Author Archive for Young
Isotope: A Space Shooter in Review – RPG, Vectors, SHMUP, Oh My!
For a while, I felt like I was searching for something that I couldn’t quite grasp. It seemed that so many games I’ve played had some of the elements that were great, but were lacking in other areas. It’s almost as if there was this meta-uber game that resided in the back of my mind that has yet to see fruition. With Isotope: A Space Shooter, I feel that I have gotten one step closer to playing that meta-uber game of my imagining… and this is praise indeed.
Peggle in Review – Pachinko on Acid
I admit I was one of the few people living under a rock that had no idea what the heck Peggle was. To me, it just seemed like one of those games that people got excited for but just didn’t do it for me. So when I had the opportunity to review PopCap Games’ Peggle, it seemed just another one on the list. When the App loaded, I was greeted with a colorful, highly energetic, fun-paced experience.
Star Defense in Review – TD Given the Super Mario Galaxy Treatment
If there’s one genre of games that has gone through a gamut of change, it’s Tower Defense. Much like the variety of Super Mario Brothers games, there has been a gradual shift from 2D to 3D gameplay. Not content with just 3D graphics and gameplay, the most recent change in the Super Mario Brothers world has been the ability to fully explore a multitude of small planets in an amazing 3D experience. Star Defense represents this next stage in the evolution of TD games…one that breathes new life into a tried and true formula.
Card Ninja in Review – Shurikens-A-Plenty
What does it take to be a ninja? It takes speed, power, agility, stealth, and the mastery of a butt-load of weapons. What does it take to be a Card Ninja? 99 cents and an iDevice… and trust me, a Card Ninja you would want to be.
Glandarius Wing Strike in Review – Another Look In The Shmup Bin
More and more, each foray into the AppStore games section is becoming a virtual equivalent to my experiences in the brick and mortar stores. You have a bunch of big name and popular games that are highlighted on either the frontpage or the easily accessible shelves of the stores. Then you have the bargain bin and back corners. Once in a while, you’ll find a hidden gem, but most of the offerings are mediocre at best. The problem is, there are tons and tons of mediocre offerings – it’s difficult to distinguish one from the other. Glandarius Wing Strike reminds me of those bargain bin games that fail to become diamonds in the rough.
Toki Tori in Review – Chicken Before the Egg
One genre of games that seems to have seamlessly found its place on the iDevice platform is the puzzler. The blend of portability, touch interface, screen size, and processing power on both the iPhone and iTouch gives developers an amazing canvas in which to showcase their creative programming. Take the case of Toki Tori, a recent offering from publisher Chillingo; this game is a great statement to the level of polish and ingenuity that the App Store can offer.
Zenonia in Review – THE RETURN OF CLASSIC ACTION RPG
The heading of Zenonia’s App Store page hails it as the return of classic action RPG[s]. While this is a lofty statement to make, GAMEVIL put their money where their mouths are and brought us a game that fulfills this statement. After a few hours under my belt, I can safely say that there is nothing to adequately compare Zenonia with that is offered in Apple’s App Store.
Anytime Pool in Review – Brunswick in my Pocket
Brunswick, according to their website is, “the most trusted name in pool tables and game room furniture since 1845″. They are a long standing name in billiards. Another company that has a similar reputation (although not quite as extensive) is EA. The two companies converge (I hope it is a Brunswick) on the iDevice platform in the shape of Anytime Pool. It has all the polish that you would expect from the company, but does it deliver on other gaming elements to form a truly great pool game?
Pocket Tanks Deluxe in Review – Fire in the Hole!
Pocket Tanks is a game that has been around in some shape or form since 2001. It’s available for the Windows and OSX platforms. As stated in the iTunes page, “Almost 2 million downloads from download.com alone (PC version).” With such a large fan base, a leg up in terms of gameplay refinement, and the staying power of 8 years of experience, (I know I’m going to get some flak for this) I’m surprised at how much I felt Pocket Tanks was lacking.
Brett Nova IV in Review – A Superstar This is Not
Space Invaders is one of those iconic arcade games that conjures up fond memories. Released in 1978 by Tomohiro Nishikado (THANK YOU WIKIPEDIA!), this game combined quick reflexes and the ability to determine an invader’s trajectory. As Lrrr, in the show Futurama, said, “Instead of shooting where I was, you should have shot where I was going to be. Muahahahahahahaha!” This famous game has, like all famous games, inspired clones and spin offs. Brett Nova IV draws all of its inspiration from this arcade gem and adds a few twists to make things interesting.
