"If there is an app for that"

Ninja Boy Adventures

March 29, 2016 by macjeff

Ninja Boy Adventures ($1.99) by The Clash Soft is a nice homage to the original Bomberman franchise. If you were a fan of that franchise, or just love a good strategic maze-based game, then Ninja Boy Adventures is for you.

When I was growing up, I remember having a few of the original Bomberman video games for what I believe was a Game Boy system (I didn’t have a great memory of what I owned back then). I am not sure exactly why I liked the Bomberman games at the time, but I think it was my joy and glee watching enemies get blown up as they stupidly walked into the path of a bomb I had planted for them. I was an easily entertained kid back then, and I think that still holds true even more nowadays when I play video games. So of course, when I heard that Ninja Boy Adventures was coming out and played like Bomberman games, I just had to get my hands on it and check it out. How can I resist a solid piece of my childhood?

Visually, Ninja Boy Adventures has a modernized aesthetic, but it still serves as a nice tribute to the old-school Bomberman games of yore due to the simple style. The mazes are laid out in simplistic or complex layouts that definitely give you a challenge each time you play, and the colors are bright and vibrant, especially the squishy-looking menu buttons. I like the character sprites of Ninja Boy himself, as well as all of the various enemies and bosses, because the game is just bursting with personality and the characters feel like a blast from the past (Ninja Boy has a close resemblance to Bomberman, you can’t miss the similarities in character design). Animations are smooth and fluid, with no lag on my iPhone 6s Plus. The game also has an awesome, quirky chiptune soundtrack and fun sound effects that definitely give players a sense of nostalgia, so it’s a nice overall finishing touch to the game’s great visual and audio package.

There are two modes in Ninja Boy Adventures: Story Mode and Battle Internet. The Battle Mode allows you to play up with up to three other people in real-time over the Internet. If you have an Apple TV, the game also works on that, and everyone can play offline on one device, which is nice. The Story Mode is where you will probably spend most of your time though, and it includes a total of 30 levels that are distributed over 11 different zones and three worlds. This also has an optional collaborative mode where up to four players can play together to try and beat the game.

So what is the goal of Ninja Boy Adventures? Each stage puts you in a maze of walls and boxes that can be blown up to reveal some nice power-up items. You have to make your way around the maze and eliminate all of the enemies and bosses before the exit appears and you can move on to the next level. While it sounds easy, things get a bit more complicated as you encounter enemies that can freely roam around, fly over walls, and many other abilities. You’ll have to plan your exit strategy with precision, because sometimes you just never know if you’re going to be cornered. Plus, you have to watch out for those bombs you’re planting down as well — if you’re in the line of fire for the blast, you lose a life, and you only have so many of those (indicated at the top of the screen). To make things more challenging, each stage has a time limit as well, so you have to think quickly for your best plan of action within the allotted time frame.

The controls in Ninja Boy Adventures are simple and intuitive. In the bottom left corner, there is a virtual joystick for moving Ninja Boy left, right, up, and down in the labyrinth. Don’t worry if your thumb ends up straying from the corner, though — the joystick is not pinned to the corner, so it will follow your thumb around as you drag it to move Ninja Boy. To place a bomb down (you have an infinite number), just tap on the button located in the bottom right corner. But watch out — once a bomb is put down, it’s recommended to move at least a few squares away from it, as it takes a few seconds to detonate, and will kill you if you’re caught in the crossfire.

As I mentioned, there are power-up items to be found in the destroyable crates. These contain useful things like extending the range of the blast (be careful though), increasing the damage, land mines that trigger when stepped on, and more. But you’ll have to look at the power-ups carefully, because some are traps, such as instant-death or reducing your bomb power. Since you have to keep an eye on what drops from boxes as well as steering clear of enemy movement patterns, things can become pretty hectic as you make progress. It’s all about timing, accuracy, and most importantly, skill, in this game. I mean, that’s what the old Bomberman games were about, so why should this be any different?

Thanks to the co-op play and online multiplayer battles, there is plenty of replay value here even if you beat the game and obtain the best possible score for each stage. Plus, there is Game Center support for leaderboards and achievements, so there’s plenty of reason to keep coming back for more.

I grew up with the old Bomberman games and have missed them a lot, so it’s nice to have Ninja Boy Adventures on my iOS so I can get my Bomberman fix (as close as I’m going to get) while I’m on-the-go. The visual style in the game is beautiful, the retro music and sounds are a joy to the ears, and the controls are easy to pick up and rather intuitive. The difficulty of the game also ramps up gradually, so I think it’s friendly enough for anyone to enjoy.

I highly recommend giving Ninja Boy Adventures a try if you’re a fan of Bomberman or like challenging maze strategy games. Ninja Boy Adventures is available on the App Store as a universal app for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV for just $1.99. There are no in-app purchases, so you pay once and get the game on every platform.

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

Rainmaker - The Beautiful Flood

March 29, 2016 by macjeff

Rainmaker - The Beautiful Flood ($3.99) by SweatyChair Pty. Ltd. is a minimalistic puzzle game with a rather intricate little story. If you enjoyed games like Stay, Mum, then chances are high that you will enjoy Rainmaker – The Beautiful Flood.

I’ve mentioned it many times here on AppAdvice, but even though I’ve gone through hundreds of iOS games over the years, one of my favorite genres is still the good old-fashioned puzzle. After a long day, I just want to unwind and relax, but I prefer to keep my mind stimulated somehow, and puzzle games do a great job of that since I’m having fun while trying to solve a problem. Despite trying pretty much all of the puzzle games on the App Store, I’m still always on the lookout for more, especially interesting ones, and Rainmaker happened to catch my eye this week.

The visuals in Rainmaker are minimalistic with a simple and clean aesthetic that will appeal to everyone. It seems that the minimal art style was made extremely popular on iOS ever since Monument Valley, and with good reason — less is more nowadays. In Rainmaker, players are greeted with flat graphics that show a little girl surrounded by water and stunning backdrops. As the game goes on, a story unfolds, which takes you on a journey to discover what is causing a mysterious rainfall. Animations are smooth and fluid, and I did not experience any lag on my iPhone 6s Plus. I did find that the text appeared a bit fuzzy at times, so I’m sure that some optimization can be improved as far as the typography goes, but other than that, the game looks great. The ambient soundtrack is atmospheric and soothing, so it helps get you in a relaxed and focused state.

As with other puzzle games, Rainmaker is level-based, though it does not follow the traditional method of having a level selection screen, nor can you go back and replay stages that you’ve already solved. Instead, Rainmaker takes you seamlessly through the story one puzzle at a time (a total of 60 puzzles await), with the goal of helping the girl named Tian reach her destination on each stage in the form of a door. However, sometimes the door is in a place high above, or there are obstacles that stand in the way of reaching it — your job is to help her get past these obstructions with the power of a magical medallion that allows her to turn into three different forms: a heavy rock, a weightless bubble, or a bouncy basketball.

The controls in Rainmaker are simple and intuitive, even allowing players to enjoy the game with one hand if desired. To change Tian’s forms, all you have to do is tap anywhere on the screen. The order of forms remains the same: rock, bubble, and then basketball, so it’s fairly easy to remember. However, sometimes you’ll get in a level that only permits two of those forms, which adds an interesting twist to the game mechanics, since you never know what you’ll end up with. Since the levels transition into each other, Tian may already be in motion at the start of the puzzle, so you have to be quick to react. Timing matters a lot in the game, as you have to switch into the correct form at just the right moment in order to reach the door. While the game starts out pretty simple, things do get a bit more complex at a gradual pace as the game introduces things like waterfalls and levers to open passageways. You can always reset the puzzle if you want to start over, but there is no penalty if Tian “dies,” as you just need to try again.

I’m still pretty early on in Rainmaker, but so far I’m enjoying the interesting gameplay mechanic, as it is different from most puzzle games out there. Plus, I’m a fan of the minimal art style, the music is calming, and the puzzles themselves can be rather challenging, which is great as it makes you think. I just wish that there was a way to see what levels you’ve completed, or even a way to replay puzzles you really liked. Maybe the developer can consider it in the future, but it’s not a big deal, just a nitpicky detail.

I recommend giving Rainmaker – The Beautiful Flood if you like challenging puzzles with a bit of depth to them. You can find Rainmaker – The Beautiful Flood on the App Store as a universal download for just $3.99.

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

Super Arc Light

March 29, 2016 by macjeff

Super Arc Light ($0.99) by Channel 4 is a fast-paced twitch reflex shooter game that will test your skills. Think of it as if Geometry Wars and Super Hexagon had a lovechild, because that is pretty much what it is. Or if you want classic game comparisons, it’s like Asteroids and Centipede. Either way, if you’re a fan of challenging twitch reflex games like Orbitum and Pivvot, then you will like what Super Arc Light has to offer.

Ever since I played Super Hexagon many years ago, I became addicted to these insanely difficult twitch reflex games where the main objective was to get as many points as you can, trying to best your friends who played. Even though these are the types of games that end up being rather frustrating and make me want to throw my phone down (thankfully it’s in a case), I can’t help but keep coming back to them. The play sessions only take from a few seconds to maybe a minute or two (probably more if you’re good), and they’re the epitome of the “just-one-more-go” mindset. Since Super Hexagon, I’ve probably played most of the other twitch reflex games that are available on the App Store, but I’m always on the lookout for something new. So naturally, when I heard about Super Arc Light, I had to check it out for myself. Needless to say, I’m not disappointed.

The visuals in Super Arc Light are brilliantly simple and minimalistic, as it features nothing more than basic geometric shapes. The colors in the game are nothing super fancy either, but that adds to the charm. In fact, you just have a pitch black background all the time, and your ship, enemies, and the circles are all in white, which contrasts well with the dark background. There is a minimal splash of color though, which you can see in the inner circle, as well as the shots that your ship fires. It starts out orange, but as you collect different power-ups, the colors change depending on the weapon you acquire. Animations in he game are buttery smooth and fluid with no lag on my iPhone 6s Plus. To top things off, Super Arc Light has an upbeat and quirky EDM soundtrack in the background that fits in perfectly with the fast-paced, intense nature of the game. The end result is something beautifully simple and clean in terms of visuals and audio from the developer.

At the moment, there is only one game mode in Super Arc Light, which is an endless survival-type mode that tests how long you can last. Like many other twitch reflex games, this is a high score chaser, so even though it’s just one game mode, you’ll still be coming back over and over in order to beat your previous high score. The main goal though, is to have your ship defend the base from an infinite onslaught of enemy waves. While it sounds easy enough, things get a nice twist due to the control scheme.

Super Arc Light can be played entirely with just one hand, thanks to the one-touch controls. You see, your ship will move along the base circle automatically, so you don’t have to worry about that. But as enemies approach you, then it is time to shoot them down. To attack, just tap on the screen to fire one shot, or hold your finger down to keep firing. However, the moment you lift your finger from the screen is the moment your ship reverses course, going in the opposite direction of where you just went. This makes things a lot more interesting, as you have to time your shots well in order to take down foes and get where you need to be to prepare for the next wave. Another nice thing about Super Arc Light is the fact that the enemy ships will turn red when they are about to strike your base, so the final visual warning is rather helpful. The moment the enemy gets past your defenses and into the base, the run ends, and your score is determined by how many enemies you managed to shoot before they get through.

For the most part, I felt like each run started out a bit too similarly, so it is somewhat predictable in the beginning. However, as more time passes, the enemies get trickier and faster, so things get more unpredictable.

I also mentioned that the game has power-ups that you can shoot and collect for better weapons. The game has many power-ups that have to be unlocked first, and this is done by just playing the game enough and getting a decent score for your runs. There are weapons like the “Twin Shot” and “Triple Shot” that shoot out more bullets at once, or you can get unique things like the “Ion Beam.” The power-ups that you can get in battle are randomized and only last for a few seconds, so make sure to make the most of them when you have them.

I’ve only spent a short amount of time with Super Arc Light over the weekend, but I must say that I’m impressed with the game so far. I’m a big fan of minimalistic graphics, and Super Arc Light delivers in that aspect, along with the awesome EDM soundtrack. The controls feel perfect, as you can play the game with just one hand, and the mechanics are unique and make for some challenging gameplay. It does take some getting used to, but the game is fun, addictive, and definitely one I’ll be coming back to time and time again. If you’re a fan of twitch reflex shooters, then this won’t disappoint.

I recommend picking up Super Arc Light if you are in the market for a challenging and twitchy space shooter. You can get Super Arc Light on the App Store as a universal download on the iPhone and iPad for just $0.99. There are no in-app purchases.

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

Best app deals of the day! 8 paid iPhone apps free for a limited time

March 28, 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! 8 paid iPhone apps free for a limited time appeared first on Digital Trends.

Free Apps to Download TODAY ONLY 03/28/2016

March 28, 2016 by macjeff

Gloomlogue , GREG - A Mathematical Puzzle Game To Train Your Brain Skills , Globo - World Clock and Weather and more

iPhone:

It requires very little effort to transform your photos into illustrated gloom paintings. Just choose a photo from your library or take a new one from within the app. Then drag the gloom slider to adjust the intensity of the effect. After that, you can take your photos to a whole new level by applying filters, text, borders, and distortions. Your creations can be shared via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, AirDrop, or email.

You’re able to create a list of your favorite locations around the world and view their times as a color-coded list. Tap on a location to view more detailed information like its time zone, time interval and distance from you, coordinates, and even weather. You’re also able to change the time in one location and see the changes in all of your other locations. The app includes support for up to 64 custom location-based alarms, imperial and metric support, two sorting options, and 12- and 24-hour formats.

Play as a retired hero who is forced to draw his sword once again when his daughter is taken by an unknown power. Spin the wheel to battle opponents, earn gold, and obtain special items. The game includes 39 different enemies, 37 types of equipment, 39 combat quests, 12 tavern quests, and three different endings.

Universal:

GREG proves that even simple math isn’t easy. A grid of numbered tokens is laid out before you. Tap on tokens to select and add them up in order to match the number at the top. Each turn of the timer located around the number at the top will cause the unused tokens to become hotter and change color. If a single token burns up before you reach the next level, it’s game over. Bonus points can be scored by making lines, squares, and crosses from your selected tokens, and you can utilize power-ups to clear levels faster.

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