"If there is an app for that"

Stand Your Ground in Mars Defence

December 08, 2016 by macjeff

If worrying over defending planet earth alone has gotten too mundane, then try out Yahub, Inc.‘s Mars Defence for a new challenge.

Free through the iTunes Store, this fun game keeps things fresh.

Features:

For fans of other tower defense games, this is one you have to check out.

Mars Defence is an excellent example of a well-designed, exciting and fun-to-play tower defense game.

Just like its name suggests, your aim in this app is to fend off martian invaders from attacking your mars colony; you do this through building towers and conquering levels, all while unlocking new tools and weapons to help you in your mission.

As a whole this game is wonderfully easy to learn to play; an optional instructional video at the start of the game really breaks down the basic of the app.

Even though your mission throughout the entire game is consistent overall, Mars Defense constantly felt like a fresh challenge as I played it, thanks to the ever changing supply of weapons and invaders as I worked through the levels.

This game brings together all the key aspects of a tower defense game, and does it in a way that makes it fun, exciting and addictive to play. Well done developers!

Appearance and Layout:

Trying out a new game can often make you feel pretty lost. Fortunately, this isn’t a problem in Mars Defence.

It’s a really intuitive game layout, so players will waste minimal time learning how to navigate through the app. At the same time, however, the graphic detail of Mars Defense is somewhat lacking.

While it’s understood that this is a free game with pretty basic graphics, it still would be appreciated to have a little more character thrown into the visual display of the game.

Still, the graphics of this app are arguably perfectly functional, and a lack of great detail doesn’t really detract from the overall fun of the game too much.

Value:

As mentioned before, this is a free game, and for that “price” it definitely has a lot to offer.

Mars Defence might not have the most exciting graphics, but other than that it has just about everything you want in a new game: fun storyline, affordable price tag, easy to navigate layout, and helpful instructional tutorial to start off.

The in-app variety makes you really feel like the developers were very intentional in their design of the game. Overall, Mars Defence is a solid addition to your favorite iOS device.

Mars Defence iPhone app requires iOS 8.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.

TheiPhoneAppReview’s rating:

Have Fun Cleaning the Ocean with Bogga Jewel

December 08, 2016 by macjeff

Bogga Jewel is the latest installment in the Bogga game series and quite possibly the best one yet.

Aimed for children ages 6+, Bogga Jewel challenges kids to think about keeping their world clean while also playing a game fun and lighthearted.

Features:

Whether your children are ardent fans of the Bogga games series or if Bogga Jewel, from BoggaTap, is an entirely new idea to them, this app is sure to please.

Bogga Jewel uses simple arrow button commands to control your Bogga player as they work to rid the ocean of litter. Successfully pulling up different items leads to unlocking different exciting prizes to collect.

However, even though Bogga Jewel aimed at audiences 6+, there is actually a good bit of variation within the app, allowing for children even a little younger to enjoy it as well.

Specifically, players can choose to focus on successfully using all their different fishing lines to pull in the trash, or they can choose to focus more on using their “treasures” to recycle them into beautiful unique designs of their own crafting, including their own “sticker books.”

Because of this versatility, it’s easy to see Bogga Jewel appealing to little ones of a range of ages.

Appearance and Layout:

Just like the other games in the Bogga series, Bogga Jewel’s graphics are perfect for its target audience.

The characters are friendly and fun, and the colors are appropriately bright. With a target audience at such a relatively young age, the care taken into creating well done graphics for this app is actually pretty impressive and from the results we can say with confidence that no shortcuts were taken.

Getting around Bogga Jewel is equally well done. Being able to read isn’t really a requirement for figuring out how to play and how to navigate through the app. This is key as it means that its target audience can probably play this game with little need to constantly be asking their parents “how-to” questions.

Value:

As listed above, Bogga Jewel is $2.99 through the iTunes Store. At almost $3, this app is certainly one of the pricier games out today (when compared with the many free options available).

However, Bogga Jewel does offer parents the comfort of knowing that their child is playing a “safe” game, one free of any unwanted pop-ups, advertisements, or unexpected in-app purchases.

For this reason alone, many parents might consider the initial investment fee for this app well worth it.

Overall, Bogga Jewel delivers on the promise of a “safe”, fun and entirely child-friendly experience.

Bogga Jewel requires iOS 6.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.

TheiPhoneAppReview’s rating:

Take Down the Overseer in Neon Chrome, a Dystopian Shooter

December 07, 2016 by macjeff

Neon Chrome ($4.99) by 10tons Ltd is an infinite dual-stick shooter with a dash of RPG elements thrown into the mix. If you liked other games like Space Marshals 2 and Implosion: Never Lose Hope, then Neon Chrome could be right up your alley.

When I feel a bit stressed, there’s nothing I like doing more than picking up a game and just going on a destructive rampage and eliminating all of the threats that stand in my way. For these stressful times in my life, I prefer picking up a dual-stick shooter of some kind where I can just unleash my rage and still be somewhat productive about it as I rack up points and get through tough levels. Another thing I love about video games lately are procedurally generated stages, so that it’s never the same experience twice. So when I heard about Neon Chrome a few weeks ago, I knew that it was a game that I had to check out for myself as something therapeutic for pent up frustrations. Needless to say, Neon Chrome does not disappoint, especially if you’re a fan of procedurally generated third-person shooter games.

Visually speaking, Neon Chrome is a gorgeous game. Everything is rendered in 3-D, but players see everything from a top-down perspective. The game takes place in a dystopian-like futuristic setting, so the randomly generated levels look like something you’ve seen from a sci-fi series or movie. Because of the somewhat gloomy tone of a dystopia, most of the world features darker colors, but the bright and vivid lights act as a nice contrast to it. Plus, things get pretty lit up once you start shooting things and even detonate explosives and see a big ball of fire on the screen, after all. Another cool thing about the game is the fact that the environment is completely destructible, so it just adds to the game’s overall dynamic. Animations are smooth and fluid on my iPhone 7 with no lag, and while the game is compatible as far back as the iPhone 5 and first-gen iPad mini, it is best to play on devices that have been released less than two years ago. The game also has an ambient techno-like soundtrack that is rather fitting for the overall theme, and the sound effects are just the icing on the cake.

In Neon Chrome, players will connect into the game world and then blast their way through a series of stages that are all randomly generated with each run. At the beginning of a game, players will get to choose one of three randomly generated characters, all of which have their own unique class (soldier, techie, psycho, hacker, etc.) and special abilities. It’s important to take a look at what each character can do, as some will reflect a better play style for you, but it also gives you the chance to experiment and try something new as well. Plus, sometimes you will need a specific class in order to interact with things in the game, such as Hacker for getting into the computer systems that you may come across. Once you have your character selected, you’ll be thrown into a futuristic dystopia world where your main objective is to make it through 31 levels to bring down the Overseer, and you do this again and again. Once you die or disconnect, you’ll be returned to the main room where you get hooked up into the machine, and you can start another round. Each run you do is procedurally generated, so it will never be the same thing, which means the replay value of Neon Chrome is high.

The controls in Neon Chrome are fairly simple to understand, especially if you have played dual-stick shooters before. The bottom left corner has the virtual joystick for moving your character around on the screen. The bottom right area has another large joystick button for aiming your character and a button in the middle to shoot your ranged weapon. Auto-aim is on by default, but you can turn it off if you prefer. A smaller button above this virtual joystick lets you interact with the environment and objects, or you can also use it to perform a melee attack. Another small button to the left of the aiming joystick lets you use your character’s special ability, which requires energy to use, though the energy cells can be found by looting crates or just scattered around along with gold currency. The money can be spent on unlocking powerful upgrades, enhancements, and weapons for your characters. If you prefer physical controls for these type of games, Neon Chrome also has full MFi controller support.

As you make your way through the stages to find the portal that takes you to the next level, you will find various things in the environment that you can interact with. This includes various cybernetic pods that you can use to gain one perk from four random ones. You can tap on each one to read what it does before making a selection, but since you can’t change your mind after, it’s important to read the fine print for each and find the one that fits your play style the best.

I’ve only just started playing Neon Chrome, but I can see this as a title I return to often for my mobile gaming sessions. The game looks beautiful and the music is captivating and immersive. Controls work out well, and having the option for MFi controllers is a nice bonus if you have one laying around somewhere. I also truly love procedurally generated games because it keeps everything fresh, and that’s just what you get with Neon Chrome — it’s always a new experience each time you start a game so it’s never boring. Plus, the AI can get pretty smart so it’s rather challenging. On top of it all, the upgrade system is fun and offers a lot of customization, so you can play the game how you want to. Once you start Neon Chrome, you’ll find that it’s hard to put down.

I highly recommend giving Neon Chrome a try if you love procedurally generated infinite dual-stick shooter games. You can find Neon Chrome on the App Store as a universal download on the iPhone and iPad for just $4.99. There are no in-app purchases.

Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews

credit : appadvice

from : Mid Atlantic Consulting, Inc.

Free Apps to Download TODAY ONLY 12/07/2016

December 07, 2016 by macjeff

Pennies Mini - Share budgets with your friends , Sero , Huerons: A challenging Puzzle and more

Universal:

Pennies Mini - Share budgets with your friends ( $0.99 → Free ) Emile Bennett Pennies Mini is the iMessage version of the popular budgeting app by the same name. It allows you to create simple budgets in a matter of seconds and share them with family and friends. While in iMessage, you’re able to create a new budget with a tap. Then name the budget, set its currency, set its amount, and send it off to friends and family. Whenever a purchase is made, whoever made it can add their name along with a description and the amount will be deducted from everyone’s budget. The app also allows you to create as many budgets as you like.

Sero ( $0.99 → Free ) JAKE HAUGEN Sero is a little ball that launches from a tube with a tap. But before ever doing so, you must manipulate the puzzle pieces in order to not only guide Sero safely to the goal but also collecting all of the triangles along the way. The triangles must be collected in a specific order, and you’ll immediately know when something is amiss by paying close attention to the lights on the goal. The game includes 60 levels in all.

Huerons: A challenging Puzzle ( $1.99 → Free ) Mudit Jaju Huerons is both simple and complex. The idea is to merge Huerons of the same color by tapping the open space between them. Only one Hueron can remain, and only adjacent Huerons can be merged. The first few levels will introduce the basic mechanics. As you progress, you’ll come across new colors and new ways to merge Huerons, further complicating matters. The game includes a total of 125 levels.

BLOCnog ( $1.99 → Free ) Robert Koehler BLOCnog is pure casual fun. Your job is to slide blocks around the screen in order to reach the target area. Blocks will continue to slide until they run into something, so plan your swipes accordingly. BLOCnog differers from other games in the genre by requiring you to collect and move multiple blocks at a time. The game can be enjoyed on Apple TV as well.

Jigsaw Wonder Puppies Puzzles for Kids ( $1.99 → Free ) Eggroll Games LLC You won’t be able to resist the charm of this jigsaw puzzle game. Each of the 35 jigsaw puzzles features an adorable puppy 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

Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire is One Sweet Platformer

December 06, 2016 by macjeff

Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire ($2.99) by Play Pretend LLC is a challenging platformer that serves as a fantastic tribute to the classics. If you enjoy tough-as-nails games and love a test of your platforming skills, then Le Parker is one that you must check out. If you liked games like VVVVVV and RunGunJumpGun, then you will love what Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire brings to the genre.

As a ‘90s kid, I pretty much grew up with the classic platformers that everyone knows nowadays. This includes the Super Mario Bros. games and even Sonic the Hedgehog, which was a personal favorite. Even though I wasn’t the fastest at completing stages, I still thoroughly enjoyed platformer games because of the challenges that they usually bring when it comes to complex levels and epic boss fights. It took me several tries to complete a stage, but I always had fun doing it when it eventually happens. I’ve always had a soft spot for platformers since a kid, so naturally I’m inclined to try out any new platformer game on iOS when it comes up, even though the controls can be rather tricky to get right with touch screens (the Mikey Shorts games are the only ones that have nailed it). When I saw Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire on the App Store, I was intrigued, mostly because of my affinity for all sweet things (literally) and the awesome art style. Needless to say, I was not disappointed with this one.

Visually, Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire is stunning and beautiful. The game features a retro aesthetic that makes you feel right at home if you grew up with the classic consoles back in the day. While it’s a pixelated art style, Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire still packs in an incredible amount of detail, from the serene backdrops to textured environments in the foreground to the delectable macarons that you’ll want to collect, and all of the character sprites, including Le Parker himself and the various critters that you’ll come across, are rendered nicely and bubbling with charm. The game consists of a fantastically rich color palette that ranges from soft pastels to bolder and vibrant hues, and there are some nice lighting effects, including day and night times, that make the game appear to be like a dreamscape. Animations are buttery smooth and fluid with no lag on my iPhone 7, and the completely original soundtrack is rather atmospheric and soothing, fully pulling you into Le Parker’s world. Sound effects are also delightful to listen to as you collect sweet treats and stomp enemies.

However, the only thing that bothers me is the fact that the game overrides any other audio you have in the background. Hopefully the developer can change that in the future. Otherwise, Play Pretend has knocked it out of the park in terms of visuals and audio.

Like many platformer games, Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire is split up into various worlds that have a unique setting, and each chapter features eight levels, with the final stage being an epic boss battle. The game holds up to three save files at once, so multiple people can play the game on a single device if needed.

The story of the game goes like this: Le Parker is a sous chef who can craft the lightest meringue of them all, which is so light that it literally floats. However, the recipe is with the Princess, but the King and his men have raided the chambers of the Princess and stolen the recipe, using the power of the meringue for evil and banishes Parker from the kingdom. The objective in the game is to help guide Parker on a quest to rescue the Princess, gather up all of his necessary culinary utensils, and then defeat the King once and for all. Each stage has a storage unit at the end to signify the goal, but getting there is the hard part — there will be numerous enemies that will try to stop you, and there are also plenty of environmental obstacles that you’ll want to avoid if you want to complete the objective.

On top of the main goal, there are secondary objectives for every level as well: Time Attack (finish as fast as possible), Macaron Collection (get them all), and Secret Kitchen Utensils that are scattered about and it’s up to you to find them. These add a nice layer of replay value to the game if you are a completionist. Each game starts you off with three lives, and you lose a life if you get hit or fall. You can earn extra lives for every 100 macarons you collect, so make sure to grab those sweet French cookies when you see them!

Controls in Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire are simple and intuitive, though the positioning could be a bit better. In the bottom left will be directional buttons for moving left and right, and then there is an “A” button in the bottom right for making Parker jump. You can do a light tap for a hop, hold down the button for a longer jump, and tap it twice for a double jump. While the controls do work alright for the most part, I did find that sometimes my thumb would be slightly off on the directional buttons so I wouldn’t move as I intended to. There is an option to turn off the visibility of the buttons though, which may work better if you’re a bit finicky about the positioning like I am. Fortunately, though, the game has full support for MFi controllers, so if you have one of those around, you can use it with Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire for the optimal platformer experience.

I’ve played a ton of platformers on iOS during my time here at AppAdvice, but Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire is one of the better ones I’ve found. The game is absolutely gorgeous with dreamy landscapes and endearing character models, plus the music and sounds are fun to listen to. The controls work well enough, and the game is fairly challenging, even for seasoned platformer veterans. Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire is definitely one of the better games I’ve picked up on iOS this year.

I highly recommend giving Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire a try if you are in the mood for a sweet and challenging platformer treat. Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV for just $2.99. There are no in-app purchases.

Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews

credit : appadvice

from : Mid Atlantic Consulting, Inc.