SlotZ Racer Caterham Special Review

By Greg Dawson on February 14th, 2012
Our Rating: :: START ENGINES
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

For any type of race fan carrying around an iOS device, SlotZ Racer Caterham Special offers a lot of track action for a very cheap price.

While SlotZ Racer Caterham Special is a placeholder for the full version of SlotZ Racer which is temporarily unavailable while it’s updated to full HD, it has legs of its own to stand on. The original slot car racing game was born around this time in 2009 and became quite the overnight sensation.

Luckily, for all of the racing fans out there that want to take a stroll down memory lane with little fast cars on tiny tracks, the interim game offers quite a bit of race action. And it’s free. Players will also be happy to know that the gameplay is just as fun as ever and still retains the approval from Caterham Cars, which means there are five versions of the Caterham Seven car.

Controls are still extremely responsive and accurate, and they demand both precision and strategy when approaching treacherous turn four, or any turn for that matter. Too much throttle and just like when we were all kids, the car goes flying off the track. The only issue I have with this is that the car is placed right back on the track and can still overtake first place.

This is a bit far fetched as anyone knows that a wreck is fatal and there’s no chance for first place in real slot car racing. But, this is a game, and being able to takeover the leader after a nasty spill is quite fun.

In preparation for the new version coming out, this free version will work as a Party Mode controller. The game will also soon have language localization in Italian, German, French and Spanish as well as feature Caterham Drive Experience drift cars.

For the amount of gameplay, assortment of tracks, player modes and use of the Caterham cars, SlotZ Racer Caterham Special is more than a stepping stone, it’s legit entertainment worth the download.

SlotZ Racer Caterham Special

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: FREE

Our Rating: :: START ENGINES
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-01-09 :: Category: Games

Raid Leader Review

By Carter Dotson on February 14th, 2012
Our Rating: :: STRATEGIC RAID
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Raid Leader is a strategy/RPG game that takes the kind of raiding combat seen in MMORPGs and distills it into a short-form mobile game.

Raid Leader is MMORPG combat for people who like MMORPG combat, but hate working with other people, and want the option of still having a social life. This boss-fight-athon has players controlling 3 members of a raiding party fighting bosses that optimally only take a couple minutes to defeat. The team on this raid includes the knight, who’s the big tank that gets in enemies’ faces and smashes them repeatedly. The hunter prefers to sit back and deal death from a distance. The priest can’t hurt anyone, but his healing powers make sure everyone stays alive – including himself. Gold is earned after each fight, and can be spent on abilities for each party member. These are the only way to upgrade characters, as there is no experience or leveling up. Skills include both an active ability that can be deployed in battle, and passive stat upgrades.

Raid Leader thankfully distills a genre that I generally avoid into a more mobile-friendly and solitary experience. The game’s on-the-fly strategization is rewarding, and keeps the game from being boring like combat in most MMORPGs becomes. Keeping all the party members alive is essential but not required. It would be easy for the game to instantly end when a party member dies, as that basically is game over, but this is just something for the player to learn, not to have forced upon them. Pleasantly, Raid Leader features not only universal app support, but also iCloud support for syncing progress between devices. There is an in-app purchase for more gold, but thankfully it’s got good bang for the buck – 10,000 gold for $0.99 will easily equip all party members with some solid upgraded skills.

While having multiple characters to control will always be tricky, it is just challenging to keep track of what is going on. While the knight’s focus is always clear, it can be hard to tell what the hunter and priest are doing. As well, the “drag to target” system makes it easy to move the priest or hunter into the line of fire when he just intending to target something. These issues magnify on the smaller screen devices, especially as the Notification Center drop-down tab gets in the way. The bosses are rehashed halfway through, bringing back palette-swapped harder versions of them that use similar startegies. With each boss fight only taking 2-4 minutes to beat the first time, this means the game can be burned through pretty quickly.

Raid Leader can be frustrating due to the controls, and its length is a bit disappointing, but it’s an interesting experience. Strategy fans might want to check this out – it’s a bit different than what they might expect, but it might just appeal to a certain player.

Raid Leader

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99
Released: 2012-02-09 :: Category: Games

As the name suggests, myPill™ – Birth Control Reminder is an easy to use app that reminds women of when to take their next birth control pill. That’s useful enough in itself but the app goes one step further. Easily set up, myPill™ – Birth Control Reminder can help women plan their schedule up to six months in advance at the swipe of a finger. This means that the user can track exactly when to expect their periods so they can plan their life and any big plans accordingly.

A built in notes facility ensures that users with any concerns can track any unusual changes in their cycle, ready to inform their doctor or gynecologist at a later appointment. Other events such as missed pills can also be easily tracked.

Even SMS and e-mail reminders can be configured for those who don’t just want to be reminded by their iOS device.

myPill™ – Birth Control Reminder is an Universal app and available now.

myPill™ - Birth Control Reminder

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2011-03-21 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness

Beat Hazard Ultra Review

By David Rabinowitz on February 14th, 2012
Our Rating: :: FEEL THE BEAT
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

A unique arcade-shooter that offers almost infinite replay value. Pilot a space ship with dynamically generated background music!

Beat Hazard Ultra is a unique arcade-shooter that offers almost infinite replay value. The basic premise is that players pilot a space ship while shooting enemies. The remarkable twist is that every level is dynamically created to match the background music.

Players can choose from any song on their iOS device or from a list of Internet radio stations as the song to generate the level from. The enemies and weapons the ship fires are synced with the song playing.
However, when the music does becomes intense, the volume of enemies and bosses becomes quite high. Combined with an increase in the power of the ship’s weapons, this can cause the screen to become quite cluttered. The bright colors of the weapons on a black background don’t help in making sense of everything on the screen.

Due to this level generation mechanism, the game has an incredible amount of depth and replay value. Every song is essentially its own level. There are four game modes to choose from for each song: Standard, Survival, Boss Rush, and Chill Out. The controls are similar to the controls of other top down shooters for iOS. The player can choose to use only one virtual analog stick to focus on movement and let the app take care of firing, or the player can control both the ship movement and direction of fire. Beat Hazard Ultra also includes twenty-three perks, which are like power-ups that give you more lives, score multipliers, or other various abilities: definitely a necessity for long, fast paced songs.

Each time the app is launched, the device’s library is scanned. It takes longer than most games to load due to this fact. A search bar would be a nice addition, as well, to expedite the song selection process.

Beat Hazard Ultra is a great game and is a steal for 99 cents. There are a few minor issues, but the many positive aspects of the game overshadow them. Music lovers and arcade junkies will all find something to love about it.

Beat Hazard Ultra

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99
Released: 2012-02-09 :: Category: Games

Described by the developers as “the ‘like button’ for the world around you,” Chee.rs gives users the opportunity to express their satisfaction with people, places or things that they love.

Connecting up with friends via the app, the user can share all the great things going on in their life from a great restaurant visit to a new movie, or just someone that’s made life that bit more pleasant. Users can even take a photo of what they ‘like’ so much, to give an idea of what’s so great about it.

The more the app is used, the more Cheerfluence points can be gained to show which users influence the Chee.rs world so much. It’s a pretty neat idea with some great potential.

Chee.rs is out now and it’s free.

Chee.rs

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2012-02-08 :: Category: Lifestyle

MTV Music Meter offers a daily list of artists currently trending right now. Information such as recent tweets about the acts, photos, news articles and biographies are available for each star, as well as 30 second audio samples of many of each act’s discography in order to get a taste of the performances.

Users also get the chance to search through over 1 million artists to find something that appeals to their taste in music. Throughout the app, it’s easy to use and browse, making it a great way of gaining bite sized snaps of the latest and greatest the music world has to offer at any time.

MTV Music Meter is out now and it’s free to download.

MTV Music Meter

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2011-03-02 :: Category: Music

DoDonPachi Blissful Death Review

By Rob Thomas on February 14th, 2012
Our Rating: :: BLISSFUL MISSILES
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Remember Galaga and Space Invaders? Yeah, this isn’t them by a long shot. DoDonPachi Blissful Death brings “bullet hell” into the palm of your hand.

They’re known by a variety of names: manic shooters, danmaku, or most commonly by the colorfully evocative sobriquet of “bullet hell.” No matter the moniker, this shoot-em-up sub-genre conjures to mind images of dense, impenetrable curtains of onscreen projectiles and the sort of obsessive, ultra-hardcore gamers who haven’t seen the sun for months. Personally, I’ll admit to always having been weirdly fascinated by bullet hell shooters, yet utterly terrified to try them at the same time. The skill threshold always looked to be a bit too high for me to be able to enjoy them without wanting to break things out of the assumed level of frustration I would endure.

Anyone who’s dealt with similar feelings should be warned, however, that DoDonPachi Blissful Death might be the thing that finally pulls them down the rabbit hole.

Blissful Death (DoDonPachi Daioujou in Japan) is the fourth entry in the DonPachi series. Originally released in arcades back in 2002, Blissful Death has since been ported to PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 in Japan, before now landing on iOS. What CAVE has given us here is a version of the game that simultaneously caters to the hardcore, while easing newcomers into the fold with a variety of features.

Controls are super tight, ignoring virtual d-pads and instead guiding the ship with a single fingertip on the screen. Buttons control weapon switching/bomb activation; guns and lasers auto-fire by default, so no mashing is needed. Scoring revolves around continually destroying enemies to chain hit combos together. Tougher enemies that regular gunfire would be slow to destroy can have their chains preserved by switching to the laser, which slows the combo meter’s decay.

Players fondly remembering old-school shooters (but who still find jumping straight into the deep end intimidating) will be glad to know that the game offers four levels of difficulty, from mild Novice to the brutal Hell. This lets those unfamiliar with manic shooter mechanics (like smaller hitbox sizes of the player’s ship, compared to standard shooters) get accustomed to level layouts, while gradually increasing the number of projectiles that have to be dealt with.

There’s a fair amount of content packed into this release. Practice Mode allows players to jump straight to any level, and with two different ships and three different “Elemental Doll” enhancements, there are six total configurations to approach each level with. Full Open Feint and Game Center support give score chasers and achievement junkies their due as well.

I experienced none of the frustration I had anticipated while playing DoDonPachi Blissful Death. Indeed, a peaceful, zen-like calm often overtook me as I weaved in and out of the curtains of flaming death that the level-ending bosses would send my way. CAVE has put together one hell of a gateway drug here. Approach it with caution. And by that, I mean “throw yourself willingly into its arms.”

DoDonPachi Blissful Death

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $4.99
Released: 2012-02-09 :: Category: Games

On This Episode:

Host Carter Dotson and Josh Presseisen of Crescent Moon Games discuss the publisher’s role in the games they release, as well as some of their recent titles. As well, they discuss the free-to-play trends in iOS games, along with the ways that Crescent Moon titles implement in-app purchases.

Who We Are:

Music:

“Beatnes7 (Theme to The Portable Podcast)” by The Eternal – Download on iTunes here:

How to Listen:

Apps Mentioned on This Episode:

Raid Leader

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99
Released: 2012-02-09 :: Category: Games

Paper Monsters

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99

Our Rating: :: TRADITIONAL STATIONERY
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-01-26 :: Category: Games

Ravensword: The Fallen King

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $2.99

Our Rating: :: NOT YET
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2009-11-17 :: Category: Games

Deadlock: Online

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99
Released: 2011-07-21 :: Category: Games

Of course rescuing a space princess in Earthworm Jim, wreaking havoc in Gangstar Rio: City of Saints or running amok in Rayman 2: The Great Escape won’t substitute for making googly-eyes at each other from across the table. They will, however, make the wait for the table more bearable. And just in case finding “the right words” ends up being an issue, there’s also Gameloft’s Love Declaration Generator. Hey I’m just pointing out that it exists, I didn’t make the thing.

Eternal Legacy

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $4.99

Our Rating: :: TOO SAFE
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2010-12-08 :: Category: Games

Eternal Legacy HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $4.99
Released: 2010-12-15 :: Category: Games

Prince of Persia: Warrior Within

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $2.99

Our Rating: :: CONSOLE GOODNESS
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2010-06-03 :: Category: Games

Prince of Persia: Warrior Within HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $4.99
Released: 2010-09-16 :: Category: Games

Rayman 2: The Great Escape

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $4.99
Released: 2010-03-01 :: Category: Games

Driver™

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $2.99
Released: 2009-12-08 :: Category: Games

The Settlers

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $4.99

Our Rating: :: GREAT
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2009-11-07 :: Category: Games

The Settlers HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $4.99
Released: 2010-09-02 :: Category: Games

Gangstar Rio: City of Saints

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $6.99

Our Rating: :: UNNECESSARY BUT FUN
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-11-10 :: Category: Games

Earthworm Jim

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $4.99

Our Rating: :: GROOVY!
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2009-10-21 :: Category: Games

The Adventures of Tintin™ - The Game

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $4.99

Our Rating: :: MULTI-TALENTED
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-12-15 :: Category: Games

Hero of Sparta II

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $4.99

Our Rating: :: PRETTY ACTION
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2010-07-29 :: Category: Games

Hero of Sparta 2 HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $6.99
Released: 2010-08-19 :: Category: Games

Brain Challenge™

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $4.99
Released: 2008-07-11 :: Category: Games

Brain Challenge® HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $4.99
Released: 2010-06-07 :: Category: Games

Warplanes: A History Of Aerial Combat

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $6.99
Released: 2011-06-30 :: Category: Books

Eufloria HD Review

By Brad Hilderbrand on February 14th, 2012
Our Rating: :: SLOW BURN
iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad

A slow burn of a game that packs in the style but holds little excitement, and lots of waiting.

Every so often a game comes along which seems to exist solely to defy classification and attempt to separate itself from the crowd simply by being utterly unique. Eufloria was that sort of game when it was released on consoles last year, a real-time strategy title which pumped the brakes and came across as more an audio-visual experience than a game. Now the title has been translated to the iPad where, while it manages to retain its charm, it has a harder time standing out amongst a plethora of strange and different games. Thus the pretense is stripped away, the core gameplay mechanics are laid bare, and the result is rather humdrum.

Eufloria is an RTS which trades troops and resources for trees and seedlings. In each level players must send out their seeds to discover and colonize nearby asteroids, which in turn produce more seedlings and allow for greater exploration. Of course, the player isn’t alone in the universe and must contend with rival seed colonies who wish to claim the same extra-solar real estate. There’s a think plot involving the “Growers” and “Mother Tree,” but the aim of the game is to balance expansion with preservation, conquering other planets while protecting the ones you already posses.

The game gets high marks for its visuals and sound, both of which are an absolute treat. The seedlings appear only as tiny dots when zoomed out, but pinch in and you’ll see a nice variety to each seed type and some of the nitty-gritty action when battles break out. The color palette and general style evoke games like FlOw and FlOwer, with a sort of watercolor look that absolutely nails the title’s sensibilities. The soundtrack is also beautiful, providing a nice combination of soothing beats and tracks that would feel right at home in the local yoga studio.

Where Eufloria may lose most of its goodwill is in gameplay itself, which is incredibly slow and sometimes nearly impossible. Cultivating enough seedlings to colonize an asteroid takes time, and if an enemy is already present then you can easily triple the amount of time spent waiting around for enough floating troops to amass to stage an attack. Furthermore, some levels seem to have a very specific methodology required for victory, and unless you learn it quickly you’ll likely waste a lot of time in stalemates. I recall one stage in which the enemy horde beat me to a particularly valuable meteor which I had to hold in order to win the level. Even when I sent in enough seeds to outnumber my foes five or six to one I was still continually beaten back. After a half hour I reran the level, racing straight to the critical asteroid, and proceeded to clear the stage in under five minutes.

Still, waiting is incredibly common in Eufloria and that likely won’t sit well with many players. This is a game that wants to relax, unwind and enjoy the experience, and while I can respect the intentions there is a thin line between being artistically expressive and being boring. Even with a fast-forward button there are still long stretches of sitting around doing nothing, which isn’t the ideal game type for a device meant to be played in short bursts on the go. What we’re left with is an interesting premise that many players will give up on quickly in order to try something more exciting.

Eufloria HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $4.99
Released: 2012-02-09 :: Category: Games

To get it out of the way: The Proposal is not an app for proposing marriage, though it would be convenient with Valentine’s Day here. No, The Proposal is an app for a different kind of proposals – business proposals. This lets sales professionals access their proposal information directly on their iPad, in order easily make their business proposals. GPS data can be used to automatically add the user’s current address. Image locos can be added directly from the iPad or the web. Tax info can be added, along with detailed written proposals, with preset options available. This also means that proposals can be easily and quickly modified when being pitched to other clients. Proposals can be saved and exported with iTunes, saved as PDFs, printed directly form the app, or emailed directly to clients. The app also supports importing price lists as Excel spreadsheets either by being loaded into iTunes, or by being imported in from Dropbox. This versatile app for sales professionals is available now.

The Proposal

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $12.99
Released: 2012-01-24 :: Category: Business

DARIUSBURST SP Review

By Rob Rich on February 14th, 2012
Our Rating: :: BIG GUNS
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

TAITO brings another shmup classic to iOS, complete with some new bells and whistles.

I can’t be the only person who finds the visual direction of the Darius series to be a little odd. I mean let’s think about this for a second. It’s a space shooter, set in space, but the enemy ships all look like robotic sea creatures. It’s weird. It’s pretty cool, but it’s weird. Of course none of that matters once the shooting starts, which is where DARIUSBURST SP really shines. Obviously.

Like most shmups on the App Store, DARIUSBURST SP uses touch controls and auto-shooting. There is a button that will switch the guns on and off, but I’ve yet to figure out why that would ever be necessary. The Burst button on the other hand, with its super-weapon unleashing potential, is essential. The fact that it can nullify enemy lasers doesn’t hurt, either. Players initially have a choice between two modes (Original and SP), with a third (Mission) that unlocks once two full runs through either of the other two options have been completed. So yeah, lots to do. Original Mode is essentially the arcade classic, with plenty of branching paths and things to shoot at. SP Mode is a kind of remixed Original, with different enemy patterns and slightly different boss battles. Mission Mode… well I admittedly never managed to mess around with it, which I’ll explain in a bit.

As I’ve already mentioned, the visuals are odd but very cool. Lots of activity and smooth animations, colorful graphics and so on. There’s a decent selection of levels, and the way player have to choose where to go after each one makes for a great excuse to play over and over again. There’s no way to see every stage in a single game, so choosing different paths during different attempts is a must for completionists. They’ll also be tempted by all the artwork and other extras to unlock.

Now to get back to the reasons why I haven’t been able to give Mission Mode a try. The most immediate irritation is the way the game resets when I exit. It’s still running in the background, but when I reopen it I go back to the title screen. Not cool after a successful, lengthy and uncompleted run. Another issue was having it crash on me after defeating the boss at the end of the final area. Went right back to the title screen again. Stuff like this really gets in the way of actually finishing two playthroughs, and severely limits the likelihood of unlocking that third mode.

My super-annoying technical issues aside, DARIUSBURST SP is still a very good-looking and well-made shmup. Whether or not it’s worth the $10.99 will depend on the individual and their love of shooting space crustaceans, but it’s certainly a solid effort.

DARIUSBURST SP

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $10.99

Our Rating: :: BIG GUNS
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-02-09 :: Category: Games

Since its initial launch in September last year, highly enjoyable physics-puzzler Where’s My Water? has done a fantastic job of not only providing regular updates to its fans but also educating them along the way.

It’s a more lighthearted update this time round, though. Swampy’s present to his fans is the update ‘Hearts and Crafts’ which allows players to unlock a new level every day for the next 10 days starting February 14th.

Take a look at the screenshots below. Things are looking pretty darn cute this Valentine’s Day with plenty of heart-themed levels ahead.

The Where’s My Water? Valentine’s Day update is available now for existing owners of the app. Anyone else who hasn’t tried the game out yet (and why not?) can pick it up for $0.99.

Where's My Water?

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99

Our Rating: :: DIG IT
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-09-22 :: Category: Games

Tank Hero Review

By Kevin Stout on February 14th, 2012
Our Rating: :: A BLAST!
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Tank Hero is a tank fighting game with three game modes and 120 unique levels.

Tank Hero looks a bit like Tanks! from Wii Play. While Tank Hero may not have the luxury to sport Wii-like controls, this tank fighting game is well-made, fun, and fully featured.

Tank Hero has three game modes: campaign, survival, and time trial. Campaign barrels through 120 different levels on three different themed maps. I will admit that, on occasion, I became frustrated with the difficulty in some of the levels. I don’t mind difficult games, but some levels were simply too chaotic to understand what exactly was going on.

The basic goal of the game is to destroy the other enemy tanks in each level. Each level has a different set of walls and tanks. Through the campaign, various types of ammo are introduced. Each tank uses one of the types of ammo. Destroyable blocks are introduced about midway through the levels.

The survival mode is my favorite. This mode is playable in all 120 levels, which is incredible considering that the point of survival mode is to last through as many waves as possible. So Tank Hero effectively has 120 unique, endless survival games. Only one type of ammo is available in each campaign level, but survival has them all available via a shop. The player earns credits during waves and buys ammo between those waves.

The time trial mode allows replay of the campaign levels with a clock in the top-left corner. This allows the player to hold a high score for each level in the game. High scores are listed after the completion of each time trial level.

Before I started playing this game, I heard it had multiple control schemes. So I immediately played the first level in the campaign with all three control variations. As I expected, I preferred the “Dual Virtual DPad” set of controls. It reminds me of the controls for Isotope which, in my opinion, has the best controls scheme for iPhone shooters. The other two control schemes are “Virtual DPad and Tap” and “Swipe and Tap.” With the first, the player controls the tank with the directional pad (choice of right or left screen side) and taps where the shots should be fired. With “Swipe and Tap,” the player swipes at various lengths to tell tank where to move and also taps the screen to aim and fire. I will admit that “Swipe and Tap” feels natural, but two directional pads gave me more control. The second directional pad controls the direction of fire and needs to be tapped to fire.

As of this moment, Tank Hero sits as the #2 Paid iPhone app.

Tank Hero

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99

Our Rating: :: A BLAST!
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-06-01 :: Category: Games

In this “role-playing interactive story,” players create their avatar and take control of the new girl in Charm Springs. From there, they can choose to spend their time shopping, walking around the park, gossiping and playing matching and dancing games. However, with the Valentine’s Day Ball quickly approaching, players should be doing all they can to get ready. Are they going to help Petey win the DJ battle? Are they popular enough and most importantly, who is going to be their date to the dance?

iSchool Dreams: My Valentine is available now on the App Store. It’s everything a preteen girl could want for this Valentine’s Day.

iSchool Dreams: My Valentine

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99
Released: 2012-02-09 :: Category: Games

Interval Trainer GO CALORIE Review

By Greg Dawson on February 14th, 2012
Our Rating: :: INTERVALS
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Packed with dual playlists and useful interval ratio training options, Interval Trainer GO CALORIE is a solid add to anyone’s workout schedule.

AppNoose’s Interval Trainer GO CALORIE health and fitness app is an interval trainer that includes the company’s Active Calorie Monitor that allows users to create their workout based on the calories they want to expend. The app will then automatically set the total exercise time. It is also the first to feature in-app dual music playlists, which allows the user to easily and quickly select their slow or fast tunes.

From the start, the app is very easy to use. It features a large dial that takes over the upper half of the screen, which makes it simple to jump straight into the user’s exercise after setting up their intervals and playlists. After those are setup the user need only to come back to the timer page and tap the dial to start. Tapping it again pauses and a double tap resets.

As for setup, the settings tab includes three dials, including session length ranging from two to 90 minutes, interval ranging from 10 to 60 seconds and ratios 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1. For those who are not familiar with ratios, the basic concept, developed by Dr. Izumi Tabata, is that the greatest benefits of training come from exercising at a high-intensity close to 100 percent effort for short periods and then following them up with short rests. So, if the user were to sprint for 20 seconds and then rest for 10 seconds, this would create a 30 second interval or a 2:1 interval ratio. This is an extremely useful feature.

Upon launching the app users are prompted to upgrade to version 1.4 premium for $.99, which adds higher ratio options, beep prompts for interval changes, and an end of workout audio prompt. And if they don’t upgrade, the popup will continue to appear every time the app is launched. It’s just a tap to the next screen, but it’s still off-putting. Without the upgrade, the app still offers plenty of useful features.

As a marathon runner and newbie to the hiking scene with a summit attempt coming up for Mt. Rainier, I’d have to say that Interval Trainer GO CALORIE makes interval training less complicated and gives users a great tool for optimum cardio performance.

ITGO CALORIE - Interval Trainer GO CALORIE - The First Dual Music Playlist Interval Timer with Active Calorie Monitor™ Technology

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $3.99

Our Rating: :: INTERVALS
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-12-15 :: Category: Healthcare & Fitness

Fans who think they have what it takes to win the coveted trophy can build their very own dream team directly from previous Champions League heros. This team can be shared via Facebook and Twitter to show friends just how great their team is. The appzine also takes fans where the magic happens via 360 degree panoramic stadium photos taken during matches played by FC Barcelona and AC Milan. As for video content, fans have access to exclusive interviews with legends such as Steve McManaman, Stéphane Chapuisat, Ottmar Hitzfeld and even referee Urs Meier. They app also tracks top earners, gives an insider look at the ball and athletic shoe and offers historic timelines for some of the greatest moments of the finals.

Ringier Studios’ Champions League: True Passion, Big Business

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $1.99 $4.99
Released: 2011-12-05 :: Category: Sports

DishPal allows users to share dishes and ideas with friends and other food fans, all from within the app. Offering Facebook style commenting services along with photo uploading capabilities, DishPal goes one step further with the ability to participate in themed parties in which people can share their preferences and tastes while learning new ideas connected to the theme. Tagging functionality also aids users in discovering new ways to cook and new friends.

Also offered is a magazine section that can be customized according to the user’s tastes, comprising of exactly what they enjoy most in the food world.

It’s all tantalizingly attractive and a great way to share new recipe ideas and creations.

DishPal is out now and it’s free.

DishPal

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2012-02-05 :: Category: Lifestyle

ThinkGeek has announced that the 8-Bitty will retail for $24.99 and should go on sale sometime later this year. If you happen to be at Toy Fair you can get a look at the 8-Bitty up close and personal, just don’t try and steal it because I’m pretty sure ThinkGeek deploys at least three snipers at such events. If you are going to attempt a snatch and grab then please remember to run in a serpentine pattern.

Armed and Gorgeous Review

By Sinan Kubba on February 13th, 2012
Our Rating: :: SKIMPY
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Hack-and-slash with gorgeous engine but skimpy on depth.

Armed and Gorgeous is a 3D hack-and-slash game featuring a demoness who’s fighting off hordes of enemies while revealing the vast majority of her body. The line between making commentary on gaming’s ignominious history with scantily-clad nubile heroines and just plain featuring a scantily-clad nubile heroine in a game is a fine one, and like with Bayonetta it’s hard to tell which side of the line Armed and Gorgeous sits. The outfits unlocked later reference Tomb Raider and Soulcalibur, and the cut scene cartoons make a point of stretching her caricatured body to ridiculous proportions.

Even if I’m willing to give Armed and Gorgeous the benefit of the doubt, I have to say that unlike Bayonneta the core hack-and-slash play is severely lacking in depth. No-one’s expecting a Devil May Cry-like litany of combos, but with only two hit buttons who only produce combos when mashed singularly, only one special move, and no dodge or roll it’s hard to get too engrossed in the action, even across the short hour or so it lasts. Even the weapons and outfits unlocked as the game progresses are purely cosmetic.

It’s a shame because Armed and Gorgeous‘ engine is actually gorgeous and deserves far better. Moving the heroine around is wonderfully easy, as is aiming her attacks. In fact, the analogue-like button for movement is one of the most graceful I’ve played on the iPhone. The enemies have impressive ragdoll physics to complement superb animation, and the visual quality in general for a fully-fledged 3D game on the iPhone is quite high. The boss fights, in which I actually have to think about my attacks and timing them against a hard-hitting brute, show in particular the potential of this game and its engine.

Right now, Armed and Gorgeous is hard to recommend. It’s not just the character’s wardrobe that’s skimpy as the game itself is lacking depth and length for the current asking price. Nonetheless, it’s worth keeping an eye on Armed and Gorgeous should the developer ramp up the hack-and-slash through updates so that the play better complements the engine.

Armed and Gorgeous HD

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $1.99 $2.99

Our Rating: :: SKIMPY
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-02-08 :: Category: Games

2012 Doomsday is an app specifically designed to inform. It’s got info on what’s theorized to happen on the big day, lots of videos about 2012, details about the Mayans, what kinds of supplies to stock up on and other general survival tips. Depending on an individual’s take on this business it could be their go-to guide or simply something to consider a fascinating “what if” scenario.

2012 Doomsday is currently available for everyone, skeptic or not, on the App Store for $0.99. I’m not claiming that it’ll make a difference in the grand scheme of things, but I suppose there’s nothing wrong with being prepared. Just in case.

2012 Doomsday

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99
Released: 2012-02-06 :: Category: Education

Evi Review

By Kevin Stout on February 13th, 2012
Our Rating: :: NOT QUITE SIRI
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Evi is an artificial intelligence app, like Siri, that helps the user answer questions and other everyday needs. For a non-iPhone 4S user, this may be a Siri replacement.

Evi is not Siri, it’s Siri’s slightly less intelligent cousin. But, for any iPhone users that aren’t in possession of an iPhone 4S, Evi is probably the best substitution I’ve run into so far.

Let’s start with the important questions, does Evi answer questions like “What’s the answer to life, the universe, and everything?” or “Open the pod bay doors.” Yes, Evi does. The answer to life, the universe, and everything is “The meaning of life depends on the life in questions. 42 is a good approximation.” And, of course, the answer to “Open the pod bay doors” is “I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

In all seriousness, Evi answers most questions, especially the basic ones, admirably. Like most speech-related apps, the user has to be precise in asking what he or she wants. For example, I asked Evi “Where can I get something to eat?” and received a page from ChaCha Answers from someone saying something like “Eat a sandwich.” While Evi completely failed that time, when I asked “What restaurants are near me,” I received five restaurants in close proximity to me. The answer was apparently powered by Yelp.

Any weather related questions that I asked were replied with a link to AccuWeather and BBC Weather. This wouldn’t have bothered me if those links were to the weather in my current location. I even would have been satisfied if the links went to my area’s weather when I specifically mentioned my hometown in the question. But in all weather-related questions, I simply received a link to those two sites and was asked to input my location. (Yes, I allowed Evi to access my location data when I first started up the app.)

Surprisingly, Evi performed poorly in a few basic areas, like weather, but it was able to answer some more complex questions rather successfully. I asked “What was Brandon Sanderson’s most recent book?” and received an answer of “The Way of Kings.” Not only was that the correct answer, but it was a great book! When I asked, “Who is Philip Seymour Hoffman,” (I had just watched Moneyball) I was hoping to get a link to an IMDb page. But I still got quite a bit of information on Philip Seymour Hoffman. Evi replied with his name, date of birth, and “the Academy Award-winning American actor.” In a link, it also provided more details. But I would have liked to see a source of those details.

Evi’s speech technology is powered by Nuance, popular creator of Dragon Dictate software. But text input is also possible. Certain frequently used question starters are even provided for quick access on the text input screen (e.g. How, Find, Buy).

Evi is not Siri. But for someone looking for a Siri-like application on something other than an iPhone 4S, this seems to be the app to go with. Most of the questions and answers during my time with Evi are in the gallery below.

Evi

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99

Our Rating: :: NOT QUITE SIRI
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-01-17 :: Category: Lifestyle

When The SandBox first caught my attention, I thought it looked like a nifty little pixelated world-building game. In a way, it kind of is. However, I was thoroughly unprepared for just how many different aspects of this created world could be manipulated. Water will flow down hills, erode stone into sand, turn dirt into fertile soil, evaporate in extreme heat and freeze in extreme cold. Flowers and trees can grow. Weather will develop based largely on the environment. Players can even make rudimentary circuits to do anything from heating to creating light.

The SandBox is still very much in beta at the moment, but that’s no reason not to get excited. What’s already implemented is pretty amazing, actually. A lot of specifics are still up in the air, such as the final number of “story” levels (currently around 20), price and release date. It’s kind of a shame because this is all so cool, but then again it’s probably best not to rush things. Although the super-curious or anxious can try to get in to the beta. No guarantees, though. Regardless, be sure to keep an eye out for The SandBox whenever it does hit the App Store.

The Tiny Bang Story HD Review

By Dan Lee on February 13th, 2012
Our Rating: :: BEAUTIFUL
iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad

Put Tiny Planet back together again by solving puzzles in a beautiful hand-drawn world.

The Tiny Bang Story HD is an interesting, point and click style puzzle game set in a beautiful hand-drawn world. Although the interface is easy to use, the player will need their wits about them to solve some of the abstract puzzles.

The game starts with a meteor smashing into the idyllic Tiny Planet. Rather than being wiped out, the planet breaks up into dozens of puzzle pieces, which scatter. It’s down to the player to solve a number of puzzles and get Tiny Planet back up and running.

The Tiny Bang Story HD is a wonderfully serene experience. With no dialogue in the game whatsoever, the player is left to their own devices to explore areas and figure out how to progress to the next level. Each level has a main goal, but to succeed the player has to complete a number of mini-games which can range from finding puzzle pieces that are cleverly hidden, to fixing a train which then transports the player to a new location.

These mini-games are all linked, with the completion of one setting off an event that will cause another to appear. The satisfaction from doing this is immense, as bit by bit the player starts to see what effects their actions are causing on the world. When each level is completed the player then has to piece together a new area using puzzle pieces collected.

The Tiny Bang Story HD is a game where the player really needs to pay attention to their surroundings. Every area is full of little secrets which can be easily overlooked by simply having a quick glance around. Occasionally this can lead to frustration when all the player needs to proceed is a single item, but it’s tucked away somewhere obscure.

The hand drawn graphics really shine on the iPad’s big screen, giving Tiny Planet a healthy dose of character. The controls are simple, never really demanding much more than tapping the screen, or dragging and dropping items. The interface is also clutter-free; with only a few icons on display showing the player what they need to be collecting.

The Tiny Bang Story HD is a charming, engaging puzzle game that is as good to play as it is to look at. Once it’s done there is very little reason to return, but the initial play through is a most enjoyable experience.

The Tiny Bang Story HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $2.99

Our Rating: :: BEAUTIFUL
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-02-09 :: Category: Games

First up is Sonic CD, a meticulously-crafted remake of the Sega CD original, and what could be called a love letter to Sonic fans. It is on sale for $2.99 from its regular price of $4.99.

Sonic CD

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $2.99 $4.99

Our Rating: :: SONIC BOOM
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-12-15 :: Category: Games

Next up is Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, a game that recalls the undying passion that fans of the original franchise have for the game. It is on sale for iPhone/iPod touch for $1.99 (was $3.99) and iPad for $2.99 (was $4.99).

Sonic The Hedgehog 4™ Episode I

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $1.99 $6.99

Our Rating: :: A BIT UNSOUND
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2010-10-07 :: Category: Games

Sonic The Hedgehog 4™ Episode I HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $2.99 $4.99
Released: 2011-12-21 :: Category: Games

Then there’s Super Monkey Ball 2 and the Sakura Edition, which iPad owners will be head over heels for because it’s a universal app, and it’s on sale for $0.99!

Super Monkey Ball 2: Sakura Edition

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $2.99
Released: 2010-04-01 :: Category: Games

Super Monkey Ball 2

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $2.99

Our Rating: :: GOOD .. BUT
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2009-12-01 :: Category: Games

Super Monkey Ball

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $2.99
Released: 2008-07-11 :: Category: Games

Finally, those who can’t get enough of classic Genesis games will be heartwarmed by these titles on sale for $0.99.

Altered Beast

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $2.99
Released: 2010-12-16 :: Category: Games

Golden Axe 2

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $2.99

Our Rating: :: NOSTALGIC
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-04-21 :: Category: Games

Golden Axe 3

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $2.99

Our Rating: :: POLISH NEEDED
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-05-12 :: Category: Games

Gunstar Heroes

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $2.99

Our Rating: :: NOW EVEN MORE DIFFICULT!
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2010-11-22 :: Category: Games

Streets of Rage 2

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $2.99
Released: 2011-04-14 :: Category: Games

Streets of Rage 3

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $2.99

Our Rating: :: WELCOME TO THE ANGRYDOME
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-04-28 :: Category: Games

Virtua Fighter 2

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $1.99
Released: 2011-01-20 :: Category: Games

The Sky is Falling Review

By Rob Rich on February 13th, 2012
Our Rating: :: LOW CLEARANCE
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Oh crap, the ceiling is caving in! Oh crap, a giant rock is rolling after me! Oh crap, all I have is a wrench!

Lots of games are about surviving desperate situations. Fighting wars and saving the world are commonplace, but even the more “arcade” style titles usually involve some kind of scenario that no sane person would put themselves in. Raiding a house overrun with zombies? Tying a couple of balloons on and flapping around an arena filled with suicidal baddies and a pool of water with a carnivorous fish? Attempting to kill an immortal after fighting through his army of very large things with very sharp weapons? These concepts are all insane. The Sky is Falling certainly doesn’t buck the trend, but it’s just crazy enough to fit right in.

I don’t know how the poor little orange guy managed to find himself in such a bad spot, but he did, so it’s best to just go with it. He’s trapped in a collapsing cave while simultaneously being chased by a giant boulder. Not good. It’s the player’s job to tap the screen to get him to toss a wrench (at least I think it’s a wrench) towards the stalactites on the ceiling. A successful hit will reduce the rocky growth’s size up two three increments. The idea is to cut down all of the hanging formations before they get low enough for the orange guy to smack into them and get flattened by the boulder. It sounds complicated but the gameplay boils down to simply tapping the screen at various times.

Aside from the delightful retro aesthetic, it’s also easy to enjoy The Sky is Falling for its simplicity. Despite the gameplay being limited to a single touch, there are some nuances that factor in which can mean the difference between escape and a flattening. It all comes down to one thing: only a single wrench(?) can be thrown at a time. So players have to wait for the first one to either hit the ceiling or break through three layers of stalactite before they can toss another. It not only prevents spamming the spanners (*rimshot*), it also changes the way the game flows as the level progresses. The higher the ceiling, the longer it takes the wrench to reach something and the longer players have to wait before they can throw another one. Conversely, while a low ceiling means more “shots,” it also means a much smaller margin for error and significantly less time to work with.

Some might knock The Sky is Falling due to its extremely simple nature, but I’d consider that unfair. Simple games are great for the pick-up-and-play nature of iOS. Especially when the simple games are fun and make us reflexively try again and again since it’s so easy to “just try one more time.”

The Sky Is Falling

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: $0.99

Our Rating: :: LOW CLEARANCE
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2012-02-01 :: Category: Games

The GRAMMY awards are on Sunday, February 12th, and for those excited about the awards being given out and acts scheduled to perform, there’s a new GRAMMY Live app available for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. It offers news and photos surrounding the event, and video updates about the awards and nominees.. There’s a list of this year’s nominees and recent award winners, along with award prediction and trivia games. Tweets from official accounts, nominated artists, and analysts can be easily accessed through the app, with the ability to eaisly follow, RT, or reply to tweets seen in the app.

The app also offers a variety of live streaming video around the event, from red carpet events, to un-televised award ceremonies, and a multi-screen experience during the live event, airing at 8pm Eastern Sunday night on CBS. There’s also a streaming radio station of GRAMMY nominated artists and songs. The universal app is available now for free.

GRAMMY Live

Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2012-01-18 :: Category: Entertainment

HQ: To Do Review

By Jennifer Allen on February 13th, 2012
Our Rating: :: PRACTICALLY PRETTY
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

An attractive and useful way of keeping track of projects and things that need doing.

Visual appeal is important with any app. Considering the all round stylishness of the iPad and iPhone, plain and basic looking apps just don’t quite fit the bill for many, especially when factoring in the price a person is willing to pay for something. The makers of HQ: To Do clearly got this as it’s as attractive to look at as it is to use.

It’s hard to make a To Do list app look exciting but HQ: To Do does a sound job of it. Adaptable to many different scenarios, it’s a tool that will become commonplace for many productivity focused people.

From the outset, it’s easy to add a task. A tap on Add New project and relevant options come up, covering task name, due date, whether a notification is required, its priority and a color to make it easy to spot. Color coding can be adjusted according to the user’s needs and wants with a choice of five.

Once the information has been entered, the home page of the app displays the core components, namely the due date and any notes. Most interesting is the percentage completion. Within each project, the user can add individual tasks which then correlate to the amount of the project completed. It’s a useful touch, especially for those with complex tasks at hand who need to keep track of numerous different sections of an issue.

Besides the Projects section is the Lists side of thing which lends itself neatly to something like a shopping list or present buying list. In the case of lists, the due date is removed but the all important percentage bar remains.

Swiping plays a useful role, offering delete and completion options as well as filtering, throughout both sections of the app. That’s what works so well for HQ: To Do. It’s quick and very easy to use.

While I’d have liked the option to set completed projects to automatically go to the done side of the app and Universal functionality, everything else within HQ: To Do is pretty ideal. Smart and useful, this is a productivity app that’s going to stick around on many users’ iPhones.

HQ: To Do

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $1.99

Our Rating: :: PRACTICALLY PRETTY
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-06-10 :: Category: Productivity

However, they have obstacles in their way such as swaying platforms that have to be hit to knock off the loot. The big problem is that the platforms are in the way of each other, which creates the puzzle portion. And the obstacles don’t stop there. Broken light bulbs, blowing fans, and other interactive objects make sure that the game will be challenging. Available for both iPhone and iPad, Robber Rabbits features 96 unique puzzles, 3 unique weapons such as a popcap gun as well as the shooting physics to go along with the shot. The game is full of cuter than cute characters and graphics, original music and sound effects inspired by Valentine’s Day and supports OpenFeint and Game Center. Alawar’s other games are all on sell until the evening of Valentine’s Day.

Robber Rabbits! HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99 $2.99
Released: 2011-12-16 :: Category: Games

Designed for those telecommuting workers, Work+ is an app for finding new places out and about to work. Those who work at home or have jobs they access through a computer may find their home or apartment distracting, or come down with a case of cabin fever. Work+ is designed to help find places to work around the city, and to keep track of the best places to work while out and about. It looks up the locations of hotspots and Foursquare checkins to find good places to work based on various criteria. Want a quiet coffee shop, or a restaurant with no noise preference? The app can find these. As well, it uses background geolocation in iOS 5 to track when a user leaves a location, noting the time and allowing the user to rate it or save it in their favorite locations. This does mean that the app requires an iPhone or 3G iPad as they have the GPS signal necessary to make the app work. Work+ is available for free from the App Store.

Work+

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2012-02-02 :: Category: Productivity