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Mikey Hooks Review
Speed-run platformer Mikey Shorts, which appeared on the App Store last year, did a great job of demonstrating how precision platforming can be successfully achieved on a touchscreen. For the sequel, Mikey Hooks, Beavertap Games has upped the number of onscreen hazards, and given Mikey the ability to swing across chasms like a big-headed Tarzan. Things are a little more dangerous for Mikey this time out. Though the familiar flat-topped robo enemies return, they are now decked out…
Watch The Video ReviewGaijin Games announces Runner 2 headed for iOS
Yup, Bit.trip presents Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien is on its way to the iOS platform. The controls have been rethought from the ground up, and it looks like the entire game is surving the trasition to mobile intact - unlockables and all. Have a look at the trailer for the original release. I devoured this game on PC back in March and it most likely will feature in my top games of the year. Whether the iOS port can replicate the experience remains to be seen. We should have a launch date and pricing later on in the year.…
Abyss Attack Review
Abyss Attack is an endless-runner in the garb of a shmup. Here are your instructions: shoot everything, play till you die, use the currency to upgrade your craft, and try to overcome the temptation to spend real money on upgrades. To control your underwater craft, you simply drag your finger around the screen. You fire automatically, while picking up packages will change your weapon. These packages usually contain equippable power-ups like blades and bombs. Each stage ends with…
Watch The Video ReviewLink The Slug Review
The slugs in Link the Slug are the result of an experiment gone horribly wrong. And, as science is blame for these colourful abominations, it's science's job to clean up the mess. To do this, you need to use the power of electricity. Tap two slugs of the same colour and a bolt of electricity will zap between them, eradicating the slugs from existence. Each stage is complete when all slugs have been zapped from the screen. The trick is to clear the screen in such a way that your electr…
Watch The Video ReviewSquid up!
When watching the trailer of the upcoming game Squid up! by Abyssal Games, the gameplay of helping a squid hop further and further upwards was not what caught our attention. It was the charming sense of humour surrounding what looks to be solid enough gameplay. If you watch the trailer yourselves you'll see what I mean. We'll find out what the squid is made of on September 12th.…
The Impossible Line Review
The Impossible Line features a concept that we've seen before on iOS. The aim of the game is to draw a line from point to point, avoiding all the hazards in-between. The catch is that once you start drawing said line, the obstacles disappear, leaving you to rely on your memory. For this incarnation of the concept, a radar has been added, as well as a few power-ups. But as is the case with many free to play games these days, The Impossible Line is rendered almost impossible to enj…
Watch The Video ReviewAsphalt 8: Airborne Review
Ashpalt 8: Airborne plays like a greatest hits compilation of arcade racers. Perhaps you enjoyed the powerslide from Outrun and Ridge Racer? Or the nitro boosts and takedown challenges from Burnout? Well, you'll find them all in Asphalt 8. The good news is that rather than Gameloft simply ripping off aspects of other games and mashing them randomly together, the dev has managed create a polished, adrenaline-infused racer which is way more fun than it has any right to be. One thing's…
Watch The Video ReviewSwapQuest sure is an interesting concept
We don't know how long combining a dungeon crawling roguelike with the tile swapping gameplay of Pipe Dream will last, but SwapQuest is indeed an interesting concept. Have a look at the trailer and see for yourselves! It might be a fun little diversion or it might be ruthlessly addictive. We'll know for sure when it releases sometime before the end of the year.…
Smash Bandits Review
As anyone who has played with building blocks as a child knows, fun to smash things, almost as much fun as it is to build them. Smash Bandits understands this, and takes the player on a destruction fuelled rampage around the streets of a crime-infested city, eluding the cops, and creating as much property damage as possible A game of Smash Bandits lasts on average, a couple of minutes - at least in the early stages. Causing damage generates cash, while completing one of the in-game mi…
Watch The Video ReviewTerraria Review
Terraria has been a popular PC title since 2011, only making its way to consoles and iOS this year. Its brand of expansive exploration combined with creation and crafting abilities have has earned it the label "the 2D Minecraft”. As it's already well-established as an enjoyable craft-'em-up, our main concern was whether the game had made the leap to the App Store in one piece. The answer: mostly. You start by customising your character's features and inhabiting one of three rand…
Watch The Video ReviewThe Question
Hello there loyal Appspy readers! It’s another Monday and it is of course time for another question. We’re approaching the final game release quarter for 2013, and while we have a slew of big releases and likely more than a couple surprises in store before 2014 hits, I’ve become interested in the year in review. That’s why this week my question is, what is your favourite iOS release of 2013 so far, and why? I don’t know about the rest of you, but i’ll have to search back through the year’s reviews just to find out what made an impact (of course my lack of memory at the moment may be due to the coffee not taking effect yet). I’ll be delighte…
Official trailer for Monster Adventures
Forsaken Media (creators of Block Fortress and Heroes and Castles) announced their new game Monster Adventures earlier in the year, and have released a trailer. Here it is! It looks like what would happen if you actually controlled Pokemon in an action RPG setting. Apparently the dungeons are procedurally generated, so there should be a focus on exploration and loot acquisition. The game should release sometime in the next couple of months, so definitely keep on the lookout.…
The Answer
Hey there loyal Appspy readers! Wow, you guys stepped up to the plate this week. Istako deserves a mention for his lengthy dissection of the different kinds of free to play. It’s interesting that while there is not consensus of what games fall under each category (for example Real Racing 3 had some contention for if its IAP was unobtrusive or not), the different approaches to free-to-play were thorough. Most of our commenters are ok with free-to-play being used as a demo for the larger game. It’s sort of reminiscent of the XBLA system, where every game has a trial. You download the whole game, get to play for a little while, and then if you enjoy it, you can pay money to contin…
News Wrap-Up | 30th August 2013
It's been a long time coming, but the first trailer for Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas has washed up onto the shores of the internet. This RPG adventure has had a lot of iOS fans frothing in anticipation for ages, largely thanks to its delightful visuals and Zelda-esque sensibilities. Thankfully, the island hopping gameplay shown in the trailer looks to fulfil the promise of those early teasers, even if it all looks a bit too Wind Waker for its own good. It's due to dock with the App Store this autumn, so keep your eyes on the horizon for more news. Angry Birds announcements are coming thick and fast at the moment. Hot on the heel of Rovio's Angry Birds Star Wars II reveal, the Fin…
Preview | Anomaly 2
There were some fans of 11 bit studios' tower-offense hit Anomaly Warzone Earth who were a little disappointed that last year's follow-up, Anomaly Korea, wasn't a fully-fledged sequel. Well, dry those eyes, strategy lovers, for we bring you tidings of great joy. The custodians of the series have comfirmed to us (face-to-face, no less) that Anomaly 2 is due to hit the App Store later this year. What's more, we got to go hands-on with the latest build of the game at Gamescom 2013 last week. Don't believe us? Just peep out the video below to see the game in action.…