It's Friday again and so it's up to me to once again fill your subscription box with a tidy summary of interesting iOS news from the week that was. So lets hop right to it and lay out the News Wrap-Up for the 24th of February, 2012.
The Hunger Games - Developers On Fire
More and more I feel as though I have no idea what's happening in the greater pop-culture circles and the upcoming release of The Hunger Games in the cinemas is further proof of this as I had no idea what it was, let alone the buzz surrounding it. However, what I do know is that the video game tie-in is being headed up by some of the Indie scene's greatest, including Adam Saltsman (Canabalt); Mark Johns (Tap Tap Dance); Keven Coulton (Space Barnacle); and Paul Veer (Super Crate Box). Daniel baranowsky (Super Meat Boy) is also composing the music, while other talented stars handle many of the other roles. How will this project pan out? No one knows just what the end result will be, but with a budget, creative freedom and this amount of talent, it's sure to grab some attention.
Dreamrunner - Looking Sexy
Endless runners that dive in to the screen are the new hot-ticket, but coming up with something unique and compelling is where the true challenge lies. Dreamrunner by We R Play is an upcoming title in the genre that is set to focus on bringing in new mechanics depending on the worlds you travel as well as narrative driven elements. Those interested can hit up their website to sign up for their Beta-testing (the link is below).
F=ma or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The AaaaaAAaaaAAAAaAAAAA!!!
Dejobaan, the clever clogs behind the PC and Mac Indie title, AaaaaAAaaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! A Reckless Disregard For Gravity have finally dropped a date for their upcoming iOS release of the title, named AaaaaAAaaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! Force = Mass x Acceleration. If that's a mouthful for you then don't worry, all you have to worry about is how much time you're going to lose while playing this game (and if the PC version is any indicator, it will be a LOT). Co-produced with Alchemy Labs (Snuggle Truck), the game is set to hit the App Store on Thursday the 1st of March, 2012.
Batman: Arkham City Lockdown Updated
Despite being a slightly watered down take on the Infinity Blade formula, Batman: Arkham City Lockdown was none-the-less fun and a perfect companion for those who just can't get enough of punching henchmen in the face. It's only true weakness was its less than stellar variety of content, with the game relying on a handful of boss-fights to truly mix things up. Thankfully an update has added more content to the mix with a new section added to the city where you can fight Harley Quinn, new thug fights, a Batarang mini-game, two new skins (Bruce Wayne and Batman Inc), as well as a new level cap (from 30 to 35), skills and achievements. This lean machine just bulked up a bit more.
True Skate by True Axis
If you're not familiar with Jet Car Stunts, pause and take a moment to familiarize yourself with its awesomeness (Google is your friend). Now that we're on the same page, True Axis, the developers behind JCS has teased iOS fans with screenshots of their upcoming title True Skate. The game is set to be similar to games like Touchgrind, but with an improved perspective to give you more of a view of the skate-park you're in. Given how great the game looks, I'm glad they're making sure the player gets to see it all - as a disclaimer, these are rendered screenshots, but the developer claims the visuals look almost the same in game. More details when they're released.
Mini-Review: Midway Arcade (Warner Bros.) $0.99
I feel a bit bad about cramming such a great title in to the Mini-Review section of this week's Wrap-Up, but aside from going in to nauseating detail about the controls for all the games available in the title, there's not much more to say than: If you're an Arcade junkie, get this collection. For your initial investment you're provided with classic Midway titles including Arch Rivals, Defender, Joust, Rampage, Root Beer Tapper, Spy Hunter, and playable versions of Pool, Air Hockey, Roll Ball and Basketball. Each features a series of controls suited to make the most of the iOS platform (such as optional tilt controls for Spy Hunter) and players can earn 'tickets' that go towards unlocking new content for the Arcade. Those who can't wait can drop cash to pick up a three-pack that includes either Gauntlet I & II and Wizard of Wor, or NARC, Total Carnage and APB. The only real disappointment is the lack of iCade support, but it's a small price to pay for so much fun.
Game of the Week: Pizza Vs. Skeletons (Riverman Media) $2.99
Innovation can come in many forms and while Pizza Vs. Skeletons is certainly a strange thematic concept, its true strength comes in the variety and complexity of its many different game types. With each one utilizing the same basic controls of tilt to move and touch to jump, players can expect 100 levels of action to keep them glued to their iPhones. Unlockable customizations allow you to give the Pizza your personal touch, and if you don't enjoy some of the game types you're free to skip them as progression is tied more to completing boss stages than every individual stage in between. A refreshingly simple mix of games well worth wasting your time on.
And as always that's the Wrap-Up for the week. If you enjoy our weekly news feature, hit the like button and subscribe to catch more of our news, reviews and features as they pop up regularly and you won't want to miss a thing. For those who happen to also have Twitter or Facebook, you can find us there too. Have a great weekend!
Additional Links:
Dream Runner Game Footage - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPQS45aTcic
Dream Runner Beta - https://dreamrunner.werplay.com/join-beta/
AaaaaAAaaaAAAAaAAAAA! Force = Mass x Acclereation Teaser - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbPmuj-17r0
Batman: Arkham City - https://www.appspy.com/batman-arkham-city-review
Jet Car Stunts Review - https://www.appspy.com/jet-car-stunts-review
Midway Arcade - https://www.appspy.com/midway-arcade-review
Pizza Vs. Skeletons - https://www.appspy.com/pizza-vs-skeletons-iphone-review
