"If there is an app for that"

Apple’s free app of the week: Toca Hair Salon 2

December 01, 2016 by macjeff

Like every Thursday, Apple today updated its Free App of the Week promotion on the App Store with a brand new item, a kids-friendly game called Toca Hair Salon 2. This means that for the next seven days, you’ll be able to download this app free of charge—a savings of $2.99.

In Toca Hair Salon 2, you play as one of the six charming characters and run a hair salon of your own.

There are lots of virtual tools of trade at your disposal which you’d find in any hair salon that let you cut, color and style any way you want, from a simple comb and scissors to a curling iron and a straightener.

You’ll also trim other people’s mustaches, spray mohawks bright pink on their hair and do other creative things to give them the curls they’ve always wanted. Topping it all off, you can take advantage of a special hair-growing tonic to fix mistakes and style customers with hats, glasses and other fun accessories.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MueqTkUfiJY?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

Of course, characters make fun faces and sounds while you’re styling them.

From App Store Editors’ notes:

Nothing beats a kids-friendly game that keeps the whole family captivated—and Toca has us snipping, straightening and styling to our heart’s content. One we’ve perfected our customer’s silly new ‘dos, we make sure to add some accessories, snap a pic and share the hair.

The game contains no third-party advertisements.

Grab Toca Hair Salon 2 for free from the App Store until next Thursday.

Source link: http://www.idownloadblog.com/2016/12/01/apples-free-app-of-the-week-toca-hair-salon-2/

Puzzle Platformer Sally’s Law Brings a Series of Fortunate Events

December 01, 2016 by macjeff

Sally's Law ($0.99) by Nanali is a roll-and-jump style puzzle platformer that tells a heartfelt story between a girl and her critically ill father. If you don’t mind a bit of “the feels” and enjoyed other touching games like Stay, Mum, then Sally’s Law is definitely one that you need to add to the “feels” collection.

When I was a child, I had my classic consoles like the NES and Sega Genesis on-hand, and I remember having mostly platformer games on them to play when I had the opportunity to. Because I grew up with them, I have a definite soft spot in my heart for platformers of any kind, and I also love a good story, so when I saw Sally’s Law on the App Store a few weeks ago, I was intrigued. I also like the use of play on words, so when I read that Sally’s Law is essentially the opposite of Murphy’s law, I had to give it a chance, considering some of the good luck I’ve had recently myself. Needless to say, I was not disappointed with this purchase.

Visually, Sally’s Law is beautiful. The game features a somewhat minimalist aesthetic due to the flatness of the graphics and everything consisting of basic shapes, but there’s much more to the game than that. There are intricate backdrops that are gorgeous to look at, and the stage layout in the foreground is stunning as well, thanks to the fine details like environmental textures and shadows and highlights from the lighting effects. The characters of Sally and her father are adorable as well, as they are round and charming. Animations in Sally’s Law are smooth and fluid with no lag on my iPhone 7, and everything is fairly responsive as well. The game also has a soothing, ambient soundtrack that sets the overall tone for the game, which is a bit sad, but that’s to be expected from a story involving illness in the family. In the end, Nanali did a superb job with the graphics and audio in this touching tale.

Like many traditional puzzle platformers, the game is level-based, and you must go through each stage one-by-one due to the linear story. There are five chapters for players to get through, and they each have six stages. However, each stage consists of two parts: the first is you guiding Sally herself through various settings to get back to her childhood home to see her ill father, and then immediately after you play the role of her father’s spirit, who is acting like a guardian angel and helping her get where she needs to be without running into any obstacles. The first part with Sally is fairly easy and straightforward, but the second part is more like a flashback and a race of sorts, since you must make sure that you get ahead of Sally in order to make sure that nothing stops her from getting to her destination. If Sally ends up stopping along her path, then you’ll have to try again. The objective for each stage is laid out in front of you — just get to the end safely and move on to the next area.

The controls in Sally’s Law are simple and intuitive. When you are Sally, she will roll forward automatically, so all you have to worry about is tapping to make her jump and get where she needs to be. During the times you play as her father’s spirit, you will touch the bottom left or right side of the screen to make him roll left or right. He is unable to jump, unless he collides with Sally. The key part of being Sally’s father is to make sure you’re ahead so you can collect the keys that are required to open doors or even get rid of dangerous spikes in Sally’s path. If you need to fast forward Sally’s movement so that it doesn’t take as long (and you’ve already done what you need to do as her father), then you can long-press the fast-forward button in the top right corner, or use 3D Touch if you have a device that is capable of it (though iTunes reviews say that this may not be working as well as it should). While there are no time limits imposed on the stages, it’s important to keep up with Sally’s pace when you controlled her movement. Remember, if Sally ends up getting blocked in the second part of the stage, then you’ll have to restart that part.

For those who are completionists and love to find hidden collectibles in games, Sally’s Law has hidden memorial photos that are scattered about each stage, but you’ll only be able to find them when you are controlling the father’s spirit. Once you collect enough photos, you’ll be able to view the album from the game menu. Additionally, the game does have an in-app purchase of $0.99 for three character skins, which are pretty cute but don’t change the gameplay at all.

As a fan of puzzle platformers in general, I’m loving Sally’s Law so far, even though I’m still early on in the game. I am in love with the cute graphics that are bursting with charm and personality, and the music is top-notch. The game mechanics are relatively simple but it’s still challenging, and the controls are intuitive and responsive, which is nice. The storytelling is fantastic as well, since it is revealed in both parts and you get the perspective of both Sally and her father. If this game doesn’t tug at your heartstrings, well then nothing will.

I highly recommend checking out Sally’s Law if you love an endearing puzzle platformer with a heartfelt story. You can find Sally’s Law on the App Store as a universal download for the iPhone and iPad for just $0.99 for a limited time. There are in-app purchases for costume skins.

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

credit : appadvice

from : Mid Atlantic Consulting, Inc.

Free Apps to Download TODAY ONLY 12/01/2016

December 01, 2016 by macjeff

Big Fish Casino – Free Vegas Slots & Tournaments , Intro to Colors, by Montessorium , PixelWakker and more

Universal:

Big Fish Casino – Free Vegas Slots & Tournaments ( $0 → Free ) Big Fish Games, Inc Big Fish Casino will help scratch that Vegas itch. Try your luck at slots, blackjack, Texas hold’em, roulette, and more. Thanks to the daily bonuses, daily scratchers, and free bonus spins, you won't have to be a master of the cards or have a lucky streak at the slot machines to build up your chip stack. The chips you earn allow you to level up your profile and earn gifts to share with friends. You can also invite friends to play along with you and chat with them through the built-in message center.

Intro to Colors, by Montessorium ( $4.99 → Free ) Montessorium, LLC Intro to Colors includes a variety of activities that will introduce your child to the world of colors. The app will teach your child the basic foundation of colors, primary and secondary colors, and color shades and gradients through interactive activities. They’ll also be able to paint and create their own colors, and participate in a seek and find game.

PixelWakker ( $2.99 → Free ) Joseph WRIGLEY PixelWakker allows you to import any photo from your library or capture a new one from within the app. You can then choose from 20 different pixel art effects. You’re able to independently adjust the frequency and intensity of each effect via sliders. Your final creations can be saved or shared via your favorite social networks.

My Monster Mayhem ( $2.99 → Free ) Digital Leaf My Monster Mayhem is loaded with interactive elements and delightful rhyming text. Your child can follow along with one of the two narrators, or they can enjoy the tale all on their own. Each of the 21 pages is filled with fun interactive elements that will move and make noises. Your child can also spend time trying to find the toy monsters hidden within the story to unlock a bonus game.

Slide Tetromino Premium ( $0.99 → Free ) ECO Pawel Jarosz Each level includes a single flame, movable pieces, and very little room to operate in. It’s up to you to slide the pieces every which way in order to create a path from the frozen key to the flame. Levels aren’t timed, but your moves will be counted. The game includes a total of 100 levels.

BusyCal - Calendar, Reminders & To Dos ( $2.99 → Free ) BusyCal LLC BusyCal provides a powerful and flexible way to stay on top of your busy schedule. It’s able to tap into iCloud, Google Calendar, Exchange, Office 365, and other CalDav servers in order to sync your calendar. You’re able to view events by day, week, or month, or turn them into a list. Events can be created using natural language, and they can be tagged for quick discovery. You’re also able to manage your tasks, view travel times and location data, and even get a weather forecast.

Source link: http://appadvice.com/apps-gone-free

Master the Art of Bushido in Roguelike Puzzler Swap Sword

November 30, 2016 by macjeff

Swap Sword ($2.99) by Alec Thomson is a fantastic mashup of the traditional match-three puzzle game and a roguelike battlefield. If you enjoyed games like You Must Build A Boat and Hero Emblems, then you will love Swap Sword.

Even though a lot of my time these days has been spent on my 3DS for Pokémon Moon, I still can’t resist some great gems on iOS for whenever my 3DS is not handy. For my mobile gaming cravings, I can’t help but always return to some kind of puzzle or roguelike game for quick gaming sessions whenever I have a spare moment. With my love of both genres, it’s not surprising that I can’t resist a new match-three roguelike RPG game, so when I saw Swap Sword on the App Store, I knew I had to check it out for myself. Needless to say, I’m not disappointed and it’s well worth the money.

Visually, Swap Sword has an awesome retro aesthetic, featuring a highly detailed pixelated art style. Seeing the game in action on my screen definitely takes me back to my childhood with the classic consoles like Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. Despite the pixel art style, I found the game to be packed with incredible detail due to the textures and shadows on each individual game piece, characters, and enemies. The colors used in the game are bright and vivid, which is certainly pleasing on Retina screens. Animations are rather smooth and fluid, so I had experienced no lag on my iPhone 7. While the game doesn’t have a soundtrack playing in the background, it does have some delightful sound effects that are fun to listen to while you match and slay your foes, but of course, you can turn them off if you prefer as well. And while there’s no background music, you can always provide your own, which is nice. Overall, the developer did a great job with the visuals, because they’re one reason I keep coming back.

Since Swap Sword is a roguelike game, that means that you’ll be starting from the beginning no matter how far you got previously before you died. If you’re not a fan of the roguelike system, then this game is not for you. But if you enjoy an always-different experience thanks to the procedurally generated dungeon layouts, then this game is packed with the good stuff. The game features several different types of terrain that you’ll come across, and while the order that they appear seems to be preset, the layout for each run is different. So while you may have done exceptionally well before, there is no guarantee that you’ll get the same results again. The goal is simple: get as far as you can through all of the different terrains and dispatch your enemies as quickly as possible until you find the door to the next area. While that sounds easy enough, the stages get increasingly difficult as you find new environments and foes that come with the territory.

The mechanics and controls in Swap Sword are pretty straightforward, especially if you’ve played any match-three RPG before. To swap adjacent pieces with each other, just swipe on top of the piece you want to move in the direction you want. For it to be a valid move, the piece must line up to make a match of at least three or more in a row or column. If it does not, the game won’t allow you to swap the piece.

The game board will consist of various types of pieces, such as green mp diamonds, shields to protect you from a hit, keys to reveal the stage exit, dynamite to blow up a row or column (watch out — this hurts you too), and walls that can protect you from enemies. If you’re ever confused about a game piece and what it does, you can long press on it to get a tooltip that explains it. Speaking of enemies, they will show up as eggs at first, but as you take your turn, they will soon hatch into various creatures that are out to get you. Once they’ve hatched, they will be able to move a space after you make a match, so the key is to plan strategically. You can swap with an enemy to attack, or line up three or more to clear them out in clusters.

If you stay on a stage long enough, “Death” eventually arrives, and your sword isn’t fast enough to kill them off, so your only option will be to run through the door to escape. When you clear the current stage, you’ll be presented with one of three random power-ups or upgrades for your character, and it’s recommended to read them carefully and choose wisely. To use a power-up in the next level, just tap on the green diamond button (mp) at the bottom to bring up your available stash and then pick the item you want to use. When you run out of your three hearts by taking hits from foes, then it’s game over. Your score is determined by the amount of coins that you end up collecting over the run, and the coins only appear once you collect enough keys to reveal the exit.

I’ve only started playing Swap Sword since I downloaded it yesterday, but so far I’m enjoying the game a lot. I’ve always had a love for match-three roguelike RPGs, and Swap Sword is a refreshing take on the standard fare that is out there. There is much more strategy required if you want to get far, and it’s a fun high score chaser. Plus, who can resist the charm of such great pixel art graphics and the way of the bushido?

I highly recommend checking out Swap Sword if you’re a fan of match-three puzzle games and love a dash of roguelike RPG action. You can get Swap Sword on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. 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 11/30/2016

November 30, 2016 by macjeff

Jerrycan – Track Fuel, Mileage and Expenses , Filterloop Infinite - Instant Analog Photo Effect , Animal Game Show - Whose Toes are Those? - Matching Fun for Kids and Family - Ultimate Edition and more

iPhone:

Jerrycan – Track Fuel, Mileage and Expenses ( $0.99 → Free ) Pavlo Grozian Jerrycan is your personal driving coach. It’s able to track your fuel consumption, MPG, and mileage for city and highway driving. All of this data is presented in graph form, allowing you to review it with a glance and quickly improve your driving habits. When it’s time to stop and refuel, Jerrycan will provide gas station ratings and can remind you to save your fill-up data with a push notification. It also includes the ability to import data from other fuel tracking apps.

Filterloop Infinite - Instant Analog Photo Effect ( $1.99 → Free ) Platform As its name alludes, Filterloop Infinite provides an endless source of edits for your photos. Just tap to apply a random retro or analog effect. If you don’t like what you see, tap again. You’re able to adjust the intensity of the effect by swiping left and right across the photo.

Relax Rain ( $1.99 → Free ) Brighten Studios Relax Rain offers a soothing way to unwind. It includes eight different rain sounds: Forest Rain, Heavy Rain, Light Rain, Rain on Tent, Rain Shower, Sprinkle, Thunderstorm, and Wind and Rain. All sounds were recorded in high definition. Just swipe to choose your sound, set the timer, and relax.

Universal:

Animal Game Show - Whose Toes are Those? - Matching Fun for Kids and Family - Ultimate Edition ( $1.99 → Free ) Eggroll Games LLC Animal Game Show will build up your child's confidence while entertaining them. Your child gets to see a set of toes sticking out from underneath the curtain, and they must decide what animal or person they belong to. They’re provided with three possible answers, and when they select the correct one the curtain will be drawn.

CALC Swift - Calculator with Style ( $0.99 → Free ) QApps LLC CALC Swift is a multi-functional scientific calculator that’ll make your daily calculations a breeze. It features both standard basic and scientific calculation functions, which can be accessed with a horizontal swipe. It includes more than 50 advanced functions in all. A history log allows you to pull up numbers at any time and copy them for use in other apps. CALC Swift also includes a widget, Spotlight search, Apple Watch support, and colorful themes to choose from.

Pancake Pandemonium ( $2.99 → Free ) Digital Leaf All 24 pages are loaded with interactive items to discover and animations to activate. You’re child can follow along with either an adult or child narrator, or they can read all on their own. Your child must also try to hunt down hidden frying pans on each page, because if they find them all they will unlock a bonus game!

Source link: http://appadvice.com/apps-gone-free