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Hands-on with Alphabeats, where cool music and spelling combine
In Alphabeats you must create words using letters that fall from the top of the screen to the beat of the music, avoiding incorrect spelling, and trying to use “rare” letters (QXZ etc) as much as possible. It's an odd mash up, and it's a rough diamond for sure. But it's quite moreish too, and extremely satisfying when you beat your friend's scores in the online leaderboards. The music is totally awesome as well, comprising a base soundtrack of ABXY, Absent Qualia, Big Giant Circles, Disasterpeace, Whitley Tower Haus, with more available as IAPs. Here's my hands-on video with the game...…
musicHands-on with Bio Inc., the medical strategy game in which I killed our Danny with dementia
Poor Danny. He's always so hard at work on AppSpy's Twitter, Facebook, and G+, and he's a regular on our Twitch streams, wielding The Ban Hammer of Justice with fairness and speed. But I think things have all gotten a little much for him, a little too stressful, as he just died of dementia. Well, he did in my hands-on with Bio Inc., at least. Bio Inc. is a strategy game in the style of Plague Inc., in that you gradually build up a disease in your subject, with the ultimate goal being their untimely death. It's pretty grim, but kind of fascinating too, and it will probably teach you a thing or two about biomedical science along the way. You'll certainly want to start washing your hands mo…
Chillingo is releasing base building strategy game Gang of Pirates later this year
Chilllingo is partnering with Nitro Games to bring a new social strategy game called Gang of Pirates to the App Store later this year. The premise for Gang of Pirates will be more than familiar to veterans of Clash of Clans and Boom Beach - though with some rum-swilling nautical debauchery added to the mix. You must build a stronghold on an island of pirates, and developing your base lets you better train and deck out your seafaring troops. Building your defences better fortifies the settlement. That whole thing. Once you're happy with your fortress, its time to attack your unfortunate island neighbours. Sending your fleet to battle other players switches the game to a tactical battle v…
Free-to-play action RPG Kritika: Chaos Unleashed is running wild on the App Store
Gamevil’s anime-styled action RPG Kritika: Chaos Unleashed has just been launched on the App Store. This free-to-play RPG takes the emphasis away from in-depth story telling and shifts it squarely onto combat. Battling enemies and bosses in tight arenas, the action is fast and frantic, with your characters hacking and slashing their way through all in their path. When you aren’t fighting, its time to visit the workshop where you can sharpen your skills and enchant your weapons to increase your chances in battle. Just in case you begin to tire of the main quest, then Kritika also provides two additional modes. Monster Wave is an endless string of battles for you to engag…
Game of Thrones Ascent invades iPhones and Android devices from midnight
Though iPad owners have been battling for the Iron Throne in Game of Thrones Ascent since March, wannabe rulers of the seven kingdoms with iPhones and / or Android devices have been left cold. Winter is coming, after all. However, from midnight tonight you'll be able to warm yourself in the fiery heat of the official game of the official TV series of George R.R. Martin's officially awesome line of books. If you're unfamiliar with Game of Thrones Ascent, then all you need to know is that it's a strategy management game set in the Game of Thrones universe, and sees you making a name for your household, joining alliances, forging armour and weapons, and developing a large holding to dominat…
Hands-on with Epic Skater, the rad auto-runner made by ex-Tony Hawks devs
Whenever we get sent an extreme sports game, my interests are immediately piqued, so when I was told that Epic Skater is being made by developers of some of the early Tony Hawks games - i.e. some of the best games ever made - my interest level rocketed off the charts. I wasn't disappointed. Epic Skater is a free-to-play single plane auto-runner that's currently in soft launch, in which you must leap obstacles, pull of the sickest of tricks, and grab coins while you're doing so. The controls are simple, responsive, and even manage to feel authentic to the sport itself. Kickflip down to the play button below for more on Epic Skater.…
Hellraid: The Escape Review
Hellraid: The Escape's bleak, medieval environments drip with chilling atmosphere. You begin in dismal dungeon, transfixed on a giant being that’s bearing down you. The creature makes it's way towards your fragile form and swings a massive axe. Moments later you come-to, sealed in a coffin. A few taps of the screen and you are free of the tomb, but still trapped in the underground jail, surrounded by jangling chains and the bones of your cellmates. Your single goal in this…
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Hands-on with Dream Revenant, the stunningly beautiful first person adventure
I could write tens of thousands of words on the various elements that go to make up Dream Revenant. The hazy Summer light dappling through the branches of one of the game's sumptuous environments, the pitch perfect score and sound effects that build the delirious (almost creepy) atmosphere of the game, the supremely sophisticated storytelling and framing that permeates every moment of the intriguing narrative - any of these could be the subject of a lengthy discourse here on AppSpy. But instead, take a look at our hands-on video with the game to see it in motion, and see for yourself why I'm extremely excited to play further.…
Hands-on with Star Admiral, the space-faring collectible card game sans the cards
Treading a very thin line between collectible card game (CCG) and straight up strategy game, Star Admiral is as satisfying to play as it is a unique proposition. You're given a fleet (or deck), and must play ships (cards) in a tactical manner, attacking your opponent, and setting up traps in case of retaliation. I've really enjoyed my time with the game thus far, trying to collect as many of the 100 units on offer as possible, and challenging other players in online PvP. Star Admiral is currently in soft launch, and comes to iOS and Android soon. In the meantime, check out my hands-on impressions...…
My Little Pony squares off with the Minecraft-like building game Blocksworld HD
Linden Lab’s Minecraft-esque building game Blocksworld HD is about to get infused with friendship and magic with the My Little Pony block set. Blocksworld HD lets you make all manner of environments with its range of building tools. From buildings, to vehicles, and even characters, the game supplies you with all manner of guides to inspire your creations. This new block set lets you build Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash and the rest of the My Little Pony cast to prance around in a world of your very own design. It isn't the first time the Pony’s owners Hasbro has joined forced with Blocksworld HD. If the technicolour equines are not your toy of choice, then you can alwa…
Hands-on with SnapMatch Soccer, a curious blend of tackling, toe-punting, and tile-matching
SnapMatch Soccer is the game for people who like football, but don't like football games. A puzzler at its heart, SnapMatch Soccer is all about matching pairs of tiles on a grid, the result of which encourages your team to push onward and play better. Get enough matches and you'll be given the opportunity to take a shot on goal, and if you successfully match two goal tiles during your shot, you'll put it in the back of the net. Currently the game will only let you play the CPU, but there are plans to add PvP multiplayer, and besides there seems to be plenty of content to keep you going until then. It's fun stuff, if a bit tough, but the base idea is accessible to all, whether or not they…
Resident Evil invades zombie CCG RPG Deadman's Cross
Square Enix's zombie-styled collectible card game Deadman's Cross has just received an extra dose of undead. Thanks to a collaboration with Capcom, Resident Evil cards and quests are being added to the game for a limited time. Deadman’s Cross battles are the typical CCG fare, with the card combat linked by first-person hunts through the 3D world of New Livingstone. Now Raccoon City is being added to the list of areas available for you to stalk through. Along with the new environment, this crossover features a host of other Resident Evil themed extras. Cards featuring monsters from the Resident Evil series are available for you to collect and battle with, including the iconic N…
Hands-on with FFFFF2P, the naff free-to-play game that makes fun of naff free-to-play games
Something about FFFFF2P has definitely rubbed me up the wrong way. The game is a (quite possibly deliberately) simple and slightly broken single screen platformer that commits loads of freemium cardinal sins. Adverts are present throughout, you're bombarded with interstitial ads during gameplay, and everything is up for sale, including winning the game. I guess the joke is that this is a title that's mocking free-to-play games. But in doing so FFFFF2P simply becomes a very bad example of a free-to-play game, and ignores many of the good aspects of freemium gaming. Ultimately, I suppose, I'm just not sure why you'd want to spend much time on a bad game of any kind, whether or not it's supp…
There are 'no current plans' to bring Dynasty Warriors Blast to the West
After yesterday's news that Dynasty Warriors Blast would be heading to Japanese iOS and Android devices this month, we got in touch with Koei Tecmo to confirm a Western release date. Dynasty Warriors fans may want to look away at this point. Or maybe just ensure nothing of value is on the table you're about to flip over. To quote a representative of the company: "there are no current plans to release Musou Blast to the Western territories". The news is a little disappointing for Musou / Dynasty Warriors fans, but we're not hugely surprised. Previous mobile Musou game Dynasty Warriors Slash is yet to hit our shores, and most of Koei Tecmo's mobile catalogue is absent outside of Japan. H…
Hands-on with Tunnel Ground, the story-driven mech combat game
As I note in the hands-on video you'll see below, Tunnel Ground still needs work for it to be a solid recommendation. The menus are raw, the pace is slow, the UI fiddly, and mission objectives a little unclear. But the game has continually gone through improvements since I was first made aware of it, the story is strong and very much central to the game, and the core gameplay is solid. It's a game with serious potential, basically. It's definitely worth a look at our hands-on with Tunnel Ground, let me know in the comments whether you're keen to see more mech games on mobiles.…
