It's the start of a new month and that can only mean one thing - a summary of what's hot on the App Store. I've split up the months of March and April separately as combining and picking the Top 6 would be a bit lop-sided due to my two week break in March.
Check out the video and be prepared for some impressions for Order & Chaos Online tomorrow (that's right, site readers get a tip on future content for once!).
Text Summary:
As some of you may or may not know, AppSpy has had a bit of a transition over the last month, which (for reasons that are explained on the site) resulted in us needing to skip the Top 3 Games list for March. As promised, April's Top list is a double-header and will include titles from March, however we're going to do things a little differently. Simply grabbing the Top 6 titles from the combined two months would be a bit unfair, so I've made a separate Top 3 list for each month. As always, notable mentions will follow the lists, so keep watching for a list of great titles to check out!
March:
3. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Shadow Vanguard (Gameloft) - (5/5)
The Rainbow Six series has had its ups and downs, but the iPhone version does a great job of capturing the essence of the tactical shooter without slowing the pace down with extended pre-mission planning. It's a shame the competitive multiplayer was given less attention, but the singleplayer and co-op campaign makes up for this weakness.
2. Get Outta My Galaxy! (Ookoohko) - (4/5)
Combining great graphics with fun gameplay will always grab my attention, but Get Outta My Galaxy goes a step further by featuring a simple and addictive style that makes it easy to approach for the casual game. Since reviewing the game has added an alternative virtual joystick control, making it that much easier to enjoy.
1. Land-a Panda (Big Pixel Studios) - (5/5)
If you haven't grabbed Land-a Panda by Big Pixel Studios, do yourself a favor and make it the next thing you grab. The charming style of this puzzle platformer is only equaled by the skill you'll need to successfully time and shoot your love-sick Panda towards his final destination. Whether you simply try to complete levels quickly or take on the task of collecting all the coins of a level, you're guaranteed a lot of fun.
April:
3. Coin Drop! (Full Fat Productions) - (5/5)
Part luck, part skill, all fun. Coin Drop! is yet another spin on the Pachinko formula, rewarding calm and considered drops with skillful bonuses while also making the occasional 'spam' drop amusing thanks to its many special effects.
2. World of Goo (2D BOY) - (5/5)
Some may think it's blasphemous to place something like World of Goo anywhere but at the top of a list, but consider the kind of game required to beat out a game as awesome as this. World of Goo is almost a rite of passage for the gaming world thanks to its elegant storytelling, challenging puzzles and deep gameplay that is still being mastered years after its original release.
1. Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP Micro (Capybara Games) - (5/5)
There are times when critics simply gush about a game and Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP has been the subject of many love letters, though not without good reason. Sword & Sworcery is almost worth playing for the presentation alone, combining incredibly clever lo-fi pixel-art with an enchanting soundtrack, however exploring the world and interacting with its many challenges tips this game over the edge. While not as action-packed as its name might suggest, you'll find yourself engrossed by the fantasy realm thanks to its interactive hooks and when you're done you can take some time to think about the game before discussing it with others.
And that wraps things up for the months of March and April. Now you may be scratching your head saying 'What about x?'; Don't worry, I have you covered. Many of the releases in the last couple of months have showcased the rising strength of the App Store's gaming potential and as such it's easy to recommend just about every game that received a four or higher over this period. With that said a list of notable mentions and must-haves includes: Gears, Zenonia 3, Robot Wants Kitty, Forget-Me-Not, Mos Speedrun, Collision Effect, Air Penguin and many others.
