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Hands-on with Monster Snack, the colour matching auto-flyer where you try to escape a gigantic fish
Monster Snack is an auto-runner with a small twist: to keep running (well, flying) you need to match the colour of the gems flying past your ship, to the colour of your engine. On paper that might be quite an easy task, but as you begin hurtling forward at great speeds, with the ever-present threat of a giant fish behind you that just waiting for you to run out of power so it can eat you whole, it's a whole lot trickier. Here's my hands-on with Monster Snack, which is out right now on iPhone and iPad.…
auto-runnerHands-on with Sentinel 4: Dark Star, the sci-fi tower defence game for iPhone and iPad
The tower defence genre has quietened down a little over recent months and years, but for a while there you couldn't browse through any of the “top games” lists on the various app stores without running into one. Sentinel 4: Dark Star is the long-awaited sequel to much-loved tower defence game Sentinel 3: Homeworld, which came out way back in 2010. And even though the build I went hands-on with for this preview video was early, it's shaping up like it's definitely going to please the hardcore fans of the genre.…
Hands-on with Blood Bowl, the totally confusing adaptation of the classic Games Workshop tabletop game
I have been playing video games for a quarter of a century now, and I have been covering them in an editorial capacity for coming up on 6 years. I'm well-versed at how games work, and I've played plenty of duds. But I can't recall any I've played, certainly in recent memory, that have left me as bewildered and confused as this iPad and Android tablet adaptation of Blood Bowl. It's an accurate take on the Games Workshop game that inspired it - a game I used to love playing as a teenager - but in hiding away so many of the systems that govern play, Blood Bowl gives so little information to the player that you struggle to understand why a throw succeeded or failed, why one die is better than…
Hands-on with Epic Arena, the 3D strategy board game that pits Order against Chaos
If you prefer your board games digital, and like both strategy and collectible card games, then Epic Arena is probably one for you to check out. It's free-to-play, nicely presented, and provides plenty of challenges to tackle. Both human and computer opponents are on offer, with lots of special missions to flex your creativite muscles when it comes to quickly winning battles. I had a quick go with Epic Arena, here's what happened.…
Hands-on with Re-Volt 2, the F2P iOS RC racer
Initially created by Acclaim Entertainment - hands up if you remember those guys - the Re-Volt series has quite the storied history, if you go looking for it. But today we're talking about Re-Volt 2, the recently released free-to-play racer for your mobile telephone or tablet computing device. After spending a little time with it I've found the freemium elements to be a little intrusive at times, but the decent vehicle handling, fun bonus items, and oodles of content help make up for the energy system and focus on grind.…
Please note: top-notch music game Deemo is your free iOS app of the week
"Please note"? Get it? Because Deemo is a music game? Suit yourself, the important thing to take away from my fantastic article title actually comes after the hilarious play on words: Deemo is now available for nothing. It's currently being featured by Apple as part of its weekly app giveaway, so you can pick up this delightful-yet-haunting music game completely free of charge. At review we said "if you enjoy rhythm games you owe it to yourself to try Deemo", and who are we to argue? [App Store link]…
Hands-on with MZR, the fast-paced maze game that makes me feel like Sandra Bullock
I get all giddy about MZR in this hands-on with the game, for a number of reason. Primarily it's a superb and extremely fast maze game, where you need to determine which of the multiple paths that fire out from your starting position, will reach their goals the fastest. On top of this, the presentation is in another league. Simultaneously retro and ultra modern in both its visual design and soundtrack, it's phenomenally good looking in motion. Plus, as I point out in the video at one point, MZR makes me feel like Sandra Bullock. It's that good, so take a look.…
Blood Bowl touches down on iPad and Android tablets as a premium release, but there's a catch
Blood Bowl is a fantastic concept for a game: warring factions of races put down their swords and shields for a few hours to clobber one another in a sport that's reminiscent of American football (if American football featured magic, brutal injuries, and more than a little foul play). Originally developed as a tabletop game set in the Warhammer universe, there have been umpteen digital editions of Blood Bowl, but only now is a version headed to iPad and Android tablets. There's a Solo Player mode for quick matches, and the Campaign mode is a full tournament in which to earn experience to improve your team. If you're after some multiplayer fun times then you'll be able to play local hotse…
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen is headed to Western smartphones
During an announcement of its Gamescom line-up, Square Enix dropped a massive bomb for fans of JRPGs - Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen will be released on mobiles and tablets in the West. It's a port of the Nintendo DS remake, and includes the additional and changed content from that version, such as the extra story chapter. We're also hearing that it features quick saves, and multiple combat speed options, which will be a blessing for adventurers on the go. If you're yet to play a Dragon Quest, then this could well be a great place to start. The plot follows multiple characters from very different walks of life, as their stories all begin to weave into one another's, and this ad…
Hands-on with Sharknado: The Video Game, in which we discover that a tornado full of sharks does not a good game make
Don't be fooled by the “hilarious” “joke” that Sharknado: The Video Game is making. You may think it'll be a giggle to play as a man wielding a chainsaw while riding a gigantic shark as it flies through a tornado. But once the novelty of the above has worn out, you soon realise you're down $2.99 / £1.99, and all you have to show for it is a clunky and banal auto-runner. Here's a video going into more depth than you will ever need on Sharknado: The Video Game.…
Hands-on with Crazy Taxi: City Rush, in which I ask you if you're ready to make some crazy money
Well, are you? If you are, then I have good news: Crazy Taxi: City Rush is really rather fun (if a little stingy with the energy system). I went hands-on with the game to bring you this early look, based on the soft-launched version, just before the game launches on 31st July 2014, take a look.…
Hearthstone Naxxramas second wing The Plague Quarter out now for iPad
The second wing of Hearthstone's Curse of Naxxramas DLC series, titled The Plague Quarter, is now available on iPad. The second of five seperate patches - or 'wings' - which will make-up the complete Naxxramas update, this update adds three new bosses to defeat: Heigan, Loatheb, and Noth. Those who purchase the update will also gain access to four new cards: Stoneskin Gargoyle, Unstable Ghoul, Sludge Belcher, and Loatheb. These bosses and cards bring with them some new challeges and modes, including Heroic Difficulty mode. If you want to see what the first wing of the Naxxramas campaign looks like in action, then check out our hands-on video below. You can still download this episode f…
Temple Run - EncyclAPPedia
Turn the EncyclAPPedia to page four and you'll find the entry for Temple Run, Imangi's superbly simple perennial auto-runner with a forgotten past, which celebrates its third birthday, in just a few days time. EncyclAPPpediaɛnˌsʌɪklə(ʊ)ˈpiːdɪənounA video or set of videos giving information on many mobile games or on many aspects of one game and typically arranged entirely at random.…
Plants Vs. Zombies 2 Dark Ages Part 2 update is blooming well out right now
If you've been fighting off the undead in Plants Vs. Zombies 2 for a while, you'll be well aware that the first part of the Dark Ages update has been out for a while, with Part 2 held tantalisingly close but just out of reach. As of today you can now grab the second part of the adventure with two decaying hands, continuing this epic quest, set in the medieval period. The free update includes 10 more levels to battle through, and two new plants added to the roster, plus an endless mode called Arthur's Challenge. New zombies complete the gruesome package: the Wizard Zombie (who does nefarious things with sheep), and the King Zombie (who transforms zombies into knights). So, AppSpies, whi…
Hands-on with Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery, Episode 2: Field Trip, the brilliantly written puzzle adventure sequel
We were fortunate enough to grab an early code for this new episode in the Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery series, and we definitely wanted to bring you a first look video before the game's release. The sparkling writing is delightful and hilarious in equal measure, the voice acting is excellent, the puzzles challenging, and the visuals gorgeous, and frankly I can't wait to play a bit more. Oh I guess the video below does contain extremely minor spoilers.…
