simply makes a copy of the photo without any of the EXIF data included.Universal:
Tunable: Tuner, Metronome, and Recorder ( $2.99 → 1 ) AffinityBlue Tunable provides you with instant visual feedback, which is absolutely necessary for any musician. As notes are held out, a white line will show you how steady your pitch is. The straighter the line, the more consistent you are. Tunable also includes a chord generator, a metronome, AirPlay support, and the ability to record your practices and performances.Orca Puzzles for Kids Jigsaw Wonder Edition ( $2.99 → 1 ) Eggroll Games LLC You won’t be able to resist the wonder of this jigsaw puzzle game. Each of the 30 jigsaw puzzles features a breathtaking orca photo to reconstruct. The jigsaw puzzles can be broken up into as few as four pieces and as many as 24. You’re also able to choose whether or not you want a colored background and outline hints. What more could you ask for?iExit Interstate Exit Guide ( $0.99 → 1 ) Metrocket, LLC Your GPS may tell you how to get to your destination, but iExit will tell you all about the stops along the way. As you approach each exit, iExit will display the businesses, amenities, rest stops, hotels, and more within the area. You’re able to view the data in list or map form. Want to plan ahead? No problem. iExit allows you to search the next 100 exits for your favorite businesses.My Very Own Alphabet App ( $0.99 → 1 ) Wendy Coyle Today only: Unlock the full version free of charge! Simply create a profile and swipe until you’ve reached the fifth letter. You’ll then see a full version unlock button at the top of the screen. Tap it and confirm your action. Angus will take your child on a personal journey through the alphabet. Tap on Angus’ head to hear the name of the letter and on his belly to hear the sound of the letter in an Australian accent. You’re also able to record your own audio and attach an associated image in order to personalize the experience.Source link: http://appadvice.com/apps-gone-free
credit : appadvice
Use Your Skill to Land the Perfect Shot in SteamWorld Heist
November 16, 2016 by macjeff
SteamWorld Heist ($6.99) by Image & Form International AB is a turn-based strategy RPG that involves a gorgeous steampunk world filled with Western robot pirates. If you love a good old Western shootout, but love futuristic elements thrown into the mix as well, then you will love what SteamWorld Heist has to offer. For those who are unaware, this is the iOS port of SteamWorld Heist, which first came out on Nintendo 3DS in December 2015, then on Steam for Windows, OS X, and Linux as well as the PlayStation Vita in June 2016.
When I grew up with video games on my old-school Nintendo systems and Sega Genesis, I mostly played the platformers that we are all familiar with as well as some puzzle games, like Tetris. I never got into the RPG world until I was in high school, but it soon became one of my favorite genres of games, due to the storylines (albeit as cheesy as some of them are) and customization of play styles. Another bonus of being a teenager at the time was I had a lot of free time, so level grinding was not an issue. But time is a scarce resource for me these days, so RPGs are not a genre that I play as often anymore. Still, I was intrigued when I saw SteamWorld Heist featured on the App Store, mostly due to the beautiful artwork, so I had to check it out for myself.
Visually, SteamWorld Heist features spectacular aesthetics that immerse you into the game world without much effort. If you’re a fan of steampunk themes, the game won’t disappoint. The robot characters, including your own space pirate crew, all have their own unique outfits and appearances that will charm you, and the environments of the spaceships that you’ll be exploring are incredibly detailed with realistic textures and quite vast. The colors in the game range from darker tones to bright and vibrant lights and lasers. All animations in the game are smooth and fluid, so I had no lag on my iPhone 7. To top things off, the game has an amazing atmospheric soundtrack that is composed by Steam Powered Giraffe, and the sound effects are downright delightful to listen to, especially as you hear your bullets ricochet off of the walls and hit your target. As a newbie to the world of SteamWorld, I’m rather impressed with all of the visuals and audio that the game series offers.
In SteamWorld Heist, you take control of Captain Piper Faraday and her crew of steam-powered robot pirates in space. As the Captain, you will help guide her and the crew through enemy spaceships to loot and plunder whatever you can find on them to help your own. The story will lead you through various procedurally generated levels that all have their own distinctive mission objectives that you will be briefed on before starting, and once the goal is completed, just make sure to hightail it to the escape pod of the enemy ship to make your way back home. Another thing you can do before starting a mission is to customize your loadout, meaning you can choose the crew members you want to bring along as well as change their equipped gear.
The game currently provides players with about 15 to 20 hours of gameplay, and there is even a New Game+ mode for even more epic loot and awesomeness once you’ve completed the game the first time around. As you play, you’ll be able to recruit new members to your crew if your reputation is high enough, and each unit you acquire has their own strengths and weaknesses. You can also purchase weapons and upgrades for your team with the resources that you collect from successful missions, as well as stylish hats because why not? Everyone loves hats.
The controls in SteamWorld Heist for iOS are simple, intuitive, and feel natural for the touch screen. To pan the camera around to view more of the ship you’re in at the moment, just use a one-finger swipe around on the screen. To move your characters, select the member you want to direct from the bottom left (otherwise it just goes in order) and then point-and-click where you want them to go. Each character can only move so far, and if the line is orange, that means you can move and still attack in the same turn. If you want them to move into a spot that is highlighted blue, that means you must sprint and cannot take another action during that turn. To attack enemies, tap on your target and then tap again to shoot.
The key to attacking is to take cover often and then use the environment to perform trick shots, meaning you ricochet off of walls and other obstacles in order to land your shots on your target if they’re taking cover. Each of your team members will also have a special ability that can be used when the gauge is full, and to activate it, just tap on their ability icon in the bottom right corner. These have a cooldown period, of course, so you have to use them wisely.
While players can choose their difficulty level (Casual, Regular, Experienced, Veteran, and Elite) at the start of the game, you can change it at any time before starting a mission if you want to tone down the challenge a bit or increase it for better rewards. In this regard, the game is a bit flexible if you find things to be too hard for you in the beginning. Another nice thing about the game is the fact that you have three game save slots available from the get-go.
Even though I’m a newbie to the SteamWorld games, I’m loving what I’ve experienced so far. The visuals are stunning, the music is delightful, and the characters are rather endearing, despite being metal robots powered by steam. The touch screen controls work well, and having procedurally generated levels means that you can go back and replay levels and never have the same experience twice, which is amazing. Also, the customization of each crew member is almost infinite, so there are a lot of possibilities that you can end up going with to fit your play style. I’m coming to SteamWorld Heist as a new player, but this is definitely a game that I will be keeping around for a long time to come, and I will even check out the other two games ( SteamWorld Tower Defense and SteamWorld Dig) when I am done with Heist.
I highly recommend SteamWorld Heist if you are a fan of turn-based strategy RPGs and love some humorous steampunk robots and space pirates. You can find SteamWorld Heist on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $6.99. There are no in-app purchases.
Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews
credit : appadvice
Follow Mid Atlantic Consulting
Subscribe Mid Atlantic Consulting
APP review today