Rapidfire Reviews – iPhone Reviews (10/12/09)
If there’s something I’m constantly doing, it’s spending little bits of cash on all sorts of iPhone games. Check out which I’ve been playing!
Harvest Moon Frantic Farming ($5.99) – Thinking that this can’t be as bad as the horrid Puzzle de Harvest Moon, Frantic Farming does enough to sate your expectations of what a puzzle version of Harvest Moon is like. That being said, there’s something that seems to be missing in this puzzle version of the long standing farming franchise. Maybe its charm? Or maybe a sense of logic of how the puzzle game works?
The tutorials do an adequate job of showing you basics, but you’re left stuck when it comes to figuring out advanced tactics…well, that is if there are really any. For a Harvest Moon fan, it’s a purchase that you will seldomly find yourself playing. In fact, playing this will make you wonder why hasn’t an iPhone version of the beloved franchise hasn’t shown up on the platform in the first place.
Anyone else, you’d do best to avoid this game since there are dozens like it.
Harvest Moon Fans: Let It Drop (to at least $2.99)
Everyone else: Avoid at all Costs
Castle of Magic ($2.99) – D-Pads on an all touch screen system is an unfortunate circumstance when it comes to platformers, because it guarantees that people who play it will not get the most accurate and reliable control scheme when they play the game.
That being said, if you find yourself comfortable playing games like Zenonia with little to no problem, then your next purchase is definitely the cute and lovable Castle of Magic. A very bright and colorful platformer, this game has you going through various stages in this classic 2D platforming game.
I’ve always had problems with touch screen d-pads in games, but this game has one of the better versions that actually works rather intuitively on the touch screen. Very rarely did I die or miss a jump because of an unresponsive d-pad, which is praise enough for the controls.
For $2.99, anyone who wants a nice, cute platformer will enjoy Castle of Magic. That being said, don’t be surprised if this ends up being a PSP Mini, at which case it’s a definite purchase (if they can retain the cutesy charm).
Worth The Price
Tower Bloxx 3D ($1.99) – It’s as simplistic as games get: stack blocks without them falling, then you win.
But why is it an instant purchase? The overall metagame, which has you placing those blocks as buildings to create towns, becomes rewarding as soon as you start creating more difficult buildngs and towns. The timing needed is forgiving, but does provide a challenge in some areas, but it’s entertaining to get a 40 block streak within the 5 minutes you’ve spent playing.
Overall, a quick and dirty game is all this game really is, but if you want to invest more time into the game, you’ll find yourself easily as entertained.
Worth the Price
Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor ($3.99) – Out of the plethora of iPhone games available, one of the most impressive has been Spider. Playing as the mentioned arachnid, you go into environments to create webs and trap all sorts of bugs and insects into your clutches, then eat them when they stick to your webs to create more webbing. It seems simple, and at first it is. Making three webbings intersect into a single web provides some easy fun.
Then, as the levels differ, clues into the dark story pop up to make the game more interesting than its percieved to be. On top of that, new bugs are found that need to be tackled in different ways, while the different areas provide different challenges in creating the most effective web.
In the end, it comes down to one question: Do you own an iPhone and like to play different types of games? If your answer is yes, buy Spider.
Worth the Price
Wolfenstein RPG ($2.99) – It’s always nice to see a brand take itself realistically than seriously for a change. Wolfenstein RPG knows it isn’t the deepest, nor is it the most realistic, when it comes to narrative. But the hairbrained and absolutely ridiculous story gives the game a lot of its charm that makes it much easier to blow through.
The RPG mechanics are surprisingly a lot like the 1st person shooter, only done in a weird turn-based sort of way. Strafing and circling work the same way as they do in an FPS, but all sorts of intangibles like critical hits and stat boosts are included in the RPG sense.
Wolfenstein RPG is a strange, retro hybrid for someone who wants a new twist of a classic game. Fans of the game are highly recommended to check it out, as well as people who want a quirky new game for their iPhone.
Worth the Price
Backbreaker Football ($.99) – More of a Madden drill then it is an actual football game, this surprisingly addicting $1 game provides a lot of challenge in its rather rudimentary concept.
The game is simple: You are running to the endzone and you have to juke, spin or out sprint all of the defenders trying to get you there.
The combo based gameplay, which has you getting out of tackles in near 3 second succession, gives the game its addicting, “try one more time” quality that keeps you playing until you finally eat dirt.
I still wish there was more to the game than that, but for a $1, you’ll spend tons of time with the game and have a blast playing it.
Worth the Price
GeoDefense Swarm ($1.99) – Think FieldRunners, but far more difficult. Swarm has the same type of look and feel that Geo Defense has, but instead makes it a make your own path game.
The game works more this way and is more fun than GeoDefense, but the same problems, such as the dodgy placement control and the sometimes stupifying AI on the cannons, still rear their ugly heads. But, for $1.99 (a whole dollar cheaper than FieldRunners), it’s still worth a buy.
Worth the Price
Dungeon Hunter ($6.99) – Action-RPG’s are a dime a dozen on most platforms, but quality is far and few between. It’s especially rare on the glut of games that are on the iPhone, but Dungeon Hunter provides a ton of great monster hacking for any iPhone lovers.
The first thing I must point out is the controls, which are very well done despite it being on a touch screen analog nub. The rather large attack buttons on the screen make hitting enemies also very easy and the auto lock on detection helps greatly so you’re not expecting to be precise on the controls.
Lastly, the powers and leveling up are highly rewarding and make going through each dungeon worth your while. That, and the game is still as pick up and play as any game on the iPhone, which is fantastic for quick play sessions.
If you’re looking for a quality action RPG on the go, this is actually the best you can find. Easily worth the $7.
Worth the Price
Brad Wiswall
www.twitter.com/gamakarmica
