Latest Articles

Ambitious sci-fi MMO Universe Rush materialises on Kickstarter

News By James Gilmour, 10 years, 2 months ago
Ambitious sci-fi MMO Universe Rush materialises on Kickstarter

If like me you're a little weary of the Kickstarter model - perhaps you've been burned by unfulfilled promises or disappointing products - then you might find it tough to drum up enthusiasm for yet another video pleading for the contents of your bank account. However, if you only watch one iOS-related Kickstarter video today, we suggest you pick the one promoting intergalactic MMO Universe Rush.  It's this one, incidentally: There's no denying that $100,000 is a lot of cash to ask for, especially for a something as difficult to start-up and sustain as a massively-multiplayer online game.  However, it's equally impossible to ignore that fact that Universe Rush's sci-…

Teaser trailer for cave-based shooter Heavy Rockets surfaces

News By James Gilmour, 10 years, 2 months ago
Teaser trailer for cave-based shooter Heavy Rockets surfaces

There was a time when all a gamer needed to have fun was a small arrow and some flying pixels. It seems that the team behind minimalist shooter Heavy Rockets remembers those halcyon days, too. Don't believe me? Have a glance at the clean lines and low-fi Asteroid-aping avatar presented in the teaser trailer below, and tell me you don't detect the faintest whiff of nostalgia. According to the Markus and Jukka, the two man crew behind Heavy Rockets, the game will feature two modes of play. Race mode has you guiding your rocket through a series of subterranean levels in as quick a time as possible. However, if you're in the mood for a bit of ship-to-ship combat, then the "last man fly…

Miniature sequel Joe Danger Infinity racing onto the App Store this Thursday

News By James Gilmour, 10 years, 2 months ago
Miniature sequel Joe Danger Infinity racing onto the App Store this Thursday

Fearless stuntman Joe Danger is set to return to the App Store in pint-sized form this week, courtesy of Hello Games's new stunt racer Joe Danger Infinity. According to a report on sister site Pocket Gamer, the dev team behind the acclaimed motorbike racer Joe Danger has revealed that the follow up, which sees stunt rider Joe being shrunk down to toy-like proportions, is to come careening onto iOS on Thursday. The game will have you guiding teeny-tiny Joe across kitchen tables, over toy trucks, and through stacks of dice in his ongoing mission to do the best stunts that a small man in a helmet and goggles can do. Rather than offering a selection of short levels, Joe Danger Infinity…

simian.interface | Hands-On

Feature By James Gilmour, 10 years, 2 months ago
simian.interface | Hands-On

Tilt-based puzzler simian.interface is a game with blocks and no tutorial.  While that sentence might not sound like a shining recommendation, I consider both of these things to be a plus when it comes to games. You see, when a developer can eschew a hold-up-to-look-up text tutorial in favour allowing players to learn through exploration, it's generally a sign that somebody on the team has their head screwed on right. Also, blocks are cool. Obviously.  I went hands-on with simian.interface earlier today. You can't see me doing any actual tilting in the video below, so just picture a bald guy handing upside-down from a bannister waving an iPhone around like he's trying to swat a…

Jet Car Stunts 2 Review

Review True Axis By James Gilmour, 10 years, 2 months ago
Jet Car Stunts 2 Review

While there's no shortage of racers on the App Store, there aren't many which can claim to be as downright brutal as Jet Car Stunts 2. Like its 2009 predecessor, it's a game about precision. In fact, almost every other aspect of Jet Car Stunts 2 seems to have been streamlined to force players to zero-in on the game's unapologetically raw racing core. The visuals are clean, crisp, and simple, serving only to give you a strip of virtual tarmac to aim for. There is no background music, j…

Watch The Video Review Watch The Video Review

New Kemco RPG Chrome Wolf offers quests, tragedy, and tanks

News By Alex Beech, 10 years, 2 months ago
New Kemco RPG Chrome Wolf offers quests, tragedy, and tanks

Japanese developer Kemco has released its latest JRPG adventure Chrome Wolf on the App Store today. Given Kemco's impressive back catalogue of retro role-playing games, we're stunned it still has any original names left in its fantasy game title sorting hat. Luckily, the latest rummage did manage to conjure up something new, even if the game's visuals and story are somewhat familiar.   As you can see from the trailer above, Chrome Wolf's 16-bit style closely resembles recent Kemco releases Chronus Arc and Destiny Fantasia. Here, however, each soldier's ability and weapon sets are defined by eight available classes, allowing for a range of approaches and tactics in battle. A tan…

SteelSeries Stratus iOS controller promises full gaming control in a tiny package

News By Alex Beech, 10 years, 2 months ago
SteelSeries Stratus iOS controller promises full gaming control in a tiny package

Apple's first officially licensed wireless controller to work with the iPad, the SteelSeries Stratus, became available to preorder in the US today, priced at $99.99. At just 11cm long, the controller is narrower than any iPhone, but still manages to squeeze in all of the features of a larger pad. This means you will have access to two analogue sticks, a d-pad, four face buttons, and four shoulder buttons, allowing for a variety of control options. Connecting to your device via Bluetooth rather than the Lightning port, the SteelSeries Stratus is compatible with the iPhone 5 (and newer models), 5th gen iPod touch, iPad 4 or later, plus any iPad mini. Importantly, SteelSeries reports that…

Splash of clans: Seabound RTS Plunder Pirates heading to iPhone and iPad this year

News By James Gilmour, 10 years, 2 months ago
Splash of clans: Seabound RTS Plunder Pirates heading to iPhone and iPad this year

Game-ho! The first trailer for start-up studio Midoki's debut iOS offering Plunder Pirates, an "epic online multiplayer strategy game," has just hoved into view over the horizon. Comprised of a number of console developers who have decided to take a swim in mobile waters, the developer claims Plunder Pirates will allow you to build your very own pirate island, and then do battle on at least seven seas with other online skallywags. Apparently inspired by the "fair" free-to-play structure of games like Tiny Tower, the team has opted to make the game a freemium experience, much like comparable multiplayer base-battler Clash of Clans. Though you can sail solo if you choose, the game wi…

Alien race The Lanius coming to FLT: Advanced Edition on an iPad near you soon

News By James Gilmour, 10 years, 2 months ago
Alien race The Lanius coming to FLT: Advanced Edition on an iPad near you soon

Subset Games has just revealed The Lanius, a brand new race of aliens set to appear in the iOS version of FTL: Advanced Edition. The creatures are characterised as scavengers, and survive by consuming minerals found in metal. Much like the metal that makes up the hull of your spaceship, in fact. I think we can see where this is going. In addition to this new alien race, FTL: Advanced Edition will contain never-before seen shield and anti-combat drones. Players will also gain the ability to man sensors and doors manually.  What's more, you'll be able to select the spikey-looking Lanius ship as your own starter vessel. It even comes complete with its own unique (and possibly spikey)…

Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project | Hands-On

Feature By James Gilmour, 10 years, 2 months ago
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project | Hands-On

It seems that no matter how misogynistic or crass they may appear to modern eyes and ears, you just can't keep an old pop culture icon down.  Following the unqualified disaster that was Duke Nukem Forever, we haven't heard much from the blonde haired, quip-spouting lady repellent. The most recent Duke-related activity took place on Xbox Live, where he appeared in a 2.5D retooling of 2002's PC-based side-scroller Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project. As it happens, we have just learned that Spawn Studios has ported this interactive exercise in nostalgia to iOS. It's due to hit the App Store next week, and will cost £1.49 / $1.99. I went hands-on with Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project earli…

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed | Hands-on

Feature By James Gilmour, 10 years, 2 months ago
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed | Hands-on

Before Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing arrived on iOS back in 2011, the App Store had been lacking a decent mobile kart racer. However, with its intuitive controls and broad cast of characters plucked from Sega vast library of games, this light-hearted racer did a fantastic job of filling the App Store's Mario Kart-shaped void. Today see the release of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, the shape-shifting sequel to the abovementioned iOS and console hit. The star-studded character roster of the previous game returns, including Sega celebrities like Sonic's fox pal Tails, Ulala from Space Channel 5, and Ryo from Shenmue. While the faces may be familiar, the karts themselves have un…

Download gorgeous auto-runner Rayman Jungle Run for free right now

News By James Gilmour, 10 years, 2 months ago
Download gorgeous auto-runner Rayman Jungle Run for free right now

Christmas may have come and gone, but Ubisoft has produced a final gift for iOS gamers from beneath its virtual tree. Provided you head over to the App Store pronto, you can download the excellent auto-runner Rayman Jungle Run without having to spend a single one of those delicious chocolate coins Santa gave you. Which is good, as Apple doesn't accept confection as currency. The game itself is a clever little level-based auto-runner which manages to bring the beautful art style of console release Rayman Origins to mobile, and marry it with smart and intuitive touchscreen controls. If you haven't played Rayman Jungle Run - or its equally entertaining sequel Rayman Fiesta Run - then you owe…

Dave waves goodbye to Appspy

News By Dave Flodine, 10 years, 3 months ago
Dave waves goodbye to Appspy

Yup, it's come to that time. I originally said goodbye when I stepped down as editor in early 2010, before returning as a writer in mid 2011. I helped create Appspy, and the video and review format that has helped craft what I sincerely believe to be the best mobile review site on the internet. Well my time as a reviewer is now passed as I move onto another chapter of my life. I wish to thank all of our wonderful fans who contribute and have helped the site become what it has been. I'm sure there will be some interesting developments here in 2014, so be sure to stick around. And if you ever wish to discover what I'm up to, I'm only an internet search away! I hope you all had a wonderful…

Cabela’s Big Game Hunter Review

Review Activision Publishing, Inc. By Dave Flodine, 10 years, 3 months ago
Cabela’s Big Game Hunter Review

If you've ever tried one of those pro buck hunter games in the arcade, you know how surprisingly enjoyable hunting games can be. They lure us gamers in with the promise of points and the thrill of the chase. And, let's be honest, it can be quite novel to be shooting something other than humans for a change. Cabela's Big Game Hunter is a hunting sim from Cabela and Activision which provides a wide variety of locales, a host of wild game to shoot, and a decent arsenal of weaponry with w…

Watch The Video Review Watch The Video Review