"If there is an app for that"

@mos

March 22, 2016 by macjeff

In the recently released @mos ($1.99) by Synaptic Gaps, you’ll be greeted with a unique, 360-degree radial version of Space Invaders. If you’re the type of person who just loves to sit back at arcades and shoot down those pesky alien invaders and want a new twist on classic gameplay, then @mos could be worth a look.

Since I was born in the ‘80s, I grew up with the classics in the arcade, such as Space Invaders and Galaga. I remember frequenting arcades on a regular basis while I was a kid, and I even had the opportunity to play video games on the various consoles that my parents bought for my older siblings, though I didn’t get to choose, of course. Still, I remember plenty of classics laying around and I always thoroughly enjoyed my time with them whenever the opportunity arose. Everyone has played Space Invaders, and it’s a definite favorite pastime for me as a kid. But now we are in modern times, where classics have plenty of chances for evolved gameplay. With @mos, we get just that with the Space Invaders formula.

Visually speaking, though, @mos is not the most impressive looking game out on the market. While the style is trying to emulate the retro classic, it falls a bit short and feels bland to me, personally. It also looks incredibly simple, like it was whipped up in a few hours with basic drawing skills. The color palette is also fairly barebones, as it features black with white stars for space, various hues of red for the alien spaceships, and a bright, vivid Earth that is full of blue, green, and yellow, kind of like a radar map. Despite the lackluster graphics, the animations in the game are pretty smooth and fluid, and the music and sound effects are decent enough for what it is. The old-school serif typeface used for your score tops off the vintage feel, as well as the spinning dials when you select your initials for high scores.

There’s only one game mode in @mos, with the goal of getting as high of a score as you possibly can. The game only has the two types of enemies: regular peons that appear in clusters and waves, and bigger ships that deploy the peons and have laser beam attacks. You earn a different amount of points for each killed enemy, depending on how far away it was when you destroyed it. The dropped bombs from the peons can be destroyed as well, earning you some additional points (the farther away you destroy it, the more points you earn). Once you run out of lives, then the game ends and you can enter your initials for high scores if you ranked high enough.

The controls in @mos are simple and easy to understand, though there is no tutorial. In the bottom left is a button for activating your defending ship’s shield. This will protect you from attacks and hits from enemy aliens, but it also needs to recharge after each use, though it is pretty fast to do that. In the bottom right, you have the button to fire your laser. When the gauge is full, you will be able to rapid fire, but if it’s depleted, you’ll have to wait a moment for it to recharge, or just continue firing at the non-rapid rate.

Since @mos is a 360-degree radial take on Space Invaders, your ship is capable of moving all around the planet Earth. However, the game does not have a joystick for moving clockwise or counter-clockwise, so how do you control your ship’s movement? Easy — just tilt your device. With the tilt controls, players are able to freely move around the planet while shooting and activating the shield when necessary to protect themselves. However, it did take me a moment to realize how to move, since the game doesn’t tell you anything.

Shockingly, @mos doesn’t come with Game Center support or any kind of leaderboards, aside from the local ones stored on your device. I’m a bit surprised at this since arcade games like this are perfect for global leaderboards. Perhaps the developer can consider adding that in the future.

I had been looking forward to @mos, but the game falls a bit short for me. The graphics have a vintage aesthetic, but I thought they were not great compared to what else is out there that has the same classic look and feel going on. The sound effects are nice, though, and the controls are intuitive though it would have been nice if the game pointed you in the right direction, since I lost the first game quickly since I didn’t know how to move. The game is also a bit repetitive since the enemies are the same each time you play, there is only one game mode and difficulty level, and there isn’t too much to look forward to after you play a few rounds. I think having online leaderboards would also improve the high-score-chaser experience that the game is going for.

In its current state, I can’t recommend @mos. Perhaps if the developer were to improve the game more with improvements, variety, and online leaderboards, then it would be something worth looking into if you’re a Space Invader fan. But at the moment, it’s a pass.

You can find @mos on the App Store as a universal app for your iPhone and iPad for $1.99. At least there are no in-app purchases.

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

Mimpi Dreams

March 22, 2016 by macjeff

Mimpi Dreams ($2.99) by Silicon Jelly s.r.o. is the follow-up to the original Mimpi game that was released back in 2013. There were also some spinoff games with Mimpi, such as Mimpi Hidden Objects and Mimpi Volleyball. If you love dogs and want a casual puzzle adventure, then Mimpi Dreams is one you will want to add to your growing Mimpi game collection.

Personally, I’m a big animal fan — I love cats, dogs, birds, pigs, and anything else you can consider a pet, as well as wildlife. Animals are great, especially dogs, as I’ve learned while spending a lot of time with my sister’s dogs in the past several months. They’re cute and fun to play with, and when you combine dogs with puzzles and platforming, it’s pretty much all of my loves coming together for something amazing. That’s Mimpi Dreams in a nutshell, and it is well worth checking out if you like dogs and puzzle platformers.

Visually, Mimpi Dreams is beautiful, just like the previous Mimpi games. The game has a flat aesthetic that has been made popular ever since the release of iOS 7, but the graphics are still fairly detailed for what it’s worth. The colors in the game are gorgeous, as the developers chose to go with soft pastels, hazy and melding gradients, and other bright and rich tones. All of the character models are rendered well, with bouncy animations that are bursting with personality. Overall, the animations are smooth and fluid, and the game’s soothing ambient soundtrack is a delight to listen to, so I recommend getting a pair of earbuds for the most immersive experience. Even though this is not coming from Crescent Moon Games like the other titles, Mimpi Dreams is a nice visual and audible package.

At the moment, Mimpi Dreams features five different worlds that Mimpi the dog can explore, all of which are part of his doggy dreams. These areas include a forest, a tesla landscape, seaside, and even fairytale and medieval castles. In each world, Mimpi will discover new friends and must help them as they are in trouble. Because you know, dogs dream of being heroes, after all. In order to help his friends, Mimpi needs your help to solve tricky little puzzles as he explores each area in search of his dog bed at the end. But don’t worry about the puzzles being too difficult, as the game was designed to be a casual one, so that anyone can pick it up and finish the game eventually.

Controls in Mimpi Dreams are simple and straightforward. In the bottom left will be buttons for having Mimpi move left and right. In the bottom right will be a button that allows Mimpi to jump — but since he is a dog, don’t expect him to jump very high. You will come across objects and other creatures that you can interact with through gestures like taps and swipes, and some switches and levers can be spun or pulled with your finger. Even if you get stuck, the game will subtly point out things that you can interact with (and are necessary to solve the puzzles), so the guidance is nice to have. If you have a MFi controller, then you can also use that to play the game as well.

Since the main goal of the game is to get Mimpi to his dog bed at the end of a stage, while helping friends along the way, the game is pretty straightforward. But if you want an extra challenge, there are bones scattered around every stage, and you can collect them all if you are a perfectionist. Sometimes getting to all of the bones is a puzzle in itself, so there is some thinking involved. There are also hint bulbs that you can collect and use if you need a clue as to what to do next. If you run out of hints, don’t fret — the game should not be that difficult, and you can find them in plentiful supply throughout the game. There are no in-app purchases for more hints if you run out, which I actually prefer.

The layout of Mimpi Dreams is a bit strange, since you don’t actually choose the levels that you want to play. It all feels like one large stage, with the occasional break at the end of a part because Mimpi goes into his bed and sleeps, then wakes up in an entirely new world. Because of this, the game feels streamlined, and there are plenty of checkpoints that can be found throughout the levels. If you need to take a break from the game, then you will just restart at the last checkpoint marker that you reached. The game has no lives to worry about, and there are no points to rack up — it’s all just a relaxing experience with a cute dog and moderately challenging puzzles. There is Game Center integration for achievements though, in case you want something to strive for at least.

I’ve been a big fan of the Mimpi games since they came out several years ago, so I was delighted to see that there was a full sequel to the original game, rather than just another spinoff. The visuals in Mimpi Dreams are gorgeous, the soundtrack is exquisitely composed, controls are simple and intuitive, and the puzzles are fun and challenging enough (not frustrating) for anyone to pick up. Plus, who can resist such a cute dog with wild dreams

I recommend getting Mimpi Dreams if you’re a fan of the previous Mimpi games, or just enjoy puzzle platformers and dogs in general. Mimpi Dreams is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV for just $2.99. There is even a companion Apple Watch app. There are no in-app purchases.

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

Free Apps to Download TODAY ONLY 03/22/2016

March 22, 2016 by macjeff

MailTime - Email Messenger Pro for Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, and IMAP Mail , MathJoy – The Friendly Calculator , Supermarket Management 2 HD (Full) and more

iPhone:

MailTime reimagines the way you deal with email. It grabs your email threads and turns them into bubble chats, allowing you to cut through the clutter and communicate more efficiently. If you want to view the original email, just tap the bubble. MailTime’s smart inbox system also learns from your email behavior, automatically sorting email from accounts you’ve already interacted with into a separate tab, helping you quickly find the threads that matter. The app also includes a bunch of other handy features like the ability to quickly create and assign to-dos using the "@" symbol, warnings for messages that ramble on, and quick access buttons to cloud services.

Keep your customers happy by stocking shelves, bringing around shopping carts, fulfilling orders, and checking customers out. Eventually you’ll be able to hire some coworkers to take some of the burden off and make your supermarket run even more efficiently. The game includes five different shops, 49 levels, eight mini-games, and nine characters.

Universal:

MathJoy’s clutter-free interface helps you avoid making mistakes. The colorful buttons are arranged in such a way that no matter the screen size or orientation of your iDevice, they’ll be easy to reach and recall. The app automatically formats numbers as you type, and allows you to copy operations and results. MathJoy can be used on your Apple Watch as well.

Analog Weather Station is not just informative, it’s also fun to use. It provides you with the current temperatures outside, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure. You’re not just presented with values, either. Analog Weather Station features digital needles and mercury to give it that vintage feel. The needles can even be swiped at and played with. The app also includes the ability to change units with a tap, and landscape support.

Keep your customers happy by stocking shelves, bringing around shopping carts, fulfilling orders, and checking customers out. Eventually you’ll be able to hire some coworkers to take some of the burden off and make your supermarket run even more efficiently. The game includes five different shops, 49 levels, eight mini-games, and nine characters.

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

Best app deals of the day! 10 paid iPhone apps on sale for a limited time

March 22, 2016 by macjeff

Everyone likes free apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers put paid apps on sale for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up fast. Here are the latest and greatest apps on sale in the iOS App Store.

The post Best app deals of the day! 10 paid iPhone apps on sale for a limited time appeared first on Digital Trends.

Blackbox - think outside the box

March 22, 2016 by macjeff

Blackbox - think outside the box (Free) by Ryan McLeod is a new kind of puzzle game that has you thinking of creative new ways to solve puzzles without ever touching the screen. If you’re tired of the same old puzzle games on iOS, then Blackbox is something refreshing and different.

If you have followed my work here at AppAdvice, then you will know that I can’t help but love a good puzzle game. However, over the years, it seems that puzzles have become a tried-and-true genre, where developers go with the same old gameplay concepts and challenges, just don’t in a slightly different way. None of them have brought something completely different to the table in terms of iOS gaming, so while I love the genre, sometimes it starts to feel a bit stale. So when I got a message in my inbox regarding a new puzzle game that makes you think outside of the box, I was intrigued — what could this possibly mean? Turns out that Blackbox is a puzzle game that is unlike anything you’ve ever played before. So take what you know about puzzles on iOS and throw it out the window, because none of that will help you with this unique twist to the genre.

Visually speaking, Blackbox is very simple and fairly barebones, to be honest. It goes along well with the clean and flat aesthetic of modern day iOS, and fans of minimal design will fall in love. Blackbox, as the name suggests, features a crisp, black background that fills the entire screen, and neon lines, shapes, and dots contrast nicely against the darkness. There isn’t much else to the game’s graphics other than that, but the animations are fluid and smooth, making for a seamless playing experience. The game has no sounds or music, but that doesn’t detract from the experience at all — in fact, it adds to it.

Blackbox has over 50 distinctive puzzles for players to solve. They are not split up into various chapters like other games. Instead, they are color-coded, and you unlock more available puzzles as you solve other ones. The colors each have a different meaning, but one thing is for certain: they all utilize some aspect of your iPhone’s hardware, so you’re going to have to really understand how your device works in order to solve the puzzles.

The controls in Blackbox are special, because you will never use the screen to solve anything. You can tap on the screen to pause and return to the level select screen, or perform a 3D Touch on a compatible device to quickly go back home. But for actually solving the puzzles, you will have to figure out what the puzzle is asking you to do, and make use of the component on your iPhone to solve it. This ranges from using the device gyroscope and accelerometer to get colors on the screen to go where you need them to, using the mirror to reverse what is on the screen, adjusting the brightness of your device, tinkering around with the buttons and headphone jack, blowing into the microphone, and much more. This is just a sample of what I’ve tried so far, and I’m just a few puzzles in.

While the game certainly has a new perspective on puzzles, be prepared — some of these can be rather maddening at first, so you’ll have to return to it at a later time to solve if you can’t figure it out immediately. The game also has some hints that you can use, though they should be kept as a last resort when you just can’t seem to figure out what to do. Blackbox is a challenging puzzle game that requires brainpower, time, patience, and perspective to solve.

I’m still fairly early on in Blackbox, but I am in love with it so far. As a big fan of puzzles, this is the most invigorating new game I’ve played in a while due to the exclusive gameplay concept and controls. Plus, the minimalist visuals and text look fantastic on the screen. The developer is also actively looking for user feedback, so if you find something broken or have ideas for new challenges, make sure to let the developer know.

I highly recommend giving Blackbox a try if you haven’t already. It’s great to see someone come up with something that has yet to be done in the iOS gaming world until now.

Blackbox – think outside the box is available on the App Store as a free download for your iPhone only. There are in-app purchases for hints and an all-level unlock.

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