Mac|Life - Games

Grand Theft Auto 3 Review

Andrew Hayward — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:37:09 +0000

Rockstar Games' seminal open-world crime game arrives on the iPhone and iPad in this touch-enabled 10th anniversary re-release, which serves up the original go-anywhere, do-anything action experience for a cool five bucks.

And you'll get your money's worth here, as the lengthy solo adventure takes your anti-hero through all manner of illicit activities, plus loads of side missions, and the sheer thrill of high-speed cop chases still shines through today. Whether on-foot or behind the wheel, there's plenty to do throughout Liberty City, and quite a bit of it amuses and entertains in equal does. Plus, all of the amazing radio stations from the original console release remain intact!

While not as glossy as some newer iOS releases, Grand Theft Auto 3's open sandbox of mischief is welcoming on both devices, though the mass array of virtual buttons can be a bit overwhelming, and it's not as precise as the controller schemes of past versions. Luckily, the buttons can be moved around the screen, letting you design the most comfortable control option for your device and preferences. And regardless of any nagging control issues, it's pretty amazing to experience such a huge and entertaining adventure like this on a much smaller screen.

The bottom line. Despite some bugs and signs of age, Grand Theft Auto 3 is still a blast a decade after its debut.

Review Synopsis

Product:

Grand Theft Auto 3 1.0

Company:

Rockstar Games

Contact:

http://rockstargames.com

Price:

Requirements:

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 4.3 or later

Positives:

Stellar and complete port of a true open-world action classic. Works well on both iPhone and iPad. Extremely well-priced for what you're getting.

Negatives:

Controls aren't perfect, though they are customizable. Looks a little dated, plus you'll encounter occasional glitches.

Score:

4 Great

23 Must-Have RPGs for your iOS Device

Andrew Dyer — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:28:49 +0000

There's a mind-boggling number of role-playing games available for your iPhone and iPad, but a good portion of them aren't worth the money or investing the time playing them. So we put together a spread of worthwhile iOS titles that cover all the major RPG styles, and some that may seem unusual but are totally worth the price.

The Week's 10 Hottest Apple News Stories, February 3rd

J Keirn-Swanson — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:30:00 +0000

Price Drop: Childlike Wonder Games

J Keirn-Swanson — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:30:00 +0000

This week's games are addictive and packed with cute animals, making them too fun by half. You'll be fighting your kids to get back your phone just so you can have a crack at these adorable discounted apps. Got a long car trip coming up for the weekend? Well, then, you're set.

Rocket Rush - Tappi Bear

Time for another space journey as you pilot Tappi Bear through the cosmos. Navigate your way through meteors as you fire you donut canon but watch out that the aliens don't get you! How far can you go? This fast loading universal game is a buck off, making it free for you. Enjoy and good luck!

Kiwi Brown

Oh noooes! The evil space bubbles are set to invade and only you, Kiwi Brown, can save the day. Pop those bubbles through cycles of days and nights (bubbles don't rest -- what can you do?). Power-up for mega burst action in this charming free iPhone only app down from one dollar to just one tap in the App Store.

Little Bricks

The classic brick breaking style game gets a few twists in this update on an old favorite. It's not just you, your ball, and some bricks. Oh no, you'll be working in the rain, in the snow, against high winds. You'll be finding portals and all kinds of other hidden gems in this now free iPhone favorite.

Derby & the Jellybean Adventure

Derby's on an adventure to eat as many jellybeans as he can. You'll fling him from peg to peg in this free iPhone physics style game. Watch out for thieving enemies who will try to steal your sweet treats. With the right aiming, you can toss this adorable little guy for hours without stop. Down from a dollar, but not forever, so what are you waiting for?

Bring Me Sandwiches!! Review

AJ Dellinger — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:55:23 +0000

Who would have guessed that Adult Swim, the late-night network famed for its irreverent cartoons and live-action series, would prove to be one of the most consistent producers of quality iOS games? Its latest addition to the stack is Bring Me Sandwiches!!, which is one part platformer and another Katamari Damacy, topped with a dab of absurdity and slapped between two slices of bread.

You'll take control of lovable loser Jimmy Nugget, a hapless employee at a local fast food restaurant. When a seemingly unquenchable glutton of an alien named Gourmo threatens to destroy the earth, Jimmy is called upon to save the day by meeting the otherworldly visitor's single, titular demand. Of course, an extraterrestrial isn't going to crave just any kind of sandwich; he's choosy about ingredients, so don't be surprised if you're asked to offer up a cat and fire hydrant sandwich.

At the start of each vibrantly colored and well-designed level, Jimmy is handed a slice of bread. Running around using either the intuitive touch or tilt controls, you'll collect any and all items that are littered about the level to stack your sandwiches higher. While the controls work well, there are rare occasions where they don't seem responsive enough; jumping off the heads of other characters comes to mind. Some platforms are also ill-defined, though it's seldom problematic. Neither presents a significant hindrance, but the rest of the game is so sharp that the little flaws seem more prevalent.

The bottom line. Bring Me Sandwiches!! is a genre-blender that takes the best parts of other favorites and makes them work together. It's so quirky, entertaining, and difficult to put down that you might find yourself in your kitchen, simply stacking random objects on bread because you just can't get enough.

Review Synopsis

Product:

Bring Me Sandwiches!! 2.1

Company:

Adult Swim

Contact:

http://adultswim.com

Price:

Requirements:

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 3.1 or later

Positives:

Plenty of variation within the simple concept. Easy to pick up and play. Hilarious dialogue and sandwich combinations.

Negatives:

Controls feel less responsive than expected on occasion. Hard to see parts of the level when sandwich stack gets too high.

Score:

4.5 Excellent

14 Must-Have iOS First Person Shooters

Andrew Dyer — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:31:26 +0000

Doom was released by id Software in 1993, and it cleverly combined hugely innovative gameplay features with a storyline crammed with controversial satanic imagery… so its success was assured. Playing the part of a lone soldier up against the hordes of Hell, the player had to navigate his way through the maze-like levels, blasting the enemies with a range of destructive weapons. Multiplayer mode and the ability to design your own level mods gave the game longevity. It laid the foundations on which gaming’s most popular genre would be built.

Soulcalibur Review

Andrew Hayward — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:48:59 +0000

Considered one of the all-time great fighting games on consoles and in arcades, Soulcalibur makes a surprisingly stellar translation to a touchscreen interface, with virtual buttons that deftly issue sweeping sword strikes and kicks, and a stick that lets you move your fighter ably around the stage.

Soulcalibur still leads the weapons-based fighting genre today (with this week's release of Soulcalibur V on consoles), and this late-90s flashback serves up all of the original fighters -- including the staff-slinging Kilik, as well as sword-wielding samurai, Mitsurugi. While the combat isn't quite as robust as in later entries, this is still a satisfying affair that works well on both iPhone and iPad. Plus, this decade-old classic looks better than ever thanks to the high-resolution bump, though the rough textures of a bygone era aren't entirely absent.

Soulcalibur remains a fast, fluid, and thoroughly exciting fighter after all this time, though this universal iOS port feels frustratingly incomplete. Omitting the beloved single-player mission mode is a drag, sure, but leaving out multiplayer – both local and online – is a truly baffling move for a competitive fighter. Additional modes are expected via updates, but at the full price of $15, or even the current launch price of $12, we shouldn't be left wanting such an essential feature.

The bottom line. Soulcalibur is a great fighter, but it's currently a questionable value – at least until multiplayer is added.

Review Synopsis

Product:

Soulcalibur 1.0.0

Company:

Namco Bandai

Contact:

http://namcobandaigames.com

Price:

Requirements:

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 4.3 or later

Positives:

Stellar port of a true fighting game classic. Virtual buttons are responsive throughout. Universal app looks nice on all compatible iOS devices.

Negatives:

No multiplayer, whether local or online. Rewarding mission mode from original console release also absent. Very pricey for such a limited feature set.

Score:

3.5 Good

Price Drop: Adventures

J Keirn-Swanson — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:30:00 +0000

Sure, there are tons of leveling up games where you repeat a similar task through increasing complexity and those are fun and all, but if you're looking for a bit more excitement in your daily gaming routine, check out these price drops. Whether you're fighting off hordes of zombies, putting the smack down on Deathstroke, or getting the knack of Expelliarmus, your pulse will be pounding.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4

They've hit the price with a Sectum Sempra spell and slashed it down from $4.99 to $2.99 for this engaging universal app, and believe us when we say it's worth it. Over 40 levels and over 100 characters means this game universe will take months to master. This is a limited time sale so if you haven't picked up this Hogwartian adventure, we suggest you wave your wand and Accio App Store pronto. (And we'd really like to believe that this is just a prelude to them finally porting Years 5-7 over to the iOS platform.)

Batman Arkham City Lockdown

The Warner Brothers franchise games are seeing massive price cuts. They must be mad! Or else they're part of the escaped lunatics who've busted out of Arkham Asylum and are intent on turning Gotham City into a madhouse. Down from $5.99 to $2.99, this game puts you in the mask of the Dark Knight himself. Are you up to taking down the Joker? You'll get your chance, after Two Face and tons of other level bosses.

Zombie Samurai

Speaking of slashing, you'll be doing plenty of that when you pick up your katana against zombies. Defend your dojo and do it on either your iPad or your iPhone because both of these babies are free. These brain lusting undead will over run Japan and only you are there to stop them before it's too late. Think you've got what it takes to survive the zombie apocalypse? Think you've got the sword moves? You'll soon find out.

iOS Games Weekly Roundup: The Battle Between Pizza and Skeletons Rages On

Andrew Groen — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:45:36 +0000

Headlining this week’s cadre of awesome titles is the bizarre Pizza vs Skeletons, a game about a giant pizza squashing things and crushing entire buildings -- which is pretty much the most outstanding concept for a game we’ve ever heard. But that’s not all. We’ve also got details on rComplex, a stellar-looking Canabalt-esque platformer, and Valve’s new Steam iOS app.

Valve releases Steam Mobile on iPhone

Valve is one of the special few companies that is really doing both PC and Mac gaming right. And so when the company makes just about any move, we pay attention. Steam Mobile for iPhone (and Android) -- a handy portable portal into the popular downloadable games service -- dropped yesterday, though you'll need access to the ongoing mobile beta test to access its features at present. Within, you can chat with pals and see what they're up to, as well as add titles to your wish list and even purchase them right from your phone. Don't miss our full visual walkthrough!

God of Blades Trailer Release for Mortal Eyes

We don’t typically post videos in this column, but you should still head on over to YouTube to take a gander at an exciting and atmospheric new iOS title called God of Blades. The trailer is not particularly heavy on gameplay, but it still looks like a promising game; and hopefully the next trailer will give us a bit more info on how it actually plays. The project originally started as a Kickstarter project that made its funding goal this December.

Valve Announces Mobile Steam App for iOS and Android Devices

Florence Ion — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:59:58 +0000

Valve just annouced that it's launching a beta release of the Steam application for your iOS and Android device. The app will enable gamers to chat with their Steam friends, browse communities they're a part of, peruse user profiles, view screenshots and user-generated content for available on Steam, and check up on the latest game-related news.

Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve, stated in the press release that the idea for the mobile app came after repeated requests from users. "Seeings which of your friends are online and playing a game, sending quick messages, looking at screenshots for an upcoming game, or catching a sale--these are all features customers have requested." Newell added that mobile gadgets are changing the way that gamers interact with each other and that the move is part of the company's commitment to be relevant in the mobile sphere.