Author Archive for Young
Caster in Review – Spirit Fingers… of DESTRUCTION
To create a true 3d Action RPG for the iDevice platform, certain aspects have to be in place. Of these aspects, the most important (in no particular order) are control, level building, visuals, enemy types, story, and action elements. Caster fits into the Action RPG genre and excels in may ways. It is a solid game and a great first release by developer Elecorn.
iso in Review – A Tower of Pisa It Is Not
Match 3 games… some are just completely awful, some barely distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack, and some exceed people’s expectations and present a brand new gaming experience to the general populace. iso is a game that finds itself squarely in the middle of the two polar ends. It is a decently crafted game and experience, but ultimately, it doesn’t have enough to sustain people’s attention.
iZilch in Review – Snake Eyes
One of the greatest benefits of having a staggering amount of iDevice games at my disposal is that I can usually find one that fits my mood. Do I want something fast paced or slow and thoughtful? Would I want to play an RPG or delve into a sports game. While it is true that the offerings need a few year to be fully fleshed out, seeing the often interesting and varied types of games out there leads me to believe that this is a philosophy that many game developer are pursuing. They are seeking to develop as many game types as there are appetites for them. This is where a game like iZilch comes in.
Knights of Charlemagne in Review – Behold… The king of the Franks
If you don’t get the title… Charlemagne was king of the Franks. Just a little bit of sophomoric humor. That being said, you do not need to be a history buff or even need access to Wikipedia to appreciate this game. Reiner Knizia’s Knights of Charlemagne (yes, this is the full name of the App) is a game based off of a current card/strategy game. While the translation of card games onto the iDevice platform is nothing new, Knights of Charlemagne’s faithful transition onto a digital platform is of some note. It was ranked the 9th most popular card game of 2006.
Elemental Monster TD in Review – The Orions of Tower Defense
Tower defense games get a new look, new mechanics, new gameplay, and a new face in Elemental Monster TD. It is a game that adds enough of a twist to the standard TD gameplay to keep things feeling nice and fresh. It is also one, if given enough time and opportunity, that will grow on you.
Zenonia Hands on Impressions – An iDevice Milestone
Zenonia, created and published by Gamevil, makes me proud to be a Korean. With their headquarters in Seoul, Korea, they helped solidify both the iPhone and iTouch as serious handheld gaming devices with their masterful port of Baseball Superstars 2009. They are seeking to set the standard of excellence in another fledgling iDevice genre: RPGs.
Ancient Frog in Review – As Sweet as Honey Smacks’ Dig’em
If anyone still has doubts that the iPhone and iTouch are viable gaming platforms that are strong enough, graphically speaking, to compete with the PSP and Nintendo DS then they should take a hard look at Ancient Frog. It is easily one of the more beautifully crafted games in the App Store pantheon. It is also a decently crafted puzzle game.
Primrose in Review – A Different Kind of Puzzler
It’s a difficult task to create a game that is unlike any others you’ve played. This is especially true in the field of puzzlers. The countless tetris, snood, word puzzles, sudoku, match 3s, tangrams, and so forth have countless clones and knockoffs that make it difficult to separate one from another. This is where Primrose stands strong. It provides a puzzler gameplay experience unlike any other.
TNA Wrestling in Review – Get Ready To Rumble
I was surprised, I mean, literally surprised when I first started playing TNA Wrestling on my iTouch. I mean, I played wrestling games before, but I’ve never experienced anything like this. Simply put, TNA Wrestling is the most unique wrestling games I have ever played, seen, or heard of, and the further I progress in the game, the more it continues to astound me and draw me further in.
iQuarterback in Review – Not Futball, but Football
Football, that game that is localized to the United States of America… that great past time that involves strategy and sheer brute force… that game that is so easy to play with a bunch of friends, but it difficult to master on a competitive level… all these things that football is, iQuarterback is not. This App manages to take a complex game and focus with microscopic intensity at one specific aspect. While sometimes, although rarely, this philosophy of game making is successful, here, it misses the mark.
