Home » Articles and Reviews by 'Danny Russell'
Elysian Shadows promises to be a next-gen 2D RPG
If you're itching for something like the RPGs of 16-bit yore, only with a modern sheen, then by jove you're in luck. Elysian Shadows is an upcoming Kickstarter-backed isometric 2D Action RPG that's managed to nab well over half its required funding in just 10 days. Yes, we have the odd retro-inspired RPG plop on to the App Store every fortnight or so, but this team is aiming to "push the envelope" by fusing 16-bit charm with modern techniques. In Elysian Shadows, you'll be able to lob anything in your inventory at baddies, bask in 3D lighting for 2D sprites, and witness the spectacle of particle physics that I have no idea how to explain. Check out the video below for a glimpse of the ga…
KickstarterWe're streaming Modern Combat 5: Blackout live on Twitch (5pm UK | 9am Pacific | 12 noon Eastern)
Only a couple of days left till Modern Combat 5: Blackout hits the App Store! As such, we're continuing Modern Combat week on our Twitch channel today, streaming an hour or more of Modern Combat 5: Blackout! In case you missed it, we had a Modern Combat retrospective yesterday. We found that as time has gone on, each iteration of the Modern Combat series has been tighter, more graphically oustanding, and even more explosive than the game before it. This bodes very well indeed for the latest entry in the series. The wonderful chaps and chapettes over at Gameloft have given us five fabulous (large size) Modern Combat 5 hoodies to give away to folks in the UK & Ireland. While one c…
We’re streaming a Modern Combat Retrospective live on Twitch (5pm UK | 9am Pacific | 12 noon Eastern)
It's just a few days until Modern Combat 5: Blackout hits the App Store, so we're celebrating over on Twitch this week with Modern Combat week! We're starting the week with a retrospective of the past four iOS titles: Modern Combat: Sandstorm, Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus, Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation, and Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour. Come watch us play through snippets of each, and be sure to tell us in the chat room which were your favourites, and what you're looking forward to in the latest installment! The show starts over on our Twitch channel in its usual 5pm BST / 9am PDT slot, so make sure you arrive in time for the full retrospective. Did you catch our Modern Combat 5: Blacko…
Dead Trigger 2 steals the show in the Best App Ever Awards for Android
Everything's been tallied up and we're ready to announce the results for the very first Best App Ever awards to be given out for Android apps. There are well over 30 categories, each with deserving winners, but we're going to keep things simple by sticking to the game-related ones for this article. There's a link to the full list of winners at the bottom of this very article. The Best Arcade and Action Game was nabbed by Eurocenter's multiplayer gangster sim GraalOnline Era. The Doctor will be pleased to hear Tiny Rebel Games' Doctor Who: Legacy snapped up the award Best Brain and Puzzle Game. Gameloft goes home with recognition for UNO & Friends in the Best Cards and Casino G…
Learn how to play Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for iOS with us live on Twitch (5pm UK | 9am Pacific | 12 noon Eastern)
We're live again today for Monster Hunter Freedom Friday! We've already had two sessions with Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for iOS, and we're far from done yet. Peter is not about today, so Harry and myself, Danny, will be joining James to bash some giant monsters in with pointy sticks and so forth. Can you tell I haven't played much? Yipe. If you're a newcomer to the series, or a veteran keen to see what this updated port has to offer, why not pop over to our Twitch stream a little later today to see what all the fuss is about? We love receiving advice from our audience, so please join the chat room with any advice or pro tips you have for us. A bit of the ol' moral support goes a long…
The Best App Ever Awards for Android to be revealed tomorrow
While the sixth annual Best App Ever Awards were handed out for iOS games a few months back, we've been waiting patiently to find out the results of the all-new Best App Ever Awards for Android. The wait's almost over now though, as all will be revealed over on the official Best App Ever site at 4pm BST / 8am PDT Games and other apps were thrown into the pool of nominations for two months, until the total tally reached over 1,500 apps in more than 30 categories. There are seven categories specifically for games: Most Innovative Game Best Arcade and Action Game Best Brain and Puzzle Game Best Cards and Casino Game Best Casual Game Best Racing Game Best Sports Game A…
Learn how to play Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for iOS with us live on Twitch (5pm UK | 9am Pacific | 12 noon Eastern)
After the success of our Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for iOS stream last week, we're back for more. In fact, we'll be revisiting MHFU each Friday for a fair few weeks, with some treats in store! So, for this second episode of Monster Hunter Freedom Friday, James and Peter will hopefully heed the advice of Harry, acclaimed Prince of Reviews over at Pocket Gamer, and actually put on some armour before venturing out into the wilderness. They're not going to forget to pack their Bovril this time either. We're all still learning the ropes, so if you're an experienced Monster Hunter please join us and send some tips our way via the in-game chat! The show will start as per usual at 5pm UK / 9am…
We're playing Urban Trial Freestyle for iOS live on Twitch (5pm UK | 9am Pacific | 12 noon Eastern)
Urban Trial Freestyle will be arriving on the App Store this Thursday for £1.49 / $1.99. But how will it stand up against the competition? Find out for yourself in our exclusive hands-on with the iOS version today! Throughout the stream we'll be giving away four large Urban Trial Freestyle T-shirts signed by Julien DuPont, the Red Bull trials rider who served as a consultant on the game. Be prepared for four bike trials-related questions to answer for your chance to win! The show kicks off as usual at 5pm UK / 9am Pacific / 12 noon Eastern over on our Twitch channel. Be there right on time for a bit of banter as we wait for the regulars to roll in. If you'd like to be a regular,…
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite multiplayer madness, live on Twitch! (5pm UK | 9am Pacific | 12 noon Eastern)
Happy Independence Day to all our American readers! We are so totally over your ancestors wasting all that delicious tea. Honest. Rather aptly, today we’ll be playing a game that stands for freedom, liberty, and justice - Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for iOS! Up to four players can battle together in this optimised version of the PSP classic, so what better way to showcase just what's on offer via our Twitch channel? It's going to be an AppSpy / Pocket Gamer love-fest with hosts James and Peter being joined by Pocket Gamer's Harry Slater, King of Reviews. Expect gigantic beasts, cats with stretchers, running away, and mirth aplenty. Give the chaps some support in the Twitch ch…
Genre Busters: Racquet Balls - live on Twitch (5pm UK | 9am Pacific | 12 noon Eastern)
How are you doing on this fine summer's day? Knee-deep in sport you say? Not sure which match to watch? Well, while we can't help you there, we can certainly help you stay stuck in your game of choice through any downtime. That is, if you join us for this week's episode of Genre Busters! Whether you prefer the quiet murmurings and sudden yelps of tennis or the cheering crowd and powerful punts of football, we'll be playing your summer sound over on Twitch shortly. Doubles partners James and Peter will serving our beloved Twitch audience the best football and tennis games over on our Twitch channel from 5pm UK / 9am Pacific / 12 noon Eastern. We need you there to decide which title will t…
World of Tanks Blitz - We Need You! (Play with us today, live on Twitch)
In case you've missed our recent Twitchings, here's a heads-up: we need recruits to join us on the battlefield this today at 1700 hours BST, 0900 hours PDT, or 1200 hours EDT sharp. To get started you'll need to follow these guidelines before you can play with us: Listen up cadet! 1. Grab World of Tanks Blitz off the App Store - it's free! 2. Load up the game. Make sure you're set to the EU region in the top-right corner, then either create or login to your wargaming.net account. 3. Complete the tutorial - it'll only take a few minutes. 4. In your garage, tap the chat icon in the bottom left of the screen, then the search players icon in the top right corner of the screen. Searc…
Eye on the App Store: World of Tanks Blitz, Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake, and more on Twitch! (5pm UK | 9am Pacific | 12 noon Eastern)
Hello all you lovely AppSpies out there! We may have missed Eye on the App Store last week with the boys being away in Helsinki, but James and Peter are back in tip-top form to bedazzle you with the best that the App Store will have to offer you from midnight tonight. To get you hyped up for our forthcoming World of Tanks Blitz multiplayer mayhem this Friday (details to follow tomorrow), General James Gilmour will venture onto the Battlefield to blow the opposition to smithereens. We'll also show you the pretty puzzler with a Zelda-inspired overworld Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake, the superhero-led social city-builder Supernauts, silhouetted sequel Oscura: Second Shadow, and maybe…
We’re playing top games from the Very Big Indie Pitch live on Twitch (5pm UK | 9am Pacific | 12 noon Eastern)
James and Peter are back after their adventures at PG Connects Helsinki, and they’ve brought back a gift with them, what lovely chaps. The gift... of the game. Today, the boys’ll be playing the tip-top cream of the crop games, fresh from the Very Big Indie Pitch at PG Connects. This includes futuristic racer AG Drive, manic mini-game feast Mucho Party, tiny toy strategy game Romans in my Carpet!, and more. We know we’ve all been away for a while, so it’ll be great to see all our regulars as well as a steady stream of newcomers. Please make sure you say hello in the chat window! We’ll start the show over on our Twitch channel at 5pm UK / 9am Pacific / 12…
Eye on the App Store: Rival Knights, Sky Force 2014, and more on Twitch! (5pm UK | 9am Pacific | 12 noon Eastern)
It's the middle of the week - you know what that means. No, not a general feeling of ennui and exhaustion! It means it's time for our weekly installment of Eye on the App Store over on our Twitch channel. As per usual, we'll be looking at the latest releases of the week. Some out at midnight tonight, some already out, and one that's returning to the App Store. A veritable mix on all accounts! Today our headliner are Rival Knights, Sky Force 2014, 99 Bricks Wizard Academy, and Scuba Diving Adventures, but there may be one or two more up our sleeves. Please come along to discuss all the games out this week, throw a question or two at us, and generally have a nice wee chat over on T…
AppSpy Plays: Battleheart Legacy, live on Twitch! (5pm UK | 9am Pacific | 12 noon Eastern)
Just in case our video review of Battleheart Legacy last week wasn't enough to help you decide on picking up Battleheart Legacy, we'll be playing it as part of our regular Twitch broadcasting. Our Alex called the game an "attractive, fully-featured action-RPG with elegant controls, let down only by its slightly laborious combat system." If you have already bought it, fret not - we still need you to come along and point our James in the right direction! Give us your best hints, tips, and techniques so that we can storm through the session for our onlookers. The stream starts over on our Twitch channel at 5pm UK / 9am Pacific / 12 noon Eastern, but we'll have a short little natter with…
