"If there is an app for that"

Chased By The Sun

March 18, 2016 by macjeff

Chased By The Sun ($1.99) by Jonathan Rubinger is a somewhat endless runner where you must outrun, well, the sun. You know, that giant thermonuclear plasma ball that lights up the universe? It’s right behind your little green ship and will burn it up if you fall behind. If you enjoyed games like Tiny Wings, Space Chicks, and Ski Safari 2, then chances are high that you will like what Chased By The Sun has to offer.

When times are rough, I like to take my mind off of things by playing some games on my iOS device since I always have it on hand. While I do like lengthy games every now and then, I find myself playing quick mobile titles more frequently since I can enjoy them in short bursts throughout the day. Typically, these games are arcade style or puzzles, or even endless runner types. Regardless, they give me enough simple joy throughout the day to keep me from going insane at times. Plus, I love a bit of humor every now and then. So when the news of Chased By The Sun hit my inbox, I was eager to give the game a try, thanks to a hilarious trailer. Now that I’ve given the game a shot, I’m definitely not disappointed.

The graphics in the game are fairly simplistic but polished, so it looks pretty good on Retina screens. As you’d expect from a space-themed game, Chased By The Sun has an intergalactic backdrop that is full of dark and rich colors that contrast nicely with the pitch black darkness of the universe. The moons that you will be hopping onto are bright and vibrant, so they stand out nicely against the otherwise vast emptiness of space. The small asteroids are also clearly indicated whether they will harm your ship if you don’t go in the right order, or whether you are able to collect them as a resource. Everything in Chased By The Sun is also incredibly detailed, from the lavish backdrops to the textured surfaces of moons and asteroids. Animations are smooth and fluid, which is good since the game makes you move quickly due to the fast-paced nature of the sun being right on your tail. The soundtrack is also a nice touch to the game, since it has a rather suspenseful and thrilling tone to it, which is oh so fitting for you know, being chased by the sun that will eventually end you if the asteroids don’t.

In Chased By The Sun, the levels are split up into five different solar systems, with about five levels in each. While a total of 25 levels may not sound like a lot, the game is rather challenging, so it will take some time to get through all of the levels. Plus, the game utilizes a star system, so you can earn up to three medals on a stage by collecting enough minerals, being fast, and not dying so much. Your total score on a stage is also determined by these three factors, so the game forces you to think before you jump while also having you be quick about it. When both of these things are taken into consideration, Chased By The Sun is a real test of quickness, reflexes, and skill.

The controls in the game are simple enough: just tap on the screen to launch your ship from one moon to another. While you can tap while floating in space, your thrusters will lose momentum each time until you land again, so it is recommended to make your moves in a single bound. To control where your ship flies to, just tap on the spot you want to land on, and you’ll fly in that general direction. Sometimes there will be asteroids that surround a moon, which you’ll need to avoid since you die if you crash into it, or it’ll use up a shield. There are also some asteroids that are red, meaning they’re unstable, so you have to jump onto the moons in the right order to get them to turn green, allowing you to pass them and gather minerals from the surface. Due to this, the game has a bit of a puzzle element to it, as you’ll have to pay attention to the formation of the asteroids and moons, locating the correct path to take while making sure you don’t fall behind, because then you’ll be engulfed by scorching hot plasma, and well, that’s no fun.

Each stage will also be split up into several different sectors, and there are checkpoint gates that you can reach. These let you pick up from that point if you die, so you don’t have to start over from the beginning unless you want to (for the perfectionists). While the game doesn’t give you a limited number of lives, you do get penalized for each death in your final score, so while you technically get unlimited lives, it’s best to not be so haphazard about it if you care about high scores and earning stars. And while the game starts out pretty easy enough, the different systems introduce new game mechanics, such as detonating moons, flinging rocks, shattering ice, and more. Due to the rather testing nature of the game, it’s needless to say that the replay value is high, and there is also Game Center integration.

Due to some unfortunate events that have occurred in my life recently, I haven’t been able to spend as much time with Chased By The Sun as I originally planned. However, the short time I have spent with the game has been rather enjoyable so far, and I love the fine details that the developer gave to the visuals and audio. The one-touch controls are simple and intuitive, so you can play with one hand if you really tried (or have large enough hands). Chased By The Sun is definitely challenging, and I can see myself coming back to this one a lot, at least until I perfect each stage.

I recommend giving Chased By The Sun a try if you enjoy hectic arcade puzzle games. You can find Chased By The Sun on the App Store as a universal download on the iPhone and iPad for just $1.99. There are no in-app purchases.

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Lost Socks: Naughty Brothers

March 18, 2016 by macjeff

Lost Socks: Naughty Brothers ($4.99) by Power Place Publishing LP is an intense run-and-gun game that appeals to both hardcore gamers and casuals alike (though it is more difficult for the latter). If you enjoy challenging arcade games, then Lost Socks: Naughty Brothers will be right up your alley with the unique style, humor, and gameplay.

We’ve all encountered that problem before while doing laundry: one of our socks is missing, thus making a pair (possibly your favorite one) incomplete and somewhat useless if you like to match. For the average Joe, we just wonder where the missing sock has wandered off to, but may not think too much of it. But if you’re the guys behind Power Place Publishing, then you come up with a crazy, action-packed run-and-gun game that is based on a sock who is in search of his missing brother. I’m a big fan of development studios that can come up with completely original ideas for games and apps, so when I first heard of Lost Socks: Naughty Brothers, I was intrigued right from the start. Now that it is finally available, I must say that it certainly does not disappoint.

Lost Socks: Naughty Brothers has a stunningly gorgeous and polished art style that reminds me of comic books and graphic novels. There is a nice mix of cutscenes and gameplay, so it’s rather balanced in what you see on the screen. The game makes use of bright and vibrant colors and nice light rendering that make things seem flashy and a bit over-the-top, which fits with the overall theme. The levels are also incredibly detailed with small details and textures, and the world of Lost Socks is rather vast — I mean, how else are socks going to get lost? It has to be a big world out there for our cozy feet covers, right? The character models are rendered nicely with fluid movements, and the animations are smooth with no lag overall. There is also an upbeat and quirky soundtrack that is a delight to listen to, and the humorous and fun sound effects add a great finishing touch.

In Lost Socks, players will have to make their way through a large world map in order to find the missing sock brother and defeat the boss in order to get back home again. Like a lot of games, the levels are in a linear order, and you have to clear the previous stage in order to move on to the next. Up to three stars can also be earned on these stages, which depend entirely on how well you do. There are also missions that you can complete to earn more button coins, which are needed for better weapons, power-ups, and even character perks. However, all of this must be earned — the game is fairly difficult, and will take a lot of time and practice in order to be pretty good at it. Despite the difficulty level, the game can still be played by more casual gamers, but just be warned — it does get frustrating at times if you don’t time things properly.

Controls in the game are simple and straightforward. At the beginning of each level, your sock will run forward automatically, so you don’t have to worry about direction. Though this also makes the game more challenging, since you can’t go back, you’re going to have to make sure that you get the necessary actions right. In the bottom left corner is a button to jump: do quick taps on this to do hops, hold it down for a longer jump, or tap it again while in the air to puff up like a parachute and glide down. You have to understand which type of jump is best for the situations that come up on you, and it does take time to master. In the bottom right sector of the screen, you have a purple button for dashing (quickly sprint forward through hazards, and you are granted invincibility during the dash period), a blue button for firing your light weapon, and a red button for using your heavy weapon. Before you start a stage, you’re able to select which light and heavy weapon you want to equip, so you can always change gear to better suit what you’re up against after a few attempts.

In order to be good at Lost Socks: Naughty Brothers, you will have to master the timing and proper use of the controls, and believe me, it will take some time, even if you are a seasoned gamer. There is a brief tutorial in the beginning that will explain all of the controls to you, so I would recommend paying close attention to that. It’s a bit annoying that you can’t customize the controls to adjust the positioning, spacing, and even size of the buttons though, because I often found myself pressing the wrong button at dangerous times because they were a bit large and I have small hands.

To make things even more interesting in the game, there are some awesome combos that you can perform for bonus points on a level. You can view the combo list by tapping on the fist button on the world map screen, and it will tell you all of the available combos in the game and what you need to do to perform them. These can be pretty tricky to do, since many of them need exact timing, but they’re fun to learn and attempt, that’s for sure. With so many combos, as well as achievements, stars, and missions, it’s needless to say that Lost Socks: Naughty Brothers has some immensely high replay value.

Due to the difficult nature of the game, I’m still in the early stages of Lost Socks: Naughty Brothers. However, I am enjoying every moment of it, even though I just want to slam my phone down at times. The graphic style of the game is beautiful and reminiscent of Rayman and Earthworm Jim, so fans of those games will feel right at home here. The music and sounds are fun, and the controls are easy enough to understand, though I wish there was some customization options to make it more responsive. There are plenty of challenging levels and boss fights, missions to complete, weapons and upgrades to earn, and combos to perform. The high replay value of Lost Socks: Naughty Brothers is sure to keep you busy for quite some time.

I highly recommend giving Lost Socks: Naughty Brothers a try if you are in the mood for a crazy, over-the-top stylish auto-running arcade platformer. You can get Lost Socks: Naughty Brothers on the App Store as a universal download for the iPhone and iPad for only $4.99. There are no in-app purchases.

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Peter Panic

March 18, 2016 by macjeff

Peter Panic (Free) by [adult swim] is a mobile musical with plenty of mini-games for your entertainment. If you are a fan of the WarioWare games, then you will love what Peter Panic brings to the world of iOS gaming.

As much as I love playing games on my iOS device, let’s face it — the App Store just gets filled up with the same kind of stuff every day. You have the typical run-of-the-mill match-threes, infinite runners, Clash of Clan clones, quick little arcade fixes, and other tried-and-true formulas that everyone knows about. It’s getting rarer to see something unique and original on the App Store these days, so when I find something that is different, I’m quick to jump on the opportunity. That’s why Peter Panic struck a chord with me — it’s unlike anything you’ve tried on the App Store to this day, and that means it is fresh and exciting.

As a big fan of pixel art myself, I’m in love with the style of Peter Panic. The game is pixelated in adorable 16-bit fashion, and the expressions on each character’s face is priceless. The colors range from soft pastels to colorful and vivid brights, and everything is finely detailed. While I found the game text to be a bit hard to read at times due to the script-style font, I like how it suits the Broadway theme of the game. Animations in Peter Panic are smooth and fluid, with no lag on my iPhone 6s Plus. The background music in the game is rather whimsical and quirky, but the real treat here is with the actual singing done by Peter and other characters you meet along the way. These are real songs that are sung by some talented Broadway stars, including those behind “Fun Home,” “Hair,” “The Little Mermaid,” and more. For the best experience with Peter Panic, you’re going to want to get your best headphones.

In Peter Panic, you’ll meet the young and talented director, Peter, as he introduces himself with a bit of humor (similar to how the “Deadpool” movie makes fun of itself). As he wants to embark on his quest to become a top Broadway director, he just finds out that his longtime theater has just closed down due to some rather unfortunate circumstances. In order to get it kicking again, he’ll need some funding, but the only way to get that is to win over the local businesses near the theater with the old “you scratch my back, I scratch yours” method. And this is where all of those mini-games come into play.

As you set out to try and win the favor of neighboring businesses for your cause, you’ll have to perform jobs for those business owners. The first one in Peter Panic is the packing peanut factory that is right next door, where you’ll meet a charismatic blonde who looks oddly like a mix of Conan O’Brien with Donald Trump’s hair. To earn some money, you’ll have to successfully complete some mini-games, and you can unlock more businesses and difficulty levels by completing a certain number of mini-games in the factory without screwing up and losing your three hearts per job.

The controls in Peter Panic are simple, and the mini-games will usually tell you what you have to do, though it can be hard to pay attention given the fast-paced nature of the game. Still, all of the mini-games utilize multitouch gestures like swiping and taps — you just have to pay attention to the timing of things. For example, some jobs in the packing peanut factory involve tapping buttons to fill up boxes on the conveyor belt, levers to fill the mold with the liquid that turns into packing peanuts, catching items in peanut-filled boxes, sorting paperwork, and more. As you complete more mini-games successfully, the game warns you when things are about to speed up, so you can be somewhat prepared for it. The more times you come back to a job to earn cash, the more new things get added to the mini-games to spice things up. Once you’re good enough and complete a certain number of games without messing up (the game tells you how many you need), you’ll unlock the next local business and try your hand at that.

Even though Peter Panic is a free download, it allows you to play as much of the game as you want at any given time, and so far I have not encountered any ads. However, while you can play the game as much as you want, you won’t be able to save your progress unless you go for the $2.99 in-app purchase that unlocks this feature. If you don’t, you’re still able to play as much as you want, and even beat the game, as long as you don’t stop playing. So if you don’t want to unlock the game saving feature, but still want to beat the game, you’re going to have to do it in one go — otherwise, you’ll lose your progress.

Personally, I think the game is fun and unique enough that it warrants the in-app purchase for saving. Plus, it has a humorous little dialogue with the pixelated sprites of the two people who made the game, which I thought was well done.

Since this is a game about mini-games, there is clearly a lot of replay value. It’s always fun to go back to stages and see if you can do better than your best run, unlock more bonuses, and even compete with friends with Game Center leaderboards.

I’m still early on in Peter Panic, but I’m finding it to be an enjoyable way to pass the time, and I’ve even opted for the game saving unlock. I love the pixel art, the original songs and score are wonderfully performed, and the mini-games themselves are pretty challenging. There’s a lot to love about this little game, and it’s definitely one I’m going to be coming back to for a long time.

I recommend checking out Peter Panic if you like Broadway musicals or just like arcade mini-games. You can get Peter Panic on the App Store as a universal download for the iPhone and iPad for free with in-app purchases.

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

Doo - Get Things Done

March 18, 2016 by macjeff

Doo - Get Things Done ($4.99) by Ciarlo Software, LLC is a new way to look at your to-do list. If you are looking for something that is simple but effective, then Doo could be the right app for the job. It is similar to other apps on the market, such as Begin and Remi, in which there is a unique way to display and manage your tasks.

Over the years, I believe it’s safe to say that I grew into a productivity nut. I love being productive, but in order to do that I have to have my list of things that need to be done in front of me, otherwise I forget or am just not motivated to do it at all. Having some visualization of my progress lets me prioritize my to-dos and makes it easier for me to focus on one thing at a time. I’ve tried dozens of task management apps in the past few years, with some of my favorites being OmniFocus 2, Todoist, and 2Do. Even though I end up with a system and sticking to it for a long time, it doesn’t stop me from going out and trying new to-do apps, as I can’t help but be curious about what else is out there. I was intrigued when I stumbled upon Doo when it was featured on the App Store front page a few weeks ago, so I decided to give it a try for myself.

The design of Doo is simple and clean, which is just what you should want from a to-do app. It features a beautiful lavender to steel gray blue color gradient for the background, which I personally found to be pleasing on the eyes. The task “cards” that make the app different from the rest look fantastic, as the developer has made sure to include some gorgeous little illustrations to match the context of the task. The sans serif typeface (I believe it is Avenir) looks sharp and is easy-to-read, which is a plus. Navigating between cards and the “All Reminders” section or creating a new task is just a tap away, and everything is fast and fluid. In terms of aesthetics, the developer has certainly done a great job.

Functionally, I’m not so sure about some of the choices made.

To create a new task, just tap on the “plus” tab that is located at the bottom of the screen on the main view. Then you just type in your task name, toggle an alert if needed (which also brings up the option to turn it into a recurring task), and add an optional note if it’s needed. Then tap on “Save,” and it will end up in one of two places: the main Doo view, or in the “All Reminders” section, which can be accessed by tapping on the hamburger button in the top right corner of the main view.

I was a bit disappointed when I realized that Doo did not put tasks with due dates immediately in the main card stack, but just tucks them away in the All Reminders section, where you can also view completed items. If you don’t put an alert for a task, then it will end up in the main card stack right away. Personally, I would prefer to see all of my tasks as cards on the main view. It’s a bit confusing and not streamlined when your new tasks end up separated from others, even if they are due today. The only way that tasks with alerts end up in the card stack is if it is now due, or overdue. For me, that’s not entirely efficient and I would prefer to see them in the card stack prior to them being due. Hopefully the developer can consider this and change how tasks appear in the card stack in a future update.

The purpose of the card stack is to help you focus on one item at a time. Despite that, I would prefer if the cards were just made for all tasks and stacked in chronological order, as that would be the best way to get through it, in my opinion. Doo makes use of gestures for completing or snoozing a task, which is done by swiping up or down, respectively. You can also tap on the checkmark to mark it as done, or tap on the clock button to snooze it. The snooze duration can be customized in the app settings to be 24 hours, one hour, or 15 minutes.

One thing I do love about Doo, though, is the fact that it can analyze the text of your task and come up with an illustration that closely matches it, giving the card a nice bit of flair. Of course, there are only 18 pictures, so you will encounter some repeats for things, like “coffee” and “lunch,” but it’s still nice.

While Doo is not set up for big, complex projects, the app can detect if that is what you are doing and offers ways to set you up to successfully complete it. Still, for big things like projects, I would prefer to use a different app. Doo also has a Notification Center widget, 3D Touch support, a share extension, and iCloud support. I have noticed that the app will sync to iCloud fairly regularly, especially if changes are made, so your tasks will go with you no matter the device.

I’ve tried Doo briefly for the purpose of this review, and while I love the aesthetic, I’m not sure if it will work for me in the long run. I would prefer to see all tasks in the card stack in chronological order, and I’m not sure why that isn’t already the case, but having to switch between views to see everything you’ve added can be a hassle. Another flaw is the fact that you can only set one alert for each task, which is pretty much just the due date and time. I think multiple alerts should be an option for users. And one of my biggest qualms with the app is the fact that you cannot just swipe through the cards in the stack to see the next one — you’ll have to snooze tasks to bring the next one to the front, and then you can’t un-snooze the item. I believe swiping left and right on the cards should let you sort through them, picking the task you want to focus on, rather than the app forcing it upon you.

At the end of the day, I love the look and feel of Doo, but it has several big flaws that prevent it from being a tool I want to use every day. The current iteration is a good start, but there are many improvements that need to be made before it can be recommended for daily use, especially for its price point.

Doo is on the App Store as a universal download for the iPhone and iPad for $4.99.

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Steelbound Sky

March 18, 2016 by macjeff

Steelbound Sky ($1.99) by Witherwood Studios is a fresh new take on the traditional shoot-em-up genre. If you love those arcade shooters, but have wanted some different gameplay for the genre, then look no further than Steelbound Sky.

While arcades are few and far between these days, I still enjoy checking them out whenever the opportunity arises. I went to them a lot more in the past, during my middle and high school days, and always loved going for the shoot-em-up games. These are one of my favorites, because how can I resist flying a spaceship or aircraft and just blowing up all of the foes that get in my way? Of course, while the formula behind these games is classic, there is always room for innovation. Steelbound Sky is one of the first to change how we look at the standard shoot-em-up game.

In terms of visuals, I personally found Steelbound Sky to be a bit lacking in the department. The graphics are rendered in a 3-D style with a weird, slightly angled top-down perspective. Things in the background look blocky and rather jagged, and I’m not that impressed with the textures since they look a bit dated, especially compared to what you can find in other games of the genre. The enemy ships are more impressive, though, as they look much more modern than the backdrops. Animations are pretty smooth, though the wind streams you’ll be creating feel a bit choppy at times. The music is interesting, as it goes with a soothing tone as you are going through game menus, but gets more frenetic as you are playing a level and facing off against enemy waves. The sound effects are pretty standard, though they did get repetitive after a while.

In Steelbound Sky, players must guard the town that is under siege by waves of terrorizing enemies and their projectile attacks. Right now, the game has seven levels for you to fight through, and while it certainly does not sound like a lot, the game itself is pretty challenging and it does take a bit of time to fully master the controls, so it will last a while. Plus, there are hundreds of different types of enemies to understand and counter, so it’s not going to be easy. The levels will unlock as you clear previous stages, and sometimes two levels are unlocked at once, so it’s not too linear and gives you some freedom in the order that you play. You earn points for clearing out enemies, and even more points are given if you can rack up combos. Eventually, you will unlock the Boss Rush and Endless modes, which add overall replay value to the game.

Unlike traditional shoot-em-up games, there is no ship that you fly in Steelbound Sky, blowing up foes with your lasers and missiles. Instead, this game has you creating streams of wind in order to deflect attacks and defend the town. To do this, just drag your finger on the screen to create a single wind stream. The game only allows for one swipe at a time, so it won’t register if you try to create multiple streams at once. The moment that you lift your finger from the screen is when you can create another wind stream. The longer the stream is, the more time it has to remain on the screen, though it is still fairly short since they all go away after a few seconds. While the controls are intuitive, it’s not the most responsive I’ve seen — there can be a big delay in how swipes register and sometimes you just get a short stream instead of a long one like you originally intended.

The best way to go about defending the town is to create your wind streams where the enemies and projectiles are going, not where they are at the moment. In addition to the unique control scheme, all of the enemies have their own distinctive behavior patterns and attacks, and it will take some time to learn and come up with the strategies to counter them. Plus, the boss battles mean even more intense sky manipulation.

Additionally, as you beat stages, you’ll unlock special new abilities that can give you the edge in battle. These skills require you to fill up a gauge, which can be activated by tapping in the bottom left corner. But you have to use them wisely, as they do take time to recharge. There will also be power-up items that float around, and you’ll have to direct these towards your town to activate. These boosts include health restoration, increasing wind length, and increased wind curvature.

I was looking forward to Steelbound Sky, but I can’t help but feel slightly disappointed with the release. The visuals could definitely use more polishing, because they’re rather dated and don’t fit in well with modern iOS gaming aesthetics, in my opinion. The swipe control scheme works, but needs better optimization for responsiveness, because sometimes I just end up frustrated at incorrect streams and then I can’t do much of anything to defend the town. Hopefully the responsiveness gets improved in the near future.

Personally, I would hold off on Steelbound Sky until it gets some much needed improvements in the visual department and more responsive controls. But it is rather innovative, I’ll give them that.

Steelbound Sky is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for $1.99. There are no in-app purchases.

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