Home » Articles and Reviews by 'Andrew Nesvadba'
Friday News Wrap-Up 14 September 2012
Has the month just come to a halt now that the iPhone 5 has been announced? It feels that way to me... or maybe I’m crazy. Either way lets scrape up what news we can for the Friday News Wrap-Up for the 14th of September, 2012. Payback 2 - Long-awaited sequel in developmentThose who happen to be long-time iOS gamers may remember the GTA-like title Payback from the dark-old ages of iPhone gaming. Rendered in software mode rather than hardware, it was a testament to the developer’s dedication, especially as it seemed to start out as an Amiga project. Payback 2 takes another swing at the free-exploring GTA formula, albeit with its own twist of allowing the player to custom…
Wonderputt iPad Review
What do you get when you combine a funky, vibrant isometric stage with toads, submarines, volcanoes, and Stonehenge? The answer, cryptically, is the world of Wonderputt by Damp Gnat. It's in this world that you'll attempt to slingshot a ball in to a hole, hopefully picking up points along the way, but more importantly hopefully to have fun. Playing the game couldn't be easier as you hold down on the ball and drag away from it, slingshot-style, letting go once you're happy with your ai…
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LAD Review
We see it all the time on the App Store - copycat concepts that is - and while it's not unique to this specific creative industry, it's hard to be as forgiving when the final product isn't even playable. LAD by Black Chair Games takes a swipe at Limbo with its shadowed-platforming motif, but absurd physics make it all but a frustrating mess to play. Your woes will begin with the menu interface and slowly spiral downwards from there. On a positive note the control layout is a simple on…
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Top 3 iOS Games for August 2012
Bastion (Warner Bros. Supergiant Games) $4.99 iPad OnlyIt's almost unfair that the iPad gets all the fun when it comes to Supergiant Games and Warner Bros. release of Bastion for the iOS platform, especially when it manages to feel so 'at home' thanks to its unique control method. Despite the lack of challenge in beating down enemy after enemy in this brawler, you'll keep coming back for more to learn the tale of 'the kid' and the world he inhabits. A real gem for iPad owners to enjoy. The World Ends With You: Solo Remix (SQUARE ENIX) $17.99/$19.99Balk at the price if you will, but aside from finding a copy on the Nintendo DS (which is - arguably - the 'better' release) for signif…
iPhone 5 'Leaked' Advert (Rumor)
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We're just shy of Apple's full announcement of the iPhone 5 and it seems a leak has sprung... not that we're calling this video legitimate, but it walks the walk, so we're not complaining! The fingerprint scanner has me kind of excited, so it's fingers-crossed that we see this hit the final version.…
VS. Racing 2 Review
While other top-down racers are content to keep pushing the visual boundaries of the iOS platform, VS. Racing 2 sticks with the tried-and-true 2D sprite system (albeit with some 3D elements adding depth), and even more surprisingly, controls that require - at most - two fingers. The overall effect is that of the game feeling very tightly designed - it efficiently throws you amongst a variety of AI opponents on winding and twisting tracks where you vie for pole-position to earn as much…
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Little Masters Review
The freemium model has a tendency to get stuck in its tracks, spitting out titles with similar themes or at least based on similar genres. With this in mind it's no wonder gamers are clearly divided on whether they love or hate these sorts of titles. Little Masters takes a slightly different tack, modeling itself after NimbleBit's coin/bux driven system to speed up the Pokemon-inspired gameplay. 'Inspired' might be putting it lightly - those familiar with the classic monster-catching…
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Winners For Wild Blood Giveaway!
The time has come to reveal who was lucky enough to be randomly contacted for a code for Gameloft's seriously fun action-slasher 'Wild Blood' Congratulations go to the following commentors: * Rynxie * Dusty_Sombrero * peter * riksai * Jfilesguy You've all been contacted with details on how to claim your prize - thanks to all our viewers who participated and I look forward to running more promos soon ;)…
Friday News Wrap-Up 7 September 2012
I can’t believe we’re already this deep into September already - I guess that means I’ll need to work up a Top 3 list (hint, it may be out on Tuesday), but in the meantime I have reviews and news to dispense, so lets hit up the Friday News Wrap-Up for the 7th of September, 2012. Assassin's Creed Utopia - Sim City with stabbingDespite the vague 'Winter' release date, the Assassin's Creed spin off title for iOS, dubbed 'Utopia', is looking mighty fine. I'm also happy to report that in a continued effort by Ubisoft to 'disconnect' from always-on Internet designed games, the only link between this title and Assassin's Creed 3 is that it will effectively lead up to th…
Avengers Initiative Review
With all the recent buzz of Unreal powered titles, you’d be forgiven for thinking Avengers Initiative is packing this powerful engine beneath its gorgeous exterior. You’d be wrong, though it’s one of the few things the title hasn’t borrowed from the inspirational Infinity Blade. From the swipe-based combat to the level-grinding repetition, it’s Chair Entertainment’s classic in a nutshell, but it’s the small details that help it to stand on its…
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Wild Blood Review
It may have taken some time for it to finally happen, but Gameloft have finally busted out their first Unreal Engine powered title for the App Store. For many people, such a thing is a minor concern, because - and let’s be honest - Gameloft titles have been far from ugly thus far. Wild Blood rides in on the heels of previous releases like Hero of Sparta, however instead of beating up Gods you’ll crack the skulls of various demons in this Arthurian-legend based beat’em…
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Wild Blood Code Giveaway!
As a bonus to our viewers, we have five copies of Wild Blood to give away. All you have to do is leave a comment on our review - it’s just that simple! Entries will close after the weekend, and winners will be contacted on the Monday. Hop to it and good luck! Entries will close at 12am PDT (UTC-7) on Monday 10th September [Wild Blood Review]…
Splice : Tree of Life iPad Review
Much like Mother Nature, Splice : Tree of Life is unforgiving in its relentless brutality. You’re popped in to a universe almost without any concept of what you’re meant to do and while you can find some help, it won’t do you any good until you can understand it. Cipher Prime Studios capture this vicious elegance in their cell-splicing puzzler and you’ll need to ponder and experiment to make any headway. First and foremost, Splice is a beautifully presented gam…
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Double Fine Breaks Out The 'Middle Manager of Justice'
Double Fine Productions, along with the help of Dracogen, are spreading their wings taking flight in to the iOS arena, kicking things off with something familiar, but with a predictably quirky twist. Middle Manager of Justice tasks players with the uneviable role of managing a group of superheroes, taking care of all of the mundane tasks you usually never hear about in comic books. From maintaining the health and performance of individual heroes, to ensuring the cash-flow and facilities are sufficient enough to take on large tasks, you're the fine-line between the black and the red on the ledger. By all accounts it looks like we're in for a freemium title, but if the concept is u…
Blast-A-Way Review
Illusion Labs are quickly working their way up my list of developers I can trust to provide fresh and compelling reasons to pick up an iOS device. Blast-A-Way is their latest release and you’re charged with the task of returning the young ‘boxies’ back to safety by blasting them free of the blocks they’re stuck inside. Those used to navigating touch-screen interfaces will appreciate the smart, casual simplicity of Blast-A-Way’s controls. Dragging one of t…
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