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24 June, 2017

Burly Men at Sea Sailing Towards PS4 and Vita

Have a read of our full review of Brain&Brain's Burly Men at Sea and you'll soon know we were charmed by its many adventures. Played out through interactive storybook form, with beautiful depictions inspired by Scandinavian folklore, players after a different, quieter experience will find what they're looking for within its animated electronic pages. 

Brain&Brain recently announced at E3 2017 that the studio would be bringing its adventures to PS4 and Vita, although a release date has not yet been made available. We'll keep you posted as more news comes to hand. The more platforms on which this lovely game can be experienced the better. This writer actually took it through its paces on Apple TV via the Siri Remote not long ago, and found it a nice fit for that platform also. 

In a nice real-life twist, you can actually get hardcover book versions of all the playable stories. 

Here's the recent trailer unveiled at E3 2017: 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

 

21 September, 2016

Playing Journey for the First Time - Thoughts on Hype vs Reputation

It starts with a cello.

I'm sitting here on my couch, headphones plugged into my DualShock 4. My TV is displaying the title page for Journey - the multiple award winning indie darling by which every other artistic, "experiential" game has been measured since its release four and a half years ago.

It's been waiting patiently for me on my PS4's hard drive since being included in September's PS Plus offerings, and I've finally set aside some uninterrupted time in which to experience what all the fuss has been about. I’ve read and been told that a couple of hours is all I’ll need.

Selecting the tile from my PS4's menu, followed by pushing down on the controller has filled my screen with a lonely figure that I feel I already know from reading years of games media coverage. Now I sit listening to the music that’s been triggered by my actions, doing as that red-scarfed figure is doing - gazing into a distance of sand dunes. I don't want to hit start just yet.

The cello is joined by a harp, and a couple of bars later, a flute.

Journey is just one of those things I've never gotten around to, and I feel a little guilty typing those words given its reputation as such a must-play title. But I've played a lot of games in the last few years, and there are only so many hours in the day. Life just happens.

Four and a half years of hearing how good a game is creates a lot to live up to, and as I sit here listening to Austin Wintory's much-praised music on this title screen, I can already hear why the soundtrack alone has received so many accolades. I want to experience what I've read over the years so many other fans have experienced, but I’m anxious - have I built it up too much? Will I be disappointed? I don't want to be disappointed.

Hype prior to release is just good marketing, but a game enjoying an unassailable reputation for years after its release is an altogether different beast. Reputation is built on something substantial - real experience passed on by word-of-mouth and excited keystrokes.

Thinking on Thatgamecompany’s success with Journey causes my thoughts to turn to Sean Murray and his entire team at Hello Games. I wonder how differently gamers’ and gaming media’s perception of No Man’s Sky would be had it been released quietly without its years of hype and mystery. Imagine if No Man’s Sky came out of nowhere, with just a simple announcement to put it on the radar. In that alternate universe are we now showering praise on the bold ambition a small team took upon itself to realise?

A full orchestral swell lifts the melody of the flute (which is now being doubled by a violin) over a crest that pulls at heartstrings, perhaps a musical representation of having gained the top of one those sand dunes to reveal something wonderful; a secret, a marvel.

But have I built it up too much?

I hit start.

Only two hours later the end credits roll; mysteries have been revealed, and Thatgamecompany’s masterful loop has closed.

It was worth the wait.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

If you are wondering who we are, we're primarily a digital magazine for the iPad focused on the coverage of indie video games. Run by the former editor of Game Informer, you'll find worldwide exclusives, but also an interactive media experience unlike any you have seen before. If you have an iPad, you should check out the free sample issue at the very least, or enjoy one of our other episodes as listed below.

Get Every Episode:
- Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue*)
- Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
- Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
- Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
- Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
- Grab It Episodes 2-5 Bundle
- Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic the Gathering
- Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star
- Episode 8 - The PAX AUS edition
- Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection
- Grab It Presents Ultimate Indie Game Reviews Vol 1.

20 August, 2016

Legend of The Skyfish Review for Apple TV - Anyone for Sushi?

Is Legends of the Skyfish by Mgaia Studios the killer Apple TV app we were hoping for?

The fishermen of the aptly named Fishermen's Town became greedy, attracting the ire of the Skyfish, risen from the deep to take its vengeance. After a beautifully rendered storybook sequence sets the scene, you're on your way to save your fellow townsfolk from obliteration.

Cue 45 levels of door-switching, spike-avoidance, sword-swinging and grapple-hooking.

But is this latest offering from prolific mobile publisher Crescent Moon Games and developer Mgaia Studios worth your time?

Well...

18 August, 2016

Legend of The Skyfish Early Impressions - What It Is and What It's Not

We're about halfway through the 45 levels of newly released Legend of The Skyfish from Mgaia Studios and thought it a good time to take a break and post some impressions. 

If you watch the trailer below you will see a cinematic story intro, gear being upgraded, and some classic top-down hacking and slashing. These elements might understandably lead you to believe Legend of The Skyfish might be more RPG than it is. Read my previous post and you'll see that was my early take. 

What it is however, is a very competent action puzzle adventure, with very lite RPG elements (which really amounts to collecting improved equipment necessary for puzzles that come soon after). The game's main focus is to determine how to complete each of its 45 levels by means of pushing blocks to open doors, timed platforming, evading spikes and so on. 

We wanted to get that out of the way so as to proceed with our full review based on what Legend of The Skyfish is, rather than focus on what it's not. 

What it also is, is very pretty. The music and hand-painted artwork combine to create a very attractive package. 

Right then. Back to the work. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

16 August, 2016

Zelda Inspired Legend of The Skyfish Headed to Apple TV

It's now six months into the life of the very games-capable new Apple TV, however decent RPGs are thin on the ground for the little black box. The pick of the bunch is easily Oceanhorn, which we featured in a huge Making Of feature in Episode 2 of Grab It (check out the full list below). 

Oceanhorn is evidence that this mid-tier level of top-down RPGs is a perfect fit for Apple's new hardware. Small one-touch free-to-play mobile titles squander the opportunity the device offers developers and gamers, and big triple triple A titles just aren't an option for this microconsole's capabilities, so titles like Oceanhorn sit in the goldilocks region of gaming for Apple TV. 

Enter the upcoming Legend of The Skyfish from publisher Crescent Moon Games and developer Mgaia Studios. Even before seeing any gameplay, the banner above this article already screams Zelda, but if you need any further convincing scroll down to the bottom and check out the trailer. 

The subdued colour palette and gorgeous 2D artwork give Legend of The Skyfish a very handcrafted, classic storybook vibe. Gameplay looks to be a mixture of puzzle elements built largely around a grappling hook mechanic, over the top of an old-school top down RPG canvas.

August 18th is the release date for Legend of The Skyfish, on both iOS and Apple TV's tvOS. The Apple TV's App Store is currently a small pond with only a few fish, and Legend of The Skyfish looks like it has the potential to be one of the bigger ones come Thursday. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

If you are wondering who we are, we're primarily a digital magazine for the iPad focused on the coverage of indie video games. Run by the former editor of Game Informer, you'll find worldwide exclusives, but also an interactive media experience unlike any you have seen before. If you have an iPad, you should check out the free sample issue at the very least, or enjoy one of our other episodes as listed below.

Get Every Episode:
- Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue*)
- Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
- Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
- Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
- Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
- Grab It Episodes 2-5 Bundle
- Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic the Gathering
- Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star
- Episode 8 - The PAX AUS edition
- Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection
- Grab It Presents Ultimate Indie Game Reviews Vol 1.

 

15 August, 2016

Pixel Cup Soccer 17 Preview - Available on Steam Early Access Now

It feels like only yesterday that we reviewed Pixel Cup Soccer 16, a great retro arcade soccer title from Batovi Games Studio. 

Not wasting any time, on August 4th Batovi launched the next iteration of its series on Steam Early Access, appropriately named Pixel Cup Soccer 17.

Compatible with PC, Mac, and Linux, PCS 17 will spend about six months in Early Access before a full launch, with Batovi planning to pack in plenty of additional features. 

One of the most exciting new features to come will be the Team Editor, giving players the ability to create their own teams and leagues, whether they be real or imagined, and then share them with the community. 

Other items on Batovi's list of features for PCS 17 are a completely revamped AI that allows for greater depth in play-styles, and online multiplayer. PCS 17 currently supports multiplayer with Player1 VS Player2 (in Friendly Matches) and Party Mode (in Competitions).

Controls in this Steam iteration of Pixel Cup Soccer are straight forward: WASD for directional movement,  L for passing/changing player selection, and K for shooting/tackling. PC controller support is already present, and it's easily the recommended way to play given the fast-paced arcade nature of the game. 

A great feature of the Pixel Cup Soccer series is the temporary events that reflect what's going on in real world soccer, and at the moment you'll be able to play recreations of current Olympics matches in both the men's and women's tournaments. 

We'll keep an eye on Pixel Cup Soccer 17 as it continues to develop and as new features are added. Tinkering with that Team Editor should be a blast. 

You can head straight to the store page right here. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

13 August, 2016

Quick Fix - Slice IN

In our Grab It Magazine iPad episodes, which are listed below, we have a regular feature called Quick Fix. These are bite sized mini-reviews for those games that are great to have in your pocket during commutes, waiting in line, commercial breaks, or for when the person you are talking to on the phone has nothing interesting to say but you still want to earn the credit for staying on the line and being a good listener.

Episode one for example - which is free - looks at Mega Dead Pixel, HAR.MO.NY, and the outstanding Ridiculous Fishing. Read on for a Quick Fix as we look at Bica Studios’ second game - Slice IN.

06 August, 2016

The Best Tip for Playing Neverwinter on PS4 - Remember to Zoom

During my adventures in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PS4, I developed a muscle memory that is proving very useful for Neverwinter, the Dungeons & Dragons MMO which was recently ported to Sony’s hardware.

Whenever I want to read an interesting bit of lore found in a parchment or book, or compare the stats of shiny loot dropped by a felled enemy to what I’ve already equipped, it now happens without even thinking: My left thumb shoots over and holds down the PS button, followed a split second later by my right thumb mashing the square button. The result is the magnifying of a portion of your TV screen, and is utter bliss for eyes that have been at work all day and are now straining to serve a late night gaming session.

This zoom function on the PS4 is one of the device’s accessibility options, and must first be enabled within the Settings menu, as below:

Select Settings > Accessibility

Once enabled, the function can then be used in-game.

While zoomed, your screen is divided into a grid, and you can navigate around the screen using your left thumb-stick. When magnified, you’ll lose control of the game’s functionality - it doesn’t pause the game, but it stops you from being able to execute any functions or move your avatar. Exit the zoom by hitting the circle or PS button.

On paper it sounds a little fiddly, but during a lengthy RPG or MMO it soon becomes second nature zooming in and out, and your eyes will thank you every time.

Right then, I’m off to get my level 19 moon worshipping warlock over the edge so I can open up that tantalising carrot in my inventory - the level 20 Adventure Box.

And that of course, is how they get you.

Damn them.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

If you are wondering who we are, we're primarily a digital magazine for the iPad focused on the coverage of indie video games. Run by the former editor of Game Informer, you'll find worldwide exclusives, but also an interactive media experience unlike any you have seen before. If you have an iPad, you should check out the free sample issue at the very least, or enjoy one of our other episodes as listed below.

Get Every Episode:
- Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue*)
- Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
- Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
- Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
- Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
- Grab It Episodes 2-5 Bundle
- Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic the Gathering
- Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star
- Episode 8 - The PAX AUS edition
- Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection
- Grab It Presents Ultimate Indie Game Reviews Vol 1.

16 July, 2016

Apple TV - Pixel Cup Soccer 16 Review - Goooaaalll!!!

The PES and FIFA franchises have “the beautiful game” locked up as far as deep simulation goes, and the Apple TV hardware just isn’t the place for these big triple A heavyweights. The middle ground between mobile and triple A is this microconsole’s sweet spot, making Batovi Games Studio’s Pixel Cup Soccer 16 a great fit for Apple’s newest App Store.

While its playable and enjoyable enough on iOS with virtual controls, a big screen and an MFI controller in hand bring out the best in Batovi’s latest title.

Armed with our trusty Steel Series Nimbus, we put Pixel Cup Soccer 16 through its paces, and tried to right some of the wrongs of the World Cup’s past, but alas, we haven’t yet managed to get Australia through to the finals.

We had a blast trying though.

13 July, 2016

Sonic The Hedgehog with a Dash of Rayman - Meet Bearcat Attack

Ever since the morphing of Cascadia Games into Ferocity2D, an intriguing entry on the indie developer's site has teased an upcoming project titled only as B5. Today the codename was finally revealed as an homage to the heyday of 2D platforming - Bearcat Attack.

Also Read: Developers Talk Apple TV - Cascadia Games Interview

Lamenting the poor translation many of our 2D platforming mascots suffered when attempting the leap to 3D gave rise to an interesting question for the developer - where did they go so wrong? And, perhaps more importantly, what made their original 2D versions so good? Sonic, Rayman, Bubsy, Earthworm Jim - none seemed to survive the 3D makeover the way that Mario did. 

Chris Jorgensen of Ferocity2D decided that building a traditional 2D mascot platformer was the only way to answer that question. Check out the Vine embedded below and you'll see obvious Sonic influences, with environments planned that will take inspiration from the lush worlds of Rayman. 

Teaming up with artist Mike Heald of Fully Illustrated, even in its very early stages Bearcat Attack certainly looks the part, and with a decent pedigree of 2D platformers already under the developer's belt - the Cavorite series, 2-Bit Cowboy series, and Ammo Pigs - it'll be intriguing to see which side of the '90s this mascot throwback falls. 

Also Read: Ammo Pigs Review - Is it Worth Getting Off Your Barstool for?

For the full story check out Ferocity2D's blog reveal right here. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

If you are wondering who we are, we're primarily a digital magazine for the iPad focused on the coverage of indie video games. Run by the former editor of Game Informer, you'll find worldwide exclusives, but also an interactive media experience unlike any you have seen before. If you have an iPad, you should check out the free sample issue at the very least, or enjoy one of our other episodes as listed below.

Get Every Episode:
- Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue*)
- Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
- Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
- Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
- Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
- Grab It Episodes 2-5 Bundle
- Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic the Gathering
- Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star
- Episode 8 - The PAX AUS edition
- Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection
- Grab It Presents Ultimate Indie Game Reviews Vol 1.

09 July, 2016

Phenotype - The Story of Two Men Creating a Sci-Fi Horror FPS from Scratch

A dive into our inbox this past week saw us viewing seven minutes of pre-alpha footage for Phenotype. At first glance it looked like a reasonably promising Sci-Fi/Horror FPS with an Aliens vibe, but one that might easily get lost in the crowd. Considering the amount of Sci-Fi and/or Horror FPS titles either out or upcoming at the moment, from both indies and Triple A houses - Doom, Destiny, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Superhot, Screencheat and so on - a new kid on the block will easily get swallowed into obscurity.

Once we learned that Phenotype was being built from the ground up by just a team of two, we watched the video again with a little more interest, and reached out for some more details. 

“...every single pixel is authentic and modelled/drawn/animated/composed... from absolute 0,” says Marko Mladenovic, one half of the two man team making up Quantum Singularity Studio. “Our video game Phenotype is developed, still in the development phase, in Unity 5 engine with cross-platform support by default which means that the game would support all major desktop, console, and web platforms.”

It’s an ambitious project for a team of two to create what Marko told us would be “a huge world map above the underground base shown in the video,” but they seem to be off to a good start.

While the enemies in the video do look very pre-alpha, there are still some nice details to be seen in the footage. The hand animations on the gun in between firefights are a nice touch, especially one which has the avatar tap his or her helmet with a nightstick melee weapon before putting it to good use.

A pistol, shotgun, and automatic weapon are also on display, rounding out the usual suspects.

I mentioned to Marko that many independent developers of FPSs seem to be relying on some sort of unique feature to help their games get noticed, such as Screencheat’s invisibility or Superhot’s time-freezing mechanic, and asked if he planned to incorporate something to help Phenotype stand out.

Marko replied that the game’s story would be a big feature. “It's extremely difficult to have a good story, and create an actual decent video game, but I think we're on the right track to do both,” he said. Elements such as “mind control, time dilation (slow motion anomalies), upgradeable weapons, and a bunch of Hi-Tech devices” will also play their part in Phenotype’s Sci-Fi/Horror saga.

We’ll follow the team at Quantum Singularity Studio - Marko Mladenovic and Tomica Ristivojevic - with interest as they continue to develop Phenotype, and as they prepare a crowdfunding campaign intended to help them get features into the game they have planned.

Check out the pre-alpha footage below.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

If you are wondering who we are, we're primarily a digital magazine for the iPad focused on the coverage of indie video games. Run by the former editor of Game Informer, you'll find worldwide exclusives, but also an interactive media experience unlike any you have seen before. If you have an iPad, you should check out the free sample issue at the very least, or enjoy one of our other episodes as listed below.

Get Every Episode:
- Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue*)
- Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
- Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
- Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
- Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
- Grab It Episodes 2-5 Bundle
- Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic the Gathering
- Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star
- Episode 8 - The PAX AUS edition
- Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection
- Grab It Presents Ultimate Indie Game Reviews Vol 1.

07 July, 2016

The Grand Vision of Syncsmith - Electronic Music for Visual Adventures in Gaming, TV, and Film

The void is silenced by noise; audible punctuations that come as a relief after nothingness, as too much silence can be deafening. Alone and unaccompanied, our thoughts can be daunting, our chores mundane. But with the addition of a musical canvas on which to paint our day to day - or night-time - activities, those thoughts can be tempered with the fantastic, and the mundane greys coloured with vivid synaesthesia.

And what of visual art? Kubrick without Strauss? Unthinkable.

But why is this writer extolling the virtues of music on a gaming website? Please, allow me to retort. To myself.

Ever since technology advanced to the point at which chip tunes ceased being the only option for accompaniment, music - and in particular electronic music - has had a symbiotic relationship with gaming.

Gamers of a certain vintage will find it impossible to hear The Prodigy’s Firestarter without visualising the futuristic aesthetics of Psygnosis’ Wipeout 2097. Entranced by beats and antigravity we spent the second half of the ‘90s trying to shave another tenth of a second off our lap times.

Fast forward two decades and newly formed agency Syncsmith is projecting a clear and ambitious mission statement:

“…to re-affirm the pivotal role of experimental electronic music in the TV, Film, & Gaming industries.”

26 June, 2016

Galaga Wars - Paladin gives Bandai Namco Classic the Hipster Whale/PAC-MAN 256 Treatment

It’s a great time to be Australian. Or Canadian. Or Dutch. Hell, even a New Zealander. These four App Store regions have recently been treated to a soft launch of Galaga reboot - Galaga Wars - and it’s fantastic.

 

Space Invaders has a lot to answer for. In the late ‘70s Taito Corporation created a mould that became the staple for imitators to follow for decades - an avatar on the bottom of the screen shooting upwards at swarms of enemies. Developers took this simple formula and added unique tweaks to stand out from the crowd, with Namco’s Galaxian giving us alien ships that came at us from all sorts of angles, as opposed to the horizontal and vertical restrictions of Space Invaders.

Galaxian’s sequel - Galaga - added even more features, such as the ability to fight with two ships on the bottom of the screen, doubling your fire power, and Paladin Studios have a done a great job honouring the IP. Adding a polish to make the most of the power of our modern mobile devices, and a now familiar benevolent monetisation structure, Galaga Wars feels suitably classic, but not stuck in the past.

Also Read: Smash Time Review - Missile Command, Whack a Mole and Colour Matching. Sure, Why Not?

Bandai Namco - the owner of the Galaga IP - similarly tapped indie superstar Hipster Whale (of Crossy Road fame) last year to give PAC-MAN an endless, free-to-play makeover. The result - PAC-MAN 256 - was so positively received by mobile gamers, that it now even exists on PS4 and Xbox One.

Players collect coins to upgrade their ship’s weapons, battling through stages and boss fights that gradually increase in difficulty. Once a stage has been completed you can start from that stage by using collectible warps gems, or just fighting your way through again, with 11 stages currently available. I’m currently able to get through to stage four, and it ain’t no picnic, but I can feel myself improving over time, which is a sign of nicely structured balance, rather than being too easy or just randomly inconsistent.

Money can be spent on different star ships with names that will be familiar to long time fans of the IP - including Xevious, Galaxian, and Star Blade. Each ship comes with a completely different weapon load out, all of which can then be upgraded.

Paladin Studios has treated Galaga with the respect it deserves - gameplay is slick and hard to put down, with beautiful neon cannon effects, satisfying explosions, and a nice difficulty curve. 

With Galaga Wars already available in four different regions, it can’t be too far away from a world wide release, and it’s a great addition to your pocket gaming when it drops. Check out the trailer below.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

If you are wondering who we are, we're primarily a digital magazine for the iPad focused on the coverage of indie video games. Run by the former editor of Game Informer, you'll find worldwide exclusives, but also an interactive media experience unlike any you have seen before. If you have an iPad, you should check out the free sample issue at the very least, or enjoy one of our other episodes as listed below.

Get Every Episode:
- Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue*)
- Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
- Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
- Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
- Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
- Grab It Episodes 2-5 Bundle
- Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic the Gathering
- Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star
- Episode 8 - The PAX AUS edition
- Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection
- Grab It Presents Ultimate Indie Game Reviews Vol 1.

19 June, 2016

Smash Time Review - Missile Command, Whack a Mole and Colour Matching. Sure, Why Not?

The world is a golf ball. I remember reading that in one of Shirley MacLaine’s books in the 1980s, back when the Internet was in relative infancy. MacLaine was writing of the ability to jump on a plane and in 48 hours be almost anywhere in the world, thus enabling a long distance relationship with her daughter who was being raised in Japan.

With online connectivity, the golf ball analogy has never been truer than in 2016, and I thought back to MacLaine’s words earlier this week after receiving contact from a small indie development team out of Portugal. Releasing its debut game - Smash Time - Bica Studios reached out with digital feelers to us in Australia, hoping to spread the word.

Pleasantries and emails were traded, Smash Time was downloaded and booted up for the first time, and fingers were crossed, hoping for a positive experience. After long hours of development, it’s a big roll of the dice for a new indie team to see a game through to completion, so you want it to be good.

And? Well? Enough with the words already, is it?

21 March, 2016

VR is Like Sex - You'll Always Remember Your First Time

In this commercial world of data collecting, free-to-play, ad-support, and in-app-purchases, we take a subversive and psychedelic trip into virtual reality.

My virtual self sits in a room that can only be described as sparse. Sparse not just for its simple and minimal furnishings, but for its very creation - a black and white, hand-drawn, pencil-on-paper rendering of a room with few distractions. A warm and calming voice coaxes me to relax and take some time to just look around, easing me into what is my first VR experience.

The room is not large but it feels spacious due to both its lack of clutter, and its large open windows looking down onto active streets below. I follow the instructions from the friendly voice narrating in my headphones and look around at the table, chair, bed, coffee machine, and other simple, homely features. Without consciously realising it at the time, I'm already relaxing and surrendering to that "presence" I've read so much about in the last few years - the virtual reality parlance used to describe our minds and bodies being successfully convinced we are somewhere we are not.

This virtual room is a stylised version of one that exists in the real world - the Room On the Roof - an artist space atop the de Bijenkorf department store in Amsterdam. In an effort to elevate the act of shopping beyond that of a mere consumerist pleasure, and create a more premium experience, this Dutch department store invites artists to spend time in its tower room to create works of art shoppers can later view. It's a nice idea - infusing the shopper's urge with a touch of artistic creation, with each side benefiting by gaining a small foothold in the other's world.

Drawing Room is the result of Jan Rothuizen's residency in Room On the Roof, and it's eight and a half minutes I won't soon, if ever, forget.

29 February, 2016

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Too Long? Or Just Suffering from a Common Triple-A Design Flaw?

Can an inherent design element of books provide a simple solution to the fatigue that sets in during lengthy games?

Imagine if we read books the same way we played games - instead of having access to the entire book, how would it feel to have someone handing you one page at a time, without you ever knowing how many pages are left? I’m convinced that we would make it to the last page of far fewer books if we weren’t able to see that back cover drawing slowly closer, and I believe it’s that same not knowing that creates the fatigue that sets in during lengthy games.

16 February, 2016

NASA's Mock Travel Posters Remind Us of No Man's Sky

Exoplanets are those that orbit a star other than our own, and in 2015 NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory was celebrating 20 years of discovering these other worlds. Marking the anniversary in a wonderfully out-of-the-box fashion, JPL created a set of mock travel posters for imaginary tourists of the future, advertising these exoplanets as desirable holiday locales, with their fantastical sights and experiences. 

Each poster even has its own slogan, showcasing a feature of each destination. Some are humorous, such as this one for Kepler-186f:

 And some are strangely poetic, such as this one for Kepler-16b, which plays on the fact that this exoplanet boasts two suns: 

What really struck us about this mock travel bureau concept from JPL was how it reminded us of upcoming No Man's Sky from Hello Games. Check out the colour palettes used by Hello Games in the trailer embedded below (narrated by none other than Rutger Hauer), and it's almost like the posters have been brought to life. But it's not just the colours alone, it's the tantalising glimpse that JPL has conjured of a future in which these exoplanets will be an attainable experience hanging in space, waiting patiently to satisfy our curiosity. 

This is the dream that No Man's Sky also seems to be tapping into, with endless exploration its key focus. The game's procedurally generated galaxy is not infinite, but with 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 planets to visit, it might as well be, as it would take 585 billion years to visit them all if you went to one every second. With these sorts of numbers being thrown around, it of course means that gamers will be exploring planets that potentially no one else will ever see. 

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Exoplanet Travel Bureau, and Hello Games' No Man's Sky feel as if they are both tapping into the same fundamental need we as humans have - that of extending our boundaries ever outwards, to see and experience the unseen and unknown. 

No Man's Sky has a release window of June 2016, and for this writer at least, that can't come soon enough. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

If you are wondering who we are, we're primarily a digital magazine for the iPad focused on the coverage of indie video games. Run by the former editor of Game Informer, you'll find worldwide exclusives, but also an interactive media experience unlike any you have seen before. If you have an iPad, you should check out the free sample issue at the very least, or enjoy one of our other episodes as listed below.

Get Every Episode:
   - Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue*)
   - Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
   - Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
   - Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
   - Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
   - Grab It Episodes 2-5 Bundle
   - Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic the Gathering
   - Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star
   - Episode 8 - The PAX AUS edition
   - Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection
   - Grab It Presents Ultimate Indie Game Reviews Vol 1.

05 December, 2015

Should You Buy an Apple TV as a Dedicated Gaming Device?

I’ve been using the new Apple TV for a week now; I went and bought one. And I’m here to ensure that if you want to buy one too, you do it for the right reasons.

How Much Does an Apple TV Cost?

It’s hard to recommend buying the fourth generation Apple TV as a dedicated gaming device; for the price, there are much better options. With the recent price drops on the PS4 and Xbox One, Australian gamers can grab themselves one of these two trusted devices anywhere from the low to upper $400s, depending on the bundle chosen.

With the Apple TV costing gamers in that same part of the world just under $350 for the 64GB version, and the 32GB unit around $270 - then add an MFi controller on top of that - and the cost starts to look very similar to those new generation consoles.

The Apple TV's strength, however, lies in its multi-functionality and the user-experience it provides media consumers; many of whom will also happen to be long time gamers.

I spent hours tinkering with Apple's latest offering exploring its capacity as a gaming device, to discover a simple truth - without an MFi controller, those after anything more than a very casual gaming experience will not be satisfied. With a controller connected, on the other hand, the potential is there for this new kid on the block to gain some serious traction as a quick, go-to option for mid-core experiences.

04 December, 2015

Apple TV - Two Games You Should Grab Right Now - And They're Free

Looking for games to play on your Apple TV? This 20 year old gaming icon, and ridiculously fun arcade racer have you covered.  

Firing up a new gaming platform in the first few weeks of its lifecycle can be both an exciting and disheartening prospect. Once the wide-eyed and careful unboxing, the lounge room gymnastics of plugging in, and first ever switching on as you listen and watch for sounds and screens that will soon become old hat all pass, you're left with the games. And usually, as early adopters know, pickings are slim.

     Also Read: Should You Buy an Apple TV as a Dedicated Gaming Device?

It's a price many are happy to pay, as a big part of the trade-off is the enjoyment of being there from the start, feeling like part of a community all sharing in the excitement together. While you know that apart from the handful of hyped launch titles the catalogue will be lean for a while, that knowledge is offset by the anticipation of the good times ahead. Simple bragging rights are a big appeal too.

After three generations of Apple TV, for gamers, the fourth was the charm. Armed with a shiny new SteelSeries Nimbus, this writer performed the ritual outlined above and went trailblazing through the big screen App Store's offerings in search of games.

     Also Read: SteelSeries Nimbus Review - A Gateway to Big-Screen Apple Gaming

There is no shortage of them, but the bulk at this stage are either simple one-touch affairs (eg. Mr. Jump and Jetpack Joyride) or multiplayer party games such as Beat Sports. Over the weekend in question, other warm bodies were thin on the ground, meaning party games were not an option, although we're keen to explore and bring news on those in the near future as the platform seems well positioned to capitalise on the genre. In regards to the one-touch joints, we've a feeling they're best left to mobile platforms where they shine.

We wanted to find the more traditional gaming experiences, the shooters and the platformers, adventures and RPGs. As expected, at this stage there aren't many, but there are some, and some of those are very much worth getting your hands on. We'll post a more comprehensive list of games that have meat on their bones in the not too distant future, but for now we thought we'd post a quick rundown of two that will help justify that secondary function of your Apple TV - that of a microconsole.

And you can grab them both for free.

30 November, 2015

SteelSeries Nimbus Review - A Gateway to Big-Screen Apple Gaming

The Nimbus has been positioned as the Unofficial Official Apple TV gaming controller - but is it up to the task?

After years of speculation, we now live in a world in which an Apple branded microconsole exists. Of course, it’s not a dedicated gaming device, but as a secondary function it holds its own, and with plenty of upcoming traditional gaming experiences on the way, its future is filled with potential.

     Also Read: Should You Buy an Apple TV as a Dedicated Gaming Device?

To be taken even halfway seriously, good gaming hardware needs a quality gamepad, and for anything beyond Wii-inspired party games, physics puzzlers and auto-runners, the Siri Remote just doesn’t cut it. Surely there will be some innovative gaming experiences developed for which the Siri Remote will be indispensable, but for core gaming experiences to succeed on the new hardware, an input device needs to feel like more than just an enabler.

This is where MFi controllers (meaning compatible with iOS and tvOS) come in, and over the course of a weekend, we spent hours getting hands on with the SteelSeries Nimbus, coming away feeling very positive about using it as our gateway to big-screen Apple gaming.

21 November, 2015

NeoArcade for Apple TV - Atari Classics for the 21st Century?

 Can Claymore and Crescent Moon Games hit it big with old school gaming?

The recently announced NeoArcade - developed by Claymore Games and published by Crescent Moon Games - looks set to divide our couches into friend and foe, with a suite of two-player games clearly inspired by Atari classics. Bundled into the one app will be four games - NeoFire, NeoSmash, NeoTanks and NeoCycles. All will be playable alone versus AI, but we're thinking the optimal way to experience NeoArcade will be with a friend and a six-pack of beer. 

It'll be interesting to see if a bright neon makeover will be enough to make these '70s classics appeal to gamers of the 21st Century. NeoFire looks to be a mash-up of bullet hell and air hockey, NeoSmash is the fresh face of Breakout, and fans can get their Tron on with Surround revived as NeoCycles. 

Pictured above you'll see where much of this writer's childhood went - Combat. Those slow moving tanks pictured as the original below, compared to the NeoTanks refresh above, provided some truly intense two-player stand-offs as players rumbled cautiously out from behind cover to find a clear line of fire.

Back in the days when simple was the only option, and graphics were comprised of a handful of big fat blocks, fun was the key to success. Games such as Crossy Road are still harnessing and finding success with those key ingredients today, and if Hipster Whale can find fortune with a Frogger remake, then why not Claymore Games with Combat? 

We'll be sure to check it out when it hits the Apple TV's App Store, which should actually be very soon, as Crescent Moon Games has recently revealed NeoArcade has been submitted for review. 

The Apple TV as a microconsole is a brave new world for Apple. It remains to be seen if media consumers will turn to that secondary function of their little black boxes with the same sort of gusto as they did on their iPhones. For a look at the Apple TV from the developer's side of the fence, check out our interviews with Surprise Attack's Chris Wright and Cascadia Games' Chris Jorgensen.

Also Read: Don't Believe the Trolls - Apple TV Has No 200MB Game Limit

Let us know in the comments below or on the usual social feeds what you're thinking of gaming on the Apple TV so far. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

28 October, 2015

Check Out Ski Safari 2's Halloween Makeover

Forget trick or treating, Halloween is really all about themed updates to our favourite games, and Ski Safari 2 has gone all out. 

Sleepy Z Studios has added a whole new spooky fourth mountain to ski or snowboard on, appropriately titled Monster Mountain. The avalanche of Penguin Peaks has been replaced by a giant jack-o'-lantern that rages relentlessly on your heels, while you evade new obstacles and enemies all touched by a similarly demented hand. Eagles are now bats, bathtubs are cauldrons of bubbling brew, and it turns out - with the aid of broomsticks - penguins can now fly. 

Even the music has been decomposed into a theremin-laden haunt. 

The new mountain also comes with 32 new challenges to beat, and even the shop has been stocked with themed items such as rope scarves for those who just have to have everything.

For those who have thought Ski Safari 2 is all well and good, but maybe a little easy, this Halloween update includes a Frantic difficulty mode. Danger is ratcheted up to 11 with Jack giving you very little time to pick yourself up and get going again, while your trick combos can be stretched out to 32. Big risk equals big score multiplier. 

We're digging Ski Safari 2 - you can check out our full review right here - and if Halloween is anything to go by, we can't wait to see what Santa stuffs down our chimney. 

Grab it here.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

24 October, 2015

Downwell Review - 5 Stars - This Gamer's Game Goes Down Very Well

Follow us down into this nightmare well as we move past the broad brushstrokes and look at this challenging treat from Moppin in more detail.

Players will think they have Downwell's measure after their first handful of descents; the mechanics of running, jumping and dropping platform after platform through a pixel art aesthetic, all while blasting foes and gathering collectibles, is an easy grouping of descriptors to rattle off.

Persist past your first dozen or so quick deaths, however, and Downwell starts to reveal itself as a stellar example of tight controls, finely tuned difficulty and subtly balanced gameplay. Layers of playability welcome both those choosing to mash and blast with prayers and luck, and those who prefer to learn a game as they would a skill, acquiring a certain level of satisfying mastery. It's a commendable feat when a developer can offer both ends of that spectrum within the one experience - well done Moppin!

14 October, 2015

Mines of Mars Sequel Announced - Called Mines of Andromeda

"It started out basically as a sci-fi mining game, but evolved into a deeper game where exploration of dark corridors is key (no pun intended!)"
- from our interview with Tim Wickey on the Metroid influences behind Mines of Mars

Mines of Mars fans rejoice, a sequel is on the way! After posting our original story on the release of Mines of Mars Zero, we reached out to its publisher Crescent Moon Games to see if we could get any wisdom on the expansion Tim Wickey - founder of developer Wickeyware - mentioned in our interview in Episode 3 of Grab It. Well it seems plans for the expansion have been scrapped in favour of a full sequel - Mines of Andromeda. Why tackle Mars all over again when you can take on a whole galaxy? We're pretty stoked by this news as we're big fans of the original. No news yet as to a release window or any further details, but keep an eye out here for more info as it comes to hand. Here's an image of a beast from the upcoming sequel that Crecsent Moon Games have teased: in the meantime, check out the original.

12 October, 2015

Developers Talk Apple TV - Cascadia Games Interview

Chris Jorgensen of Cascadia Games is no stranger to the idea of bringing iOS games to the larger screens of our lounge rooms. In 2012 he launched a Kickstarter campaign for his brainchild the GameDock - essentially a charging device that seats your iPhone and sends the signals out to your TV, complete with a couple of gamepads. The saga makes for a fascinating read, but in the end it seems the world wasn’t quite yet ready for an iOS-based microconsole.

Apple’s self-proclaimed “hobby” - the Apple TV - has been begging for a gaming component for years; it was only a matter of time. Promising a late October release, the fourth generation Apple TV will have its own App Store, a Siri remote that doubles as a controller, support for MFi controllers and games both big, small, casual and core.

Also Read: 23 and Counting - The Complete List of Apple TV Video Games

Cascadia Games has been working on bringing back the ‘90s MS-DOS classic Wacky Wheels for the last couple of years, and the retro arcade racer looks like it would be a perfect fit for some big screen fun. The studio recently announced that it has finished work on the game’s 16 grand prix tracks, and you can get a taste of the gameplay from the teaser embedded below.

The 2D puzzle-platforming of Cascadia’s Cavorite series, and the more action-oriented 2-bit Cowboy and Ammo Pigs, would also make for fantastic discoveries for any retro gaming enthusiasts hunting through the new Apple TV’s offerings. You can read our making of interview for 2-bit Cowboy and review in Episode 5 of Grab It.

With his past experience developing the GameDock, we reached out to Jorgensen to get an idea of his thoughts on the Apple TV. Does it have a future as a microconsole? Does Cascadia have plans to port its catalogue over to the new hardware?

12 October, 2015

Need for Speed No Limits - A Beautiful and Fun Oxymoron

Pop Quiz.

You’ve hit the wall. You’ve felt it coming ever since hitting level 20 when the cost of entering a race doubled from one ticket to two. Now at level 25 you’re in a position where you can’t enter any of the Car Series races because none of your cars are at a sufficient level, and you can’t enter any of the Underground races for the same reason. It’s also day four of five in Need for Speed No Limits’ first public event since its world wide launch, and the Ford Shelby GT500 you borrowed from Snoop Dogg also needs some work before you can complete today’s events.

It’s been a fun ride getting here, but now the squeeze has tightened to become a dead end. With just over $100,000 of in-game currency to your name, 29 gold, and no race tickets - what do you do?

What do you do?

09 October, 2015

You Can Now Grab the Metroid and Motherload Mashup Mines of Mars for FREE

"It started out basically as a sci-fi mining game, but evolved into a deeper game where exploration of dark corridors is key (no pun intended!)"
- from our interview with Tim Wickey on the Metroid influences behind Mines of Mars

Thanks to NASA's recent discovery of strong evidence for running water on Mars, the Red Planet is currently the new black. Turns out for gamers this is good news. 

Mines of Mars was one of the iOS platform's stand out games of 2014. A 2D action platformer with a focus on freedom of exploration and a great sense of mystery, it was and still is a must play for fans of iPad gaming. In Episode 3 of Grab It we took a deep dive below the surface of Mars for our review, thoroughly enjoying Wickeyware's offering of this core gaming experience for touchscreens. 

Those who haven't yet had the pleasure of this Metroid and mining mash-up are in for a treat, as just twenty-four hours ago the App Store saw a release of a free ad-supported version of the game. It's the full experience - for nothing. Start downloading the new, free version right here so that by the time you get to the end of this article you can jump in and start soaking up the game's considerable atmosphere. For those who prefer their gaming premium and uninterrupted, grab the paid version here. 

One of the stand out features of our Grab It Episodes are the behind the scenes interviews that accompany our game reviews. It's like the extras on your Blu-rays. We think being able to get an idea of a game through a review, and then going even deeper courtesy of an interview with the developer that explores the inspirations, challenges and ideas for the future of a game makes for a pretty special experience. In Grab It Episode 3 Wickeyware's Tim Wickey discusses the game's mysterious ending, ideas for future expansions, and the inclusion of the awesome 2-bit arcade minigames. 

The expansions that Wickey talked about haven't yet eventuated, but perhaps the release of this new ad-supported version might spark renewed interest in this iOS gem, and cause the expansions to come sooner rather than later. We'll let you know if we hear anything further. 

Right, so by now your 93.5MBs of the free Mines of Mars Zero should be nearly downloaded, and we'd love to hear stories about your discoveries and adventures below Mars' surface. Hit us up in the comments below or the usual social feeds.  

Writer:
Garry Balogh

If you are wondering who we are, we're primarily a digital magazine for the iPad focused on the coverage of indie video games. Run by the former editor of Game Informer, you'll find worldwide exclusives, but also an interactive media experience unlike any you have seen before. If you have an iPad, you should check out the free sample issue at the very least, or enjoy one of our other episodes as listed below. There is also a trailer below.

Get Every Episode:
- Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue*)
- Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
- Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
- Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
- Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
- Grab It Episodes 2-5 Bundle
- Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic the Gathering
- Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star
- Episode 8 - The PAX AUS edition
- Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection
- Grab It Presents Ultimate Indie Game Reviews Vol 1.

07 October, 2015

Land Sliders Review - It's Prettygreat

They have iOS classics in their blood, but can the team at Prettygreat deliver another original casual gaming gem?

It’s hard to argue against including Jetpack Joyride and Fruit Ninja among the first big wave of games that helped propel iOS towards becoming the valid gaming platform that it is today. Playing to the strengths of the touchscreen and mixing in a healthy dose of charm and polish, these games were key in taking Australian developer Halfbrick to the lofty heights at the top of the App Store charts.

Also Read: Five Minutes with Prettygreat's Phil Larsen

It was from this altitude that three key components of Halfbrick’s success - Luke Muscat, Phil Larsen and Hugh Walters - bailed out in a search for new challenges. Forming Prettygreat, and receiving a $500,000 parachute from fellow Australian indie success story Hipster Whale (Crossy Road), the talent and funding was in place, and the iOS gaming landscape waited for the new (if pedigreed) studio to do its thing.

Well the wait has ended and Prettygreat’s debut game has appeared in the form of Land Sliders. Was the wait worth it? Is the game a worthy sum of its considerable parts?

26 September, 2015

Is Simogo's SPL-T a Number Puzzle or a Mystery Wrapped in an Enigma?

"We know. It doesn't look like much.
But we promise that it's a very good puzzle game.
Like, really good."
- Simogo's App Store description for SPL-T

Simogo snuck its new game out this week with no hype, no fanfare, nothing. All of a sudden we had a new Simogo game. That alone is no small thing, as the studio has been reaping credibility and accolades by the truckload with each new release - Device 6, Year Walk, Beat Sneak Bandit, Bumpy Road and The Sailor’s Dream. That’s some list.

The variety in Simogo’s releases is one of the few things that its games have in common, if that makes any sense. Continuing with that theme of variety, SPL-T adds a simple numbers puzzle to the studio’s growing list of titles. Or does it?

13 September, 2015

Don't Believe the Trolls - Apple TV Has No 200MB Game Limit

The Apple TV launch is a classic example of two things; the need for clear marketing and the sad truth that negative stories are a magnet for more clicks than positive ones.

As soon as the Apple TV was born kicking and screaming into the gaming landscape after years of rumours and speculation, websites were quick to write it off as a failure. The sticking point has been the perception by some that apps and games would be limited to 200MB in size, making for very small, very casual games - some sites went as far as to call it a complete "bust." 

With a launch that in time might be compared to the poorly communicated and flip-flopping launch of the Xbox One, Apple now needs to explain to the gaming industry why the 200MB limit is a myth, rather than relying on third parties to do it for them. Let's have a crack though, shall we?  

12 September, 2015

Can Activision, Disney and Apple Make Sweet Microconsole Love?

I do not have a head for business, yet I'm assuming the suits at the big tables of Disney Interactive and Activision do. These big name publishers getting behind the gaming component of Apple's first move into lounge room gaming - Apple TV - is the best possible start the tech giant's little black box could have had.

It's the kind of dream start other microconsole hopefuls - such as the Ouya - couldn't have possibly hoped for without the brand power Apple brings to the table. Will this brand name support set the fourth generation of Apple TV on a course for microconsole success?

05 September, 2015

Apple TV Microconsole Will Succeed Where Ouya, PlayStation and Amazon Failed

 

Several contenders - Amazon Fire TV, Ouya and PlayStation TV to name a few - have tried to make a go of the strange middle-ground we’ve come to call microconsoles. The alluring idea of a more affordable console platform however - on which games might sell hundreds of millions instead of millions (much the same as in the mobile arena) - has so far failed to ignite.

Out of those three mentioned, the best positioned for potential success was surely Sony. With decades of experience in the console space, a vast back catalogue of games to draw from, and an already established fanbase to tap into, it causes one to wonder why the PS TV didn’t take off. Sales saw a boost in early 2015 after Sony dropped the price of its newest gaming hardware, but still, the PlayStation TV hasn’t exactly become a household name.

It’s hard to argue however that the iPhone and iPad - even if you don’t own one yourself - aren’t just household names. Everyone knows someone who has one.

And that is why Apple is in the best position to create yet another market for itself, in much the same way it created a market for touchscreen phones with the advent of the iPhone. Yes touchscreen phones existed before the iPhone, but it’s also hard to argue that Apple’s product isn’t what drove the market to the healthy and competitive space that touchscreen phones are in today.

Apple has broad-reaching brand awareness across the tech-consumer landscape, as opposed to Sony’s dedicated, but much smaller fanbase in the gaming industry. If the rumours are true and Apple does release a new Apple TV with its own App Store, some onboard storage and a physical controller, then everyone on planet Earth who owns an iPod, iPhone, iPad, iMac or MacBook will be made aware of it by Apple, and many of them will buy one.

People didn’t buy the iPhone originally for gaming, but it does gaming exceptionally well. It’s that broad, pre-existing Apple fanbase who will take the next stepping stone in the tech giant’s list of products and purchase the Apple TV - probably with the intention of consuming media. If the design gurus led by Jony Ive put the same amount of care and attention to detail into it as they have all of Apple’s other products, then no doubt purchasers will soon discover that Apple TV also does gaming exceptionally well.

And as with the iPhone, those people will talk and word will spread. Microconsoles might be about to become an industry after all. If the Apple TV succeeds in gaming, then competition will surely follow, meaning success for Apple would be a good thing for the previously mentioned Amazon, Ouya and PlayStation TV, as they’d now have a space within which to compete rather than having to create one.

We at Grab It look forward to playing and reviewing games on yet another platform, and if these years of persistent rumours finally bare fruit we may be doing it sooner rather than later. Bring on September 9.

Hey Siri, give us a hint.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

If you are wondering who we are, we're primarily a digital magazine for the iPad focused on the coverage of indie video games. Run by the former editor of Game Informer, you'll find worldwide exclusives, but also an interactive media experience unlike any you have seen before. If you have an iPad, you should check out the free sample issue at the very least, or enjoy one of our other episodes as listed below. There is also a trailer below.

Get Every Episode:
     - Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue*)
     - Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
     - Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
     - Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
     - Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
     - Grab It Episodes 2-5 Bundle
     - Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic the Gathering
     - Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star
     - Episode 8 - The PAX AUS edition
     - Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection
     - Grab It Presents Ultimate Indie Game Reviews Vol 1.

30 August, 2015

Ski Safari 2 Review - Play it again Sven!

Sleepy Z Studios return to the slopes in style.

The word safari is derived from the Arabic safara, meaning "to travel." It's a wholly appropriate word for Sleepy Z Studios' series, as you sure do cover some ground. The original was a hit for the studio (and publisher Defiant Development) back in 2012, and for good reason - the sense of free flowing speed mixed well with the warm fuzzy, fun vibe. While the one-touch simplicity made it one of the genre's stand out titles. So much so we featured it in Grab It Episode 3's top ten auto-runners on iPad.

Sleepy Z has gone down the self-publishing route for this sequel, and at the time of writing the studio's humble little follow up was sitting comfortably in the number one spot for paid games on both the Australian and French App Stores. Ski Safari 2 is off and moving fast right from the get go, much like the game's main character, Sven. Should you follow suit joining the Aussies and French, by starting to sleep with your skis on? We think so, and here's why.

29 August, 2015

Ski Safari 2 is the #1 Paid Game in the Australian App Store - Players get Free Scarves!

While we love indie gaming on a global scale, being based in Australia also means we're pretty happy to celebrate a local hero when it's warranted. The land of Oz has been on a roll of late, with talented indies cranking out titles such as Framed, Screencheat, One More Dash and Crossy Road - a list which barely scratches the surface of the Australian avalanche. 

Speaking of avalanches, just this week saw the release of Sleepy Z Studios' sequel to its 2012 hit - Ski Safari 2. Players in both Australia and France have been quick to jump on this little mobile gem, propelling the game's hero Sven (and now joined by his sister Evana) to the number one paid game in those App Stores. Did someone say paid games on iOS couldn't succeed? 

Also Read: Our Look at the Top Ten iPad Auto-Runners in Grab It Episode 3

How did Sleepy Z Studios celebrate? Just this afternoon while practically free-falling down Penguin Peaks I was pleasantly surprised to find I'd been gifted a free green and gold scarf by the developers. Green and gold by the way signifies all things Australian for those of you reading from abroad. You're right, you won't find those colours on the flag, it's a little confusing, I know. Just run with it, we do.

Thanks Sleepy Z, I'm wearing mine with pride.

Also Read: Our Huge Making of Screencheat in Grab It Episode 8

We'll have a full review up on Grab It as soon as humanly possible, we have a team of trained professionals skiing around the clock as I post these words to screen. The inside word though is that it's a lot of fun. Ski Safari 2 has more of everything, including an awesome new photo mode, and even multiplayer over WiFi and BlueTooth. Yes, multiplayer! 

Oh and did I mention the new photo mode? Here's a happy snap I took today of Sven riding a snowmobile down a wire carrying a yeti and a penguin, while being photo-bombed by an eagle. Weird. 

Stay tuned for the review, check out the trailer below, and Grab the game right here. Stay frosty. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

Also Read: 
One More Dash Review
Hideo Kojima Reveals He is a Big Fan of Loveshack's FRAMED
Review of Hipster Whale's (Crossy Road developer) and Sprocket 3's PAC-MAN 256

26 August, 2015

And the Winner of Sony's First Vote to Play for PS Plus is...

Update: Grow Home! PS Plus subscribers voted, and the results are in. September's PS Plus lineup will include indie title Grow Home for PS4. Check out our original story below which includes trailers for all three games. Congratulations to Ubisoft Reflections on its win. 

Original Story: Sony is doing something a little different for its PS Plus September lineup. One of the PS4 games will actually be chosen by subscribers out of three possible candidates, and the game with the most votes has the honour of being added to the September selection. Simple right?

Well yeah, but the thing is, all three look to be supremely worthy contenders and we're anticipating feeling a little sorry for the two that don't get voted into the September lineup. Hopefully all three go on to find the success they deserve, as each look like labours of love from impassioned developers. The videos embedded below are actually really worth watching as each studio has put together a nice package pleading its case for inclusion. 

Voting kicks off in the next 24 hours, with the winner announced on August 24 and released on September 1 with the full PS Plus lineup. The remaining two games will also see a September 1 release at a discounted price, so if anything the first day of the next month will bring a nice selection of games for owners of Sony's latest hardware. 

Check them out, and we'd love to hear which game you'll be voting for - and why - in the comments below and the various social feeds. 

Armello - League of Geeks

We've been following Armello for quite some time here at Grab It. This intriguing tabletop/strategy RPG mashup featured in Grab It Episode 8 with a behind the scenes peak at gameplay, and an in depth interview with League of Geeks director Trent Kusters. With layers of strategy, depth and charm, Armello makes for a worthy contender. 

Grow Home - Ubisoft Reflections

Procedural generation comes to action platforming, as players guide their botanically inclined robot BUD back home. If this video is anything to go by, we're guessing there will be some emotional attachment between said robot and players by journey's end.  

Zombie Vikings - Zoink!

Swedish developer Zoink! rounds out the A to Z of September PS Plus candidates. This 2D action platformer looks to be a stylish hack'n'slash mash of yesterday's heroes - zombies - with the more current flavour of the month, Vikings. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

26 August, 2015

Land Sliders - Is There Life After Halfbrick for Prettygreat?

Well the cat's finally out of the bag for the guys at Prettygreat. The team must have been pretty anxious waiting for the gaming world to react after posting a teaser for its debut game - Land Sliders - earlier this week. 

Also Read: Five Minutes with Prettygreat's Phil Larsen

The ingredients all seem to be present for a promising start for the fledgling studio - cute characters, vibrant colours, a light touch of silly humour and an enticing game world. There's not much to be gleaned in the way of mechanics or story from the teaser embedded below, but by the way the avatar stays firmly rooted to the centre of the screen, and the title of the game being Land Sliders, it's pretty clear there will be some sort of land sliding taking place. By that I mean moving the game world instead of the character, such as in Simogo's excellent Bumpy Road

It's also pretty safe to assume this will be aiming towards the mobile market, given the previous success these guys had at Halfbrick. Crossy Road fans with a keen eye will spot a familiar looking chicken appearing as a playable character 13 seconds into the trailer. It's no surprise given the $500,000 of seed money Hipster Whale (developer of Crossy Road) provided Prettygreat to get off the ground. 

Also Read: Prettygreat Fruit Ninjas Crossy Road to Hipster Whale for $500K

We look forward to seeing how Land Sliders plays out. Will the guys who brought us Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride find success of that calibre with their new game? Time will tell. We'll of course keep you updated with any news that comes our way regarding Land Sliders. Which is your favourite character from the trailer below? I have to say I've got my eye on that Atari controller. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

23 August, 2015

PAC-MAN 256 Review - Endless, F2P and Packing a Laser, PAC-MAN Enters the 21st Century

It takes a pretty big pair of power pellets to take on the task of reinventing an icon of gaming history. With Internet rage on a constant hair trigger, even a slight misstep in the treatment of such an icon could mean a career killer - and the list of competitors occupying the same lofty tier of reverence as PAC-MAN are few. We would suggest Mario, Space Invaders, and possibly Sonic for that short list.

So how did the partnership of studios Hipster Whale and 3 Sprockets - no doubt under the watchful eye of IP owner Bandai Namco - do? Is PAC-MAN relevant again, or should the makers of Crossy Road and Cubemen be looking for day jobs?

13 August, 2015

Which PS4 Game Gets Your Vote for PS Plus September - Armello, Grow Home, or Zombie Vikings?

Sony is doing something a little different for its PS Plus September lineup. One of the PS4 games will actually be chosen by subscribers out of three possible candidates, and the game with the most votes has the honour of being added to the September selection. Simple right?

Well yeah, but the thing is, all three look to be supremely worthy contenders and we're anticipating feeling a little sorry for the two that don't get voted into the September lineup. Hopefully all three go on to find the success they deserve, as each look like labours of love from impassioned developers. The videos embedded below are actually really worth watching as each studio has put together a nice package pleading its case for inclusion. 

Voting kicks off in the next 24 hours, with the winner announced on August 24 and released on September 1 with the full PS Plus lineup. The remaining two games will also see a September 1 release at a discounted price, so if anything the first day of the next month will bring a nice selection of games for owners of Sony's latest hardware. 

Check them out, and we'd love to hear which game you'll be voting for - and why - in the comments below and the various social feeds. 

Armello - League of Geeks

We've been following Armello for quite some time here at Grab It. This intriguing tabletop/strategy RPG mashup featured in Grab It Episode 8 with a behind the scenes peak at gameplay, and an in depth interview with League of Geeks director Trent Kusters. With layers of strategy, depth and charm, Armello makes for a worthy contender. 

Grow Home - Ubisoft Reflections

Procedural generation comes to action platforming, as players guide their botanically inclined robot BUD back home. If this video is anything to go by, we're guessing there will be some emotional attachment between said robot and players by journey's end.  

Zombie Vikings - Zoink!

Swedish developer Zoink! rounds out the A to Z of September PS Plus candidates. This 2D action platformer looks to be a stylish hack'n'slash mash of yesterday's heroes - zombies - with the more current flavour of the month, Vikings. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

14 July, 2015

I Can't Bring Myself to Throw Out These PSone and PS2 Games!

Moving house is a great time for reflection. You’ll end up handling things that mean a lot to you, even though you haven’t seen those things for years. And while you may only see those artefacts every Olympiad or so, the reverence with which you touch them, and the smile they bring to your face will mean they will get placed in yet another box, labeled, and transported carefully to your next residence. Once there you’ll find another corner of another dark cupboard where these treasures will be safe.

The PSone and PS2 games pictured above are for me such treasures, and even though I no longer even own a PSone or a PS2, I can’t bring myself to get rid of them.

14 July, 2015

Simogo's Touching Tribute to Satoru Iwata is a Free Game

As an industry pays tribute to Nintendo's late President Satoru Iwata, we thought we'd share this especially appropriate one from Simogo. 

In the form of a small interactive experience, it's a simple and beautiful gesture.

You can download it for free straight from Simogo's site right here. 

Simogo is one of the best indie developers, with a run of fantastic titles. In our free Episode 1 of Grab It, we interviewed the developer as part of a Making Of for the fantastic title Device 6.

30 June, 2015

Out There: Omega Edition is Finally Out There on iOS

"...it was the journey and the constant sense of discovery that shone through for me, rather than the destination and a sense of completion. Combining the choose-your-own-adventure and resource management genres causes every run to feel different, and to create its own story."

- Out There review from Grab It Episode 3

We first posted about the huge incoming update to Mi-Clos Studio's excellent Out There back in July 2014, and the iOS version has finally landed today. We've had a brief chance to jump in and check out the shiny new makeover and can confidently give it the thumbs up. 

Loads of small flourishes add atmosphere to what was already a fantastic experience. The depiction of your ship orbiting a planet is no longer a static screen - planets now spin lazily in space, solar flares erupt from your current system's sun, while the background is a constant evolution of gaseous movement in space. None of it distracts, it all just comes together to give the effect of a soothing lava lamp while you plot your next move. 

The Omega Edition is much more than just a few extra animations though. Check out this huge list of new features straight from the App Store description:

   - Complete graphics makeover!
   - Extended soundtrack by Siddhartha Barnhoorn
   - 3 new spaceships
   - 1 new ending
   - 50+ new interactive stories
   - 15 new alien species
   - 10 new achievements
   - New leaderboard
   - English, German and Spanish localisation revised

A new ending! And the best part? If you already own the original Out There, you'll get all of that goodness as a free update to your current app. 

For newcomers, we've got a ready-made article of Essential Survival Tips right here so you can learn from our mistakes. There are no spoilers so fear not, it's just some basic ideas to guide you on your way. 

Out There is one of our easiest recommendations of 2014 for iOS gaming, and this Omega Edition - which also brought Mi-Clos' masterpiece to PC and Mac - is a no brainer. If you're still not convinced though, you can grab Episode 3 of Grab It for our full review and an exclusive making of interview with Mi-Clos. 

Enjoy!

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
Out There: Omega Edition

18 June, 2015

Fallout Shelter - Essential Survival Tips

How on Earth did the security ninjas at Bethesda keep Fallout Shelter a secret? That in itself would make for an interesting tale, but whatever the answer I'm sure glad they did, as it made the whole experience just that little bit sweeter. The surprise of the announcement at E3 that the iOS base-builder would be available at the end of the conference sent Fallout starved fans rushing to the App Store. Once downloaded, those same fans discovered a very nicely fleshed out and benevolently monetised package, with plenty of fan service trimmings to tide them over until the release of Fallout 4. 

Also Read: Fallout: Shelter Review - Mobile Hero or Just Another Ghoul From the F2P Wastelands?

Getting your Vault off to a healthy start is not easy though, and so we've put together some very basic tips that should at the very least set you off on the right path to wasteland survival. If you've got any insights you'd like to share, hit us up in the comments below or on our Facebook page, letting us know how you survived your first few hours. Good luck!

09 June, 2015

Five Minutes with Prettygreat's Phil Larsen

The three founders of Prettygreat (pictured in stunning detail above - Phil Larsen, Hugh Walters and Luke Muscat left to right) are on the cusp of an awesome adventure. Earlier this year the trio bailed out and pulled the rip cord from Halfbrick to form their brand new studio. You can get up to speed with our recent story right here. 

As the fledgling studio gears up towards the announcement of its debut title, we thought it might be fun to spend five minutes getting inside Prettygreat's head to see what makes it tick. With this in mind, we reached out and spoke with Phil Larsen - formerly CMO at Halfbrick - for a light, fun five minutes about gaming classics, virtual reality, and mulled wine. 

27 May, 2015

Oculus VR Gets More Surreal

"Ultimately, these technologies will lead to VR and AR systems that can be used in any condition, day or night, indoors or outdoors. They will open the door to true telepresence, where people can visit anyone, anywhere."

- The Surreal Vision Team

As we march ever closer to the commercial release of the Oculus Rift in early 2016, there seems to be a growing number of media reports expounding the possibilities of the technology, with fewer still kicking around the now tired comparisons to the failed fad of 3D TV. It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out in twelve months time, and we expect it will be a phenomenon that snowballs even more after release, as the tech is refined and evolved. 

In interesting news today, Oculus VR announced the acquisition of Surreal Vision, a company focused on real-time 3D scene reconstruction. The Surreal Vision founders (pictured above ) - Richard Newcombe, Renato Salas-Moreno, and Steven Lovegrove - have developed technologies that allow the real world to be captured and mapped straight into virtual reality in real-time, opening up amazing possibilities for combining virtual reality with augmented reality.

Also Read: Oculus Rift PC Specifications Are Not So Bad

The flash mob dancing in the tech demo video embedded below may not be one of the "amazing possibilities" that gamers will be dreaming of, but it gives a great outline of what the future might hold if you allow your imagination to run with it. The real-time mapping would seem to pave the way for mobile VR and help eliminate safety concerns as it does so.

Can you imagine what your lounge room could look like if reality was no longer an obstacle? 

You can check out the full statement from Surreal Vision regarding its acquisition by Oculus VR right here

Writer:
Garry Balogh

11 April, 2015

Check Out 8-bit Kratos Battling Shovel Knight

It's a question you would expect The Big Bang Theory's Howard to ask Raj:

"Who would win in a fight between Kratos and Shovel Knight?"

A conversation of Geek God proportions would ensue. 

Yacht Club Games is bringing its 2014 retro platforming hit Shovel Knight to PlayStation hardware on April 22, with a special guest appearance from one of Sony's cutest and cuddliest mascots. In a fun twist, you won't actually be playing as the God of War hero, you'll be fighting against him, and anyone who's had first hand experience dipping into Kratos' grab bag of death dealing tools will know this will be no easy task. 

The developer announced today on the PlayStation Blog that the battle is just one of many secrets and "double secrets" to be found within the game. What the hell is a double secret? We're pretty keen to find out. 

Check out the trailer below and wait until the very end for a glimpse of everybody's favourite bull in a china shop.  

Writer:
Garry Balogh

01 April, 2015

Nintendo Announce Crossy Toad

Rarely a day goes by that we don't awake at Grab It to find some pretty interesting things in our inbox. Today's bounty was slightly more intriguing than others. 

Ever since Nintendo dropped its recent bombshell on the gaming world, announcing a deal with free-to-play mobile giant DeNA to bring Nintendo IP to smartphones and tablets, speculation has been rife on what the first game might look like. 

These teaser images sent to us from Hipster Whale might bring a resolution to that speculation. In what looks like a possible cross-promotional deal between Nintendo, DeNA and the Crossy Road developer, it seems like the biggest indie hit of recent months might just be about to super-size its already considerable success. 

Could this just be the first in a long line of Nintendo characters to come to this mobile-friendly Frogger remake? It's a tantalising prospect. It even looks like the image below carries on the game's tradition of different characters causing fun side-effects in the surrounding environment. 

At the time of writing there is a Nintendo Direct scheduled to land in just over twelve hours time, so we're wondering if these leaked images are a teaser of a full announcement. Crossy Road would be a great place to start for Nintendo to start rolling out its plan of mobile games promoting classic IP; it's hugely popular, high quality, and has an aura of indie street credibility that might help some of the critics get over that feeling that Nintendo has sold out in its deal with DeNA.

In another recent announcement by Hipster Whale, no less than 17 new characters are on the way in an imminent update, so time will tell as we check the date and keep our fingers crossed for tomorrow's news if these are all pieces of the same puzzle or not. 

The still curious can grab Crossy Road for free right here

Writer:
Garry Balogh

Get Every Episode:
     - Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue*)
     - Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
     - Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
     - Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
     - Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
     - Grab It Episodes 2-5 Bundle
     - Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic 2015 - Duels of the Planeswalkers
     - Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star
     - Episode 8 - The PAX AUS edition
     - Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection
     - Grab It Presents Ultimate Indie Game Reviews Vol 1.

27 March, 2015

No, PS4's Suspend and Resume Function Doesn't Work in Destiny...Yet

With the arrival of the 2.50 update for the PS4 last night - bringing with it the long awaited Suspend and Resume function - I fired up Destiny to see if it was compatible with the new functionality, although I didn't hold out much hope given it's an online only game. But being the eternal optimist that I am, I thought maybe the game might allow suspension while in orbit, or in Destiny's social hub, The Tower.

No joy.

But then later today along came the Bungie Weekly Update, which brought with it this happy news:

"The 2.50 Firmware update for the PlayStation 4 will implement a Suspend and Resume function on 3/26. This function will not work with Destiny at this time. Functionality for the Suspend and Resume feature will be enabled for the 1.1.2 Update."

We won't have too long to wait until 1.1.2 either, with Bungie also announcing today the update is scheduled for some time in April.

It'll be interesting to see how the functionality is handled, clearly we won't be able to suspend during Strikes and Raids, but perhaps in orbit and/or The Tower.

Time will tell. Until then, happy hunting Guardians. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

25 March, 2015

Check out Crossy Road in First Person View

Crossy Road is the current breakout mobile hit that everyone wishes they would have thought of. Frogger as an endless mobile hopper? With hindsight it's a no-brainer. 

Fans of Hipster Whale's little masterpiece need to watch the video below, right now, for an absolute "shut-up-and-take-my-money" moment. YouTuber Andy Front Films has cobbled together a Crossy Road fantasy in which the game is played in first person mode, with all the unmistakable sights and sounds intact. 

It's brilliant. 

Crossy Road for the Oculus perhaps? 

Check it out, and those not already on board can grab the game for free right here

Writer:
Garry Balogh

18 March, 2015

Sony Pictures and Adam Sandler Release Pixels Film Trailer

Video game film conversions have had a questionable past. Some would also argue that Adam Sandler films also have a questionable past. Regardless, the premise of upcoming Sony film Pixels, from the Sandler-founded production company Happy Madison, sounds like a lot of fun on paper. 

Mistaking our early video gaming icons such as Pac-Man and Space Invaders as acts of aggression, aliens have come to pay us a little visit, turning those beloved icons against us. Sounds like an excellent excuse to eat popcorn. We'll just leave this trailer here for your viewing pleasure and let you decide for yourselves whether or not it looks worth the price of admission. 

Documentaries about our favourite pastime have had much better luck than their fictional counterparts, and a great place to start for an overall history is Video Games: The Movie. We also interviewed the director Jeremy Snead and got some great behind the scenes insights. 

Something we're also very excited for is upcoming documentary GameLoading: Rise of The Indies, which you can read all about right here. We've had some exclusive sneak peaks of the film in Episode 2, Episode 3 and Episode 6 of our digital iPad magazine, Grab It.

Right then, back to Pixels. I'm thinking at the very least this would have to be a bit of fun mixed with just the right amount of pizza and beer. 

Roll the tape! 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

18 March, 2015

Dungeon Hunter 5 Review - Come on in, the Water's... Shallow

I'm not a Gameloft hater; I'm a lover of good games - and there's a big difference. As they say, let the haters hate; plus I'm far too vain to allow myself to get lost in that sort of crowd.

So with that out of the way, let's get on to the main task at hand. Originally I was planning to start this review by comparing Dungeon Hunter 5 to a beautifully ornate treasure chest - such as the ones found in-game at the end of a successful mission; or the ones you can spend various hard earned currencies on opening - and asking readers to join me on a journey to discover what treasures, if any, lay inside. But if you glance back at that subtitle above, you'll see that I've shown my hand far too early to make good on any such contrivance, so I'll just dive straight in.

16 March, 2015

Lastronaut Review - Last but not Least

It’s an indie developer fairy tale. Having fallen in love with Super Mario Bros. in their childhood, two gamers dream of one day making their own games. It’s not easy, and it takes time. They learn to code, and over a two year period in the hours sandwiched between full-time jobs, a dream slowly materialises into a reality, and a game is made.

This alone would have been a happy enough ending, just simply finishing what they started. But the fairy tale ending for this story is that on its App Store release, the game gets a front page slot in the Best New Games section. The two guys are Darrin Henein and Stephan Leroux, their game is Lastronaut, and it’s a lot of fun.

11 March, 2015

Tim Cook says HBO Now for Apple TV is "Just the Beginning"

March 9's Apple Event gave us mostly answers, but also left us with a mystery. The answers were of course in the reveal of the new MacBook, and pricing and release details of the Apple Watch. The mystery was created by the unveiling of the HBO Now streaming service and price drop of the Apple TV. With CEO Tim Cook announcing on stage that this is "just the beginning" for Apple TV, it begs the question, where to from here for the little black box?

06 March, 2015

Where Does Rovio Founder Niklas Hed See Angry Birds in 300 Years Time?

I remember a time - a simpler, less complicated time - when I would be eagerly watching the megabyte-count tick away towards completion on an Angry Birds update, knowing that soon I would be in happy, unknown territory. Red, Chuck, Bomb, The Blues and Matilda would once again be doing my bidding as I tried to find the weak spot in the green pigs' fort. For me it was three stars or nothing in the early days of Angry Birds.

Five years have passed since the original Angry Birds trailer released and I can no longer keep up. To be honest I stopped trying quite some time ago. These days it feels a little like "another day, another Angry Birds level pack." And I mean that as a compliment. There is just so much content now for Angry Birds fans to enjoy, that they really are spoiled for choice. I actually have a folder on my iPhone reserved for Rovio's masterful blend of physics and cute characterisation - with all its numerous themed spin-offs - into which I still occasionally delve to pass five idle minutes. Gone are my days though of hoping to three star every (or any) level pack that sees release. 

To celebrate the five year anniversary of the original trailer's release, Rovio founder Niklas Hed, and founder of animation studio Kombo Lauri Konttori (who is also current game designer and games team lead at Rovio) were interviewed on the developer's blog.

It's a fascinating insight into the making of a pop-culture icon, in particular as Konttori describes the original depiction of Ren & Stimpy-inspired pigs that Hed found disturbing and had the animator tone down. 

The discussion wraps up with some ridiculous statistics being thrown around, as the trailer has now been viewed well over one hundred million times, equating to nearly three hundred years of viewing time. Interviewer Lark Kent jokingly asks Hed;

"Where do you see Angry Birds 300 years from now?" 

This prompts a great reply from Hed;

"Actually we’re carefully planning towards that. We have a 300 year plan, and in 300 years, the eggs are finally going to hatch – but here’s the good part! Inside the eggs there will be..."

Looks like we'll be waiting several generations for the answer to that one. Or for time travel or cryogenics to start pulling their weight. 

To help pass the time you can add one more to the original trailer's YouTube count, or better yet, crush the egg-stealing dreams of some green pigs in whichever flavour of Angry Birds takes your fancy by mashing the links below. Have fun!

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
   - Angry Birds
   - Angry Birds Seasons
   - Angry Birds Rio
   - Angry Birds Space
   - Angry Birds Star Wars
   - Angry Birds Star Wars II
   - Angry Birds Stella
   - Angry Birds Epic
   - Angry Birds Transformers
   - Angry Birds Go
   - Bad Piggies

28 February, 2015

Guild Wars 2 goes GTA V with First Person View Coming in March

In a blog post today, gameplay programmer Branden Gee outlined some pretty interesting options being added to Guild Wars 2's camera system. The update to ArenaNet's MMORPG - coming in March - will add numerous field of view options, enabling players to adjust how much of the game world can be seen at any one time, and also sliders to offset the camera both vertically and horizontally. 

The feature I find most exciting though is the first person camera view. Finally I'll be able to see the stunning world of Tyria through my level eighty Sylvari Elementalist's eyes. Those who really like to put the "role-playing" into their MMORPGs are bound for some exciting times. The first person view is not restricted to any gameplay modes, so it'll be interesting to explore with in PvE, or to add a visceral element to the combat in PvP. Time will also tell if those jumping puzzles are made easier or harder with this new camera option. 

As Gee mentions in his post, there is sure to be a flood of beautiful screenshots uploaded by Tyrian landscape and wildlife photographers taking advantage of the fact that their toons are now out of the picture.

With the Heart of Thorns expansion also on the way, Guild Wars 2 fans sure have a lot to look forward to. It's probably about time I jumped back in myself and caught up on the half a dozen Living Story missions I've been collecting over the months but have yet to complete. Maybe I'll do them in first person mode after the camera update?

For now, you can enjoy the trailer for Heart of Thorns below. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

23 February, 2015

Ammo Pigs Review - Is it Worth Getting Off Your Barstool for?

In the App Store notes for Ammo Pigs, you’ll read; “Ammo Pigs looks and plays like a DOS game, complete with VGA style graphics. It is a post-apocalyptic pig fantasy ripped out of the 90s shareware era.”

Based on this description, it’s clear Cascadia Games is going straight for the nostalgic jugular with its latest title. Nostalgia is a great starting point, but as we all know, without substance to give it strength, nostalgia alone is a shaky foundation on which to build a lasting and memorable game. So DOS, VGA and 90s shareware aside, is there enough substance to save Ammo Pigs from being mere App Store cannon fodder?

24 January, 2015

How to Play The Witcher Battle Arena

The MOBA genre's presence continues to grow on mobile and tablet platforms, with this week seeing the release of The Witcher Battle Arena

It can be a daunting experience jumping into your first online battle, but collaborators CD Projekt Red and Fuero Games have done a great job of easing newcomers into the fray. 

After the developer's splash screens and a 183MB update, players will choose a username and then be taken to the main menu. At this point you can of course just jump head first into the 3v3 fighting and learn through luck and loss, or you can dip your toes in more cautiously by watching the tutorial video and playing first against AI to learn your chops.

I highly recommend the video. It's a very clean and simply presented walkthrough of the absolute basics, describing the HUD, touch controls, and in-game mechanics. 

The video also acts as a great preview and introduction to the game for those who are sitting on the fence and not sure if they want to download it or not. With this in mind we thought we'd post the tutorial right here for that exact purpose. 

Check it out and if you like what you see, you can download The Witcher Battle Arena iOS version right here

If you're a MOBA fan and want to explore the genre some more, or just MOBA-curious, here are a bunch of other titles on iOS to check out:
   - Vainglory   - Fates Forever
   - Solstice Arena
   - Arena of Heroes
   - Heroes of Order & Chaos
   - Plants War
   - Legendary Heroes 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

21 January, 2015

A Longer Look at Cascadia Games' Upcoming Ammo Pigs

Yesterday we posted six seconds of looping video from Cascadia Games' upcoming Ammo Pigs. Today we have a bit more to share. About twenty-two seconds more. 

In the gameplay video below we get a much better look at what looks like a pretty challenging 2D retro action platformer. We've even learned a little of the justification for pigs having guns. Here is the story in a nutshell from Cascadia;

"In the future, highly evolved pigs battle sentient slaughterhouse machines for survival. Save baby piggies, rescue your squad-mates, and shutdown the machines once and for all."

So that's your mission if you choose to accept it. Ammo Pigs sounds and looks like a lot of fun, and Cascadia is hoping to submit it to iTunes connect this week, so a release should be just around the corner. 

Watch this space and remember to check out our exclusive interview with the developer in Episode 5 of Grab It

Writer:
Garry Balogh

20 January, 2015

2-Bit Cowboy and Cavorite Developer Cascadia Games Reveals Upcoming Ammo Pigs

Cascadia Games seem to have a couple of plates spinning at the moment. Having acquired the rights to the 1990s MS-DOS classic Wacky Wheels - which you can read more about here and here - we were thinking that would be its next game to follow up 2-bit Cowboy. We were wrong.

A very brief few seconds of gameplay from the developer's upcoming Ammo Pigs was released this afternoon, and it looks like Cascadia is back in 2D retro platforming mode. That's fine by us as we really enjoyed Game Boy inspired 2-bit Cowboy, and you can read our full review in Episode 5 of Grab It. Pigs, guns and action platforming look to be the order of the day in Ammo Pigs and it looks like a fun mix. 

Cascadia is shooting for an early February release on both iOS and Android, with a later release for Mac and PC.

In the meantime you can learn more about the developer by reading our interview from May 2014, in which owner Chris Jorgensen talks about the future of mobile gaming, the popularity of retro visuals on iOS, and more. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
   - Cavorite
   - Cavorite: Power of the Gem
   - Cavorite: Princess of the Moon
   - 2-bit Cowboy

18 January, 2015

Crossy Road Update Adds 16 New Characters - but Still Fails to Answer the Most Important Question of All Time

Note: Grab It is an award-winning digital iPad magazine focused on helping you discover great indie games, see below for a list of our episodes, or try our free sample issue.

Well, maybe it’s the second most important question of all time. The most important question - that of the chicken and the egg - has recently been answered, thanks to the Spierig brothers’ time travelling head trip film, Predestination.

Thanks Spierig brothers for helping to shorten my bucket list.

The knock-on effect is that of bumping what was formerly the second most important question - funnily enough, also involving a chicken - up to number one spot, and Crossy Road has us butting our heads against that question mark over and over (and over) again.

The 21st century’s answer to the arcade classic Frogger remains surprisingly unchanged. Although you cleverly start out as a chicken and not a frog, there are still roads and rivers to cross one step at a time, with the inescapable modern touch of collecting coins to unlock new playable characters. Players of a certain vintage will get a truly satisfying buzz from eventually unlocking (or buying) a frog to replace your chicken.

In a patriotic update that hit just this morning, developer Hipster Whale have made sixteen new characters available. Nine of those are native Australian animals such as a kangaroo, echidna (Australia’s answer to the porcupine), and platypus (Australia’s answer to a beaver crossed with a duck).

The other seven characters are shrouded in silhouetted mystery. Part of Crossy Road’s considerable charm is that playing as some of the avatars cause fun environmental effects. For example, switching to the penguin adds snow to your surroundings. It’s a satisfying way to add themes, and it’ll be interesting to see if today’s additions will bring any of these fun new twists.

You can grab Crossy Road for free right here.

One last thing before I sign off. What did come first? The chicken or the egg?

*** Major Spoiler Alert ***

The rooster.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

If you are wondering who we are, we’re a AAA digital magazine that you can pick up on the App Store anywhere in the world to get dedicated coverage of the indie iPad gaming scene. We’re trying to not only push the boundaries of what a digital magazine can be by making the reader experience feel like playing a dynamic and interactive game, but we’re also full of hours of reviews, exclusive developer interviews, footage, images, insights and more. Below you will find links to each edition.
     - Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue*)
     - Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
     - Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
     - Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
     - Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
     - Grab It Episodes 2-5 Bundle
     - Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic 2015 - Duels of the Planeswalkers

     - Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star
     - Episode 8 - the PAX AUS edition
     - Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection

16 January, 2015

Triada Studio's Shadowmatic is Out Now - Shadow Puppeteering Meets Zen Bound

We originally posted about Shadowmatic way back in December 2013, and at the time the projected release was for March 2014. Having all but forgotten about this beautiful looking puzzler, it was a very pleasant surprise indeed to see it holding pride of place this morning in the App Store's Best New Games list. Clicking through to the game's page reveals a stylishly darkened background, reserved for games that Apple wishes to shine a particularly appreciative light on, such as Monument Valley on its release.  

Shadowmatic looks to be positioning itself as a serene, meditative puzzle experience, calling to mind games such as Zen Bound. A light source shines through surreal, abstract objects onto a wall, and the trick is to turn the objects and combine them in ways that cause the shadows to form a recognisable picture. 

This is the kind of experience that might appeal to gamers and non-gamers alike, and based on its sheer visual beauty I can see it as a potential for design award nominations already. Whilst Shadowmatic is Triada's debut game, the studio is no stranger to visually stunning design, as evidenced in its ad work, which is really worth a look

Shadowmatic is out now on iOS, check out the trailer and grab it right here

For more on Monument Valley, check out our world exclusive feature on The Making Of Monument Valley, put together with insights and behind the scenes art from the studio. It was the highlighted game in Episode 3 of Grab It

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
   - Shadowmatic
   - Monument Valley
   - Zen Bound
   - Zen Bound 2

13 January, 2015

Grab It Plays PS Plus January - The Swapper

The console subscription services of Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus are a great legal way to exacerbate a first world problem many gamers are fortunate to have - that of a quickly growing pile of shame.

With the monthly PS Plus games I tend to shoot first and ask questions later. I’ll download them all for a quick look, and then delete the ones I don’t intend to play immediately (or ever), as console hard drive space is a valuable commodity. Don’t forget you can download them again in the future for as long as you remain a subscriber.

January’s lineup includes The Swapper, originally developed and released in 2013 by Facepalm Games, and ported to PlayStation’s hardware by Curve Digital in 2014. About two hours in, I’m quickly realising this is a minor masterpiece that previously slipped under my radar, so I thought I’d post some early impressions on the game, and what makes it an unmissable opportunity for PS Plus members.

10 January, 2015

Let's Play Axiom Verge - A Preview of One Man's Love Letter to Metroidvania

In 2010, Tom Happ starting writing his love letter - in the form of a video game - to the 16-bit age of action platforming adventures, aimed in particular at those of the atmospheric, exploratory type (think Metroid and Contra). 

Originally Happ's game - Axiom Verge - was a part-time affair, but thanks to a tap on the shoulder from benefactor Sony via its Pub Fund in April 2014, the developer auteur has been able to switch to concentrating full time on his dream project and is planning a 2015 release on PS4 and Vita.

Happ is doing it all; the art, coding, game design and even right down to the music. No stranger to game development, Happ is one of a growing number of developers who have jumped from the triple-A ship (having worked on Tiger Woods and NFL Street) into the independent ocean to follow their dreams.

08 January, 2015

How to Pay and How to Play Need for Speed: No Limits With Firemonkeys

In a lengthy Facebook post, developer Firemonkeys - makers of Real Racing 3 - has answered a tonne of frequently asked questions regarding its upcoming racer, Need for Speed: No Limits.

The game is the first mobile exclusive entry in the Need for Speed franchise, and Firemonkeys' previous mobile and racer experience seems like a perfect fit for the legendary blockbuster. Detailing the games free-to-play structure, car customisations, device compatibility and more, it's probably a good up-front move by Firemonkeys to head some of these questions off at the pass, especially given that a big name franchise such as Need for Speed going down the free-to-play path will be divisive to fans. (Not to mention the rocky start to Real Racing 3's F2P life.) 

Here is the full post:

07 December, 2014

Guacamelee! Dev Drinkbox Studios bringing next game Severed to PlayStation Vita First

If in an alternate universe Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana went into game development instead of music, something like the upcoming game Severed might be the result of their strange inter-dimensional union. And just for the hell of it, if we were to continue along that weird line of musing, who would take their place in the music world? The great universal scales must be kept in balance, otherwise we have a vacuum, or maybe a black hole, and anyone who's seen Interstellar knows that black holes can cause bother on a grand scale. So maybe the game development world would lose... hmmm... maybe Jeff Minter and Jason Oda? Seems like a good fit to me. 

Okay, still with me? Onto the task at hand. 

When we posted earlier this year about Severed (here and here) the platforms Drinkbox Studios were targeting were as yet unannounced. The gameplay style - mixing Fruit Ninja and Infinity Blade - seemed to infer touchscreens and so we assumed iOS. Drinkbox today announced however that the game that had us making all sorts of stereotypical psychedelic drug references is actually heading first to the PlayStation Vita. 

Sony's handheld, which looked to be dying a slow death over the last couple of years, has recently been repurposed as a companion to the PS4. (Mostly thanks to the new-gen console's Remote Play function, which allows PS4 games to be beamed onto the Vita and enjoyed from kilometres away.) I once predicted that the Vita would be the last ever dedicated portable gaming device made, thanks to the rise of smartphone gaming. I'm about as accurate with my predictions as I am with playing darts. Sometimes I'll hit the board purely out of luck. 

It would be sad to see the Vita go the way of the dodo, as the device is a small gaming beast, so hopefully this renaissance will see more developers targeting the platform. 

Drinkbox Studios describes Severed as an "RPG-light adventure." With upgradeable abilities, branching paths and puzzles, players will "take control of a one-armed heroine wielding a living sword as she knits together pieces of her story from both the past and the future."

Other platforms haven't been ruled out, as the developer's site for Severed says "no comment" in regards to whether iOS, Android and/or Kinect players will be dismembering enemy limbs. 

Coming in Q2 2015, Severed is looking so far like another indie gem, set to garner itself a cult following like its previous game Guacamelee! - a great 2D platforming brawler. Check out the brand new trailer below. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
Infinity Blade
Fruit Ninja
Continue?9876543210 (from Jason Oda)

06 December, 2014

No Man's Sky gets a Brilliant Live Action Trailer

It's that time of year when we start looking eagerly forward to the next one, and the gaming greatness it might hopefully bring. We've had a look at five of our most anticipated indie iOS games, and are also keeping a very sharp eye on Submerged

One of the most ambitious titles set to hit in 2015 would have to be Hello Games' No Man's Sky. An infinite, procedurally generated sci-fi exploration game, Hello Games are reaching for the stars and beyond with this one. In fact its reaching so far beyond that in No Man's Sky, you could potentially discover planets that no other player will ever see. That's ambitious. 

Early trailers for the game saw a player travelling seamlessly from an underwater environment, to walking on land, jumping in a nearby spaceship, lifting off into the planet's atmosphere and eventually leaving the atmosphere to emerge into the blackness of space. It was jaw dropping stuff. 

The new live-action trailer just released today, lightens the mood and has a player trying desperately to get his head around the fact that No Man's Sky is a game that embraces infinity. With hilarious results. 

You can also check out Hello Games' Joe Danger series, the iOS iterations of which are great fun - Joe Danger Touch and Joe Danger Infinity

Writer:
Garry Balogh

29 November, 2014

If You like the new Star Wars Trailer, Check out the Top 10 Star Wars Games on iOS

 

(art by pierreloyvet-d882h7n)

I have a hunch the most talked about thing in this teaser will be the new lightsaber. And why not? The redesign is pretty cool. Those extra cross bars will certainly add practicality to the Jedi's weapon of choice, making it more like a traditional sword and enabling the trapping of enemy lightsaber strikes.

And how about that little soccer ball droid? Shall we call him Wilson?

Every detail of this short teaser trailer will surely be dissected endlessly over the coming days. Spanning multiple generations, popular culture's biggest and most successful IP starts to build momentum once again, and I can't even begin to imagine the craziness of December 2015, as the new movie hits cinemas. "Highly anticipated" doesn't even begin to describe the new trilogy, helmed by J.J. Abrams. 

Now that you've watched the trailer, what do you think? Hit us up on the social feeds with your reactions. 

Also, whilst you're in a Star Wars mood, check out our Top 10 Best Star Wars Games on iPad and iPhone article. 

How good is it to see the Millenium Falcon back in action? 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

27 November, 2014

PC and Console Classic Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath is Out Now on iOS

Update: Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath seems to have missed its original release target of Q2 by exactly two quarters, but with gaming classics, the old adage of better late than never still holds water. To be honest, until it showed up on the App Store today, I'd completely forgotten about it since posting the original story back in March, which you can read below. Grab the game right here and let us know on the social feeds what you think as far as how successfully Stranger's Wrath has translated to touchscreens. Enjoy!

Original Story: In 1997 Abe's Oddysee launched on the PlayStation One, blending dark humour, subversive social commentary, fresh puzzle platforming ideas and visuals that were next-gen for its time. These ingredients all came together to forge an absolute classic.

Several games followed all set within the Oddworld universe, including Stranger's Wrath in 2005. The tale of a bounty hunter saving up money for his operation is being brought to iOS by developers JAW (Just Add Water) and Oddworld Inhabitants. 

Combining third-person adventuring with first-person shooting (with ammunition that gives a new meaning to "live ammo"), the gunplay will be an important factor in the success of Stranger's transition to touchscreens. The developers are giving players a choice of aiming via a virtual joystick, or a gyroscopic method, with movement to be handled using a twin-stick approach. We'll be keen to see how all this comes together in the final product. 

Enhanced visuals, an interface redesigned for touch and hidden easter eggs (!) are also on the list of things to look forward to.

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath is set for a Q2 2014 release, which means we won't have to wait long. It's great to see developers bringing these former console and PC classics to iOS, and taking the platform seriously. Check out the trailer, and also check out some other classics that have already made their way to iOS in the awesome list below. 

  - Baldur's Gate
  - Baldur's Gate II
  - Bastion
  - Broken Sword: Director's Cut
  - Carmageddon
  - Castle of Illusion
  - Contra Evolution
  - Doom Classic
  - Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
  - GTA San Andreas

Writer:
Garry Balogh

26 November, 2014

New Apple "Gamers" Ad Features Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake Trash Talking in Vainglory

 

Apple has been taking the less is more approach with its recent series of ads featuring fun banter between Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake. 

Individually, the two entertainers have undeniable charisma. Put them together and there seems to be a natural chemistry that is reminiscent of the Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin duo of yesteryear. We don't even get to see them in Apple's run of ads, we simply hear their voices and see what we're assuming are their own hands playing with the company's new hardware. The results are hilarious. 

The latest ad - entitled Gamers - sees Fallon and Timberlake trash talking each other whilst playing Vainglory. The excellent MOBA has become the most recent poster child for Apple's new hardware, taking over Real Racing's previous role. Vainglory is a great choice, as not only is it an impressive looking piece of eye candy, but it also has the gameplay goods to back up its visuals. 

Vainglory is to MOBAs what Hearthstone is to collectible card battling games. It has that same amount of accessibility with a wealth of depth once you scratch beneath the surface. It's also free-to-play, with an IAP system that feels quite fair and balanced, another similarity to Hearthstone. 

Check out the ad below for a fun chuckle, and hit the reference links below to download three of the biggest, eye-candiest (I'm inventing words now), and content-rich games available for your iHardware.

Also, if your're a fan of Real Racing, be sure to check out our exclusive interview with developer Firemonkeys, which appeared in Episode 5 of Grab It and discusses the evolution of Real Racing 3 over its first year on sale. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
   - Vainglory
   - Real Racing 3
   - Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

25 November, 2014

Apple's App Store Sees (RED) in the Fight Against AIDS

The latest Angry Birds update caught my attention more so than usual when checking my iPhone this morning. It's a fun ritual of mine to check my updates each day to see what kinds of goodies might have been delivered overnight in the way of game content. The completely blood-red makeover of the Angry Birds icon was hard to miss. 

It's all part of Apple's continuing collaboration with (RED), an organisation dedicated to the raising of awareness and funds for the fight against AIDS by appealing to the private sector. 

Purchasing a participating (RED) app or in-app-purchase within that app will see 100% of the money spent going to the project. For example, Angry Birds has exclusive levels and a homing ability IAP available for purchase. Another participant is the excellent Monument Valley, with money spent purchasing the game's special final chapter - Ida's Red Dream - all going to the charity.

The event runs from now until December 7, so get in quick for a great cause and some amazing content for your iDevice. For the full list of apps and games participating click right here. And for more on Monument Valley, don't miss our world exclusive making of feature in Episode 3 of Grab It.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
   - Angry Birds
   - Monument Valley
   - Episode 3 of Grab It

06 November, 2014

Year Walk and Device 6 Developer Simogo Release The Sailor's Dream

I wish I was in the Northern Hemisphere right now. 

The in-between limbo of Autumn would be perfectly suited to the wistful melancholy of Simogo's latest work of art. I haven't experienced The Sailor's Dream yet, but watch the trailer below and dare to disagree. A reality of rust-coloured leaves with a chill in the air would complement nicely those gun-metal oceans hiding their secrets. Those islands that appear impossible to set foot on, and impossible to leave, look to be a puzzle unto themselves. 

Following up the critically acclaimed artful gaming experiences of Year Walk and Device 6, The Sailor's Dream rounds out Simogo's trilogy, tied together only by a haunting, intangible quality that all three games have.

In Simogo's App Store description you'll read this; "A peaceful narrative experience, in which the only objective is to satisfy your curiosity." 

Sounds perfect for a night spent with EarPods in place, and a finger or two of single malt by my recliner's side. Wishing for Autumn and escaping into The Sailor's Dream. 

Grab the game here as it rolls out around the world.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
Year Walk
Device 6
The Sailor's Dream

27 October, 2014

5 of Our Most Anticipated Indie Games Coming to iOS

2014 has been a pretty fantastic ride so far, with so many great games having come out already for our iPads and iPhones. Just check out our Top 50 best indie iOS games of 2014 so far to get a taste of what a crazy year it's been for iOS quality. And there is so much more to come. 

Q4 and 2015 have so much indie goodness in store that we thought we'd do a quick roundup of five of the many excellent titles on our radar. PAX AUS is coming up and many of the titles below feature in our latest mammoth episode, complete with in depth articles and interviews with the makers of these great looking games. The best part is, for a limited time you can grab this bumper edition of Grab It for Free right here! 

Grab It will have staff boots on the ground at the PAX AUS event, so watch this space for stories direct from the show. 

Read on for a glimpse into the near-future of iOS.

25 October, 2014

Combining Hoverboards and Oculus Rift - A Match Made in Heaven?

On face value, this post really has nothing to do with gaming (sorry boss), but I'm sure there will be plenty of gamers out there who will appreciate the video embedded below. Marty McFly's hoverboard from the classic '80s film Back to the Future Part 2 has become the stuff of legend. In the decades since, children have grown into adults still waiting for technology to catch up so these things could be brought into reality.

Well the video below will be very exciting for those that are still holding onto that dream. The Hendo Hoverboard is a real, actual board that hovers. Job done. 

Kind of. 

At this stage the Hendo Hoverboard needs a special magnetic surface on which to hover, so dedicated parks would have to be built on which to ride, but it's still pretty awesome to watch. Check out the company Hendo Hover's Kickstarter campaign for all the details, it sure makes for some interesting reading. 

The fact that the boards still need a dedicated surface on which they can float, does reveal another potential use for this piece technology, and a gaming related one at that. Imagine a stationary hoverboard used as a gaming peripheral in conjunction with an Oculus Rift. Boom! It would be similar to the currently planned meeting of Oculus Rift and Virtuix Omni, only with added hoverboard. This might even be a more achievable goal as opposed to hoping that enough parks will be built around the world in order for the Hendo to take off financially. 

Either way it's exciting stuff, and company Hendo Hover has - not surprisingly - reached its Kickstarter goal of $250,000 already, still with fifty-one days to go. October 21, 2015 is the date Hendo have set for the delivery of its first set of production hoverboards. For more on Oculus Rift related software, check out Episode 8 of Grab It, which features among its 68 showcased indie games, Oculus titles such as Super Mega Mega, Montas, Blastr, Dead End Alley and ZVR Apocalypse.

The near-future sure is an exciting place. Roads? Where we're going... 

Roll the tape!

Writer:
Garry Balogh

Have you collected every Episode?
     - Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue*)
     - Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
     - Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
     - Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
     - Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
     - Grab It Episodes 2-5 Bundle
     - Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic 2015 - Duels of the Planeswalkers
     - Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star
     - Episode 8 - The PAX MEGA Edition
     - Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection

25 October, 2014

Is Submerged the Most Anticipated Game Coming to Mobile in 2015?

There is no denying Uppercut Games' upcoming Submerged has visual appeal. That much was clearly evident from the early screenshots we posted back in June

Today, however, we've seen movement and life brought to those previously static landscapes, in the way of the official trailer. The video does a wonderful job of implying a lot but only showing a little. In fact, throughout the development cycle thus far, Uppercut has so far succeeded admirably in walking that fine line of drip-feeding enough information through its development blogs to keep us interested, but not too much, so as to retain a sense of mystery and anticipation. 

Accompanied by sombre piano and strings, we see what I assume to be our main characters drift to shore through an destroyed city. The tiny exposed rowboat, and towering imposition of the half-submerged buildings emphasise their vulnerability. The female of the pair climbs out of the boat and onto shore, carrying a small boy in a clearly weakened state. The look on her face is one of desperation. It's a beautiful sequence. 

The little we know of the story and setting fleshes out what we see in the video. Players will be exploring and adventuring through this decaying city in an effort to save their brother's life, with supplies at a minimum. 

With one carrying or leading the other through these ancient ruined buildings, there are definitely echoes of legendary PlayStation title Ico in Submerged, although the actual gameplay mechanics are yet to be revealed, so we won't speculate too much. 

Uppercut's history on iOS has so far been a successful one, with Snowjinks and its sci-fi series EPOCH bringing intuitive controls to cover-based shooting on touchscreens. So at the end of the trailer when we see "Coming early 2015 for PC, Console and Mobile" we feel pretty safe in assuming this means iOS, but we'll do our best to confirm this.  

The release of this trailer is doing a great job of keeping Submerged very high on our list of games to watch out for in 2015, watch this space for more info as it comes to hand. 

Update: We reached out to Uppercut Games and just heard word that yes, Submerged is definitely coming to both iOS and Android. Happy Days!

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
Snowjinks
EPOCH
EPOCH 2

Have you collected every Episode?
     - Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue*)
     - Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
     - Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
     - Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
     - Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
     - Grab It Episodes 2-5 Bundle
     - Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic 2015 - Duels of the Planeswalkers
     - Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star
     - Episode 8 - the PAX AUS edition
     - Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection

24 October, 2014

Check Out the Weirdest Before and After Videos You'll See Today

Update: Kawaii Killer came and went. Apple seemed to have a thing against brutally mutilating cute cuddly animals and spilling their guts across our iPhones and iPads.

Well it's back. This time, however, Tabemasu Games has replaced the gore with plushy animal stuffing. So now children and parents can sleep easy at night knowing that as Davy the trapper slices open the cute animals, the only innards to come spilling out will be sparkling stars, plushiness and sweet dreams.

Makes you feel warm and fuzzy doesn't it? Check out the original video from our reveal in May below, and then watch the trailer for the new version. Which do you prefer?

If this mix of Fruit Ninja and cuddly animal trapping appeals to your sensibilities, you can grab the game right here.

 

Original Story: We just got word of Kawaii Killer, which developer Tabemasu describes as a “cartoon-gore” game. If that alone doesn’t give you an indication of the kind of experience you’ll witness in the trailer below, let us set the scene for you. In Kawaii Killer, you play a trapper called Davy, wandering through a bright and colourful forest. You’ll encounter 14 different animals on this walk, each of which you need to butcher ferociously using a different technique of swipes and taps to suit the offending beast's die method. Blood, guts, bones and the best bits of a child’s dream splatter across the screen as you go.

It’s super frantic stuff – and the gameplay clearly takes some inspiration from Halfbrick’s juggernaut Fruit Ninja. No release date is announced just yet, but we suspect it will be soon. The game will come with a number of game modes, some offering a “hardcore challenge,” which given the premise could mean just about anything. Could this be a cult classic in the making or one for animal welfare types to furrow a brow at?

References:
    - Fruit Ninja

24 October, 2014

Nocanwin's Bumper Tank Battle Trailer - Jared Bailey's Next Micro Game

                                                                   

Jared Bailey, operating under the moniker Nocanwin, today announced that on October 30th he will release the next in his line of "micro games."

His most recent was Wrong Way Racing, a combination of slot cars and chicken, which you can check out here.

The upcoming Bumper Tank Battle is certainly no World of Tanks Blitz, forgoing graphic realism for his signature cubed art style. It does however look like it might be able to offer up a fun diversion in between bouts of its bigger cousin's slow-rolling strategising.

The key seems to be in the title, as instead of shooting each other, the point seems to be to crash into the enemy's tanks bumper-car style. Hit the trailer below for a brief taste of what's in store.    

Speaking of all things tanks, and in particular World of Tanks Blitz, check out our making-of cover feature in Grab It Episode #5 for a massive behind the scenes look at how Wargaming.net stormed onto iOS, complete with world exclusive developer interviews.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
Wrong Way Racing
World of Tanks Blitz

23 October, 2014

Donut Games' Micro Battles - Two Players, One Screen, Fun Happens

For its latest release, Donut Games has gone back more than thirty years in time for inspiration. 

Gamers in their thirties and forties will remember Combat, a cartridge that came packaged in the box with the Atari 2600 console. Combat was an absolute  treasure trove containing tonnes of minigames that pitted two players against one another in competition. I remember my sister and I losing countless hours to it after school when we probably should have been doing homework. 

Donut Games' Micro Battles seems to be a direct attempt to tap into that rich vein of fun that can only be had by two people gaming together in the same room, on the same screen. 

There are four games in Micro Battles - a cowboy shootout, plane battle, axe throwing, and a mini football game. Each game simply has a blue button on the left and a red button on the right, with each player timing their attacks and the winner being the first to score five. 

By the end of half a dozen games of the cowboy shootout and axe throwing - with my opponent being my wife - we were laughing and yelling hysterically and loudly. The great thing about these four games is that whilst there is some skill involved in timing your attacks, there is also an element of chance which helps even up the odds. For example, in the cowboy game, your bullet may hit one of many cacti placed between you and your opponent, which sends it careening and ricocheting off in unpredictable angles, so much so that it might actually come back to hit you. With luck being a third invisible player, it makes for some great comebacks and stops you from wanting to quit if you are against the wall at 4-1 down. 

If you own an iPad or an iPhone, and have an actual real life, warm blooded friend with opposable thumbs, you can jump into the action right now and try out Micro Battles for free. Each day will see one of the four games selected at random, and you can play an unlimited amount of times, with no timers and no ads. For an in-app-purchase, you can then unlock all four games to be playable at your leisure. Simple. 

Micro Battles is a step back towards Donut Games' usual stomping ground of casual gaming. Its previous title - Traps 'n Gemstones - saw the developer dip its toes very successfully in harder core gaming waters with a fully fledged 2D platformer. We gave it the full review treatment in Grab It Episode #7

Check out the trailer below for Micro Battles, and grab it right here for free

Have you collected every Episode?
     - Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue*)
     - Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
     - Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
     - Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
     - Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
     - Grab It Episodes 2-5 Bundle
     - Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic 2015 - Duels of the Planeswalkers
     - Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star
     - Episode 8 - the PAX AUS edition
     - Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
Micro Battles
Traps 'n Gemstones

23 October, 2014

What do Metallica and the Hearthstone World Championship Have in Common?

Answer: Both will be playing at BlizzCon 2014.

This year the annual celebration of all things Blizzard will see the first ever Hearthstone World Champion crowned, after months of battling it out for a slice of $250,000 worth of prize money. We first reported on the competition back in May, and since then competition has been fierce, as the best of the best fought for  their seat at the finals table. 

Closing out BlizzCon will be a live concert from none other than Heavy Metal behemoths Metallica. If you're not able to be at the show in person on the night of November 8, Blizzard has a solution with its BlizzCon Virtual Ticket (full details here). As well as being able to see the concert live and in HD, the virtual ticket will get you all sorts of other Blizzard-related goodies. 

Blizzard's accessible yet deep card-battler Hearthstone is available right here for free, and you've now got 12 months to get practicing for the 2015 crown. 

Good luck! 

Here's the Hearthstone trailer:

Writer:
Garry Balogh

24 September, 2014

Shadow Blade Developer Dead Mage reveals next game Children of Morta

Stop what you're doing and watch the trailer embedded below. Done? I don't know about you, but this gets me pretty excited for Dead Mage's upcoming Children of Morta.

Judging from what we see in the video, the developer looks to be sticking with the sword-swinging ninja genre of its previous hit Shadow Blade, but moving it away from action platforming and towards a top-down, story-driven action RPG. 

And how about that beautiful pixel art? This is pixel art with the emphasis on art, as opposed to pixel art purely as a vehicle for retro nostalgia, which is a pleasant change. Combined with the epic soundtrack and subdued colour palette, the trailer conjures a great sense of haunting gravitas. 

There is no confirmation as to which platforms Children of Morta is aiming to release on as yet, apart from the game's website containing a Windows, Apple and Linux symbol. But this could of course mean Mac or iOS. At Grab It Magazine we're obviously hoping for an iOS release, and with the success of Shadow Blade this would seem reasonably likely, but we'll spill the beans as soon as we know more. 

For now, all is speculation as we try to decode more clues from that trailer. It's a nice trailer, I think I'll watch it again. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

Shadow Blade - which you can grab here - was one of our featured reviews (and interviews) in Grab It Episode 2, which you can grab right here. 

23 September, 2014

Ever wanted to play Lex on an Atari XL? Well Now You Can.

Yesterday if you were to draw a Ven Diagram of all the games playable between an Atari XL (from the 1980s and packing a whopping 64k of memory under the hood) and your iOS devices, you would have had two separate circles with no overlapping at all. 

Today would be a different story. The developer of frantic word puzzler Lex - Simple Machine - made its game open source in the hope that cool things might happen. Something cool just happened. 

Bill Kendrick recently reached out to Simple Machine informing the developer of his creation Invenies Verba - Latin for "find the word" - a Lex-inspired word puzzler playable on an Atari XL. Check out the video below for some nostalgia tinged with 21st century inspiration. 

You can read our full review of Lex and grab the game right here, but as a teaser, reviewer Claire Phillips had this to say; "I have come up for air after burning through forty minutes of Lex. My eyes are still adjusting to the tame colours of the real world, my ears are relieved that the tension inducing music is gone, and the section of my brain responsible for vocabulary is crying in a corner about its inability to spell any word with a ‘u’ in it."

Writer:
Garry Balogh

20 September, 2014

Could Radiangames be releasing Inferno 2 on September 32?

No that's not a typo. 

In a blog post today Radiangames explained that after failing to meet its September target for releasing Inferno 2, we could always just consider October 2 to be September 32 and still call it a win. Whilst adding the developer's caveat of "no guarantee" for meeting the October 2 date, it looks pretty likely we'll have our hands on the sequel around then. 

Starting life as an Xbox Live title, the award-winning dual-stick shooter found its way to iOS in the form of Inferno+. With RPG elements courtesy of a ship upgrade system, and in what is becoming Radiangames' signature, a neon coloured visual style, Inferno+ is a blast. 

Double the shooting goodness of Inferno+, the sequel promises 80 levels of smooth eye-melting action. Check out the trailer below for a taste of what to expect, and start practicing now by grabbing the original right here

We also highly recommend you check out Radiangames' titles in general as the company is very good at what it does, mixing those gorgeous visuals with tight controls in shooters such as Super Crossfighter, JoyJoy, Fireball SE, Ballistic SE, and its racer Fluid SE

Super Crossfighter was one of our showcased games in the recently released Episode 7 of Grab It, too.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

Spoiler Alert - The trailer below contains all of level 29 of Inferno 2, so look away if you'd rather not have that "aah" moment spoiled after you beat level 28. 

18 September, 2014

Bundles of Games Now Appearing on App Store via Today's iOS Update

If you have an iOS-compatible device you can now update to iOS 8. The new software is compatible back to the iPhone 4s, iPad 2 and the 5th generation iPod Touch. A great new feature of this OS is the ability for developers to sell apps in bundles - good news for developers and customers alike

Typing the word "bundle" into the App Store search field this morning harvested some interesting results. There are already various fitness and productivity bundles available, and some interesting games packages as well. Here are the first four games bundles that turned up in my search:

Touchgrind X-Sports Bundle - contains Touchgrind Skate 2 and Touchgrind BMX. 
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-7 - contains LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 and 5-7 games.
Illusion Labs Puzzle Bundle - contains Blast-A-Way and Labyrinth 2. 
Angry Birds: Ultimate Slingshot Bundle - contains Angry Birds (original), AB Star Wars, AB Space and AB Seasons. Trust me, these four Angry Birds games between them have enough level packs to keep fans occupied for many, many months.

Update: Crescent Moon Games has just revealed a bunch of great bundles

It will be endlessly fascinating to see the bundles developers come up with; I envision some great RPG compilations, best-of strategy titles, and so on. 

An excellent inclusion in the App Store listing for the bundles is that once you click on the bundle's app icon to go in and have a closer look and read the description, you'll be shown not only the bundle's price, but also the total price it would cost you to buy each app separately. For example, the Touchgrind bundle listed above costs AU$8.99, but the two games individually would cost a total of AU$12.98. Similarly, the Angry Birds bundle would cost a total of AU$5.16 outside of the bundle, but only AU$2.49 all together. 

Already it's a great insight as to the awesome deals gamers will be able to pick up. If we spy any particularly interesting bundles, we'll let you know. Watch this space.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

17 September, 2014

Polarbit Unveils Reckless Racing 3 Trailer

Micro Machines V3 on the PlayStation One has to be one of my all-time favourite games from that great console's catalogue. Racing toy cars through high-concept fantasy environments viewed from the top down is also a great fit for the iPad. 

Developer Polarbit seems to agree. Check out the gorgeous environments shown off in this teaser trailer for the upcoming third entry in its Reckless Racing series, aptly titled Reckless Racing 3. It's looking absolutely stunning, and power-sliding your way around the nuclear reactor setting depicted above should be an awful lot of fun. 

Other routes include a harbour, quarry, golf course and a vineyard, all with destructible obstacles. We're pretty excited to take this one for a spin, or a drift, or both. Check out the trailer, and grab the previous game in the series below to get in on the fun now.

PS If you like racing games, you should check out our exclusive interview with Real Racing developer Firemonkeys in Episode 5 of Grab It.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
   - Reckless Racing 2

17 September, 2014

DrinkBox Went To The Chili Cook Off, Then Made Severed With a Coyote

DrinkBox Studios - makers of the fantastic action platformer Guacamelee! - is turning its talents towards touchscreens with Severed. 

Details regarding the gameplay are scant at this stage, but judging from the newly released trailer below, it looks like the mechanics of Infinity Blade and Fruit Ninja have been thrown into a blender with some mind-altering desert drugs. Sounds like a fun night in. 

I love the music in the video as well - Jimi Hendrix mashed with some 21st century electronica. Are you ready to take a ride down the rabbit hole? Enjoy. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
   - Infinity Blade 3
   - Fruit Ninja

17 September, 2014

Check out this Time Lapse Video from Bossa Studios Artist Dan Lish

For no real reason other than the fact that it is awesome, we thought we'd post this video made by talented Bossa Studios artist Dan Lish. 

Using iTimeLapse - available here on the App Store - Lish has squashed about forty-five minutes of real-time sketching into this forty-one second video. My mind boggles when I imagine being able to knock out works of art like this in forty-five minutes. It just goes to show the kind of talent Bossa Studios has in its ranks.

Bossa just last week released Twelve a Dozen - a mathematical platforming puzzler, for which you can check out the trailer below. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
   - iTimeLapse 
   - Twelve a Dozen

14 September, 2014

Bungie's Destiny Companion App - Is It Any Good?

                                                        

With the arrival of next-gen consoles in 2013, you were hard-pressed to find an article about an upcoming triple-A release without being told about its accompanying "second-screen" experience, and how these were going to revolutionise gaming. Whilst there have been some nice ideas brought forward - with apps released alongside Call of Duty: Ghosts and Watch Dogs - none have yet garnered a reputation as a must-have companion. 

With last week's release of Bungie's much-hyped Halo follow up Destiny, we've seen yet another companion app find its way to the App Store. So what does it do? And is it any good?

15 September, 2014

iOS 8 - A Bundle of Joy for Developers?

In less than a week we'll see the release of iOS 8, with its many functional additions and improvements. There is one feature that I feel has so far been under appreciated, but one which I believe has the potential to bring about a lot of positive change to the App Store environment, and the shopping habits of iOS customers. It's the new ability for developers to be able to sell bundles of apps, as opposed to just one at a time. How is such a simple change going to effect iOS sellers and buyers? 

08 September, 2014

iPhone 6, iWatch, new IP, iOS 8, Metal - What can we expect from Apple's Big Announcement?

Happy Monday! Get ready, this week is set to be a big one for watchers of iOS news. At the time of writing the clock on Apple's site says there's one day, eighteen hours, fifty-six minutes and four seconds to go until the big reveal.

Living on the east coast of Australia can make for some late nights or early mornings if you want to write about games. Everything is of course always happening in time zones at the opposite end of my sleep cycle. On June 2 I awoke at 3am to watch Apple's WWDC announcement live, and on a chilly Thursday morning in July I awoke at 2am to phone Dallas, Texas to interview to Jeremy Snead, director of gaming documentary Video Games: The Movie.  

Well our alarms are set once again for 3am on the 10th September to watch what we're all expecting to be the iPhone 6 announcement. Finally we'll be able to put all the rumours to bed. 

08 September, 2014

Godus Review - It's About Time

Time. Rarely is there enough of it to allow us to do and achieve all the things we wish to. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it is our most precious commodity, valuing it above even health and wealth. For what good is health without the time to enjoy being healthy? And what good are riches without the time to spend big?

It’s thoughts such as these that caused me to fall out of love with Godus, the new god game by developer 22cans - headed by industry icon Peter Molyneux. It was a brief love affair, lasting only two weeks. At first I tried the “it’s not you it’s me” breakup tactic, but realised I was just lying to myself. It was the timers that eventually got the better of me.

01 September, 2014

Wizards of the Coast and Beamdog Announce Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition

Developers seem to be really taking to the "enhanced" editions with gusto after a run of such reveals this year. 2014 has so far seen the FTL: Advanced Edition come to iPads, and announcements for an Out There Omega Edition and a Shadowrun: Dragonfall Director's Cut. Now old-school RPG classic Icewind Dale is joining the trend.

Beamdog Studios is no stranger to enhancing old game experiences, already counting much-loved RPG classics Baldur's Gate I & II to Apple's tablet. The studio, in conjunction with Wizards of the Coast - who we recently interviewed as part of our massive Magic 2015 cover story in Episode 6 of Grab It - is working on Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition, which is being targeted for an October release on iPad. 

An enhanced edition would of course be nothing without enhancements, and Icewind Dale has plenty of those. A dungeons & dragons title at heart, the game is set within the Forgotten Realms universe, and this new edition will bring new spells, items, armour and weapons to the mix, with no less than thirty new kits and classes to explore. You'll be able to adventure with friends via co-op cross-platform multiplayer, and explore quest content cut from the original PC game when it released way back in 2000. To top things off, the Enhanced Edition includes the Heart of Winter and Trials of the Luremaster expansion packs. 

Yep, it deserves its enhanced moniker. October is the time RPG fans, so clear your schedules. 

In preparation you can grab the Baldur's Gate games from the links below, but good luck getting them finished before Icewind Dale lands, as they are big, fat, deep adventures. 

There is more to iOS gaming than Angry Birds folks, not that there's anything wrong with that.  

References:
   - Baldur's Gate
   - Baldur's Gate II
   - Out There
   - Shadowrun Returns
   - FTL: Faster Than Light Advanced Edition

Writer:
Garry Balogh

Have you collected every episode of Grab It?
   - Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue)
   - Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
   - Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
   - Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
   - Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
   - Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic 2015 - Duels of the Planeswalkers
   - Episode 7 - Includes The Making of Tiny Troopers Alliance and Midnight Star
   - Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection

31 August, 2014

Harebrained Schemes Targets October for Shadowrun: Dragonfall on iPad

The Shadowrun series started life in the good old 1980s as a tabletop game, and moved onto consoles in the '90s via the SNES and Mega Drive. More recently, our iPads were treated to the isometrically viewed, tactical RPG in the form of Shadowrun Returns

Known for its mash-ups of real-world and fantasy settings, and its deep, engaging storylines, the series seems to be going from strength to strength following the release of the Shadowrun: Dragonfall expansion on PC, Mac and Linux earlier this year.

iPad gamers have been forced to sit on the sidelines whilst others enjoy this latest instalment, but not for long. This weekend developer Harebrained Schemes announced it is targeting October for an iPad release of Dragonfall as a standalone Director's Cut experience. Happy days!

Now would be a good time to immerse yourself in the cyberpunk, turn-based tactical RPG world of Shadowrun Returns in preparation for Dragonfall. You can grab it right here

It's a great time to be gaming on an iPad, with the recent release of BioShock, and the imminent release of iOS 8 - which we're anticipating will bring with it all sorts of gaming goodies, ports and surprises. Stay tuned folks, Q4 2014 is going to be huge for iOS gaming. 

For now, check out the PC trailer for Shadowrun: Dragonfall Director's Cut below to whet your appetite. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

27 August, 2014

World of Tanks Blitz Gets First Content Update - New Tanks, Map and Various Tweaks

 

Tankophiles rejoice! World of Tanks Blitz has today seen its first content update, adding five new tanks, a new map (Oasis Palms), along with various tweaks and fixes. 

Wargaming.Net's iOS version of its world conquering tank battler rumbled onto our iPads and iPhones back in June, and was our cover feature in Grab It Episode #5. In the episode we go deep into the making of this ambitious iOS title, with exclusive behind-the-scenes info and assets. 

Since its release there have been various tweaks and balances, but today we see new content, the most important of which is of course the tanks. There are five shiny new toys to wreak havoc with - the SU-100Y, Dicker Max, Panther/M10, Lowe and T34.

The update is free, as is the game itself, which you can grab right here

So get your tank on!

Have you collected every episode of Grab It?
   - Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue)
   - Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
   - Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley 
   - Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
   - Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz (trailer below)
   - Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic 2015 - Duels of the Planeswalkers 
   - Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection

16 August, 2014

The Godus Diaries - Part 1 - Perfect For My Lifestyle

** As I explore and create the world of Godus, I thought it might be fun to post a few diary entries on my adventures, discoveries and thoughts so far. These may contain spoilers of things you haven’t yet unlocked in the game (although I’m only at the early stages), so stay away if this isn’t your bag. No spoilers in this first entry though. **

Katy McCarthy was climbing a mountain.

The mountain was snowcapped and steep, the going was hard, and Katy couldn’t say exactly why she was climbing it. She just knew she had to.

Earlier that morning, Katy woke and ventured outside her abode, with the intention of lending a hand building her neighbour’s dwelling, for she was a builder after all.

15 August, 2014

Wacky Wheels Comeback Gains Momentum

We've been following Cascadia Games' reboot of '90s MS-DOS classic Wacky Wheels for some time now. Today we got to see some very early alpha gameplay footage courtesy of a blog post by Cascadia's Chris Jorgensen. A fan of retro kart racing, Jorgensen is looking to nail down three key areas to make Wacky Wheels the best it can be - engagement, intensity and proximity.

Engagement in that there should never be a dull moment while racing; intensity in that the game should always require the player's focus; and proximity in that there should always be another racer nearby, going beyond arcade racer into bumper car territory. 

Taking inspiration from the SNES's Super Mario Kart, and the Game Boy Advance's Konami Krazy Racers, Wacky Wheels looks to try and bring the pure fun and intensity of those classics to iOS. Lofty aspirations sure, but we applaud Cascadia for shooting for the moon and can't wait to take Wacky Wheels for a spin. 

Keep in mind the video below is very early alpha footage. Jorgensen notes in his blog the sound effects are mostly temporary, and many details are missing, but it looks like things are off to a good start. Check it out. 

Cascadia Games' most recent release 2-bit Cowboy was showcased in Grab It Episode #5 alongside an insightful and exclusive interview with Jorgensen, and the game is an absolute blast of 2D action platforming fun. Grab it right here, or the ad-supported free version here

Also, for more from Chris Jorgensen, check out our interview right here as he talks about the future of mobile games, retro inspirations, and MFi controllers. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

29 July, 2014

5 iPad Games You Want On A Desert Island

I could easily simplify the premise of this article and drag it kicking and screaming into the real world. I could simply ask; If you were in the financial position to be able to gift someone an iPad, and were going to pre-load it with five games, what five games would they be?

But where’s the fun in that? Let’s go fantasy. Let’s go "desert island," with sun, fine white sand and warm, crystal-clear azure water. Let’s add to that a daily visit from a boatload of naked Gods or Goddesses (whichever floats yours) to clean up after you, replenish your buffet with gourmet cuisine and the finest quality beverages, and to do your general bidding.

The cherry on the top of this fantastical desert (or dessert) island is a magical iPad that never runs out of power. Its battery is always at 100%. One day, through the wonders of wireless charging that actually won’t seem so fantastic after all. This however, is a fantasy for 2014. And what a great fantasy it is. Just to keep things interesting though, let’s throw one single spanner in the works. With just one limit, we’ll create a situation to ponder and to solve, to debate and discuss, and the internet being what it is, to hate and to flame.

The spanner is that you can only have five games on your magical iPad. So which five? I’ve picked mine and argued my case for them below. Which five would you take with you? This is your time. This is Desert Island iPad Time.

26 July, 2014

Indiana Jones meets Metroid in Traps 'n Gemstones

Donut Games' company logo - depicting a coffee and a doughnut - perfectly sums up the niche the developer has carved out for itself on the App Store. Combining the key ingredients of short five minute casual gameplay experiences and its now iconic cartoon art style with a light, fun, often surreal twist, you always know what you are getting with a Donut Games title. 

The company is prolific in its releases, with dozens of games to choose from. A personal favourite of mine is Traffic Rush - a perfectly executed little time-waster concerning a four-way intersection and vehicles of different speeds that you must control to ensure their safe passage. A new mode with the same idea, but swapping out cars and roads for trains and tracks, has been added to the game as well. Great high score chasing fun. 

This week, however, saw Donut Games venturing out of its five minute casual comfort zone to release a larger 2D action platformer, with elements of puzzle solving, loot collecting and exploration. Check out the trailer below for a look at the many gameplay mechanic ideas that have been squeezed into this excellent looking adventure. 

There is a distinct Indiana Jones flavour that is hard to miss, complete with hat, whip and Egyptian tomb-plundering, while the level design is classic Metroidvania. 

If you're keen to jump straight in, you can grab the game here. For a 2D platformer with a focus on exploration, but with a Western setting, 2-Bit Cowboy is another easy recommendation, and just had an ad supported free version release also. 

References:
 - Traffic Rush
 - Traps 'n Gemstones
 - 2-Bit Cowboy
 - 2-Bit Cowboy Free

Writer:
Garry Balogh 

25 July, 2014

Video Games: The Movie – The Jeremy Snead Interview

A few days ago I published my review for the new film Video Games: The Movie, put together by documentarian Jeremy Snead. Today I go one step further and interview the man himself about this fantastically enjoyable endeavour and what the future holds:

Also make sure you check out our latest episode of Grab It - The Game Discovery App, which features no less than nine exclusive developer interviews and hours of insight into indie gaming in iPad. This includes a behind-the-scenes snippet from the coming 2015 feature film Rise of the Indies, including an interview with director Lester Francois. Full details here.

24 July, 2014

Free Version of 2-Bit Cowboy Hits the App Store

Cascadia Games has released a new, free version of its excellent 2D platforming "Westernvania" 2-Bit Cowboy today. 

We reviewed the original paid version in Grab It Episode #5 and had a great time running, gunning and exploring our way through its Game Boy inspired levels. Giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars we concluded; "Tight controls, classic Game Boy visuals and plenty of collectible treats give gamers a lot of bang for their buck without ever getting a single saddle sore. Giddy-up!"

Now gamers who don't mind the occasional pop-up ad can enjoy the same fun experience gratis. Which is Latin for nada. Which is Spanish for nothing. 

Those who don't like pop-up ads can just pay the buck and grab the paid version. Simple. Who doesn't like options? 

Check out 2-Bit Cowboy's trailer below and grab the free version right here.

Have you collected every episode of Grab It?
   
- Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue)
    - Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
    - Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
    - Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
    - Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
    - Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic 2015 - Duels of the Planeswalkers
    - Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection

Writer:
Garry Balogh

19 July, 2014

Video Games: The Movie Review

“Once upon a time, there did exist a world without video games.”

It must have been a daunting thing sitting in front of a blank page figuring out how to tell the story of video games in the space of a feature-length documentary. But what better place to start than at the beginning? The first words we hear, quoted above, does a great job of grabbing the viewer’s attention and forcing them to contemplate such a world. To plant the seed that this pastime of ours we now take for granted is still so young, and yet has come such a long way already, is the best possible way this film could have started.

Director and screenwriter, Jeremy Snead, has done an admirable job of taking us on a journey from the very birth of an entire medium to the present day, whilst covering most of the salient points along the way. From Spacewar and Pong in the 1970’s, to the Cloud and Oculus Rift of today, Snead spends the first half of the film taking us along a timeline from the start to the present, and the second half travelling back and forth to key points on that timeline to cover some of the bigger issues gaming has faced over the decades. This includes the fall of Atari and the infamous E.T landfill anecdote, the controversy of violence in gaming, and the maturing present-day acceptance of gaming culture.

From start to finish it is evident this is a movie for gamers, by gamers. A look at one of the executive producer credits reveals Cliff Bleszinski, formerly of Epic Games, which fosters credibility. The film is certainly an appreciation of video gaming, but it is not a patronising one, and some of the talking heads throughout are the industry’s biggest innovators and hitters, including Nolan Bushnell, Hideo Kojima, Peter Molyneux, Reggie Fils-Aime and Mark Cerny. This is no scrape the barrel for the B-list production.

Each talk quite passionately and thoughtfully about their respective topics, with some memorable quotes and philosophical nuggets that will stay with me for some time. When discussing the various skill sets that need to come together to craft a game, Cliff Bleszinski dubs the requirement “the Avengers of talent.” Another standout moment for me was Peter Molyneux discussing the issue of game violence, and pontificating on how, if one were to only focus on the horror genre of the film industry, what a ghastly industry it would seem. Whatever your thoughts on Molyneux’s past and present body of work, it is always worth listening to the man philosophise and ruminate over gaming’s many facets.

As much as I enjoyed the film and the way its great montages walk the fine line between nostalgia and appreciation admirably, I did feel there were some strange omissions. The focus on Nintendo is of course valid, but for SEGA to barely get a mention seems unfair. Also I found it odd that apart from a few offhand references to tablet gaming, iOS and the advent of touchscreen gaming isn’t covered. Given the seismic shift in the gaming landscape that iOS has brought with it, I was surprised by this. Having said that, the ground covered in 101 minutes is vast, and had Snead attempted to tackle any more than he did, the film might have outstayed its welcome.

Video Games: The Movie is a hard film for me to watch objectively, given my love of the subject matter, and I suspect many gamers will feel the same. But watching this film about our beloved hobby and the amazing culture it has created brings with it the realisation that gaming really has grown up and that we have an exciting journey ahead. Any gamers young, mature, casual, and core should definitely treat themselves to this detailed documentary, which goes deeper than gamers are used to seeing mainstream media go.

Be sure to stay for the end credits and some fun easter eggs.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

Who are we? Grab It is a media outlet dedicated to the coverage of iPad indie games. We do this through an innovative app that releases in episodes, and delivers a huge serving of exclusive content and insight into the world of iPad games. You should check it out through the links below:
   - Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue)
   - Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
   - Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
   - Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
   - Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
   - Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection

19 July, 2014

Hearthstone's Curse of Naxxramas Coming July 22nd

The wait is nearly over for the single player addition to Blizzard's excellent collectible card game - Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft.

Releasing July 22, Curse of Naxxramas will come in five wings, with the first available for free for early adopters, and the next four wings available each subsequent week for 700 in-game gold or for real world dollars (see here for the full pricing structure). 

First up is the Arachnid Quarter (ooohh spiders!), followed by the Plague Quarter, Military Quarter, Construct Quarter and ending with the Frostwyrm Lair. 

Defeating the three bosses of the first Arachnid Quarter - Anub’Rekhan, Grand Widow Faerlina and Maexxna - will unlock new cards for you to use in your collection. It will be interesting to see if or how these new cards will change the playing landscape of normal Play and Arena modes, and the new pack structures that might come from them.  

Finally a new Hero mode will be unlocked by defeating all the bosses in any wing, and once all the bosses of each wing are defeated, a new card back will be yours to keep. 

Hearthstone really is turning out to be one of the standout gaming releases of 2014, and it seems Blizzard has big plans to keep evolving this accessible yet deep CCG. November will see the very first Hearthstone World Championship, and US$250,000 is up for grabs. 

You've still got time over the weekend and the next few days to download Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft right here for free, and get in some practice time ahead of the Curse of Naxxramas release on the 22nd. Or why not have your very own Fireside Gathering, and learn with your friends? 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

16 July, 2014

Additional Content Coming to Out There for its Multi-Platform Omega Edition

From today's announcement by Mi-Clos Studio - makers of the fantastic Out There - it appears the developer is doing a reverse FTL. 

Spaceship management sim FTL came from PC to iPad earlier this year in the form of FTL: Faster Than Light Advanced Edition - a bumper new edition with loads of added content. Mi-Clos Studio is going the other way with its multi-platform release of Out There, as the spaceship management/gamebook adventure hybrid heads out from iOS and Android towards its release on Mac and PC. 

Entitled Out There Omega, Mi-Clos has teased loads of additional content, such as new alien breeds, spaceships and planets, a brand new ending, and more than 50 new interactive stories. 

Another intriguing tease from the studio is the announcement that the additional content will be delivered via a new graphics engine. We were pretty impressed in our review with the graphic novel presentation of the environments in the original release, so it will be very interesting to see how the look of the game will be altered in this updated edition. 

05 July, 2014

Buzz Killem (Father of Bill) Free for USA Independence Day Weekend

Bill Killem featured as a Quick Fix in Episode 5 of Grab It - The Game Discovery App, and it's a lot of fun, packing a sizeable arsenal of weaponry into an endless runner. When playing it, however, I found myself wishing I could do away with the timers and stop running from left to right in order to enjoy the scenery and shoot stuff at my leisure. Well, Everplay Interactive has answered my wishes and delivered Buzz Killem, father of Bill. 

Playing as retired war vet Buzz - and following a fantastic opening cutscene referencing the awesome Ridiculous Fishing - you'll run around fending off hordes of invading aliens within 2D arenas, picking up random weapon crates. Think Super Crate Box, but with slightly more expansive levels, longer play times and a cheesy Chuck Norris action movie storyline thrown in for good measure. 

Sound like fun? It is. I've only had time for a brief hands on so far, but enjoyed what I played and look forward to unlocking bigger and better guns, and some of those silly disguises. 

The best part is you can grab the game for free this weekend, right now, quick! Trailer below:

References:
 - Bill Killem
 - Buzz Killem
 - Ridiculous Fishing
 - Super Crate Box

Writer:
Garry Balogh

28 June, 2014

Devious Dungeon Review

Nostalgia purely for its own sake is an empty experience. The knowing smile and fond memories brought about by 8-bit stylised graphics are short lived if there is nothing to back them up. This visual bait - used to lure gamers of a certain vintage - is in no short supply on the App Store. But after that nostalgic afterglow fades, a game’s long term credibility and success will come from tried and tested building blocks - quality gameplay, solid controls, rewarding progression and a sense of being challenged, but not frustrated. Devious Dungeon ticks all of these boxes.

27 June, 2014

Jonathan Eng Performs "Anna" from Simogo's Device 6

Simogo's award winning Device 6 is a rich, multi-media tapestry blending interactive graphic design with puzzles and great music.

A new video has just been released of singer Jonanthan Eng performing a live version of the beautiful song "Anna" from Simogo's masterpiece and you can check it out below. Music lovers, collectors and completionists should also check out the game's soundtrack available on iTunes. 

You can catch the full 4.5 out of 5 star review of Device 6, and our making of interview with developer Simogo, in Grab It's free preview issue right here.

Have You Collected All The Grab It Episodes?
     - Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue)
     - Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
     - Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
     - Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
     - Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
     - Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection

Writer:
Garry Balogh

25 June, 2014

Ex Battlefield 3/Bionic Commando/Killzone/Last Guardian Devs Announce Dangerous Men

That sure is some pedigree. Let's rattle off that list again, just for fun. The Last Guardian, Battlefield 3, Bionic Commando and Killzone. Big fat triple-A gaming titles the lot of them.

That being said, Ivar Dahlberg, Rasmus Deguchi, Rui Guerreiro, Thomas Lilja, and Victor Santaquiteria have turned their backs on the big-budget gaming environment and formed Friend & Foe to set out on the great indie adventure. 

Formed just this year the new studio is currently working on Vane - an exploratory and atmospheric open world adventure for PC (with other platforms to be announced) -  and Dangerous Men for iOS. 

As you can see from the banner above, Dangerous Men screams the 1980s. Details are extremely scant at this early stage, all we have is a brief description of the title by Friend & Foe from its site: 

"Dangerous Men is an action arcade game based on 80's buddy cop movies, featuring a city-wide explosionfest as detectives Dan & Don literally jump from explosion to explosion to clear the city of the Punk Gang menace."

Sounds good so far - bring it on Friend & Foe. I don't know about you, but to me that banner looks very GTA: Vice City. I can almost hear my white slacks whispering to me from where I left them - safely vacuum-packed in my panic room just waiting for their time to shine when fashion comes full-circle. 

It will be very interesting indeed to see what sort of iOS goodness can be conjured out of nothing by these five self-described "devilishly handsome" artists. We'll keep you posted and let you know as soon as we hear more on Dangerous Men. For now, to get those '80s action juices flowing you can check out Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project and Bill Killem right now. Both tick the obligatory boxes of explosions and cheesy one-liners, and both are a lot of fun. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
   - GTA: Vice City
   - Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
   - Bill Killem

Have You Collected All The Grab It Episodes?
   - Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue)
   - Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
   - Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
   - Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
   - Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz
   - Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection


 

22 June, 2014

Wimbledon 2014's Top Three Seeds of iOS Gaming

Anyone for tennis? Or better still, anyone up for watching the hard training millionaires strut their stuff on grass with freshly re-strung rackets, whilst the rest of us lazy punters park our butts on the couch and feed our faces with the traditional Wimbledon diet of champagne, strawberries and cream? 

Hell yeah! 

It's that time of year again - the absolute pinnacle of the tennis calendar - when players cast aside their colours and don traditional white attire for two weeks of play at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London. Who's the favourite for this year? Last year saw Marion Bartoli win her first ever slam, and then promptly retire. In the men's tournament we saw Andy Murray lift his second grand slam trophy having previously won the US Open in 2012. Personally I'd love to see Federer win one more slam before he calls it quits, but he has some tough competition. 

If you're a fan of the sport, and an iOS gamer, you've come to right place. We thought why not take a look at Wimbledon through the lens of iOS, and so we've put together an overview of three of the best tennis games available in the App Store. You're going to need something to play during the rain delays and between matches right? Right. 

The best place to start is to download the official app - The Championships, Wimbledon 2014 for iPad - which you can grab for free right here It's nicely put together and will give you access to all sorts of goodies such as live scores, results, draws, player profiles, live blogs, news, radio and videos. 

Ok, onto the main event. Read the blurbs, watch the trailers, and then smash the links to grab the games.

20 June, 2014

App Store Celebrates 75 Years of Batman With Sale

The App Store's main page will often feature some really fun collections that are worth checking out. At the moment you'll find a tile to tap on entitled "Celebrating 75 Years of Batman." 

Inside you'll find Batman-related live action and animated movies, TV shows, graphic novels, soundtracks, and - best of all - games. 

Firstly there's the Infinity Blade-esque swiping brawlers Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham City Lockdown. For the price of free, Arkham Origins is worth a download and is quite a bit of fun, with great visuals. 

The LEGO games are always a safe bet, and LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes not only lets you play as a blocky Dark Knight, but also a blocky Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and loads more. There are actually 80 playable heroes and you can check out the trailer below.

Rounding out the collection is Injustice: Gods Among Us, in which you can try your hand at a free-to-play DC themed collectible card game. That is of course if CCG fans can tear themselves away from Hearthstone for long enough to check it out. 

It's a fun App Store feature and well worth a look for fans. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
   - Batman: Arkham Origins
   - Batman: Arkham City Lockdown
   - Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
   - Injustice: Gods Among Us
   - Hearthstone

16 June, 2014

Biophilia Spreads Through European Classrooms

Episode 4 of Grab It - The Game Discovery App featured our pick of the top ten musically-driven games on the App Store. Our top spot went to musical wildcard Bjork, with her app album Biophilia offering up a truly unique multimedia experience. 

The app's experience of exploring the universe through educational art, sound, light and interactivity is being taken into the classrooms of several European countries. Working with educationalists, Bjork has collaborated to create the Biophilia Educational Program, and is being received particularly well by kids with ADHD and dyslexia, reports The Guardian.

It's great to see kids being encouraged to use their iPads and iPhones for more than just flinging birds from left to right, Snapchat, and checking Facebook

Check out the trailer for Biophilia below, grab it right here, tune in and drop out.

Note: If you like your music in games, then Episode 4 also featured an in-depth discussion with indie game composer Nathaniel Chambers that you might quite enjoy. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

12 June, 2014

Angry Birds Epic Goes Global

Update: After a long soft launch (we posted our review back in March) in select countries, Rovio has finally released Angry Birds Epic worldwide today. You can get our full thoughts on the review, but long story short, it's deeper and more fun that one might expect. A series known for its relatively shallow slinging experiences or cross-promotion opportunities, this is a genuine attempt at an RPG that's doused in charm.

You can grab the game here.  

We also recommend checking out the article, This Is Why Gamers Should Celebrate Angry Birds Epic

Have You Collected All The Grab It Episodes?
    - Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue)
    - Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn
    - Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley
    - Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua
    - Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection

02 June, 2014

Just for the Record - Apple Will Never Release a Dedicated Gaming Microconsole

I’m fond of making predictions. Whilst there is a certain satisfaction to be had if the planets should align and you are proven correct, that is not why I do it. I do it because it’s fun to take stock of the past, mix in a feel for the present, and have conversations about where I think the future will find us. It’s fun to be a part of the conversation, and to plant seeds for further conversations. The discussion of ideas is how the path to the future is paved. And what is a discussion of ideas if not a voicing of our opinions, hopes and ideas, based on what we already know?

But to be clear on my Apple Microconsole predictions, it would be pointless for Apple to dedicate its formidable design expertise to creating a new piece of hardware that only does gaming. When I say Apple Microconsole, I really mean an updated Apple TV that incorporates BlueTooth controller compatibility, the App Store, and possibly some onboard memory storage. An Apple TV update to include all or most of those things I believe is a matter of when, not if, but I'm disheartened by the lack of any leaks regarding the June 2 keynote that would place smoke at the location of my desired fire.

What I’d most like to see in the short term, and what I wouldn’t be overly surprised to see, is a well designed, full-sized BlueTooth controller. If Apple were to throw its design team behind that, I would be very happy. Combine that with a HDMI adaptor and Apple can then take as long as it likes to update Apple TV, because I will already have what I need.

Imagine the four amazing games below - previously featured in episodes of Grab It Magazine - in beautiful 60" flatscreen glory, being played using a full-sized, BlueTooth controller that's been impeccably designed by Jony Ive's team at Apple. It's a pleasing thought.
    - Episode 1 - With The Making of République
    - Episode 2 - With The Making of Oceanhorn
    - Episode 3 - With The Making of Monument Valley
    - Episode 4 - With The Making of Last Inua

Writer:
Garry Balogh

 

01 June, 2014

Top Ten Best Premium iOS Games of May

When it rains it pours, and in the fast-moving world of iOS gaming, the weather is consistently torrential. We’ve donned our yellow raincoats and braved the monsoon to bring you our monthly gaming rain check.

As usual this month’s deluge has it all - narrated shapes, Game Boy inspirations, a knife-wielding octopus, snow and games that are impossible to describe in two or three words, so I won’t even try.

Read the blurbs, check out the trailers, and pound away on the links to grab anything that floats your boat! Also be sure to check out our Top 10s for JuneApril, March, February and January.

Also, we have our Top 10 Best Free iOS Games of May live, too.

01 June, 2014

Jared Bailey's Wrong Way Racing Announced

Jared Bailey - operating as developer Nocanwin - is about to release what he says on his Facebook page is to be the "first of many micro games." 

The teaser trailer embedded below doesn't show much in the way of gameplay - hilariously so - but it seems like it might be a game of avoidance as you travel the wrong way around a race track, changing lanes to dodge oncoming vehicles. 

We're fans of Bailey's Cubed series of games - especially the series' iconic art style - and it will be fun to see what the prolific developer has up his sleeve for future "micro games." 

We did a retrospective of Bailey's work back in February just before the release of Cubed Snowboarding. Check out the trailer below for Wrong Way Racing and you can click on the links to grab any of his previous games, all of which offer simple, retro fun.

 Jared Bailey Gameography:
 
  - Duck N Cover
    - Waste Paper Basket Ball Diaries
    - Blacklight Blocks
    - Fist Face Fight
    - Infinite Surf
    - Zombie Volcano
    - Baby Lava Bounce
    - Cubed Rally Racer HD
    - Cubed Rally Redline
    - Cubed Snowboarding

Writer:
Garry Balogh

28 May, 2014

Has Real Racing 3 Let Slip Apple's Microconsole Plans?

Firemonkeys released an exciting update to Real Racing 3 today, which includes a particularly intriguing feature - squeezed in amongst the Road to Le Mans content - called Party Play.

Party Play allows four friends to connect via BlueTooth controllers to an iPad, enabling local splitscreen multiplayer. Take your iPad out to your flatscreen TV with a HDMI adaptor and bingo, the Apple microconsole has arrived.

Whilst this feature alone is a fantastic addition, it's the timing of this update that I’m finding most interesting. Let me lay out some dots and then join them, just for kicks. Because it’s fun.

We’re only a matter of days away from Apple’s 2014 WWDC keynote, and there’s been much speculation on what surprises lay waiting to be unveiled. Apple has used the Real Racing series at previous events to show off new hardware, most notably the power of the iPhone 5, as the series is so visually impressive.

The made for iPod/iPhone/iPad (MFi) controller scheme hasn’t quite set the world on fire since its arrival late last year, but an official Apple controller, unveiled and showcased using Real Racing 3’s local splitscreen multiplayer - onstage at WWDC in few days time - would be a pretty awesome way to bring them to the world’s attention. Taking that thought pattern one step further, it's also a classic scenario to show how an Apple microconsole, powered by MFi controllers and four-player splitscreen racing, could provide a triple-A gaming experience for a fraction of the cost of your typical console games.

Or has this Real Racing 3 update just been timed by accident to coincide with WWDC?

A few sleeps and all will be revealed. Or nothing will be. Either way this is an awesome feature to have in the already awesome Real Racing 3, and takes the iOS racer - and Apple - one step closer to microconsole territory.

Whatever the future holds, you can check out the latest update in the trailer below, and download Real Racing 3 right now for free.

While you wait for June 2, why not check out an episode of Grab It? We're running a special where you can check out our first episode for FREE! It's an experience unlike any you have had before, dedicated to bringing AAA media coverage to indie gaming using rich media, deep interaction and hours and hours of exclusive insights and interviews on games. 
     - Episode 1 - With The Making of République
     - Episode 2 - With The Making of Oceanhorn
     - Episode 3 - With The Making of Monument Valley
     - Episode 4 - With The Making of Last Inua

For daily updates on all that is happening in the world of indie iPad gaming, sign up to our newsletter.

Other Articles of Interest:
   - 
Top 10 Premium iOS Games of May
   - A Step By Step Guide to Playing Quake III on your iPad
   - Are Apple and Adobe Suffocating Digital Magazine Publishing?
   - Ken Levine Jumped Off a Sinking Ship
   - Hating on Tablets and Mobiles is Hating on Yourself
   - User Experience vs. Download Size in Digital Magazines
   - 50 Best Indie iPad Games of 2013
   - The 10 Best Star Wars Games on iOS
   - Psst. I Have A Secret... I don't like FTL: Faster Than Light

Writer:
Garry Balogh

28 May, 2014

Apple Announces 2014 WWDC Keynote will be Streamed Live

Ok, I have to admit, I'm excited now. With Apple's decision not to live-stream some of its keynote speeches in 2013, I was readying myself for disappointment - it was hard to predict whether or not the same would happen with the 2014 WWDC keynote. 

Watching re-runs of these sorts of events is just not the same. You want to feel like you're as there as you can be, just a little part of it, experiencing the news for the first time along with the rest of the world. So I was pretty happy to see Apple had announced the live-stream this morning, to take place June 2nd, 10am PDT. You can watch it via this app.

What will be announced this year? Does that banner give us any clues? Why square dots instead of circular ones? Does the top half of the Apple logo look like a game controller to anyone but me? 

Hmmm... best not to start me speculating. I'm still waiting for that Angry Birds Epic Jousting update from Rovio. 

For more on what Apple may announce, check out Has Real Racing 3 Let Slip Apple's Microconsole Plans?

While you wait for June 2, why not check out an episode of Grab It? We're an experience unlike any you have had before, dedicated to bringing AAA media coverage to indie gaming on iPad using rich media and deep interaction. Our first episode is FREE, so why not grab it now?
    - Episode 1 - With The Making of République
    - Episode 2 - With The Making of Oceanhorn
    - Episode 3 - With The Making of Monument Valley
    - Episode 4 - With The Making of Last Inua

Writer:
Garry Balogh

23 May, 2014

Blizzard Putting $250,000 up for Grabs in Hearthstone World Championship

Well that didn't take long. Hearthstone hasn't even been out for two months and already we have a World Championship on our hands, with enough prize money on offer to make some card-slingers think of turning pro. 

Today Blizzard Entertainment announced the 2014 Hearthstone World Championship, with qualifying taking place over the next few months, and the final showdown culminating in November at Blizzcon 2014. As you can see from the picture above, the first ever Hearthstone World Champion will pocket no less than $100,000! Imagine all the expert card packs you could buy with that! 

To qualify you'll need to either be a top 16 Legend player from ranked play in any month from April through to August, invited from one of the select community tournaments, or secure a spot in the Last Call Tournament. 

For more details on the rules for qualification, click here for Europe, here for the Americas and here for Taiwan.

You can start practicing right now by grabbing Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft right here for free. It's the most fun you can have with your pants on. Although having said that, you could probably play it without pants too. What could possibly go wrong? 

However if you do make it through to qualifying for the World Championship, I wouldn't mind betting that pants are compulsory. I'll check the rules and get back to you...

Here's some footage: (um, of Hearthstone)

While You're Over At The App Store - Have You Collected All The Grab It Episodes?
    - Episode 1 - With The Making of République
    - Episode 2 - With The Making of Oceanhorn
    - Episode 3 - With The Making of Monument Valley
    - Episode 4 - With The Making of Last Inua

Writer:
Garry Balogh

22 May, 2014

Qbert Meets Fez with a Twist of Rubik - Twisty Planets Announced

Update: Get your brain spinning, as Twisty Planets is out now. Grab it here.

Original Story: Developer First Sight Games looks to have a very polished 3D puzzler on its hands, judging from the trailer below. 

With a main character named Qub, Twisty Planets is certainly not trying to hide its Qbert inspirations. The rotating platforms on which Qub travels also brings to mind indie platforming smash Fez, but how much water this comparison holds - apart from a purely visual one - will be revealed in due time. 

Coming through the Crescent Moon Games publishing pipeline is another good sign for Twisty Planets, judging from CM Games' string of quality titles. The most recent alumni was 2-bit Cowboy, a great Game Boy inspired 2D action platformer, which you can grab right here. You can also check out our interview with the developer. 

Aiming for an early June release, Twisty Planets isn't too far away, and we look forward to some hands on time with it. 

Roll the video!

Writer:
Garry Balogh

16 May, 2014

Console Classic SRPG Record of Agarest War Ported to iOS

For those worried about the rise and rise of the F2P business model, and the decline of premium-priced games on the App Store, check this out.

Yesterday saw the release of HyperDevbox's Record of Agarest War, previously a success on consoles, and it's yours to own on iOS for anything from $14.99 to $18.99 (depending on your country's App Store pricing). The pricing is sharing that same rarefied air as many of Square Enix's RPGs on the App Store. 

For less then twenty clams (or whatever currency your country trades in) you'll certainly get bang for your buck from HyperDevbox's port. The game boasts a deep storyline, offering more than one hundred hours of gameplay spanning multiple generations of characters. 

With full video cutscenes and epic spell effects, this is very much a console quality strategical role-playing experience for your iDevice. So if you've got the time and the clams to spare, you can dive in and grab It right here.

Also, check out our look at our ABC of RPGs series, in particular at the common tropes employed by SRPGs.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

15 May, 2014

Psst, I have a secret… I don’t like FTL: Faster Than Light

Pssst, come here. I want to tell you something. Closer, it’s a secret. Actually it’s kind of shocking, you might want to pull up a seat. Ok, you ready?

I don’t like FTL: Faster Than Light.

Released in 2012 on PC, FTL: Faster Than Light has since become the indie darling of the spaceship management genre. Having always been aware of its reputation, I was excited to load it up on my iPad in early April 2014 to take its updated version - FTL: Advanced Edition - for a spin. Touted by developer Subset Games as the definitive version, with numerous improvements and additions, I settled in and launched the game, set for a big night of crew management, resource balancing, space exploration, battles and, ideally, fun.

14 May, 2014

Wacky Wheels to Make a Return in Q3 2014

 

Update: With the success of its "Westernvania" 2-bit Cowboy (Grab It here), Cascadia Games has today announced it's going full steam ahead on its next title, Wacky Wheels. We posted the story below back in January, and there still hasn't been any concrete details regarding release platforms or anything else other than the details in the original story, but we now have a window of release - Q3 2014. We'll follow it closely and let you know when we have more info to share. One thing is for sure, Cascadia will have a tough job matching the crazy new trailer for kart rival Angry Birds Go! 

Original Story: Indie developer Cascadia Games has snapped up the license to the classic 1994 MS-DOS game Wacky Wheels, one of the first genuinely fun post Super Mario Kart entries into the then new pint-sized racer subgenre. We’ve yet to hear any real info, including formats, so here is hoping the iPad is included when the title releases later this year. Considering it is GameDock compatible, an App Store showing looks likely. 

In the interim, all we can pass on is that it will feature six worlds inspired by the original game, high res cartoon artwork, a remastered soundtrack and a splitscreen mode (which we guess will be limited to GameDock users). If you need a kart racer to play while you wait, we recommend the very solid port of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, which has recently gone free-to-play. 

Cascadia Games has form on the iPad and iPhone, compliments of its retro puzzle-platformer series Cavorite, that you can grab below:

Cavorite
Cavorite: Power of the Gem
Cavorite: Princess of the Moon

12 May, 2014

If Chickens Took Over the World - Has Rovio Gone Insane?

Wanna see something weird? 

Ever wondered what would happen if you strapped a motion controlling device to a chicken, and put them in charge of a ski-mobile with a real live human in it? And then pushed the ski-mobile down a snowy slope? 

Me neither, but someone at Rovio has. Yes, the team behind Angry Birds.

Best not to over-explain this. Just watch the video below, which is an elaborate teaser for Sub Zero expansion to kart racer Angry Birds Go! Because it's weird. Good to see the chickens in charge for a change though. 

For the record, the Sub Zero expansion is now live, all you need is Angry Birds Go!

Writer:
Garry Balogh

06 May, 2014

"TVs are the Future for Mobile Games" Claims 2-bit Cowboy Dev Cascadia Games

 

Update: The game is now on sale. Grab it here.

Original Story: iOS gamers are in for a treat this Thursday May 8, when 2-bit Cowboy rides into town. It’s good. Really good.

I’ve had the pleasure of playing it for the last few days, and I can happily say to anyone who has fears of 2D platforming on a touchscreen, fear not. The controls are spot on, freeing you up to explore the large levels with confidence, not frustration. You’ll be swimming, horse and bull-riding, mine-carting and, of course, six-gun shooting - all without the pressure of annoying timers or tiny bite-size levels that plague so many iOS platformers. 

Developer Cascadia Games has packed a lot into 2-bit Cowboy, but then left it up to the player to decide how deeply they want to explore the environments. There are plenty of hidden coins to be found and reward posters that provide you with missions to complete. Complete these tasks, reap the bounty and buy hats. So many glorious hats. Oh, and masks, facial customisations, belts and even the choice between playing as a cowboy or cowgirl.

We reached out and spoke to Chris Jorgensen - owner of Cascadia Games - to find out more about the inspirations behind 2-bit Cowboy. We end up venturing off into some pretty interesting territory, discussing MFi controllers and iOS gaming on flatscreen TVs.

05 May, 2014

Top Ten Best Free iOS Games of April

April may have come and gone, but the ten games below will last you for quite some months to come. We’ve done our best to pick through the fools in order to find the truffles for your gaming pleasure, the best part being that they will cost you nothing to experience. All you’ll need is an iPad or iPhone, a few hundred megabytes available on your data plan, and you’re good to go.

Word puzzling, first-person-shooting, looting and levelling, trail-bike riding, card slinging and weaponised ice-cream are the order of the day as we bring you another ten gratis games. You can also check out best free games from March, February and January.

While you're on the App Store, be sure to check out our innovative game discovery app, Grab It. You've never experienced anything like it before, it's the best fun you can have finding great new games.
    - Episode 1 - With The Making of République
    - Episode 2 - With The Making of Oceanhorn
    - Episode 3 - With The Making of Monument Valley
    - Episode 4 - With The Making of Last Inua

29 April, 2014

Wanna See 17 Seconds of 2-bit Cowboy?

 

Recently we posted what little we knew about soon to be released (this Thursday!) 2-bit Cowboy by developer Cascadia Games. 

All we had at the time were screenshots, but on the weekend Cascadia released some sneaky teaser footage of gameplay, which shows a whole 17 seconds worth of action. Featured is one of the mounts you'll be commandeering on your "Westernvania" adventure.

This title is screaming Game Boy visuals, with the developer wearing its nostalgia-fuelled influences on its sleeve. 

We're looking forward to taking that horse for a ride and shooting some stuff. 

Hit the play button for a 17 second tease, and if the video gets you hankering for a quality Western-style platform experience, grab Gunman Clive right here. It's seriously some of the most smoothly animated running and gunning available on the App Store. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

26 April, 2014

Hearthstone's Fireside Gatherings Start Today

 

Gaming can be an isolating pastime. Even with online connectivity and so-called social gaming, the end result is often still one person sitting in a room and staring at a screen. 

Blizzard Entertainment is looking to promote actual human interaction with its accessible yet deep collectible card game, Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

As of today, April 26, players that gather together in the same place and play at least three matches against three other players on the same subnet will be rewarded with a special card back. You can read the full terms here. 

Trash talking your buddy is so much more satisfying in real life than over a dodgy internet connection. Imagine the look on their face when you manage to come back from being 8-23 down by playing a great run of cards. 

Even just the idea of Hearthstone being the excuse for friends to get together and catch up over a few hands is a nice one. Card nights have been a staple of social gatherings for many generations and using cutting edge tech to bring them back is a warming notion. 

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft is free-to-play and the IAPs are not necessary to progress, or even to scratch below its surface and get to its strategic depths. Check out the trailer below, and you can grab the game here. 

Hit us up on our various social feeds to tell us all about your own Fireside Gathering.  

Writer:
Garry Balogh

25 April, 2014

Gear Jack Gets a Black Hole Sequel

Piwot Games' 2012 auto-runner Gear Jack has a sequel on the way, Gear Jack - Black Hole. Some of the features Piwot Games felt were holding Gear Jack back from being all that it could be have been removed, and have been replaced with new ones to help the sequel on its way.

The starship Jack was trying to escape from in the first game - the W.Hale - has been sucked into a black hole, along with Jack, sparking a crazy trip through time and space. The developer is promising four worlds, alien monsters, sneaking and more.  Gear Jack - Black Hole has been submitted to the App Store and is expected to release this Thursday, May 1st.

To discover a whole bunch (ten to be exact) of auto-runners very worthy of your time and attention, check our Episode 3 of Grab It right here, as we do a run down of ten of the best the App Store has to offer.

Reference:
    - Gear Jack 

24 April, 2014

Third Eye Crime by Ex-Bungie Devs is Out Now

Update: Very slick looking noir stealth crime puzzler Third Eye Crime is creeping its way around the world this morning as it releases at midnight. You can grab it right here

Original Story: Indie developer Moonshot Games has announced its stylish noir heist game, Third Eye Crime, will be releasing in Q2 2014. 

Viewed from a top-down angle, you'll control your psychic criminal as he attempts to evade security and carry out heists in beautiful comic book styled environments. Gameplay is a mixture of puzzle and stealth, with some tense set-ups looking to bring a polished sneakiness to our iPads. 

Moonshot had previously vowed to stay publisher-free in bringing Third Eye Crime to the world, but decided in the end their strength was in game development, not game selling. Teaming with new Boston-based indie publisher Gamblyr seems to have been the piece of the puzzle needed to finally get the game out into the wild. 

Founded by three ex-Bungie employees Damian Isla, Rob Stokes and Michel Bastien, Moonshot Games will be showing its game at PAX East, with a release hopefully not long after. 

Check out the trailer below, and if you're keen to get your stealth on right now, awesome République - featured in Grab It free preview episode can be downloaded right here.

Also the freshly baked brand new Episode 3 of Grab It Magazine can be grabbed right here.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

23 April, 2014

Isolani - a Free Episodic FPS

In chess, Isolani is the name given to the queen's pawn when the tiles on either side of it are devoid of pawns. Exploring this theme of isolation with the death of the universe's last star, Isolani's story is set to unfold through an episodic drip-feeding of content, delivered via a free-to-play structure.  

Developer DeNA continues to explore control methods for FPS on the touchscreen platform - having previously released The Drowning - and Isolani controls well. The right finger swipes to control the camera, and the left to run forward, backward and strafe with a floating virtual thumbstick. These can be reversed if you prefer, with firing set by default to auto-fire, although it can also be switched to manual. I recommend the auto-fire option, as the skill comes from quick aiming rather than fast tapping. 

I would also recommend turning the aiming sensitivity way down as I found the default setting made it too difficult to adjust by small increments.

The first few levels I played were fun, although a little bland to look at. The visuals themselves are crisp and the animation very smooth, but the environments seem to lack a little flair. Both The Drowning and Isolani are free (with IAPs) so why not hit the links below, give them a go, and hit us up on our social feeds with your thoughts. 

For an FPS alternative check out Neon Shadow, which features splitscreen playability on the one iPad, with either co-op or deathmatch - a great, novel idea.

Writer:
Garry Balogh 

References:
   - Isolani
   - The Drowning
   - Neon Shadow

22 April, 2014

2-Bit Cowboy is a Gameboy inspired "Westernvania"

2D platforming on touchscreens has come a long way since the iOS platform's debut only a few years ago. What was previously an unwieldy experience is now a viable and an enjoyable one thanks to developers nailing down some good control methods. For some great examples check out League of Evil, Random Heroes, Nihilumbra and Dracula Twins.

Cascadia Games namecheck the League of Evil series as a direct inspiration for their upcoming 2-Bit Cowboy. Utilising the platforming engine developed for its Cavorite series, Cascadia have created bigger, explorable, more open levels for what the developer calls a "Westernvania" - thus moving away from the smaller puzzle based levels of Cavorite. 

It's a similar path that Ravenous Games took from League of Evil to Random Heroes. 

The developer is aiming for an "uptempo but not frenetic" platforming pace, without the pressure of timers in order to allow the player to fully explore the environments. Rides in the form of horses, bulls and mine carts will help you get around these levels. 

Another fun aspect will be the ability to customise your cowboy or cowgirl with thousands of possible outfit combinations. 

2-Bit Cowboy has already been submitted to the App Store so we expect to be playing it pretty soon and will keep you posted on any further developments. For some running and gunning fun whilst waiting for its release, check out Gunman Clive by developer Bertil Horberg. It also lacks colour, but makes up for it in some seriously smooth platforming and shooting action. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
   - League of Evil
   - Random Heroes
   - Nihilumbra
   - Dracula Twins
   - Gunman Clive
   - Cavorite

21 April, 2014

Grab Robots Love Ice Cream for Free

Apparently robots love ice cream - so much so they have invaded our planet with the intention of mining it for the calorie-rich resource. 

Developer Dragon Army's deceptively simple shooter is a good pick-up for the princely sum of nothing. Robots Love Ice Cream borrows mechanics from many of the original genre defining titans - Space Invaders, Missile Command and Defender - and adds its own charming sprinkle of flavour.

Fending off the invading robots using an ice cream truck that fires a weaponised version of the dairy dessert is a lot of fun. The idea is to defend your factories from the enemies that hover over them and attempt to beam up your ice cream. Hordes of robot minions will attempt to get between you and their overlords, honourably sacrificing themselves to enable the theft.

Defeated robots will drop the game's collectible currency - Sprinkletonium - with which you can upgrade your weapons. I wouldn't mind betting that Dragon Army are testing the free-to-play waters with this price drop to zero, as the game is very much set up to reap the rewards of the business model should it reach that all-important critical mass. 

Robots Love Ice Cream really is a nicely put together package and certainly deserves attention, I just hope that if it does switch to a F2P model that it does so whilst retaining its current dignity. 

Check out the trailer below and grab Robots Love Ice Cream here. Is it not surprising that I really feel like an ice cream now? 

And for an absolutely brilliant modern take on Space Invaders, TAITO's Space Invaders Infinity Gene is a must have. Seriously, your iPhone and iPad need this game. Yesterday. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

16 April, 2014

Half Price - Cut The Rope: Time Travel

Zeptolab's fantastic Cut The Rope series has been a go-to recommendation for physics puzzlers since its release in 2010.

Physics puzzlers would be nothing without physics that feel really dependable. They need to make you believe that, if you did exactly the same thing twice in a row, the outcome would be exactly the same. On top of this they need imaginative puzzle mechanics that are gradually introduced in a way that teaches the player the rules of the game's physics environment, laying out the tools with which puzzles can be solved.

If these physics, mechanics and great level design weren't then packaged in an appealing way, all that effort would be for nothing, as players would quickly move on. Yet Cut the Rope ticked all those boxes in 2010.

Greedy but loveable character Om Nom's constant pleading for more candy - with his little urging sounds and big needy eyes - is hard to deny. The simple idea of cutting and manipulating pieces of string from which dangle a bright hard candy was executed brilliantly. Many themed level packs have been added to the original Cut the Rope over the years - such as the Cosmic Box, Magic Box, Valentine's Box, Tool Box, Toy Box and more - making for great value.

Follow up games Cut the Rope: Experiments (2011) and Cut the Rope: Time Travel (2013) added new mind-bending ways to feed candy to Om Nom, and all three games are a credit to Zeptolab. A proper numbered sequel released in December 2013 - Cut the Rope 2 - making for more candy-feeding madness than even the level designers at Zeptolab probably thought possible. 

Now is a great time to jump in as Cut the Rope: Time Travel is currently 50% off. You'll be feeding Om Nom in the themed levels of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Wild West and even a Disco era!

Check it out below, and grab the awesome iPad puzzlers from the below links: and don't forget, to discover the best new indie iPad games, you just got to Grab It.

References:
   - Cut the Rope
   - Cut the Rope 2
   - Cut the Rope: Experiments
   - Cut the Rope: Time Travel

14 April, 2014

The Shadow Sun on Sale, Update Adds Canine Companion

In Episode 2 of Grab It we reviewed The Shadow Sun - a fantastic Western RPG developed specifically for iOS by Ossian Studios - and gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

In our verdict we concluded; "Ossian Studios has created a world that feels like it has always been there, with its lore and world constructed with love. Add exciting combat and hours of quests, and The Shadow Sun is a genuine iOS RPG classic that could make a console jealous." (Grab the issue and read the full review)

Today Ossian Studios released an update for the game that adds your very own pet dog companion that will travel with and fight alongside you. I jumped straight into the game this evening to find out more. 

After the opening story exposition and a couple of fights, which all act as the game's tutorial section, your new canine companion will be waiting for you in the hideout. You'll get the opportunity to name the dog yourself which is a nice touch - I named mine Bob.

After that I headed off to the Warehouse District for my first encounter with Bob by my side. He'll attack your enemies, or guard you if you choose to put him in support mode for some extra defence. When not in a fight, Bob loped reassuringly by my side. During your adventure you'll now find toys and treats to improve your dog's stats. It's a fun addition to an already great game.

Also included in this update are some camera improvements and bug fixes. 

Check out the trailer below, and grab the game here if you haven't already. It's on sale at the moment too for a reduced price. Finally, for a deeper look at what constitutes a Western RPG, have a read of our ABC of RPGs article here.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

14 April, 2014

Wayward Souls Release Date Announced

Rocketcat Games has today announced an official release date for Wayward Souls - April 24.

In our previous post regarding the upcoming RPG dungeon crawler, the developer had floated a "likely" release date for the 17th, but it seems likely was the operative word, and we now have an official date of the 24th. 

Rocketcat's games are known for collectible hats and it seems Wayward Souls will continue the tradition. Those that buy the game before the end of the opening weekend, will also get the bonus hats from the developer's other game, Super Quickhook. 

Whether or not the hats will give any sort of stats boost or whether they will be purely cosmetic remains to be seen. The hats, for example, in combative auto-runner Punch Quest give character perks. We'll know more soon. 

Oh and here's a trailer: 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
 - Punch Quest
 - Super Quickhook

12 April, 2014

Apple's Free App of the Week - Warhammer Quest

If you followed our ABC of RPGs series of articles, you will have seen Warhammer Quest feature in part 6, which focused on Strategy RPGs. 

Rodeo Games' excellent grid-based adventure is featured as Apple's weekly App Store freebie, and is a no-brainer if you're a fan of the genre. If you don't yet know if you're a fan of the genre, it's a great way to find out, as all you'll be spending is time. 

For an SRPG alternative it's hard to go past the classic Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions from Square Enix, which you can grab here.

Check out the trailer below for Warhammer Quest, and if you are looking for a new and exiting way to discover the best indie games on iPad, be sure to give Episode 3 of Grab It a go. We make finding new games a heck of a lot of fun!!

References:
   - Warhammer Quest
   - Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions

12 April, 2014

Open Wheelers Coming to Real Racing 3

The content keeps on coming to Real Racing 3. Earlier this year, to celebrate the game's one year anniversary, players were gifted a Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7. Also this year, we've seen the inclusion of car customisation, allowing players to add some of their own personality to their rides.

Yesterday Firemonkeys released a developer diary showcasing its next update - Open Wheelers. These look set to bring a new style of driving challenge to the game, with their most notable characteristics being their light weight and fast speeds. Thomas Baker - lead designer on Real Racing 3 - describes them as like "piloting a missile."

These updates never seem to take long to land after Firemonkeys release these videos, so we can hopefully look forward to taking the new car class for a spin soon. By the sounds of it, this will no doubt include some uncontrolled spins.

Check out the video below, and if you haven't already, you can grab the game for free here.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

10 April, 2014

Doodle Jump + Flappy Bird = Doodle Jump Race

In March the classic Doodle Jump celebrated its fifth birthday, which you can read all about here. In celebration of the anniversary, Lima Sky has released Doodle Jump Race - a Flappy Bird style mini-game with a twist of online racing.

Using the now all too familiar one-tap mechanic to fly your Doodler-skinned avatar left to right through gaps, you'll be matched online with three other players at the start of every game, and then its a mad dash to the finish line for points.

Its pretty bare-bones at the moment, but Lima Sky are looking to add more content, with levels, outfits and power-ups. Other features in development will allow you to race against your friends rather than just in random online match-ups, and an option to remove the ads.

Doodle Jump Race is a free download supported by ads, and if you haven't yet had your Flappy Bird clone fix, the game does at least bring something new to the table. Check it out by grabbing it here. Or grab the original classic by hitting those links below.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
   - Doodle Jump Race
   - Doodle Jump (iPhone only)
   - Doodle Jump HD (iPad only)
   - Doodle Jump Christmas Special
   - Doodle Jump Easter Special

09 April, 2014

ex-Bungie Devs Announce Third Eye Crime for Q2

Indie developer Moonshot Games has announced its stylish noir heist game, Third Eye Crime, will be releasing in Q2 2014. 

Viewed from a top-down angle, you'll control your psychic criminal as he attempts to evade security and carry out heists in beautiful comic book styled environments. Gameplay is a mixture of puzzle and stealth, with some tense set-ups looking to bring a polished sneakiness to our iPads. 

Moonshot had previously vowed to stay publisher-free in bringing Third Eye Crime to the world, but decided in the end their strength was in game development, not game selling. Teaming with new Boston-based indie publisher Gamblyr seems to have been the piece of the puzzle needed to finally get the game out into the wild. 

Founded by three ex-Bungie employees Damian Isla, Rob Stokes and Michel Bastien, Moonshot Games will be showing its game at PAX East, with a release hopefully not long after. 

Check out the trailer below, and if you're keen to get your stealth on right now, awesome République - featured in Grab It free preview episode can be downloaded right here.

Also the freshly baked brand new Episode 3 of Grab It Magazine can be grabbed right here.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

06 April, 2014

Wayward Souls Likely to Release April 17th

We've been following the saga of Wayward Souls - Rocketcat Games' upcoming RPG dungeon crawler - for a while now. Its a very promising game from a developer with a great track record, having already graced the App Store with Punch Quest, the Hook Champ series and Mage Gauntlet. 

Today Rocketcat announced; "Looks like Wayward Souls will be out on the 17th. That's not 100% confirmed, but it's pretty likely at this point."

So barring any unforeseen circumstances, it's time to sharpen our swords and prepare our A-game, as it looks like we've not yet crawled through our last dungeon. 

Also announced was an interesting pricing plan that aims to reward early buyers and avoid IAPs. The game will sell for $5 initially, and with each content update after that, the price will increase by $1. Initially there are three major updates planned, meaning an eventual $8 price tag for latecomers. 

Updates one, two and three will see the addition of a huge fourth area, an endless mode and a seventh character respectively. The seventh character will be playable after winning with all other characters.

So it sounds like there is a lot to look forward to and a good reason to jump in early as Rocketcat experiments with the game's App Store pricing (usually the cost goes goes down with time, instead of up).

Check out the video below to see what the fuss is about, and check out our latest issue which hit the App Store yesterday - Rocketcat Games' Punch Quest appears in our Top Ten auto-runners feature. You can grab the issue here.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References
  - Hook Champ
  - Super QuickHook
  - Hook Worlds
  - Mage Gauntlet
  - Punch Quest

14 April, 2014

Cosmic Mechanic Quick Fix Review

Quick Fix is a regular section in Grab It - The Game Discovery App, and it's a great place to discover new and interesting games via bitesized reviews. In our latest episode, which only just hit the App Store - you can grab it here - Quick Fix features Only One, Dandelions: Chains of Seeds, Touch Force, Cloudbreakers and Avoid Sensory Overload.

Here is a bonus Quick Fix exclusive to our website for Cosmic Mechanic, from developer Kimmo Lahtinen.

04 April, 2014

Top Ten Best iOS Games of March

iOS is a fast moving platform, and four weeks worth of releases can add up to a lot of games. Whittling them down to just ten is no easy task, but we've done our best so that you can enjoy the cream of the platform's crop. So join us on another trip down the rabbit hole as we point-and-click, puzzle-platform, slalom, shoot, strategise, loot, explore, choose our own adventure and mashup the lot.

Yep, life is good - hammer those links to download and play.

(Also check out our Top 10 Free iOS Games of March, or look back at our Top 10 iOS Games of February.)

02 April, 2014

Ski Safari Developer Takes on Hearthstone with Hand of Fate

Defiant Development are edging closer to the release of their card battling game Hand of Fate - set to release on PC, Mac, Linux, PS4 and PS Vita in the not too distant future. While iOS was not listed on the announced formats, we reached out to Defiant about the potential of a port to the format on which it has made such a name for itself - when asked if a port to iOS is coming in the future, we got the following reply from director Morgan Jaffit:

"The answer to that is a tentative yes. We built the game for a controller, but we're also very familiar with the way mobile goes together and have a lot of thoughts as to how to make it work. Definitely a decent ways after our initial release on PC/Mac/Linux/PS4/Vita though."

The Australian based developer is none other than the creator of a successful little iOS auto-runner called Ski Safari. The constantly avalanche-challenged adventures of Sven brought Defiant Development to the world's attention just over two years ago. Since then they've also released Heroes Call, a quality barrel breaking action-RPG which you can download here for free. 

Defiant's successfully funded kickstarter campaign will see Hand of Fate on show at PAX East, with a release soon to follow. 

The card-battling genre is really heating up at the moment with Blizzard Entertainment just soft-launching Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft in select markets - click here to see if you are in luck.

Check out Defiant's back-catalogue below, and also a trailer for Heroes Call. We'll leave you with this final question to ponder, and maybe you can leave your theories in our various social feeds - Why do game developers hate barrels so much? 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
  - Heroes Call
  - Ski Safari
  - Ski Safari: Adventure Time
  - Rocket Bunnies
  - Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

27 March, 2014

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath Coming to iOS

In 1997 Abe's Oddysee launched on the PlayStation One, blending dark humour, subversive social commentary, fresh puzzle platforming ideas and visuals that were next-gen for its time. These ingredients all came together to forge an absolute classic.

Several games followed all set within the Oddworld universe, including Stranger's Wrath in 2005. The tale of a bounty hunter saving up money for his operation is being brought to iOS by developers JAW (Just Add Water) and Oddworld Inhabitants. 

Combining third-person adventuring with first-person shooting (with ammunition that gives a new meaning to "live ammo"), the gunplay will be an important factor in the success of Stranger's transition to touchscreens. The developers are giving players a choice of aiming via a virtual joystick, or a gyroscopic method, with movement to be handled using a twin-stick approach. We'll be keen to see how all this comes together in the final product. 

Enhanced visuals, an interface redesigned for touch and hidden easter eggs (!) are also on the list of things to look forward to.

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath is set for a Q2 2014 release, which means we won't have to wait long. It's great to see developers bringing these former console and PC classics to iOS, and taking the platform seriously. Check out the trailer, and also check out some other classics that have already made their way to iOS in the awesome list below. 

  - Baldur's Gate
  - Baldur's Gate II
  - Bastion
  - Broken Sword: Director's Cut
  - Carmageddon
  - Castle of Illusion
  - Contra Evolution
  - Doom Classic
  - Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
  - GTA San Andreas

Writer:
Garry Balogh

26 March, 2014

Essential Tips - Guide to Archangel

As stated in my review, a large part of the fun in Archangel comes from discovering how best to combine your abilities and how to manipulate them to suit your preferred combat style. So with that in mind, these tips and tricks could be seen as spoilers. Fair warning.

    * Most of the combat takes place on floating platforms. Fall, and you will lose a life. Knock an enemy off however and you will take a life. Some enemy types will chase after you wherever you go and this can be used to your advantage. Stand at the edge of a platform, wait until an enemy is close enough and then teleport to their other side. Then quickly perform a shield bash back towards them, thus sending them plummeting to their death.

    * Once you've drawn a line of fire between yourself and your opponents, they might try to run through it and then attack you with their remaining health. Once they are through, however, quickly teleport to the far side of the fire wall and they will turn around and run back through to chase after you. Having your enemies run back and forth through a fire wall is a great way to thin their numbers.

    * Having unlocked the freeze ability you can draw a line of fire, tease your enemies into the fire and then freeze them to the spot, causing them to burn away a lot of health.

    * The meteor barrage ability does some huge damage, but on quick footed opponents it isn’t much use, as it has a focused area of damage. Using your freeze ability, rooting enemies to the spot, and then unleashing hell from above is a great way to take out a bunch of demons, or some big bosses.

Grab the game here

Writer:
Garry Balogh

26 March, 2014

Archangel Review

In iOS action-RPGs such as Heroes Call, Undercroft and Iesabel, you will often be given a choice between virtual controls or touch controls – place a finger somewhere on the screen and your obedient avatar will go there. Archangel on the other hand, builds its whole game around the touchscreen and it is these controls that rescue it from being lost in the deluge of iOS Diablo-likes.

25 March, 2014

LittleBigPlanet meets World of Goo in Leo's Fortune

Facial hair is so hot right now and Leopold - the hero of Leo's Fortune, due out in April - has taken to the trend with gusto. So much so that it is hard to say exactly if he is a green ball with a moustache, or a moustache with a green ball attached.

But let's not get too bogged down in minutiae, let's just agree he certainly has a defining characteristic.

1337 Game Design - the development company that brought us the excellent Devil's Attorney - has released a trailer for its upcoming Leo's Fortune. From Leo's own narration, we learn that his fortune has been stolen and he sounds pretty determined to get it back. Platforming adventure ensues.

The parallax scrolling and the levels Leo will be traversing look absolutely stunning. It'll be interesting to see how the controls are handled, as there looks to be some tricky platforming in store for our moustachioed friend. 

Check out the trailer from the GDC below, and if you're keen to get the ball rolling in the meantime with another physics platformer, check out the awesome Type:Rider. We reviewed the game in our free preview Issue #0 of Grab It Magazine - which you can download here - and gave it a very healthy 4.5 out of 5 stars. If you like what you see, grab Issue #1 right here. 

References:
  - Devil's Attorney
  - Type:Rider (iPad)
  - Type:Rider (iPhone)

25 March, 2014

Angry Birds Epic Review

Over the last four years, Rovio’s Angry Birds series has built an army of fans hundreds of millions strong, and I suspect - given the arcade quick-fire nature of the core experience - that many of those devotees have never played a full-blooded role-playing game before. It feels very much like Rovio has designed its newest outing - Angry Birds Epic - with this fact in mind. Working on dual levels, Angry Birds Epic has elements that will ease newcomers into the genre’s mechanics, but smartly, Rovio hasn’t ostracised existing RPG fans in the process. There is enough here to offer veterans a challenging experience. I wouldn't call it a deep RPG, but I would say that it has depth. 

20 March, 2014

Sub Zero Hits Angry Bird

Well this is going to be a short post. On its Facebook page Rovio is teasing us yet again. This time with an update to its cart racing title Angry Birds Go!

The free-to-play title plays more like a downhill run then a strict cart racing game. The controls are tight, the visuals and sound are the usual high-quality fare we have come to expect from Rovio, and its a fun way to spend some of your spare time without actually having to spend any of your money. 

In regards to the update, a picture of the yellow bird Chuck riding a snow mobile and announcing an update is releasing tomorrow entitled Sub Zero, is all we have to go on for now. 

After my jousting predictions for what turned out to be Angry Birds Epic, I'll keep my hunches to myself for this one. 

Angry Birds Epic by the way is turning out to be a lot of fun, with some good depth to the turn-based battling, and we'll have some impressions of the game up on the site really soon. Why not let us know your own impressions by hitting us up on the usual social networks? Also, have a read here to discover why Angry Birds Epic is a good thing for the gaming industry. 

Mash these links to grab Angry Birds Go! and/or Angry Birds Epic, or check out the one that started it all, good old Angry Birds

Oh, and here's that picture:

Writer:
Garry Balogh

18 March, 2014

Angry Birds Epic is Out Now

After a cryptic teaser trailer a week ago, Rovio has just soft-launched Angry Birds Epic in Australia, New Zealand and Canada overnight. We went all in and predicted jousting, but I guess our radar was off.

Calling it an RPG adventure, and boasting weapon crafting, upgradeable characters and turn-based batting, it certainly has all the ingredients of its moniker. 

All the classic RPG fantasy environments have been utilised as well, with Rovio describing the world of Piggy Island as containing tribal villages, frosty mountains, tropical beaches and mysterious caves to explore. 

On paper it does all sound very "epic," and the animation, artwork and sound is always top notch when it comes to Angry Birds games. Being packaged into a free-to-play structure, it now just remains to be seen how balanced and aggressive the in-app-purchase model is. Obviously this soft launch will be used to test, balance and tweak this side of things, and the worldwide release may be a slightly altered beast to the current model. 

This is the third time Rovio has expanded the Angry Birds universe beyond the usual slingshotting fare. First there was the excellent construction and puzzling of Bad Piggies, followed by the racer Angry Birds Go!, and now an RPG. It's good to see Rovio broadening its horizons yet again, and it's hard not to expect them to use the Angry Birds universe to do so, as it is such a well-known force in iOS. For more on this point, check out article, This Is Why Gamers Should Celebrate Angry Birds Epic

We'll spend some time on Piggy Island and see what it has to offer, and be back as soon as we can with some impressions after our adventures. In the meantime, check out the gameplay trailer just released, and you can grab the game here for free.

Who knows? Maybe Rovio could still add jousting in a future update? 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
  - Angry Birds Epic
  - Bad Piggies
  - Angry Birds Go!

17 March, 2014

Happy 5th Birthday Doodle Jump!

Grab It Magazine would like to wish developer Lima Sky's Doodle Jump a happy fifth Birthday. We played the hell out of you little man.

Released March 15 2009, The Doodler has been mentioned on sitcom The Big Bang Theory, and seen printed on the outfits of Lady Gaga's onstage dancers. Preceding both Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja, Doodle Jump was the first of the App Store's games to become a pop culture phenomenon. 

In 2009, when the iPhone 3G was king, brothers Igor and Marko Pusenjak - under the banner Lima Sky - took advantage of everything the new device had to offer. The precise tilt controls, simple one-touch gameplay and loveable character art were embraced by millions of gamers endeavouring to jump ever higher. Old fashioned high-score chasing was back. 

Doodle Jump was also one of the first to embrace regular free content updates to keep fans engaged, a practice that has since become a staple of the iOS platform. 

The Doodler - we salute you. 

Grab it here.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
  - Doodle Jump (iPhone only)
  - Doodle Jump HD (iPad only)
  - Doodle Jump Christmas Special
  - Doodle Jump Easter Special
  - Angry Birds 
  - Fruit Ninja

14 March, 2014

Darklings - Free App of the Week

Well, we made it again. Happy Friday everyone. 

If you're heading into the weekend with a hankering for a great new game to escape into on your iPad or iPhone, and you have 88.6MB to spare, head to the App Store now. Those megabytes are all you'll need, as the rest is completely free courtesy of Apple's Free App of The Week. 

Winner in the 2013 Crystal Pixel Awards for Excellence in Gameplay, Darklings is now free for the next 7 days. You'll play as Lum, attempting to purge the Darklings who have stolen all the stars and brought darkness to the world.

Rather then implementing any sort of virtual joystick or directional pad, developer Mild Mania has instead opted to create a control system optimised for, and intuitive to, the touchscreen. Part of its mission statement is being "committed to create a new and natural way of interaction with high-quality and innovative games."

The swiping and drawing mechanic created for its debut game Darklings certainly ticks this box. 

With gorgeous visuals that seem to draw inspiration from the colour palettes of Limbo and Badland, and an endless gameplay structure that rotates between aesthetically different worlds, it should keep a lot of iDevices busy this weekend. Mild Mania seem to be doing a good job of supporting the game post-release with themed updates as well, as it has already received both a Christmas and a Valentines Day update. 

You can grab it here. Enjoy!

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References
  - Limbo
  - Badland
  - Darklings

13 March, 2014

Glorkian Warrior Out Now

Update: Back in early February we posted a trailer for Glorkian Warrior: Trials of Glork, a particularly interesting blip which had appeared on our radar. Today the game is rolling out in App Stores around the world as gamers awake and go searching for their newest fix, and you can click this link to grab it - it will automatically come online as the game goes on sale in your region so check back regularly.  

Original Story: Mashing up a classic Commander Keen style platformer with a Galaga inspired shooter sounds like an awkward mix on paper, but watch the trailer below for Glorkian Warrior: Trials of Glork. Now you're probably wondering why you haven't played a game like this before.

The concept alone is enough to make us want to get busy with it, but its the execution that has us particularly inspired. It looks like to have that extra something special that will push it beyond "oh, neat idea" moment. With hand-drawn comic book visuals from artist James Kochalka, and game development from Pixeljam, this is one we'll keep a keen eye on, and let you know more details when we know more details.

12 March, 2014

Skrillex Makes a Game - Alien Ride

If you do a search for Skrillex in the App Store the first hit is Dubstep Creation Kit. So far so good, makes sense.

The second hit is Alien Ride, a retro space shooter. Looking through the description there is no mention of Skrillex at all, so what gives? If you click on the developer website button, it takes you to Skrillex.com where you'll find an alien face you can interact with, and a suggestion to download Alien Ride for some new treats.

The game is free, and is an ok shooter that falls somewhere between Space Invaders and Asteroids. If you're a Skrillex fan, stick with the game for a few minutes and you'll soon be streaming his upcoming album Recess via a very stylish interface that makes you feel like you've decoded an alien artefact.

It's a nice little marketing package.

There's been a run of musicians bringing their art to iOS lately, with Radiohead's trippy PolyFauna, and UNKLE providing the soundtrack for God of Light.

You can grab Alien Ride here, and there's a leaderboard at Skrillex.com so you can measure up for bragging rights. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References
  - Alien Ride
  - PolyFauna
  - God of Light

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11 March, 2014

2D Pixel Art + Platforming + RPG = Devious Dungeon

Ravenous Games has been combining its signature pixel art style with 2D retro platforming successfully for some time now.

Its The League of Evil series is up to game number three, and the first provided the high water mark for precise controls in a touchscreen platformer. With a simple layout of only a left and right button, and a jump and attack button - all wonderfully executed - it enabled the accurate speedruns the game asked of players across its very short, bite-sized levels. 

11 March, 2014

Rovio Teases Angry Birds... Jousting?

If at any point you've spent 99c on purchasing Angry Birds, it would be hard to argue that you haven't gotten good mileage out of your almost buck. Rovio's all-conquering, green pig thwarting, slingshot loving game has been updated with so many free level packs since it's humble beginnings that it is genuinely hard for fans to keep up to 100% completion.

With its many themed spin-offs - such as the Star Wars and Seasons games - the developer has traditionally released short clips as teasers before fully announcing something new. These cryptic videos usually tell us little to nothing as far as hard and fast details, but merely hint as to the flavour of the upcoming release.

Well, the folks at Rovio have done it again. Via their YouTube channel Rovio is teasing "The Most Epic Soft Launch Ever" with a 28-second clip showing a medieval knight with an Angry Bird peering out through the visor. Releasing first in Australia and Canada, we learn nothing else. What madness awaits?

Hmmm. We're guessing Angry Birds... Jousting? Ok, probably not, but if it does turn out to involve jousting remember you heard it here first!

If you haven't yet experienced the pleasure to be had from hurling a bird with attitude at full velocity from a taut slingshot, just click on the links below to grab the games while we roll the clip. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
  - Angry Birds HD
  - Angry Birds Star Wars HD
  - Angry Birds Star Wars II
  - Angry Birds Seasons HD
  - Angry Birds Go 

06 March, 2014

Mines of Mars Out Now - First Impressions

Mines of Mars is releasing globally today - this link will update automatically as your region comes online, so check back as needed - and I’ve been digging busily for the last twenty-four hours in order to bring you some early impressions.

The thing is, it's the act of discovery that I'm enjoying the most in Mines of Mars - so the less I say about what you’ll find in this experience the better. I want each gamer to have as much fun as I’ve been having so far by unearthing its buried secrets. With that in mind, I’ll do my best to keep this spoiler-free, and try instead to leave you with an impression of the joy of exploration and discovery that is the game’s focus.

The base camp on the planet’s surface acts as the game’s hub. Here you’ll find facilities to smelt and cut the ore and gems you’ll dig for in your many mining expeditions. You’ll then feed those into the base’s crafting device to create new and improved tech with which to better explore below the planet’s surface.

There is a mystery here on Mars, and as you dig deeper you’ll come across vast caverns and small pockets filled with clues to unlock the secrets and artefacts of this alien world. Have your gun ready, too, as you are not alone.

The game’s sound does a great job of hinting at things yet unseen, waiting to be found. Dripping, tapping, some mechanical, all reverberating to create a sense of buried space and mystery. The visuals are a detailed treat, with newly crafted tech visible on your character, and smooth animations as you run, gun, jetpack and explore in this 2D world.

With bosses to fight, flora that grows, days and nights that become nights and days, and secrets to uncover, I've already found a lot to enjoy here. But I’ve said enough. I’m grabbing my pickaxe and heading back in, as I’ve barely scratched the surface of this exciting new game.

Have a read of our interview with WickeyWare’s president Tim Wickey here for some details behind the inspirations for Mines of Mars.

You can Grab the game right here. You can also explore deep into our Issue 1, for more indie gems on the App Store you didn't know existed.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

05 March, 2014

If iPad Games Were Movies Poster Special

As part of a bit of fun around the Academy Awards, we discussed the idea of who would direct, and who would star in the hypothetical film adaptations of recent hit iPad games. So we thought we would take it a bit further (too far?) and mock-up some posters, too.

Also, if you want to discover great new iPad games, be sure to check out Issue 1 of Grab It - The Game Discovery App. It includes 22 in-depth reviews of indie iPad games, 14 exclusive interviews, five big features, top 10s, opinions, news, videos, soundtracks and more - it all starts with our big world exclusive reveal for the amazing Thralled.

05 March, 2014

Metroid, Guns and Minecraft in Mines of Mars

Update: The game is out now.Our first impressions are live, too - click here.

Yesterday we posted a freshly baked trailer for upcoming Mines of Mars, which releases March 6. We were pretty keen to learn more about this awesome looking game that mixes 2D running and gunning, with mining, crafting and planet exploration. We reached out and spoke to Tim Wickey - president of Wickeyware - about inspirations for Mines of Mars, and even got the inside scoop on some gun loadouts. 

04 March, 2014

Terraria Meets Boulder Dash in Mines of Mars

Prolific publisher and developer Crescent Moon Games today revealed a new trailer for their upcoming Mines of Mars. Watch carefully and you'll see a blend of various genres and elements being mixed in together to create a very intriguing sci-fi adventure.  

There looks to be running and gunning 2D sidescrolling action, exploration, and Terraria-style mining and crafting of weapons and tech. Best of all, we only have to wait a matter of days to get our space-gloved hands on it as the game is releasing on March 6. Unfortunately for space fans, you'll have to put down the addictive Out There to enjoy it.

Have a look at this trailer: 

References:
    - Terraria
    - Out There

03 March, 2014

If iPad Games Were Movies - Bloodstroke

With Hollywood buzzing from Oscars fever today we thought we'd have a bit of fun by posing a question - if iPad games were made into movies, who would star and who would direct?

Action movie director John Woo has dabbled in the world of gaming before, with the underrated Stranglehold, and recently made his mobile game debut with Bloodstroke. 

Known for his over the top and very stylised brand of action movies - such as Hard Boiled, Bullet in the Head and Face/Off - Woo's schtick is perfect for video gaming's penchant for high body counts and loud bangs. Bloodstroke does not stray from his formula. 

The game's visuals are presented in a gritty, graphic novel style in stark colours of black, white and red. The story is one of dark crime noir. 

If a film were to be made from John Woo's Bloodstroke, it would be kind of weird for anyone to direct it but him, so that's the director part of the question answered. But who to star in the lead role of Mai Lee, codenamed Lotus, Phalanx's elite private security agent?

I'm thinking Maggie Q - who we saw in great action form in Mission Impossible III and Die Hard 4.0 - would knock it out of the park.

Bloodstroke is a blast, and you can grab it here.

You can also check out our movie adaptation ideas for République, Out There and The Shadow Sun. And our mock posters.

Roll the trailer!

Writer:
Garry Balogh

03 March, 2014

If iPad Games Were Movies - The Shadow Sun

With Hollywood buzzing from Oscars fever today, we thought we'd have a bit of fun by posing a question - if iPad games were made into movies, who would star and who would direct?

Ossian Studios' grand role-playing game The Shadow Sun was reviewed in our Issue #1 of Grab It Magazine to the tune of four and a half stars out of five. To read the full review and our exclusive interview with the developer about the making of the game, you can pick up the issue here. The sweeping adventure also featured in our Best 50 iPad indie games of 2013.

Who then to direct an epic fantasy extravaganza, which mixes the deserts and bazaars of Ancient Persia, with out-of-this-world monsters and magic? I say Peter Jackson would be up to the task. 

As to who would take on the starring role, I'm going to go with Jake Gyllenhaal. He's shown his action hero stripes in The Source Code and The Prince of Persia, and in Donnie Darko and many other roles proved acting chops that would make it more than just a CGI fluff piece. 

The Shadow Sun has tent-pole cinema event written all over it, and you can grab it here to experience it for yourself. You can also check out our movie adaptation ideas for République, Out There and Bloodstroke. And our mock posters.

Also, if you want to discover great new iPad games, be sure to check out Issue 1 of Grab It - The Game Discovery App. It includes 22 in-depth reviews of indie iPad games, 14 exclusive interviews, five big features, top 10s, opinions, news, videos, soundtracks and more - it all starts with our big world exclusive reveal for the amazing Thralled.

Roll the trailer!

Writer:
Garry Balogh

03 March, 2014

If iPad Games Were Movies - République

With Hollywood buzzing from Oscars fever today we thought we'd have a bit of fun by posing a question - if iPad games were made into movies, who would star and who would direct? 

Let's kick things off with République, developer Camouflaj's stealth-em-up epic. 

The director of two of the Bourne movies, Paul Greengrass would be my pick for capturing the tension of all the close escapes and dystopian intrigue, with some great opportunities for interesting camera angles, given the game is seen through the eyes of the security cameras. 

For the games protagonist, I would cast Rooney Mara who's wiry frame would be perfect for all the hiding behind desks, in lockers and around corners that is required. Also, as demonstrated in her Girl With the Dragon Tattoo role, she could also bring the determination and strength needed to see this through. 

You can check out République's trailer below and grab the game here. Also check out big interview with creator Ryan Payton is our free sample Issue 0 of Grab It.

You can also check out our movie adaptation ideas for The Shadow Sun, Out There and Bloodstroke. And our mock posters.

Roll the trailer!

Writer:
Garry Balogh

01 March, 2014

Grab a Free Porsche in Real Racing 3

Yesterday I logged into Real Racing 3 to do my daily race and got a very pleasant surprise. To celebrate the game's one year anniversary developer Firemonkeys is giving away a 1972 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7. For free. 

All you have to do to claim your car is load up the game and click on the prompts. After ogling your awesome new ride, you'll also find the Porsche racing series unlocked if you hadn't already unlocked it previously. 

The graphical powerhouse of Real Racing 3 has certainly seen some evolution over its first twelve months of life. There have been numerous car makers added to the lineup, a complete interface overhaul, the addition of real-time multiplayer races, video replays and more. If you've been away from the game for a while, now is a great time to jump back in, grab your free Porsche, and take it for a spin. 

You can Grab Real Racing 3 here for free. And if you like free stuff, you may want to read out top 10 free iOS games of February article, too. 

Also, if you want to discover great new iPad games, be sure to check out Issue 1 of Grab It - The Game Discovery App. It includes 22 in-depth reviews of indie iPad games, 14 exclusive interviews, five big features, top 10s, opinions, news, videos, soundtracks and more - it all starts with our big world exclusive reveal for the amazing Thralled.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

01 March, 2014

Out There - Essential Survival Tips

Note: You may also enjoy our just released Top 50 Best iOS Games of 2014, So Far awards, in which Out There scored highly.

Excellent spaceship management/game book adventure hybrid Out There is excellent - you can read our full review and our exclusive developer interview in Episode 3 of Grab It. And if you haven't already, you can jump in and start exploring the final frontier by grabbing Out There right now. It’s an easy recommendation, as Out There’s lonely combat-free atmosphere and unique choose-your-own adventure mash up is a very worthwhile package.

28 February, 2014

Top 10 Free iPad Games of February

We've already taken you through the top 10 paid iOS games of February 2014, and boy were there some gems in that - games worth every cent. But there are also plenty of great games that follow the free-to-play, or just plain free, App Store model that are also worth exploring. We've kept a close eye and a skilled swipe on all the App Store activity this month and here are ten great games that came out, which you can check out, for the unbeatably awesome price of zero.

Also, on the subject of free, while our full-blooded Issue 1 of Grab It Indie Games Magazine is out now (with over 15-hours of text, video and music content), we do have a free sample issue so you can get a taste of what it is like. Try it here.

(click here for the  top 10 best free iOS games of January)

27 February, 2014

Out There Out Now - First Impressions

Midnight saw the release of Out There, a hybrid that is equal parts game book adventure and light spaceship/resource management sim. I've been immersing myself in its atmospheric, combat-free style and there is a lot to enjoy. 

Gameplay involves travelling from star to star, collecting fuel, oxygen and iron for repairs, and making choose-your-own-adventure choices on the many and varied story pages that appear randomly along the way.

25 February, 2014

The Voyage is Going to Puzzle Us This Week

Update: We've just got word that The Voyage has hit the App Store. You can grab it here.

Original Story: Sometimes it's nice to do puzzles purely for puzzles' sake. But at other times, we might feel like a little escapism mixed in with our puzzling. A cocktail to flex our imaginations as well as our mental muscles. At times like these, developer Mojo Bones aims to have our backs.

In 2012, The Curse saw us opening a strange book, releasing a creepy dude named the Mannequin, and then trying to solve all sorts of logic, memory and reflex-based puzzles to banish a creepy dude back to wherever creepy dude came from.

Two years later, here we are again, only this time pirates and ninjas are the new black. The guys at Mojo Bones seem to have flipped a coin, came up ninjas, and went with pirates anyway. The end result is that on February 27 we'll see the release of The Voyage with another shipload of puzzles, this time set within a pirate theme. Check out the trailer below and start preparing your best pirate puns and aaaaarrrghhhs, because apparently that's what pirates do.

In the meantime, you've got about forty-eight hours to brush up on your puzzling skills by grabbing The Curse right here.

24 February, 2014

Old-School Dungeon Crawler Coldfire Keep Out Now

Everything old is new again. We're still catching our breath from last week's plethora of quality releases, and Coldfire Keep - published by Crescent Moon Games and developed by Steve Jarman - is certainly one of the week's stand-out titles. 

Before the days of true 3D gaming, the late '80s and early '90s saw a subgenre of RPG dungeon crawlers that gave the illusion of 3D. This was done by having your character facing down a tunnel or pathway, and giving you the choice of moving in any of the compass directions. Once you'd hit the appropriate key to head in your chosen direction, a new scene would load, placing you one grid-space down the pathway in that direction, with everything down that path drawn a little closer. Couple this grid-based movement with turn-based enemy encounters, and an RPG flavoured storyline, and you have a good idea what many of us spent too much time doing about two decades ago. 

We would draw our own maps as we traversed the area on grid paper, making notes as we went, in case backtracking was needed to fulfil a task. This process gave a real hands on connection to the adventure and was a lot of fun.

Coldfire Keep looks to try and capture this once popular style of gaming and refresh it with modern technology. After watching the trailer we're sure you'll agree it certainly looks the part. Having Crescent Moon Games as its publisher is a good sign too, as the company is certainly known for releasing quality titles on iOS. 

With options for traditional, gesture or controller inputs, all preferences seem to be catered for. Also the game promises over ten hours of adventuring, with hidden secrets to be found. 

You can grab the game here, and check out some of the other titles developed and/or published by Crescent Moon Games below. 

References:
  - Coldfire Keep
  - Ravensword: Shadowlands
  - Ravensword: The Fallen King
  - Shadow Blade
  - Paper Monsters

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21 February, 2014

Free Game of the Day - Autumn Dynasty

Excellent RTS (real time strategy) game Autumn Dynasty has dropped to the royal price of nothing for a week.

Developer Touch Dimensions explains the reason for our good fortune in the game's description, noting the previous publishing contract has ended and the game will now be self-published. This means the app will need to be re-released and downloaded as a new app now under the Touch Dimensions banner. 

Another and more exciting reason for the sale is to celebrate next week's release of the sequel, Autumn Dynasty: Warlords, which is highly anticipated by RTS fans given the quality of the original.

With visuals done in the style of Japanese brush paintings, and controls optimised for swiping and drawing plans and paths on touchscreens, Autumn Dynasty is a no-brainer for free. You can grab it here, and whilst your downloading, watch the trailer:  

21 February, 2014

Colossatron Updated with Six New Ways to Wreak Havoc

We reviewed Halfbrick's latest release Colossatron: Massive World Threat in Issue #1 of Grab It Magazine - which you can download here - and gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Reviewer Chad Habel said, "it delivers a full sensory experience and a mindless city destroying fun that recalls 80s arcade classic Rampage."

Just in time for the weekend an update has hit today introducing six new weapons with which to wreak havoc, including The Reaper, Boomerang Launcher and Black Hole Generator.

Colossatron can be a bit of a mystery to new players, and Halfbrick has also improved the tutorial in this update, which will hopefully ease the entry into this deceptively simple destruction derby. Check out the trailer below, and you can grab Colossatron right here.

Right then, I'm off to generate some Black Holes.

20 February, 2014

IGDA vs. King - Fight!

The Oxford Dictionary of English’s secondary definition for the word saga, is “a long, involved story, account or series of incidents.”

Fitting it is then to call developer King’s current adventures in the world of trademarking a saga.

19 February, 2014

Oquonie Will Melt Your Mind

As well as Unstoppable Square, another of today's releases is puzzler Oquonie. Made by Canadian David Mondou-Labbe - who also operates under the name of Devine Lu Linvega. Oquonie is a stunningly illustrated mind-bender.

The visuals have been created by artist Rekka Bellum, who's beautiful work you can view here. You take control of some very strange looking creatures in order to traverse a maze-like structure. You can view three minutes of the game in the video below, as filmed by the developer.

If this sort of mind-medicine fills your prescription, you can Grab It here.

Also be sure to check out Issue 1 of Grab It - The Game Discovery App. It includes 22 in-depth reviews of indie iPad games, 14 exclusive interviews and five big features including our big reveal for the amazing Thralled.

19 February, 2014

Unstoppable Square Announced

Developer Thomas Roger has just released Unstoppable Square, an endless runner with visuals that hail from the Atari days. 

Controlling your square is a simple exercise of tapping the left side of the screen to jump, and the right side to switch the colour palette. As you travel across platforms they alternate colours, and you'll need to switch to stay alive, making sure your square's colour corresponds to the platform you're on.

It's a fun little "surely I can do better next time" game that includes some nice touches. From within the menu you can choose between various colour palettes, and also invert the control mechanism. This inversion of controls for left and right handed people is a welcome touch that many developers overlook.

There are also Game Center achievements for the trophy hunters out there, and best of all, it's free. You can Grab It here now.

17 February, 2014

Cubed Snowboarding Announced by Prolific Developer Jared Bailey

Update: Cubed Snowboarding is now out for the great price of 99c. You can grab it here.

Original Story: Jared Bailey has been a regular fixture on the App Store since his debut title Duck N Cover released in June 2009. Since then he has released no less then eight more games, with a tenth on the way. Bailey seems to have that knack for creating "why didn't I think of that" types of games, with elegant simplicity and a range of memorable art styles.

Infinite Surf, for example, is an attempt to capture the more relaxing and meditative side of surfing, rather than the fast-paced arcade experiences we are used to seeing in the likes of California Games. As Bailey says in the game's description "...showing the natural beauty surfers encounter each time they go out is the main goal of Infinite Surf." Sometimes it takes an independent eye to look at and explore the other side of video games, away from the running, shooting and coin collecting we're accustomed to. 

Baby Lava Bounce and Zombie Volcano are much more typical iOS experiences. They involve bouncing your island-hopping lava creature as far as possible by landing on trees, cows and all manner of objects, using them as fuel to continue bouncing. Simple, fun, endearing little time wasters.

That brings us to Bailey's Cubed series. Cubed Rally Racer released in 2010, offering full steering control over your boxy vehicle, and evolved into 2012's Cubed Rally Redline, which was more like slot cars. In Redline you strive for distance by switching between five slots in the track, avoiding obstacles and picking up fuel in order to continue your run. It's a simple and pleasant gameplay loop that could easily get buried under the pile of racers and endless run/jump/fly games available. But there is something so harmless and friendly about the art style that helps it stand out and rise above potential obscurity. As the name suggests everything is drawn and viewed from an isometric angle, with box shaped cars, trees and even box shaped cows. The bright cheerful colours help to promote the aura of goodwill the game exudes. Another reason to stay a while is the fact that every time you race a new track is randomly generated, so you'll never get tired of the same old circuits, or be stuck waiting for an update with more content. 

A third game in the Cubed series is about to land, possibly even this week. We mentioned Cubed Snowboarding in our Games for Winter Olympics Fans article and it has already been submitted to the App Store. 

Bailey has taken the random track generation of Rally Racer and Redline, and the Cubed visual style, and applied them to a downhill snowboarding theme. Judging from the trailer below it looks like it could be another success from this developer, who is on a very productive roll. There will be grinding, flipping and obstacle avoidance aplenty, and we'll post some impressions soon after the game is released, so watch this space. 

If you're curious about Jared Bailey's back catalogue you can click any of the links in the references below. Baby Lava Bounce and Cubed Rally Racer are free, so they're a great place to start if you're cautious about spending the ninety-nine cents the others will set you back. Have fun!

Writer:
Garry Balogh

Jared Bailey Gameography:
  - Duck N Cover
  - Waste Paper Basket Ball Diaries
  - Blacklight Blocks
  - Fist Face Fight
  - Infinite Surf
  - Zombie Volcano
  - Baby Lava Bounce
  - Cubed Rally Racer HD
  - Cubed Rally Redline

16 February, 2014

Toast Time Review

Toast Time is a stupidly fun arcade game with more breakfast puns than you could poke a baguette at. Developer Force of Habit consists of early-risers Nick Dymond and Ashley Gwinnell, and it feels like they had a lot of fun baking this loaf of indie gaming goodness.

16 February, 2014

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse Review

A little over twenty years ago I remember visiting a friend's house to play a new game he had just bought for his Sega Mega Drive - Castle of Illusion. I remember my reaction as I sat on his lounge room floor, controller in hand. I was no longer watching a Disney cartoon or playing a video game. The two had melded into one, and I was now playing a Disney cartoon. Twenty years ago, the future had arrived. 

15 February, 2014

Games for Winter Olympics Fans

In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a whole bunch of really fit people doing things that are really hard to do in Russia at the moment. It happens every four years and it’s called the Winter Olympics.

For us mere mortals, cheering on our country’s finest from the comfort of our warm homes, the most difficult part of this two week spectacle is dismounting the couch to refill our drinking vestibules and chip bowls. But how do we fill in the gaps during the ad breaks and when the athletes are sleeping, but we're still high on our sugar rush?

We’ve selected a couple of high quality Winter sports themed games so you can participate in the madness without the inconvenience of broken bones and busted heads. Snow is cold, and ice is hard, so stay on the couch, get comfy, and read on: we’ve chosen something old, something new and something upcoming.

13 February, 2014

Retro Classic R-Type II Blasts onto iOS

R-Type II is out now on iPad and iPhone. Grab it here now. End of article. 

What? You need more? Really? Um...ok, let's see...

Developer Irem originally gave birth to the R-Type series way back in the good old 1980's, and it has since become royalty in the sidescrolling shooter genre. Otherwise known as a shoot 'em up, or to the hardcore aficionados, simply a shmup. 

Decades later developer DotEmu has been doing some fine work taking retro classics and giving them the modern tech love they deserve in bringing them to current platforms. Another World is just one of many other classics the developer has brought kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century. 

The original R-Type landed on iOS last year, and the saga continues now with the sequel. Are your reflexes up to the task of taking on the Bydo Empire a second time? Only one way to find out: Grab It.

References:
  - Another World
  - R-Type
  - R-Type II

11 February, 2014

The ABCs of RPGs - Part 6 - SRPGs

In our series exploring the various sub-genres of role playing games, we’ve had a look at KRPGs, JRPGs, WRPGs, ARPGs and MMORPGs, and hopefully you’ve been enjoying the journey. Issue #1 of Grab It Magazine is available now in the App Store (and for the price it’s the best cup of coffee you’ll never have). Amongst its fifteen hours of entertainment you'll find reviews for the time travelling JRPG Across Age 2, and the triple A, top-shelf, made for iOS WRPG The Shadow Sun, from developer Ossian Studios. The Shadow Sun is a home-run with hours of deep adventuring to be had. Read on now as we continue our exploration into the role playing world, with Part 6, looking at SRPGs - Strategy role playing games.

Read More...

09 February, 2014

Dong Nguyen Updates Flappy Bird, then Threatens to Pull It from the App Store

Dong Nguyen, the creator of recent iOS phenomenon Flappy Bird, recently gave fans exactly what they wanted - more Flappy Bird. 

The game was updated a couple of days ago with a new night time mode, smoother looking pipes to fly your bird between, and even different coloured birds to play with. 

So it is with great surprise that today we find the developer doing a complete turnaround and threatening via twitter to pull his smash hit from the App Store altogether. Is it because of bad reviews? Does he just want his privacy back? At this stage it is unclear.

Regardless of people's opinions of his game, it is a rare feat indeed for a lone developer to sneak not one, but three games into the App Store's top ten list. Riding on the success of Flappy Bird, Nguyen's Super Ball Juggling and Shuriken Block also found their way in. 

Last year Phil Fish, the celebrated developer of Fez left game development due to internet hatred, and it would be sad to see either the over-opinionated pressure of the web, or the harsh spotlight of overzealous media, drive away any more talent. 

It remains to be seen whether Nguyen will follow through and pull the game, but in case Flappy Bird is gone by this time tomorrow, you can grab it here now, and his other games to see what all the fuss is about.

PS. Check out our very own Jesse Miles' amazing score below. They say pics or it didn't happen; well here's a pic:

References:
- Flappy Bird
- Shuriken Block
- Super Ball Juggling

Jesse's Flappy Bird high score

09 February, 2014

Doom Warrior Announced

Developer Creaky Corpse recently announced its upcoming title Doom Warrior. The game promises brutal online arena combat, pitting player against player in a battle for loot and glory. The visuals in the trailer bring to mind the Dark Souls and Infinity Blade series, which can only be a good thing. 

Another interesting addition is the promise of being able to forge weapons and armour of the player's own design. Whilst it remains to be seen how exactly this will be implemented, it could possibly be a feature that gives the game unlimited replay value. 

Watch this space for more details. 

References:
    - Infinity Blade III (which made our 50 Best Indie iOS Games of 2013 list)

Or if the word Doom brings back fond memories of an FPS classic, why not try:
    - Doom Classic
    - Doom II RPG
    - Doom Resurrection

And make sure you grab your free sample issue of Grab It Magazine before you go. It has five exclusive interviews, reviews, features, opinion and more.

07 February, 2014

Wayward Saga Becomes Wayward Souls - wonder why?

The beautiful thing about modern gaming is that new games can be given visuals that appeal to our warm nostalgic memories, whilst doing away with all the limitations of old tech. 

Rocketcat Games has been capitalising on this premise for some time now, with its excellent Punch Quest, awesome Hook Champ series and promising Mage Gauntlet. It's Mage Gauntlet to which its upcoming game Wayward Soul is a successor. 

In a recent Facebook post, the developer talked about how it's renaming the game from its original title Wayward Saga to Wayward Soul or Wayward Souls. Maybe the Banner Saga saga - whereby King, the creator of Candy Crush Saga, asked that game's developer to change the title under threat of legal action - caused Rocketcat to take the path of least resistance, ditching the now seemingly poisoned word. Either way, whatever it ends up being called, we're sure you'll agree from the early gameplay footage in the video below, it looks promising. 

The silky smooth animations and variety of combat options in this randomly generated dungeon crawler are begging to be enjoyed. We won't have long to wait as Rocketcat are submitting the game to Apple some time in February, meaning we should see a release either late February or early March.

We'll be following this one closely, and in the meantime you can get started by grabbing Mage Gauntlet here. Also highly recommended is Punch Quest, which is free, and should really just come pre-loaded on our iDevices. 

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References
    - Hook Champ
    - Super QuickHook
    - Hook Worlds
    - Mage Gauntlet
    - Punch Quest

08 February, 2014

Legendary Shooter R-Type II Makes iOS Comeback

Update: The game is now out - you can grab it here.

Sidescrolling and vertical scrolling shooters have been a successful genre on iOS. They are casual enough to be for pick-up-and-play fun, instantly placing you knee deep in bullets and enemies, and yet they offer enough difficulty to satisfy our hardcore gaming desires at the same time. 

Developer DotEmu has a reputation for doing high quality conversions of old-school games, as opposed to rushed ports for a quick money grab. Last year they brought R-Type to iOS, allowing us to relive some very fond arcade memories without the burden of carrying around a sack of coins to feed hungry machines. 

Recently DotEmu revealed that R-Type II is headed our way, and you can check out the trailer below. 

To start getting your reflexes back in shape, you can grab the original R-Type here. Enjoy!

You may also want to check out these other nostalgic gems:
- Duke Nukem 3D
- Doom Classic
- Double Dragon Trilogy
- Earthworm Jim
- Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
- Final Fantasy
- Pac-Man
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Tomb Raider
- GTA: Vice City

Writer: 
Garry Balogh

04 February, 2014

Is Glorkian Warrior The Most Retro Game Ever?

Mashing up a classic Commander Keen style platformer with a Galaga inspired shooter sounds like an awkward mix on paper, but watch the trailer below for Glorkian Warrior. Now you're probably wondering why you haven't played a game like this before.

The concept alone is enough to make us want to get busy with it, but its the execution that has us particularly inspired. It looks like to have that extra something special that will push it beyond "oh, neat idea" moment. With hand-drawn comic book visuals from artist James Kochalka, and game development from Pixeljam, this is one we'll keep a keen eye on, and let you know more details when we know more details.

In the meantime, if you want to feel all nostalgic, why not try these retro gems:
    - Duke Nukem 3D
    - Doom Classic
    - Double Dragon Trilogy
    - Earthworm Jim
    - Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
    - Final Fantasy
    - Pac-Man
    - Sonic the Hedgehog
    - Tomb Raider
    - GTA: Vice City

03 February, 2014

Top 10 Best iOS Games of January

It has been a busy start to the year for the iOS gaming scene and Grab It Magazine both. We recently filled you in on the top 10 free games of January 2014, which you can check out here, and now it is time to get into the serious stuff. These games will cost you a few dollars, but boy do you get some gaming content for your money. And don't forget, you can always check out our 50 Best Indie iOS Games of 2013 for more great options. If you like the sound of any of these games, just grab it.

Read More...

30 January, 2014

Star Wars and Lego Team Again

Riddle me this - what do Batman, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars all have in common? They all have Lego tie-in games available on the App Store. Lego has been building its profile on iOS for some time now and this past fortnight has seen two new releases drop.

Last week Lego Ninjago Rebooted entered the crowded endless runner race, themed of course by the titular Ninjago line of Lego. It's free, as these TV show promotional games tend to be, so why not give it a go and let us know your thoughts in the comments below? Was it worth the 84.1MB loss from your data plan?

Then this week saw the release of a very different genre of Lego tie-in, a vertical shoot 'em up in Lego Star Wars Microfighters. It certainly has some nice production values, and this super retro genre has seen some success on the App Store. Developer Cave for example has been releasing iOS "bullet-hell" shooters for some time, such as their Dodonpachi and Espgaluda games to name just two.

As always, you can click on anything that floats your blocky little boat below:

References
    - Lego Ninjago Rebooted
    - Lego Star Wars: Microfighters
    - Dodonpachi Maximum
    - Espgaluda II

Other Lego Games on iOS:
    - Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
    - Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4
    - Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7
    - Lego Star Wars The Complete Saga
    - Lego Star Wars The Yoda Chronicles
    - Lego Star Wars: Complete
    - Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles
    - Lego The Lord of the Rings

29 January, 2014

TowerMadness 2 Announced and Released

There are so many tower defence games available on the App Store - due largely to touchscreens being such a perfect fit for the genre - that it takes a lot for one to stand out from the crowd. Developer Limbic Software's 2009 release TowerMadness managed to do just that. The ability to view the field in a classic top down mode, or zoom in to a first-person mode, helped set it apart.

Fast forward nearly five years and the classic rivalry of sheep versus aliens returns in the form of TowerMadness 2. More weapons, enemies, levels, characters, controller support... wait, what?!... controller support?

This part intrigues me. On a platform where tower defence games work so well due to simply having to drag and drop towers with your fingers, adding controller support seems akin to adding an unnecessary middle man between yourself and the screen. But adding controller support means that if you're connecting your iPad to your TV via HDMI and using a Bluetooth MFi controller (the only one available at this time is the Steelseries Stratus) then it makes more sense.

TowerMadness 2 is available now, and you can grab it here:

29 January, 2014

Revolutionary Electronic act UNKLE Announces God of Light

It's amazing how much a decent soundtrack can add to a game. It lets you know that the developer cares about all facets of the experience, and acknowledges that what you hear whilst playing can add untold layers of depth and immersion when done well. The trailer for God of Light from developers Playmous and Eon Games doesn't reveal much, other than the fact it's a light reflecting puzzle game, but it certainly is visually stunning. Add to this that legendary beatsmith James Lavelle and his trip-hop crossover band UNKLE are providing the soundtrack, and we've instantly elevated this to "yes, please" status.

Puzzlers with a unique twist are certainly grabbing headlines of late. A number of standouts starred in our 50 Best Indie iOS Games of 2013 awards, while Device 6 is leading the indie charge at the major award ceremonies.

As for the band, it has released five albums, and our editor Chris Stead is adamant that its 1998 debut release Psyence Fiction is a true masterpiece. A collaboration with the seminal DJ Shadow, it does feature the likes of Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Jason Newsted (Metallica), Mike D (Beastie Boys), Richard Ashcroft (The Verve), Kool G. Rap and Badly Drawn Boy - hard to argue with that roster. Interested music loves can grab the album here.

We'll keep our eyes pealed and our ears pricked and let you know when we see and hear more. For now, chill out and soak up this trailer or, if you're looking for a fun light-bending puzzle game to enjoy during the wait, we recommend Khaba, which you can grab here.

28 January, 2014

Throw Another Indie Dev on the Barbie

It's hard not to cheer for Australia's relatively small indie game development community, which punches well above it weight in consistently delivering global blockbusters despite internet speeds you'd lament in the nineties and a famously squeamish classification board. This past weekend, the nation celebrated Australia Day the only way it knows how - beer! - so we thought it was a great time for us all to celebrate the fine work of its developers. Looking through this list, it's encouraging to think so much gaming goodness can come from a country with a population of a little over twenty million. Without further ado, check out this great lineup:

Read more...

22 January, 2014

The ABCs of RPGs - ARPGs

Ahead of our full review of The Shadow Sun, which will appear in Issue 1 of Grab It Magazine, on sale late January, we thought it timely to have a look at some of the genres of role-playing games, as there are many different styles. The App Store is thriving with quality RPGs and The Shadow Sun is already available for purchase, so you can jump straight in by grabbing it here: Spoiler Alert - It’s fantastic!

**You also may want to check out our Top 50 iPad Indie Games of 2013, which includes a number of RPGs, and our celebrity top 10s from developers like Ryan Payton, founder of République developer Camouflaj**

Welcome to Part 5 of our of our ABC of RPGs. We've already looked at WRPGs, KRPGs, MMORPGs and JRPGs. Today we take a brief look at ARPGs, or Action-RPGs.

Read More

19 January, 2014

Cardinal Quest 2 Announced

This casual, bite-sized rouguelike with retro-inspired graphics  looks like it might just be the fun snack the genre's fans can enjoy in between more meaty RPG adventures such as our Best 50 iOS Indie Games of 2013 inductee, The Shadow Sun.

Randomly generated levels mean you'll never play the same game twice. The game promises six different classes of warrior to help you explore the world, an easy to manage inventory system and also Permadeath, so you'll be risking everything on each run.

On its blog, developer Randomnine expressed its desire to offer up a fun, casual RPG experience whilst still including challenge and depth. Naturally we anticipate it will build on the solid template laid down by the original, too.

Releasing in Q1 of 2014, we're looking forward to testing those depths. Here's a look at some Alpha footage in the meantime. Remember this is Alpha footage, so it may to be entirely representative of the final product.

Alternative Roguelikes Aviailble Now:
    - 868-Hack (which was inducted into our Best 50 iOS Indie Games of 2013 list)
    - Isles of Bxnes
    - Cardinal Quest
    - Hoplite

17 January, 2014

Across Age 2 Initial Impressions

Ceska and Ales are back, and this time, they're...well, I won't say too much as I don't want to ruin any surprises. Suffice it to say there have been some changes since your last adventure in the original Across Age, which released in 2011. Developer FDG Entertainment has you travelling forwards and backwards in time to set things right.

I’m four hours into my review playthrough, but since the game has just appeared on the App Store I thought I’d relay my initial impressions. FDG has another solid Japanese Action-RPG on its hands. Fans of top-down, 16-bit adventures from yesteryear will lap this up.

The Across Age series introduces some interesting party mechanics to help it stand out from the App Store's crowd. You can travel together or separately, switching at will between your heroes – each of whom have different abilities - leading to some good puzzling. For example Ales can pick Ceska up and throw her to higher levels that he can't reach, and she'll continue alone to open up pathways for the team. Also some monsters are more susceptible to Ales' sword, and some to Ceska's magic, and you'll be needing to get to know which is which.

It is not essential to have played the first game to be able to appreciate the second, but there are some nods, winks and recurring characters that fans will enjoy. There will also be the usual head scratching that comes from any story with a time-travelling theme. I’m looking forward to rest of the experience – you can grab the game on the link below and enjoy some classic J-Rock in the trailer.

While you’re here, you can also check out our ABCs of RPGs.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References:
- Across Age
- Across Age 2

14 January, 2014

The ABCs of iOS RPGs - MMORPGs

Ahead of our full review of The Shadow Sun, which will appear in Issue 1 of Grab It Magazine, on sale January 24th, we thought it timely to have a look at some of the genres of role playing games, as there are many different styles. The App Store is thriving with quality RPGs and The Shadow Sun is already available for purchase, so you can jump straight in by grabbing it here: Spoiler Alert - It’s fantastic!

**You also may want to check out our Top 50 iPad Indie Games of 2013, which includes a number of RPGs, and our celebrity top 10s from developers like Ryan Payton, founder of République developer Camouflaj**

Welcome to Part 4 of our of our ABC of RPGs. We've already looked at WRPGsKRPGs, ARPGs and JRPGs. Today we take a brief look at MMORPGs. A MMORPG is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. It's a mouthful. Mind you, so is MMORPG. 

Read More

13 January, 2014

SSX Tricky Devs Bring Ski Cross to iOS

Another Unity Games alumni, FRS Ski Cross from developer Roadhouse Interactive is available now on the App Store. From the creative producers behind SSX Tricky, the game certainly looks the part, and has plenty of content on offer. There are over 250 items to work towards in the game's store, and 50 downhill slopes to ski.

The gameplay has some surprises as you don't actually directly control the steering of your avatar. Instead it is more timing based as you tap and hold to enter and exit turns, and tap to jump. So when you strip everything else away, all you're really left with is a game that tests your ability to tap the screen at the right time, which may not be for everyone. But it still draws you in to try and get the gold medal for each track... and it is free. A comprehensive tutorial at the start tells you everything you need to get started.

Being free to play there are several currencies in-game and as always with this style of game it will be interesting to see how the balancing of them pans out. A very brief hands on earlier today was not enough to really be able to comment too much on this side of things, but there isn't exactly an avalanche of skiing games tumbling onto the App Store.

For those in the Northern hemisphere it might turn out to be a fun way to pass the time after a hard day on the slopes, and for those in the south, maybe a way to take your minds off the heat. If you want to expand into snowboarding games, we'd recommend taking a look at MyTP Snowboarding 2 and Snowboard Hero.

This is the second game in this past week to release under the Unity Games banner, a new publishing arm from Unity Technologies. The other, Archangel, is a Baldur's Gate-like action-RPG you can read about here. We also recommend checking out our interview with Unity Technologies CEO David Helgason in our latest issue, and his Top 10 Games of 2013 list.

Reference Purchase Links:
    - FRS Ski Cross (iPad)
    - FRS Ski Cross (iPhone)
    - Archangel
    - MyTP Snowboarding 2
    - Snowboard Hero

12 January, 2014

The ABCs of iPad RPGs - WRPG

Ahead of our full review of The Shadow Sun, which will appear in Issue 1 of Grab It Magazine, on sale January 24th, we thought it timely to have a look at some of the genres of role playing games, as there are many different styles. The App Store is thriving with quality RPGs and The Shadow Sun is already available for purchase, so you can jump straight in by grabbing it here: Spoiler Alert - It’s fantastic!

**You also may want to check out our Top 50 iPad Indie Games of 2013, which includes a number of RPGs, and our celebrity top 10s from developers like Ryan Payton, founder of République developer Camouflaj**

Welcome to Part 3 of our look into the role playing game genre and the various branches of its family tree. The RPG genus can feel as vast as the fictional worlds they create, which is why we thought we’d break them down a little and have a look at the main traits that define each type. Remember these are not hard and fast rules set in stone. They borrow freely from each other to blend and morph into new styles and hybrids over the years. With that in mind, after looking at MMORPGsKRPGs, ARPGs and JRPGs, let’s head west. 

The WRPG is a Western RPG, and The Shadow Sun fits comfortably into this category. Free-roaming and featuring real-time combat, usually from a third-person perspective are the most common traits found in the WRPG.

The real-time combat leads to a more actively engaged experience, as you are in direct control of your character throughout, as opposed to the turn-based style of the JRPG which is more tactical. Levelling-up in a WRPG is often connected to actions you perform within the game, with the type of loot dropped moulding itself to the style you choose to play in. These traits are certainly exemplified in The Shadow Sun. Choose the rogue character and slain monsters will be more likely to drop daggers, the warrior will coax long blades, and the mage will receive wands and robes more often than not.

There are some great WRPG experiences to be found on the App Store, the most notable of which are the Ravensword titles from Crescent Moon Games. They are great big free-roaming adventures with hours of content. Gameloft has also gained a lot of recognition for its epic Scared Odyssey: Rise of Ayden, which comes complete with horse riding.  If you've done everything there is to do in The Shadow Sun and are looking for more epic questing, these games are an easy recommendation.

Here is a hint for the next instalment of the ABC of RPGs…it will be Massive!

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References
- The Shadow Sun
- Ravensword: The Fallen King
- Ravensword: Shadowlands
- Sacred Odyssey: Rise of Ayden

10 January, 2014

The iPad is Approaching Faster Than Light

For a two man team, Subset Games' undertaking of bringing their PC hit Faster Than Light to iPad is a large one. But the wait is nearly over, with their announcement of a release in early 2014.

The original PC version of the game is getting a huge update called FTL: Advanced Edition and it is this version that is coming to the iPad.

The successful spaceship management sim's update boasts so many new features it sounds more like a full-blown sequel than an update. A new sector, new events, new systems, enemy ships and weapons are just some of the improvements on the way.

For the iPad to be getting this new and improved version of what is fast becoming a management classic is very exciting for the platform. The large touchscreen of Apple's tablet would seem to be a perfect fit for this style of game, as would be the portability, allowing a relaxing armchair experience for what has so far been a PC only affair.

Wannabe armchair spaceship commanders would do well to watch the trailer below and to start getting excited. If you need an excellent alternative experience to enjoy while you wait, we suggest the very fun Star Command: grab it here.

07 January, 2014

The ABCs of iPad RPGs - JRPG

Ahead of our full review of The Shadow Sun, which will appear in Issue 1 of Grab It Magazine, on sale January 24th, we thought it timely to have a look at some of the genres of role playing games, as there are many different styles. The App Store is thriving with quality RPGs and The Shadow Sun is already available for purchase, so you can jump straight in by grabbing it here:  

** Spoiler Alert ** It’s fantastic!

Welcome to Part 2 of our exploration of the RPG. (If you missed it, here's KRPGs, WRPGs, ARPGs and MMORPGs) Whilst I’d hate for it to sound too much like a disclaimer, which then allows me to continue on and make all sorts of wild and inaccurate claims, I think it is worth keeping in mind my cautionary statement from Part 1: Definitions are not black and white and lines get blurred and grey, with elements of one genre bleeding into others. I think this is true with many art forms, and this mixing and blending of genres is how our industry tends to evolve. So with that bubbling away in the background, let’s have a brief look at the main ingredients that make up a JRPG. 

JRPGs are Japanese RPGs. In more recent years, this style of RPG have come to be known for having a heavy focus on high-end graphics and elaborate cutscenes. A cutscene is a small animated non-interactive section of game that plays out like a movie in between moments of gameplay. These usually allow you to put the controller down and watch as an exposition of a main story point unfolds. This is required as a complex and often over emotional story is another recurring element seen in a traditional JRPG.

Typically combat is turn-based. The player waits for timers to cool down before being able to make another attack or action of any sort, and this style of combat tends to make JRPGs a more strategic experience than other RPG subgenres. In your next turn should you heal your character or risk all and stay on the offensive?

Possibly the most famous of all JRPG series is the long-running Final Fantasy, many of which are available on the App Store. But developer Square Enix - arguably the godfather of the JRPG genre - has also released its iOS exclusive Chaos Rings series, which are designed specifically for iDevices and therefore a great place to start your JRPG adventures.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

References: 
Final Fantasy
Chaos Rings 
Chaos Rings II 
Chaos Rings Omega

05 January, 2014

The ABCs of iPad RPGs - KRPGs

The RPG, or role-playing game, is one of gaming’s foundation genres. A broad category of playing experience, it approaches other genres with open arms, welcoming them in and sharing its addictive gameplay loops liberally. Most modern game experiences pay respect to the mechanics of the RPG in some capacity, while the entire gamification movement has seen life imitate art, bringing RPG staples to the real-world. Some might say this diffusion of the RPG across the industry has diluted its roots, but traditional RPGs still exist with all their flavour and fun intact. 

Ahead of our full review of The Shadow Sun, which will appear in Issue 1 of Grab It Magazine (on sale January 24), we thought it timely to examine and define the most notable families within the RPG genus. The App Store is thriving with quality RPGs and The Shadow Sun is already available for purchase, so you can jump straight in by grabbing it here.

** Spoiler Alert ** It’s fantastic!

As with many things that humans attempt to categorise, definitions are not black and white, with lines that blur and grey frequently as elements of one type bleed into another. So keeping this in mind, let’s start out by looking today at KRPGs. 

KRPGs are Korean RPGs, and are typified mainly by grinding and fetch-quests. Grinding is mostly defined as repetitive fighting in order to increase your character’s stats and loot. Often in KRPGs areas will be locked off until your character reaches a certain level, and so quests must be completed and monsters fought in your level-appropriate area, eventually earning your permission to move on, continuing the story.

A fetch-quest, on the other hand, involves collecting a certain amount of a particular item and returning it to the quest giver, therefore completing a set task and helping you level-up. For example, the town baker might require ten "magic grains" to be able to make a magic loaf of bread to heal his sick son. Collecting them may require finding and defeating ten monsters that drop these grains. 

KRPGs seem to suit the obsessive-compulsives amongst us. Whilst the description of grinding and fetch-quests may sound dull to some, to others it can be a strangely satisfying pursuit, offering a constant sense of progression and worth to your activities.

The App Store has some great KRPGs on offer. Gamevil’s Zenonia series is a great place to start for those keen to explore the genre, and you can enjoy this rapidly expanding series from the very beginning by grabbing them here:

Zenonia1
Zenonia2: The Lost Memories
Zenonia3: The Midgard Story
Zenonia4: Return of the Legend
Zenonia5: Wheel of Destiny

In Part 2 we move to the land of the rising sun, while in Part 3 we look at The West, in Part 4 we look online and in Part 5, it's all about action.

Writer:
Garry Balogh

03 January, 2014

Oasis: Path of Redemption Out Now

An auto-runner with emotional depth? Who would have thought? But that's what Oasis: Path to Redemption presents fans of the genre in one of the moodiest trailers you're likely to see all year. Developed by comic book artist Steve Uy, this runner offers plenty to set it apart from the masses. You level-up and spend XP (not IAPs) to upgrade your skills and stats so you can better dodge, combo, defend and otherwise get through a level. They aren't one-hit kills either, and you'll have to apply some simple strategy to make your way through. Then there is also a story that adds depth to what can often be a superficial genre. Here is the developer's rundown:

"You are the last survivor of a dead world, on a desperate quest to find the fabled Oasis, promised to bring life back to the barren wasteland. Set over five hand drawn and seamless worlds, you must cut your way through the vengeful spirits that seek to block your path and discover the tragic truth behind the cause of the world's ruin."

It's an intriguing variation for the genre and it's presentation is ripe. You can buy it right now - grab it here.

Steve is also working on a second game with a similar visual style; it's a strategy RPG called the World Without End.

02 January, 2014

Shadow Blade Brings Ninja to iOS

Fans of 2D action-platformers look to be in for a real treat with the upcoming release of Shadow Blade from Swedish developer Dead Mage. It looks like a very slick ninja star of fun, mixing a retro visual style with face-paced vertical and horizontal scrolling exploration and gory combat. The developer describes the story as;

“Kuro is a young man on his quest to become the Shadow Blade. He must seek the teachings of the last remaining ninja master. You will guide him through challenging levels, around countless traps, sneaking past enemies or right over their dead bodies. You have to be fast, be stealthy, be aware of your environment. You have to be a ninja.” 

Recalling the likes of legendary titles Shinobi and Ninja Gaiden, we’ll be keeping a close eye on 2014’s shadows, waiting for this one to emerge. In the meantime you can get your slash on in Fruit Ninja HD, which recently starred in our How To Get 20 Awesome iOS Games for $20 article.

Don't forget your free sample issue of Grab It Magazine.

30 December, 2013

2013: What A Year

Wow, 2013 huh? What a year it has been for iOS. There has been new hardware taking it to a whole new level: the iPad Air and mini, iPhone 5S and 5C, all with their 64-bit A7 chipped grunt under the hood.

New software: the iOS 7 update has arguably been the most significant change since the platform released late last decade.

New peripherals: with iOS 7 came physical controller support, which is both figuratively and literally a game changer.

And games, games and more games. We've seen huge console and PC series get exclusive iOS spin-offs, ports of classics we never thought we'd be able to play again, big triple A iOS exclusive titles, and more indie gaming goodness and innovation - both big and small, casual and hardcore - than we ever thought possible. Truly something for everyone.

What have been your highlights for iOS in 2013? What are you playing right now? What will you be playing as you recover on new year's day? Any wishes for 2014 and beyond?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments, both casual gamers and core. Let's celebrate 2013 and look forward to a huge 2014. And if you haven't already, try out Grab It Magazine now and enjoy our free launch issue - it will be a great way to discover new games through 2014!

29 December, 2013

iPad Classic – Order & Chaos

Gameloft is known in the world of iOS for making games that are heavily inspired by successful PC and console franchises. Order & Chaos is a nod to Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) such as the infamous World of Warcraft. Released in April of 2011, and recently updated with new quests and tournaments, players can lose themselves in countless hours of levelling and looting. There is even player vs. player, a staple mode of any MMORPG hoping to take itself seriously.

The genre seems to be a good fit for a device that fits in your pocket or carry-bag, allowing you to duck in and out of the online world for long play sessions or a quick bit of housekeeping as time dictates. Gameloft may have had some detractors over the years, but games like Order & Chaos prove that it has still delivered many worthwhile gaming experiences.

You can download it right here.

29 December, 2013

Is This The Hardest Free Game Ever?

One of the things we love most about mobile gaming is how you can turn a boring few minutes waiting in a reception or at a bus stop into an entertaining shot at glory. And one of the things we love most about indie games is that the next big hit could be completely unexpected. In the case of BWBan, these two ideals have come together in a minimalist puzzle game so hard few will ever finish it, yet addictive enough many will die trying!

Emanuele Feronato's BWBan is a very tidy, extremely minimalist and super difficult little brain melter where you need to push a block into a hole. Sounds simplistic, and it is. Sounds easy, but it’s anything but. It is completely free, and a tiny download of 3.3mb. There is a total of 80 levels, but good luck getting past the first 10!

You can pick up the game right here (iPad) or here (iPhone). We also recommend downloading our first issue of Grab It Magazine while it is free so you can try it out – we have a section called Quick Fix that focuses on these very experiences.

On his Blog Feronato says if he gets enough interest in BWBan he already has another game ready to get up and running. That's the kind of awesome indie spirit Grab It Magazine loves!

23 December, 2013

Ex-Sony Devs Announce Plunder Pirates for iOS

A number of ex-Sony developers have bandied together and formed arrr new crew for the good ship Midoki. This new studio is set to storm the high seas of the App Store ocean in their upcoming strategy game Plunder Pirates. As we keep saying, pirates seem to be the new zombies. Check out the trailer:

Note: The first issue of Grab It Magazine is out on iPad now and it's Free during the launch window - make sure you give it a look.

 

21 December, 2013

Tengami Pops-Up, Blows Minds

Nyamyam has just released a brand new trailer for Tengami, which it describes as a "point & touch adventure game inside a Japanese pop-up book." It's coming in 2014 and it is looking just beautiful. Check out the trailer.

18 December, 2013

Hands-On The Shadow Sun

I'm a firm believer that the proof you are enjoying an RPG doesn’t materialize until the next day. Perhaps you were excited when you started out on your big new adventure, but on the second day, rather than hooking straight into the quest at hand, you’ve started making deals with yourself. After I read this chapter in my book; after I do the dishes; after I watch this paint dry… watch out, something clearly stinks!

However, if I wake up and can't wait to sink my teeth back into its world, then you can rubber stamp it as a winner. It sounds obvious, but RPG fans will know what I mean. I’ve just started out on my review adventure for The Shadow Sun, which emerged from hiding just a few days back with a truly epic trailer. And so far the dishes are stacked high. Work is a blur, as I’m itching to find a better sword, learn a more powerful magic spell, level-up and discover new books that clue me into the lore of Shar, the game's world. 

Ossian Studios' ambition of creating an iOS RPG that can stand on its own and not be compared to, or accused of being a clone of, a larger console or PC franchise so far seems to be a success. The world is interesting, the story is intriguing and the touch controls work well.  

I’ll have a full review in Issue 1 of Grab It Magazine, but a couple of hours into my pre-release copy I feel like I’m standing on the tip of a large and exciting iceberg called The Shadow Sun, and I’m very keen to dig deeper.

- Garry Balogh

17 December, 2013

The Lawless brings The Western to iOS

Yet another great looking game coming out on December 19. Watch the trailer for The Lawless and be impressed. It looks to be one for the adults, with a murderous shooting gallery style of gameplay that looks perfect for the touchscreen, with killer visuals.

16 December, 2013

December 19 To Be Epic

In Stephen King novels the number 19 is always a bad omen. But for iOS gamers December 19 is definitely something to look forward to. We don't mean to keep banging on about it, but to put it all in a nutshell, check out this for a crazy little shortlist of exciting releases:

Colossatron (Halfbrick)
Cut The Rope 2 (Zeptolab)
The Shadow Sun (Ossian Studios)
Infinity Blade III's huge update (Chair)

Maybe the number 19 is still a bad thing as it means there is not enough hours in the day.

Any takers? Which are you excited for and why? Leave your comments below.

15 December, 2013

Get Your Alonso On

Formula Legend from BeerMogul Games has seen several updates since its release, with all sorts of bug fixes, tweaks and new content. The F1 management sim now has dynamic weather and team/driver swapping. You can it for our favourite price, FREE, right here.

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