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So recently I got to preview Slide Maze by Luke Craig (Stereophonic Games.)     You can read my preview/ review here .   The thing is, I've since completed it and while eagerly awaiting its first update have come to realise, I was a bit off with regards something said regarding visuals.        "Though, a little rough around the edges."       See Slide Maze is much more polished than initially given credit.  Small attentions to detail which make a big difference; like little exclamation marks that appear around our protagonist in directions posing danger.     The individuality and unique traits of each character.     Subtle acknowledging visual and audible effects when hitting a 'wall', animations in the UI  --camera shake!   Anyway, I just felt these realisations were warranted mentioning.  I'm liking the game a lot and news of new content was perfect excuse to write some more. Now onto the actual update!     Luke

Last night I was kindly given a chance to preview Slide Maze before it lands on the App Store today (Sunday) and so thought I'd share my first impressions with you guys.  Stereophonic Games presents its take on a classic puzzler with fresh twists and calling this, one thrilling maze runner would not be far off the mark.  As with similar games of its sub genre, the premise is simple: get 'x' ("Humphrey") from point 'a' to 'b' by navigating a 'maze'.      Well, per usual things start off relatively easy, but this soon changes and routes become more obscure upon progression. To navigate, simply swipe up, down, left or right, anywhere on screen.       Though it should be noted, the player can only change direction when they run into a 'wall'. Controls are easy, responsive and at no point did I feel they were to blame for me making a wrong move, or failing any level by sliding off the edge. Can be played in P

☆☆☆ Much like the arcade game, but with a possibly unique dual-scoring system, also life mechanic.     Speed-stacking contributes to your final score and you are too playing against the clock. Simple and vibrant visuals.  Catchy music loop that can be toggled.     High score table minus Game Center integration . . . so hopefully no hacking! Paid game, though unobtrusive ad banner in menus. ★★ Sound effects are barely audible, less over the soundtrack detracting from potential feedback. Not losing a square when you perfectly align would lengthen gameplay  and add replay value by granting beating your/ also  "o.p.'s" high score/s a success or failure of your own actions, rather than one from luck. Qbic [£0.69] Perry Kappetein ☆☆☆★★ "The Sky's the limit!"

Given the sheer choice available, never would I have foreseen a game that started its life as humble Flash would one day, at least for now be my favourite, on any platform.     Fact is, often we enjoy the simple things in life most ,and I guess that includes video games. Originally played on Kongregate, now my iPhone and iPad, Soccer Physics by Otto-Ville Ojala is an accessible soccer game for everybody, even if you're no fan of football, in any form . . . almost.     This is a title from said same developer who brought us the likes of Wrestle Jump [£1.49] and Tug The Table [£1.49] .  So if you're familiar, you probably get where this is going.  Most likely head over heels!? A 2 V 2, one or two -four player game, where the aim's to somehow control your team and be first to score five goals past an opposing human, or AI/ CPU side.  That's unless you're playing endless mode, which is self explanatory of course.     You control your team ,and I use

A first update for Dong Nguyen ( dotgears / @dongatory )'s Swing Copters in now live on the App Store.       As you can see from the screenshot above it contains a display ads bug fix, also gameplay tuning.  Unfortunately Game Center still doesn't work and needs mending, but I've learnt that is more of an Apple problem as they prepare for iOS8, so not unique to this particular app.  I beat my top score first launch after installing version 1.1.0 ,and have definitely found the tuning to be game-changing.  Now it feels more a test of stamina above all else.     The few things noticed and noted were: 1.)  The first gap level has been heightened.  This gives you more time to centre before  manoeuvring through. Gaps thereafter may have been widened too, or it could be all about point 3.). 2.)  Hammers appear to swing slower, making them less of a distraction while gifting more time to    dodge. 3.)  Taps feel more responsive and momentum feels reduced gi

After perusing all the articles I could find via Google Search for tips and tricks playing Dong Nguyen's successor to Flappy Bird, I think I've compiled a commonly agreed, universally accepted list: Swing Copters is currently available for [Free] on iTunes App Stores worldwide ( Play Store also.)

The Expendables: Recruits [Free] from Lions Gate Films Inc. in my opinion is a surprisingly good promotional video game for The Expendables 3 movie. ( Now showing in cinemas worldwide. ) Or should I say games?  Dozens of them in fact.     Chances are, if you like Wario Ware, or are a fan of mini-game collections such as the PlayStation classic Bishi Bashi, you're probably going to have some fun and maybe experience much fury here. Recruits should also simply be taken for what it is, a mobile game, not some fully fledged triple a console title.     Don't get me wrong Expendables is not without its flaws.  I'll give benefit of the doubt and say, "I may be doing it wrong."  Though there could also be a few bugs to iron out.     Sometimes I feel the controls are not responsive, sensitivity sporadically changes and there has been a crash. The Expendables: Recruits pits you against some tough as nails challenges from the team to the protagonist,

It appears Lima Sky and Andreas Illger have both been hard at work on their said respective games. First up, Tiny Wings [£0.69] receives an extra archipelago by way of Tuna Islands with five new isles to race along, over and through in Flight School.     Tunnels add a fun new way to play then master ,and an almost 'even' playing field are amongst the new grounds you can now cover before feeding time. Next, Doodle Jump [£0.69] gets a new Pirate theme with fancy dressed aliens, cannon ball-firing enemy ships to dodge, swinging rope ladders to scale, coin-filled treasure chests to collect and maps that mark the spots are included.     There are also additional costumes for your perusal and purchase in the store, power-up items too. Both title updates give these App Store classics a fun refresh and prompt re-downloads.  If you've yet to play either, now is a good time as any.

Bet you can't guess what the 'Z' stands for?  Okay, so video games are saturated in this particular theme ,and the format isn't quite new either.     It's a 'Freemium' title with assumably removable advertisements and in-app purchases.  There's an energy mechanic, timers, also in-game currencies.  Genera Mobile don't bring anything ground-breaking to the table (except maybe the bazooka shells,) but I've actually found it quite entertaining and playable so far. Developed by iOS developer David Liñán, Z Hunter: War of The Dead [Free] (formerly: Bring Death to The Dead) is an arcade shooter, one I really could envisage in a cabinet, complete with holstered infra-red sniper and machine gun down my local amusements.     It looks, sounds and plays just like one.  The only real difference being well adapted virtual controls. Far as the story goes, there are a few pages.  Twelve to be precise, in the form of notes.  These can be unl

I seem to recall getting lost in Jordan Pearson's App Store first, Callys Caves [Free] last year . . . and not in a good way.     Given my early evacuation, comparisons to the newly released sequel will be sparse. That being said, there are a few noticeable improvements. Callys Caves 2 [Free] also, is a tough as nails adventure- platformer that will have you glutton for punishment. "Cally's parents have been kidnapped again!" And once more it's "you" their daughter, who is to rescue them from nefarious Doctor Herbert's evil clutches and defeat him --for good!     Brave depths of over a hundred caves, before exploring his lair's hollow halls.     Along the way you'll encounter 20 enemy types and six diabolical bosses.     16 unique weapons will be yours for levelling up, as too various attributes with new RPG mechanics to upgrade. Early on, a few things were clear; visuals had been changed, this time resembling

Robert Curley of Shean Software, (the young indie developer who brought us Ski-Daddle ) [Free] has just released his latest game on iOS. The Ball of Life . . . 2 [Free] ,is a casual physics puzzle-platformer, not dissimilar to Kevin Calderone’s 2008 App Store classic, Trace [Free.] Each level consists of a start, finish, gaps to clear and obstacles to overcome. You, our protagonist, have lost your legs and turned into a ball. . . The basic premise is to get you from point A-B safely. This is done by drawing lines with one’s finger, thereby manipulating your movement and route. Perhaps the main difference between The Ball of Life 2 and Trace is that you have no actual after control over our character. By this I mean, there’s no tilt mechanic, or tap to bounce; you must –“Roll to the goal.” Which in this case appears to be some sort of portal. What you do have is an in-game slide to view menu. A virtual drawer. In it are: one pencil, eraser and restart button. There

I recently managed to contact Dennis Nielsen, Creative Director, Game Designer, Cow-founder of Copenhagen based game company Exploding Cow and *deep breath* . . . One of the guys behind Plantman [Free]  --Phew! Dennis kindly agreed to answer a few questions that I'd bet have been on many of our lips. Here's what he had to say: How did the National Film School of Denmark come to develop and self publish an iOS game? There are different educational programmes at the Film School - the only programme not focusing on live-action films is called "Animation Director" - which is the programme I finished this summer, Plantman being my graduation project. As an Animation Director student you get to play around with all different aspects of animation and games production, focusing on being "The one with the vision" and working with all kinds of people from different fields. You have almost endless creative freedom when it comes to the midt

A surprise release last Wednesday for me was Plantman [Free]  subtitled, "Episode One: Last Day at The Plant Plant." An App Store debut no less from, wait for it... The National Film School of Denmark, in co-operation with the Danish Broadcasting Corporation -you don't see that every week! So how and why did an iOS game come into development by a film school? Those are questions I may not be alone in wanting to ask these talented self publishers.     Now, I've visited their **website and unfortunately the only apparent means of contacting them is via post, fax, or telephone ...best not hold our breaths!? I digress. Curious of its title, intrigued by Plantman's screenshots, l decided to download the game and at least check it out.     20 -30 chapters later, I've heard, seen also played enough to bet, I'll probably soon be left in anticipation of Episode Two ( and the rest of the series. ) Unsurprisingly perhaps, though o

Earlier I tweeted the news of Tilt to Live [*Free] and Tilt to Live 2: Redonkulous [*Free] going *free on the App Store for a limited time. Throughout the day it has spread like wild fire and while it’s probably now old hat ( though hopefully still correct ), “better late than never” I thought, to post an article myself. I shan’t keep you any longer, only to publicly ask, “Why has it taken me this long to check out these gyroscopic gargantuans!?” …Still here!? For the whys: visit the onemanleft blog …Pssst! Have you seen Apple’s App of the Week? [*Free]

Genres, however vague and impersonal are there to categorise for us. They provide method, organisation too, making cataloguing also searching for something specific that much easier.     Sub-genres enable you and I to hone in on our target. The reverse act perhaps can at times not be so simple. Where do we put 'this'? Which describes 'it' best? That is where/ when occasionally on the contrary disagreements and arguments against tagging also labelling are made. Luftrausers [£7.29] has been placed widely in the arcade shooter, or shoot-em-up folder and its files contain all assets expected from one, e.g. lone assault, large number of enemies, bullet dodging -check-check-check.     However as mentioned, this process can be rather overcast -that's where reviews come in. (Hopefully) giving a clearer view, detailing those blimps on the radar.     See some video games are what they are, and there's not much more to say, others... beg elaboration. Upo