iPhone Reviews 2.0

World of Cheese is a crafty little puzzle game that is great for the whole family. I didn't really know what to expect when I jumped into the game the first time, but found myself addicted to the logical puzzles you must solve to give the mouse his block of cheese. This isn't your standard game of repetitive levels, which is a good thing because I was fearing it would be a short adventure of only 35 levels. Each one is vastly unique and offers a logical puzzle that isn't related to anything seen before it. While relatively simple in theory, figuring out these puzzles with test your logic and repeating levels to get that gold star for a perfect score will keep you coming back.

Presentation

This is a simple game, with simple yet effective graphics. Animations are kept to a minimum and only items that are required to complete the level can move. The rest of it is a picture that you could imagine being straight from a book for children. It's pretty and keeps things simplified which makes this game accessible to even the smallest of children. When playing the game I had a five year old boy in the house. I asked him what he thought of it and he said its a colourful cartoon. The appeal was there and it was easy for him to understand, which is the most important thing.


As I said above, parts of the screen can be interacted with by touching, dragging or flicking. Depending on what the item requires will determine whats available. When objects interact they perform a pre-animated sequence to show that you correctly solved that bit of the puzzle. The simple nature is rewarding and interesting enough to keep youngsters playing. It's nothing spectacular, which means you can easily load this onto the kids old iPod Touch or your shiny new iPhone 5S. It's accessible by all which is the main thing here.

Gameplay

World of Cheese is a challenging logic game where you have to solve challenges, puzzles and riddles to reveal the cheese to give to the mouse. There are 10 levels with the free version and an additional 25 available for IAP at $0.99 if you decide you like the game. It doesn't sound like much content but you will quickly figure out that the levels do take a bit of thinking and a lot of thought and detail has gone into each one.

Describing exactly what you do in this game is hard. So hard in fact that there are no instructions, you are simply thrust into the first level and made to figure it all out. Each level is diversely different and you don't know what you will be facing next. One level required me to milk a cow after feeding it four leaf clovers, yet the one prior to that had me fixing and painting a fence. They are just small challenges that test your logic as you work out what needs to be completed before the next part of the puzzle can be accessed. Levels involve a bit of trial and error, but it is rewarding when you finally figure out how to solve the puzzle.


There is enough in this title for adults, but also kids since they thrive on this kind of simple brain activity. I found that when the boy played it he kept mucking around with using different items until all of a sudden it clicked and he was able to solve the first puzzle. Once he achieved that he was hooked and had to keep on going. So many games today fail to hold the attention span of the gamer, but the addictive nature of World of Cheese is pleasing. I hope they continue to reward owners by updating it with more free content, as well as follow up IAP to complement the levels everyone is receiving.

Conclusion

When I first opened World of Cheese I thought it would be another standard puzzle game that would fall into the pile of mediocrity. I was pleasantly surprised to find it was a game that tested my wit and genuinely made me think about how to solve a puzzle steps in advance. You may zoom through the 35 levels, but as long as the developers can promise future levels it is definitely a title to keep on your phone because of the fun, light hearted nature it provides.

Graphics - 7.5/10
Sound - 6/10
Gameplay - 8.5/10
Overall - 7.5/10

When Rayman Jungle Run arrived on the scene last year I wasn't expecting much. When these big name titles arrive on the App Store they are usually ports of games that are designed first and foremost for controllers. While yes, they are enjoyable and playable, its not the same as having a spectacular game that was handcrafted for iOS use.

That is exactly what Rayman Jungle Run was. Simplified controls, beautiful graphics and a fun new twist on two genres gave us what I'd consider to be one of the best games on the App Store. The fact that it was from a big name developer gave me confidence that yes, this platform is being taken seriously and we will start to see more big names. Electronic Arts were big players at the beginning of the App Store but have dropped off dramatically, leaving the gap open for someone like Ubisoft.

Unlike the original, I opened Rayman Fiesta Run with high expectations. I knew what kind of fun I was about to experience and wanted more. Is that all Rayman Fiesta Run is though? A game with 'more of the same' or does it expand on the Rayman Run universe in the same kind of way that Angry Birds Star Wars revolutionized the Angry Birds franchise?

Presentation

Once again the graphics in Rayman Fiesta Run are top notch. The vibrant graphics that have been established for a long long time with the Rayman games has been brought once again. The last game featured a jungle theme, where as Fiesta Run is a food themed game. This has provided a great setting for the 72 levels in this game.



Rayman will be running and jumping through lush masterpieces full of sausages and soda. These are interactive environments that feature moving set pieces and constantly changing backgrounds. Everything flows smoothly with perfect animation throughout the entire journey. The game could potentially fall stagnant by repeating areas like most endless runners, but the levels are always changing their theme which is fantastic. The small touches are often what takes a game to that premium quality and Rayman Fiesta Run fits the bill perfectly.

The audio in this game is a variation of sound effects and a soothing soundtrack. Even for a game that comes with a large amount of death (At user fault of course) towards the end of the game, it manages to still be a cheerful experience. The bubbly sound of Rayman is what keeps it as the fun loving game, perfectly entwining with the bright and colourful setting you see on the screen.

Gameplay

Rayman Fiesta Run is essentially two games in one. There are 72 levels which are split into two different modes, a normal and hardcore setting essentially. Repeating levels on the new hardcore mode you unlock once getting 100% on the normal one is a completely different beast. It not only adds length to this game, but doesn't feel like something that is simply tacked on as an irrelevant extra.

The aim of the game is to guide Rayman through the short, but sweet levels collecting all 100 lums and making it to the finish line. This is achieved by jumping, punching and gliding your way to the end using two buttons while Rayman automatically runs. This simplifies the game just enough to work perfectly on the touchscreen, but not so much that you don't feel in complete control.



Finishing levels saves 'Teensies' which are essentially the steps required to unlocking more levels. As you save more Teensies, you also unlock new characters and artwork which can be purchased with the Lums you earn. I really liked how this is a premium title that while it has IAP to get more Lums earlier, you do not need to utilise it at all. In fact I completed the entire game and bought anything and had to grind no less than I already was to finish all levels 100%. Something like this could have been abused and I am very glad that the purely premium approach is still being used.

What makes Rayman Fiesta Run such a standout game however? The gameplay is fluid, and most importantly run. You don't get access to all of Rayman's skills at the beginning so gameplay is continually changing. So many titles on the App Store features an exorbitant number of levels that become tiresome after a while. This game is long enough to get your moneys worth while being able to regularly twist things to keep you wanting more.

Conclusion

Rayman Fiesta Run is a fantastic sequel to Jungle Run. While keeping the same winning formula, it manages to improve in a vast array of areas to topple the experience I had with the first. I hope they continue the series and I can see this type of game as a really cool multiplayer title. I'd like to see Ubisoft expand the connectivity in a third title with perhaps an endless runner multiplayer mode in the same style of the hardcore levels. Challenging your friends would open up a whole new area for Rayman, which is a game you can't really do much with once you get 100%. This is the only small gripe I have about such a fantastic game that should be showcased on every iOS device.

Gameplay- 9.5/10

Overall- 9.5/10

I would recommend this game if you enjoyed- Rayman Jungle Run

Word Wonders: The Tower of Babel is another entry into the Puzzle RPG genre that has been booming on the App Store in recent times. This game is worth your look with a high level of quality gone into the game by the developers dreamfab. You begin your journey in the arcane Tower of Babel with nothing but your wits and magic words. During your journey into the upper levels of the tower you will be battling monsters and villains by laying magic words upon a game board as you progress along your path of power. To help you conquer your foes you will learn magic spells and use the power of alchemy to create powerful potions and items. So prepare yourself for the mythical magical word-based journey into the Tower of Babel with Word Wonders! Features 50 unique levels filled with dangerous monsters and mythical creatures. A fantastic story inspired by 1001 Nights! A boost board with many unlockable magic spells and special abilities. Alchemy system: Mix different ingredients to create powerful potions and items! Three different levels of difficulty with special rules of engagement each. Challenge your friends in hotseat mode on one device in an all-out multiplayer letter mayhem! Available in English, Spanish, French, and German: Play in your native language or improve your skills in the others! Supports Game Center, iPhone 5 and iCloud game saves. The game looks quite good and so does the trailer. Take a look at it and see for yourself why this is a game you should consider!

Square Enix, a developer that is known for bringing some of the biggest and most ambitious titles to the App Store, rarely meddles with the standard pricing chart. From the various Final Fantasy titles to the iOS exclusive Chaos Rings series, a Square Enix game won't come cheaply. So when a casual game came out last week for $0.99, I was perplexed by their decision to try this new market instead of staying put in the area they are currently dominating.

KooZac takes on the classic brick falling system of games such as Tetris and removes the shapes and replaces it with numbers. Such a simple change makes for some exciting gameplay that had my brain working harder than even the most intense Tetris sessions. There is also three game modes with endless play taking a backseat to the standard mode with levels of increasing difficulty that are popular on the iOS platform. Those with Facebook can also access Blitz which pits you against your friends. All are great modes that do well to offer up their own unique take on the KooZac formula.


The aim of Koozac in puzzle mode is to clear the board of all the blocks that had already been placed prior to the level beginning. These are removed by placing blocks directly on top of them that add up to a designated number that changes after every move. You will be required to stack multiple blocks on top to equal the number and as levels progress in difficulty you will need to keep an eye on the cumulative number on towers. As blocks come at faster intervals and you have more on the screen it becomes a real micromanagement game as you quickly add up numbers to see if any tower will be cleared with your current move. Looking ahead to future numbers and targets is also needed for success, even if it is hard given the time restraints.

Finishing levels in a shorter amount of time will lead to more points which encourages replaying of levels. Of course, if you make your way through the entire puzzle mode and still are wanting for something more than there is always the endless mode to sink your teeth into. This mode removes the designated blocks to remove and instead gives you an empty slate to stick your teeth into as long as you can keep the blocks under the top bar. This mode does take a while and I don't find it as rewarding as the objective based levels, but those who truly love the KooZac formula will crave this mode.


Those who like the endless style but don't like the slow pacing brought with it will be better off logging onto Facebook and playing Blitz mode. This mode is essentially endless, but it lasts for 60 seconds only and blocks continually pop up from the bottom as well to create some fast paced, frantic action. It is a lot of fun to play and creates added pressure to quickly add up numbers.

The graphics are slick and while the touch controls aren't always as precise as you want them to be once the gameplay gets frantic, you shouldn't encounter many issues. This is an easy game for anyone to pick up and play right from the word go. Some future additions I'd like to see include a hardcore mode that maybe use multiplication and other methods either with addition or as a standalone thing. Those who want to take it to the next level could be tempted to return to this game for a whole new set of challenges in future updates.

Conclusion

For $0.99 you now expect to receive a fairly comprehensive package that will keep you coming back for more. KooZac does this with a strong emphasis on education while also keeping it addicting with this new, unique gameplay. Fans of Tetris or games that require fast decisions will absolutely love KooZac and shouldn't hesitate to pick up this game from the App Store.

It has been only a handful of months since the iPhone 4S was launched but already the hunt for patents and evidence of the new iPhone 5 is underway. While it is early in the inevitable development of the iPhone 5 (or more likely the 'new' iPhone), a few sites have already released pictures and descriptions of what they believe will be in the new iPhone.

I am no photoshop expert myself so putting together an accurate representation of what I expect from the iPhone 5 is hard. I have gone ahead and looked at various images and mock-ups from other sites to see convey what I think the next product is going to be. For me, I don't see Apple changing the size of the screen. Having over 500,000 apps on the App Store that are already designed for a specific screen size presents problems if they all need to be altered to fit a slightly bigger screen. If you want the games to be bigger get an iPad.

I see the device getting even slimmer, if even marginally. I can see borders around the screen becoming non-existent and soon we will have an iPhone which goes from side to side with the actual screen. Specs wise it's safe to see everything bumped up extensively to match not only new phones on the market but to match the power of Apple's own iPad.

Here are two sites which offer up a variety of different representations. I think that they could potentially be on the money with some design aspects of the future iPhones. The clear glass iPhone is something that would be super cool but obviously quite a few years away. Other designs on the pages seem more in line with possibilities and it's great to check out what people have been able to make in anticipation of a release later in 2012.

1. New iPhone 5 Photos
2. iPhone 5 Leaked Pictures

Stay tuned for more information hopefully coming soon!

WWF WrestleFest is a fondly-remembered arcade game developed by Technos Japan, and released in 1991. Players could take control of such legendary figures from the world of sports-entertainment as Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, Sergeant Slaughter, and “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, among others, as they took on all comers in the over-the-top-rope Royal Rumble, or paired up to conquer the unstoppable Legion of Doom for the World Tag Team Championships.

As with many old school games, it has made the transition to the iOS platform with bolstered rosters and graphics while keeping the same arcade beat 'em up style of the classics. Various WWE titles have made their way onto the App Store over the years, mostly trying to replicate the more realistic experience of recent console titles. Despite all of these, the best iOS wrestling experience I had was TNA Wrestling which also followed the 2D arcade nature of Wrestlefest. It's safe to say that this will be a hit for those fans as well.


At its heart, WWE WrestleFest is about big sweaty men hitting each other until one of them is unable to stand. The premise of the game is fairly self explanatory and will be easy for newcomers to pick up and play automatically. There are eight of these perspiring gents to choose from, with a further five unlocked as an in-app purchase. You control your wrestler with a virtual stick and two buttons. The stick lets you move around the ring, and the two buttons control your punching and kicking. Once you're in a grapple, which happens when you get close to your opponent, mashing 'kick' will fling him at the ropes, while mashing 'punch' will perform one of your throws at random. After you've beaten your foe's health bar down to zero, and stamped on his crotch a few times, pushing 'kick' will fling your muscular sprite atop his prone body for a pinning attempt. The controls are responsive and work perfectly, something titles with on screen buttons have been guilty of in the past.

There is a lot of choice in the game with a large array of fighters and locations. Almost all of the original roster and locations are gone and replaced with new ones, with both help yet hinder the experience for those wanted a nostalgic feel to the game. Yet, for all the choice you are given between wrestlers and arenas, it’s all pretty much cosmetic. Every single one of the Superstars controls in the exact same way, with a joystick, one punch, and one kick button being your only means of input. Different combinations do different things, and each wrestler still has their signature and finishing manoeuvres.


There are plenty of modes on offer, from single matches to career-spanning climbs up the wrestling ladder. Some bouts have different victory conditions, such as the Royal Rumble, which tasks you with hurling men out of the ring. But mostly you're punching, kicking, and throwing until it's time to lie down.

Online multiplayer lets you take a wrestler out into the big bad world, fighting against other people for pride and bragging rights. This is a nice addition, but as with so many other games which aren't able to the hit the top of the charts the lobbies are a bit dry and it may be hard for you to find a match. If you are able to get a friend to play you, then the life of this game is expanded extensively with a nice bit of local competition.

Conclusion

If you are picking up WWE Wrestlefest Premium hoping for the classic arcade gameplay of old you may go home disappointed. This game has more changes than just the heading and is actually a complete revamp with only the base gameplay remaining. That being said the arcade action is a heap of fun and the large variety of modes will keep you body slamming weary foes for hours to come. Just go into Wrestlefest knowing it is an advancement and not a direct port.

London, UK – December 8, 2011 – OnLive, Ltd., the pioneer of cloud gaming, announced that it is bringing console-class gaming to mobile tablets and phones with the revolutionary OnLive app for mobile platforms. The latest, top-tier, high-performance games—previously limited to only consoles and computers—will be available for instant play via the free OnLive app on over 500 million mobile devices over Wi-Fi or mobile networks in the US and UK. A growing library of 25 console-class games have been adapted for touch-screen control, including the gritty, award-winning hit L.A. Noire from Rockstar Games and family titles like LEGO: Batman, which will be given free to anyone who downloads the OnLive app. Additionally, almost all games in OnLive’s growing library of nearly 200 games are playable with the new OnLive Wireless Controller, compatible with most tablets and many phones.

OnLive harnesses the power of the cloud to instantly deliver high-end games on demand over the Internet with the simplicity of streaming video. OnLive’s breakthrough cloud gaming technology has enabled gamers on PCs, Macs and TVs to instantly jump into console-quality games on demand, without discs or lengthy downloads, regardless of the performance of their local device. With today’s launch, gamers can experience the same instant-play, top-tier games on mobile tablets and smartphones, despite the fact that these games require vastly higher performance than is achievable on a mobile device.

“Today marks a major milestone: OnLive is now delivering the latest, console-class, top-tier games—literally to your fingertips—on mobile tablets and phones for instant on-demand play anywhere, anytime,” said Steve Perlman, OnLive Founder and CEO. “Through the free OnLive app, tablet and smartphone gamers can play top console and PC titles like Assassins Creed: Revelations and L.A. Noire—one of the most highly acclaimed, graphically sophisticated games to date—with exclusive OnLive Cloud Touch controls or with the new mobile-compatible OnLive Wireless Controller. Tablets and smartphones, the fastest-growing consumer product categories in history, are now capable of running the hottest, highest-end games. Gaming and mobile devices will never be the same.”

Marking the most dramatic departure possible from the side-scrollers and 3D puzzlers that have defined the current tablet gaming marketplace, the award-winning L.A. Noire is now the first high-performance console video game developed specifically for touch-enabled play via mobile cloud gaming—with exclusive distribution on the OnLive Game Service. The release of a game this immersive and cinematically engaging heralds a new era—and new market—in high-end gaming.

Over 25 OnLive titles, including L.A. Noire, family titles like LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 and 5-7, and indies like Defense Grid Gold, will work with touch control on tablets and smartphones. And most of the nearly 200 games in OnLive's growing library, including recent top-tier releases like Batman: Arkham City, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations and Lord of the Rings: War in the North, are immediately playable on virtually any device with the OnLive Wireless Controller, which utilizes OnLive’s exclusive adaptive wireless technology to automatically find an optimal wireless connection for a given tablet, smartphone, PC, Mac, TV or Blu-ray player. The OnLive Wireless Controller will be available soon for purchase in the US, and the UK, for $49.99 and £39.99 respectively.

As always, any game purchased on one OnLive app device (TV, PC, Mac or mobile device) can be played instantly on any other OnLive app device with full cloud save game data intact, allowing users to start play on one device, and continue playing on any other device, whenever and wherever they want. OnLive’s cross-platform capability extends to multiplayer gaming, enabling, for example, a tablet gamer to play with TV, PC, Mac and smartphone gamers. OnLive’s exclusive social features, such as international massive spectating and Brag Clip® videos, are available on mobile devices, as well as chat and Facebook posting of videos, messages and achievements. And unlike downloaded games, OnLive games are streamed over the internet just like streaming music and video, never taking up storage on the mobile device.

In addition to play over Wi-Fi, OnLive is also unveiling compatibility with AT&T and Verizon’s 4G LTE cellular service, enabling full, HD-resolution, low-latency cloud gaming everywhere there is 4G coverage on devices such as the HTC Jetstream, Samsung Galaxy Tab and Motorola Xoom. With this new compatibility, OnLive is truly playable everywhere, whether indoors, outdoors or even in the back seat of a car at highway speeds, for the first time bringing complete mobility to console-class gaming.

The OnLive app is available for free download for mobile devices starting today (release dates and times subject to mobile app store certifications). The OnLive Wireless Controller is available for purchase in the US and soon in the UK through the OnLive web store at www.onlive.com/store and www.onlive.co.uk/store. As always, OnLive games purchased on one device or through the OnLive website can be played on all devices, and L.A. Noire and other touch-adapted games will continue to work with controller and/or keyboard/mouse as they did before, including with the OnLive Wireless Controller.

Since its launch in October, the iPhone 4S has become the most successful smartphone of all time, shifting four million handsets alone in its first weekend. With a full month of sales under its belt for November. Analysts believed that if this flood of popularity continues that by the end of 2011 sales of the iPhone 4S could be as high as 26 million. It means the Apple device could sell the same number of handsets as Samsung has of the Galaxy S2, but in a third of the time. Record sales are predicted for the holiday period.

One of the reasons for the continued success of the device has been its staggered launch around the globe, enabling it to generate headlines and engage with new users on a country by country basis. Initially in early October, the device launched in the UK, US, Canada, Japan and large parts of Europe including France and Germany. The rollout has then continued in Australia, and Ireland along with other areas of Europe. In mid-November the smartphone will be available in, among other countries, Portugal, New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Korea and Guatemala meaning the iPhone 4S is available in more than 29 countries, aiming at 70 by the end of the year. Snaking queues and huge demand have met the device in each launch country.


One of the major targets for Apple, which could unveil the device before the end of November, is China. China has long been a target for Apple. With a large, plugged in population, China is the world’s fasting growing economy. The country is seen as a significant growth target for the iPhone makers. Chinese reports suggest the iPhone 4S is still pending regulation in China, but it is hoped the device will launch by the end of the year. Each device needs to be regulated before it can be made available on Chinese networks. It is expected the 8GB iPhone 4 will launch first, with the iPhone 4S available soon after.

The general manager of China Unicom Lu Yimin, leads the world’s third biggest mobile provider. He has released a statement suggesting the firm is keen to release the device as soon as possible. The iPhone 4S has already launched in Hong Kong and Singapore and it is believed there are many handsets available on the Chinese black market. Users suggest the offer of cloud computing, along with an application of artificial intelligence in Siri are an open market in China, one Apple could step into. Those buying an iPhone 4S through unofficial channels are paying between 5,500 yuan and 8,000 yuan, anywhere between $860 and $1,000. Some customers are waiting for prices to drop while others are focussing their attention on the iPhone 4 instead with prices for the 16GB and the 32GB reduced by 500 yuan and 1,000 yuan after the 4S was launched internationally.

The next step will be for Chinese Unicom to obtain a network access certificate from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, suggesting a launch date could be in the hands of the Chinese government, rather than Apple or Unicom. Yet both companies will be working closely with the government to lobby their cases.

Chops had eaten the chicken, the pie, the sausages and the cheese, but he was still hungry. Then, behind the milk, he saw a strange glowing orb. He ate it immediately of course. Straight away, his yellow tummy grew bigger and he smiled in delight. "More!" he squeaked, but the fridge was empty.

Hungribles are tiny creatures with massive appetites. Their cravings are so powerful that they can pull food through the air and into their waiting mouths. Only by feeding them extra tasty orbs can you satisfy their incredible hungers but when Hungribles get together, you'll have your hands full trying to feed them all.

The trailer looks pretty cool and I'm interested to see more. Expect a full reveal at E3, but for now check out the teaser trailer for Hungribles!



Official site: http://hungribles.com

The Apple iPhone shows no signs of slowing down both in sales and in popularity, much of that success is thanks to the massive library of apps that are available in the market for it. A lot of its users actually use their iPhones a lot more for playing games rather than using it as an actual phone, and that especially includes poker fans. While being able to access online poker websites is limited on the iPad and the iPhone, there are a lot of great poker apps available so any poker aficionado can enjoy the game they love wherever they are.

Apple has a very strict stand against apps for gambling, and if you are currently in the US you will have a lot more difficult time using your iPhone to play for real money with poker, as a lot of apps has not given the approval to be included in the App Store. The gambling apps that has been approved in the App store, are directed solely for iPhone users outside of the US. Also the lack of support for Flash in Apple devices makes it impossible to access a lot of the browser-based gambling clients available on the interenet, so users in the US will have to turn to free money play poker apps available that are abundantly available at the App store.





Many poker apps that are now available includes variations of the games such as Apple's Texas Hold’em, where you get to play against various computer opponents from around the world. Like the majority of the poker apps, you will get the chance to test your poker skills against computer opponents, which have their own playing styles and tells that you’ll need to recognize in order to gain an advantage over these opponents. There are also a lot of poker utility apps for poker fans, such as training games, odds calculator and even poker timers to help you run your own home poker tourneys.


But if you want to play poker that is more similar to playing online (except for being able to play for real money, ofcourse) popular poker apps like Zynga Poker gives you the same experience of playing at online poker sites, the Zynga poker app lets you play against thousands opponents from around the world. You can compete in Sit'n'Go tournaments, and the advantage of having large network of users makes it easy to find a room, join in and play against any opponent any time of the day.

There are many choices out there for the iPhone user, but not many allow anything other than virtual currency to be used. Perhaps this is something that Apple should allow in the future if an adult's section is ever brought onto the App Store.