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Coming Tonight: 'Lunar Racer', 'Streetbike: Full Blast', 'Street Wrestler', and 'Super Crate Box'

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

Thanks to the holiday iTunes freeze, it's been weeks since we've seen a proper release onslaught. Naturally, being the first proper Wednesday night following the freeze you'd expect iOS developers to release the proverbial kraken as the previously plugged supply line of games gets freed up, right?

Well, that doesn't really seem to be the case. The good news is, Super Crate Box is coming out tonight, and we've had a great time with a preview copy of the game. So, definitely snag that.

Here's the full list:

Asteroids 2012, $2.99 - Forum Thread - This space flyer comes with multiple game modes, control types, and even an augmented reality mode. With Atari's latest stint of getting games removed from the App Store, it might not be a bad idea of snagging this before they catch wind of the title if it looks interesting to you.


Lunar Racer, 99¢ - Forum Thread - It's from the creators of Super Stickman Golf, which is more than enough for me to give Lunar Racer a download. Oh, and floaty backflip-filled racers always seem to be fun.


Streetbike: Full Blast, 99¢ - Forum Thread - Chillingo adds another entry to the somewhat scarce motorcycle racing section of the App Store. The cityscapes of the game vaguely remind me of Ridge Racer, maybe that's just me.


Street Wrestler, $2.99 - Forum Thread - As pointed out by forum member Rlan, this seems to be an iOS port of the XBLA game Lucha Fury. The bad news is, Lucha Fury wasn't exactly the greatest game, and it's not entirely clear just yet what if anything was changed in the porting process.


Super Crate Box, 99¢ - Forum Thread - Everything you need to know about this game was probably covered in our preview. The only other thing you should know: Download it.


Transformoid, 99¢ - Forum Thread - A Breakout-style brick breaking game with a vaguely steampunky theme. It seems that the main gameplay gimmick revolves around a curved paddle.

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2011 TouchArcade Year End Roundup

Friday, December 30th, 2011

We're about to lean back in our chairs, puff our proverbial pipes, dust off our hands, and put 2011 to a close. It's been a heck of a year for iOS gaming, and we've gone totally overboard with year end coverage, listing the greatest games the App Store had to offer.

TouchArcade has gotten even more awesome over the year, and our community has grown to be an even better place for iOS gamers to chillax, find out about new games, and discuss their favorites. We're super-excited for 2012, and I can't wait to see what new iOS devices will be released, what games will surprise us, and everything else that comes with being totally immersed in the world of iOS.

Here's a list of our various year end coverage in case you missed any of it:

Also, just for fun, here were our top ten most viewed stories in 2011:

  1. 'DragonVale' Review - Here There Be Freemium Dragon Breeding
  2. Get It Before It's Gone: 'iMAME' Hits the App Store
  3. Atari Brings 100 Retro Titles to iOS in "Atari's Greatest Hits"!
  4. 'Infinity Blade' Comparison - iPad vs iPad 2
  5. 'Zenonia 3: The Midgard Story' Review - RPG Grinding at its Finest
  6. 'Tiny Tower' Review - Tiny People in a Freemium World
  7. '7 Little Words' Review - A 12 Letter Name Meaning "Clever Word Game"
  8. 'Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP' for iPad Review - An Incredible Pixel-Powered Audio Visual Experience
  9. Dragon Shout: A Hip, Upcoming 'Skyrim' Map App
  10. 'Infinity Blade 2' Review - An iOS Masterpiece

We hope you all have a safe and happy New Year, and hope you all stick with us through 2012!

2011 TouchArcade Staff Favorites - Eli

Friday, December 30th, 2011

After getting together to pick our official best games of 2011, we also had our writers take a look back at the last year and compile lists of their personal favorites along with their reasons why.

2011. What a year. The App Store has been online for over three years now, and it still feels like the future to me most days. Looking back on my life of gaming, it's just crazy how far we've come, and not only in terms of the quantity and quality of iOS releases. When I was begging my mother to take polaroids of me as proof that I beat NES games, the very existence of devices like iPhones and iPads would've seemed like some sort of unattainable future eternally found only in science fiction. But, here we are, almost to the point that we're taking being able to download ridiculously great games, wirelessly, from anywhere, often for a fiftieth (or less) of the price for granted. That's crazy.

My responsibilities as Editor in Chief of TouchArcade here has me cycling a silly amount of games through my iOS devices, as I make sure to at least try every game we review to make sure I agree with what we post. I usually just don't have the time to get incredibly invested in too many of these games, as serving as the gatekeeper for TouchArcade content really just doesn't allow for it. There just aren't enough hours in the day, as badly as I wish there were.

So, the games I end up playing for extended periods of time are an eclectic mix of titles that may have larger over-arching goals, but are totally conducive to quick pick up and play sessions. I'm not sure I'd call any of these games the best games of the year, but they ended up being my favorites, and the ones I spent the most time with:

Dungeon Raid

Dungeon Raid, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Even though Dungeon Raid was technically released very late in 2010, it didn't hit its stride until a few updates later in 2011. No other video game (including consoles) released this year even comes close to the amount of time I've invested in Dungeon Raid. I loved Puzzle Quest, but the way Dungeon Raid boils down that formula its core essence is pure genius. Unlockable classes, random abilities, and game balance that makes any strategy viable with some work has created not only one of my favorite iOS games, but one of my favorite video games in general. I can't believe I'm saying that about a match three.

King of Dragon Pass

King of Dragon Pass, $9.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Since completely abandoning PC gaming at some point in the last ten years and becoming a full-fledged "Mac guy" I've missed out on so many of these obscure PC titles. At first glance, King of Dragon Pass might not seem that friendly to iOS style pick up and play gaming since it's a shockingly involved game of managing a tribe that can go on for months (assuming you're good enough, of course). Where KoDP wins me over is that it's the perfect game to load up, make a few management decisions, close the game, and come back to it later. I'm in the midst of a game that I've been playing for close to three weeks total now, and while I'm not sure I'll ever ascend to position of King of Dragon Pass itself, each game is random enough that it feels totally fresh. A universal update is coming too, which I'm beyond excited for.

NBA JAM by EA SPORTSâ„¢

NBA JAM by EA SPORTSâ„¢, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - The only series of sports games that comes with more nostalgia for me is the Mutant League games. I couldn't even guess how much of my life I've spent playing NBA Jam between the ancient console versions, the four player arcade machines, and subsequent ports and re-releases. 18 years after NBA Jam's original release, I still smile like an complete idiot as I shatter backboards, dunk on fire from a hundred feet in the air, and as the announcer exclaims, "BOOM SHAKA LAKA." The iOS port is absolutely fabulous, although I really wish it had online multiplayer. I'll keep my fingers crossed on that.

The Last Rocket

The Last Rocket, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - I'm all about games that feel like they offer a totally complete package that all meshes together in perfect harmony. It was this reason why I loved Sword & Sworcery so much, and I feel like The Last Rocket comes packed with similar magic. Too many games hinge on retro tropes, but don't go "all the way" (for lack of a better way to put it). Pixel art and/or chip tunes with modern gameplay can feel a little disjointed at times, but The Last Rocket nails the whole thing to the point that you could load it on to a NES cartridge and blast it back through some wormhole to 1985 and it'd fit in perfectly on a shelf at Funco Land. The appropriately barebones story, the graphics, the music, the gameplay… Flawlessly nostalgic.

Battleheart

Battleheart, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Without a doubt my favorite iPad game of the year. Battleheart is one of the few games that seems to really just click on the iPad, as the touch interface allows you to control four characters at once to have these surprisingly intense battle sequences that feel like you're micromanaging an entire party of players in an MMORPG. I really wish there was more to it, as I feel the end-game is a little lacking, but I've had a silly amount of fun over the year just re-starting the game over and over to level up a new party, relying on a vastly different class composition each time. I've really really got my fingers crossed for sequel treatment, similar to what Zombieville USA saw, as more than anything else Battleheart feels like the foundation for a game that could be beyond incredible.

Atari Pulls the Plug on 'Vector Tanks' and 'Vector Tanks Extreme'

Friday, December 30th, 2011

If you're feeling like reading some legal tea leaves this afternoon, put the kettle on and try this on for size: We just got news that Peter Hirschberg's Vector Tanks and Vector Tanks Extreme have been pulled from the App Store due to their resemblance to Atari's Battlezone. According to the recent Kickstarter update for the planned-but-currently-unfunded Vector Tanks 3, "Tank games, asteroid shooters, and so on have all been pulled."

There's a number of ways you could read into this, largely depending on which way your dowsing rod is pointing. Atari could be planning on releasing their own version of either a direct port or modern re-imagination of Battlezone, and are sweeping the App Store of "clones" (I'm using that word very loosely, mind you.) to make room. Alternatively, it's entirely possible that Atari has a whole department of lawyers whose sole purpose is to protect their IP by any means necessary, and the Vector Tanks series were just casualties of of a legal war.

I could really go either way on that one, as Atari is all about milking their old IP, but they've also become a company that seems to consist of little more than retro branding and lawyers. Either way, it's just sad to see Vector Tanks and Extreme caught in the crossfire, as I never saw those games as "rip-offs" or "clones" of Battlezone, rather, just very tasteful fan-made homages.

If you haven't already, it's a good idea to backup the .ipa files for both Vector Tanks and Vector Tanks Extreme, as it's unclear if they'll ever be back on the App Store.

2011 TouchArcade Staff Favorites - Eric, Nissa, and Troy

Friday, December 30th, 2011

After getting together to pick our official best games of 2011, we also had our writers take a look back at the last year and compile lists of their personal favorites along with their reasons why.

Among the many things that changed around here this year at TouchArcade was massively ramping up our writing staff with freelancers from quite literally all over the world. We now have writers in four of the seven continents, checking out games and writing reviews around the clock. Maybe in 2012 we'll pick up some people to review games in Africa and Asia, but I'm really not sure how we're going to swing Antarctica.

Our content output is through the roof compared to previous years, which has allowed us to broaden our focus to include games that we normally would have passed on just because of not having the bandwidth to review anything but the absolute best games. I think it's made TouchArcade a much more varied, and better daily read, along with giving a bunch more games some exposure. 2012 should be even better, as ramping up even further along with releasing the TouchArcade app!

Anyway, Eric, Nissa, and Troy were our most active freelance writers in 2012, so I asked them to join the party in compiling lists of their top five games. Check it out:


Eric

Avadon: The Black Fortress HD

Avadon: The Black Fortress HD, $9.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - I've been a big fan of Spiderweb Software since the days of playing Exile on my Performa, so I was intrigued when I first heard that they would be releasing a classic style, isometric RPG. Avadon does not disappoint as it not only succeeded in taking me back to the glory days of 1990s-era Mac RPGs but it also made the entire genre accessible to a whole new generation of gamers. All I can say is that after this fulfilling nostalgic experience, I'm hungry for more.

Jetpack Joyride

Jetpack Joyride, Free - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Jetpack Joyride has the honor of being the first endless runner to successfully capture me in its grasp for a very long time. Its
presentation, style, and approachable gameplay are top notch making the game appealing to even the most reluctant of gamers. Most importantly, it has that rare quality of making each run feel new and unique - something that so many other similar games try to achieve and fail.

Dungeon Raid

Dungeon Raid, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - I'm not the biggest fan of match three games. Yet, out of all the games on my list, Dungeon Raid has probably gotten the most hours played than any other. Maybe it had something to do with the way its RPG elements meshed seamlessly with the standard match three gameplay. Or maybe it was the huge amount of unlockable classes, spells, and equipment making each play through different. Regardless, Dungeon Raid has continued to be my de facto option for quick gaming sessions on the go. If you're one of the few that haven't played this by now, hurry up and grab it.

Battleheart

Battleheart, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Battleheart gets a lot of elements right, but in my opinion it's really all about two things: versatility and multitasking. With so many different classes, equipment, and spells, I spent a lot of time playing this real time strategy action-RPG simply to discover various combinations and styles of play that worked. Add in the fact that the game successfully implemented a control scheme that had you simultaneously control four different characters, each with their own abilities and class roles, and it's not hard to see why Battleheart is one of the better strategy games of the year.

Mega Mall Story

Mega Mall Story, $3.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - You really can't go wrong with any Kairosoft game, but Mega Mall Story was by far my favorite release from them this year. Taking a more concrete approach than some of the other 'Story' games, Mega Mall had more short and long term goals littered throughout the game while still giving you enough leeway to build mostly anything however you wanted. I also loved the wonderful pacing that the game set; providing countless rewards and incentives to continue playing while making them just rare enough that they continued to be meaningful throughout the playtime. Also, how could you not love building your own tower?


Nissa

Async Corp.

Async Corp., $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - This is the one game that can cheer me up in nearly any situation. It has smiling blocks, bright colors, and cheerful music, which is pretty much the perfect recipe for a good mood. Add the constant positive reinforcement you get for being a productive worker and there's just no way to be down when playing this game - unless you think about what happened to the team who made it. But layoffs aside, Async Corp is by far my favorite matching game. I appreciate the variety of modes it has on offer, but what really gets me is that it's just so relentlessly cheerful.

Wind-up Knight

Wind-up Knight, $1.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - At some point in the past year or two, I went from hating difficult platformers to craving them. Wind-up Knight is the cream of the crop of that genre. It's gorgeous, runs smoothly and is unfailingly punishing. But it's never unfair, and that's why I love it. That, and the terribly clever storytelling conceit that's tucked away in its loading screens.

Mighty Fin

Mighty Fin, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - I'm a huge sucker for endless-whatever games. Runners, climbers, cave fliers, you name it and I can probably name five I adore. Mighty Fin topped the pack this year with something like nineteen endless levels to obsess over, and an equal number of more traditional arcade levels. It also has an adorable protagonist, high production values and dozens of unlockable costumes.The one thing that really makes it stand out from the crowd, though, is that it's updated regularly and still manages to stay entirely IAP free.

Elder Sign: Omens

Elder Sign: Omens, $3.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - This one goes out to all my fellow tabletop nerds. In its tabletop form, Elder Sign is one of those overly complex card and dice games that I hate to love - they're just so messy. On iPhone, the experience is streamlined and still tons of fun. I've rolled a lot of dice in my time, and Elder Sign makes it a particularly compelling activity. It's a little bit RPG, a little bit board game, and a whole lot of Elder Gods devouring your face. I hope this is a sign of more great things coming to iOS from Fantasy Flight.

Poker Pals

Poker Pals, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - As Words With Friends becomes increasingly bloated, I've moved away from it as my asynchronous game of choice. Poker Pals has taken its place. It's not an incredibly deep game, but it is super accessible, so I can play with just about anyone I know. Seriously, if you've somehow managed to avoid learning how to form poker hands, it's a skill you can pick up in under a minute. The game's progression system is also pretty cool. But when you get right down to the heart of it, what I really adore about Poker Pals is that it (almost) fulfills my long-standing wish to play Sword & Poker online with friends.That game gave me a serious love of poker puzzling, and Poker Pals brings it right back.


Troy

jAggy Race

jAggy Race, $1.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - This fantastic game gave me so much pleasure - I know this because I happily re-played the same tracks hundreds of times, searching for the optimum routes. I loved memorizing each crazy track and searching for new gravity-defying jumps, or short-cuts to shave a second off my times. It was especially fun to compete with the skilled TouchArcade forum members, who dominated the jAggy Race leaderboards, because each time someone else achieved a top score, I knew my own strategy needed some adjustments. The blend of fast-paced cart-racing, memorization and strategy made jAggy Race a personal favorite.

Dungeon Raid

Dungeon Raid, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Dungeon Raid is one of my favorite games to play on the smaller iPod screen, which is unusual as I generally prefer playing match-3 games on the iPad. Initially I loved it's simple appearance, the way it's so responsive to rapid swipes, the excellent sound effects and it's ability to reverse out of the lines you're drawing (which is handled better than any other line-drawing game I've seen). But mostly, it's the deepness of the RPG elements which gave it a longer lasting appeal and for that reason it's staying on my iPod.

Vetica

Vetica, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - I love innovative games which are relatively unknown, because it gives me a smug satisfaction, as if I've discovered something that other people have missed. Vetica is one of my favorite shmups of the year, mostly because it creatively constructs animated enemies using the helevetica font (which I totally dig), but also because it's also entertaining to play, not just a gimmick. It's hard enough to be challenging, without being too difficult to complete.

Perfect Cell

Perfect Cell, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - I'm a sucker for platform games in general, but Perfect Cell was particularly fun because it added a line-drawing mechanic for rapid dashes. I never tired of decapitating multiple guards in a murderous high-speed dash, or taking them down by knocking their legs out. The ability to split in two (or three) for stealth ambushes or for puzzle-solving was a neat feature. Technically it came out at the very end of December 2010, but I'm listing it here because it came out just after our annual round-up last year… and because it's awesome.

Tiny Wings

Tiny Wings, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Tiny Wings is a cute and lovable gaming experience that manages to be both soothing and challenging at the same time. I loved the way it was packaged to perfection with a likable soaring bird, unique procedural graphics for the islands, perfect one-touch controls and a totally chilled out sound-track. I usually spot areas for improvement within most games, but Tiny Wings ticked all of my boxes and made me smile each time the bird chirped. It also felt like a special success story because it came from an indie developer (ie: I was willingly caught up in the buzz of popularity it generated).

Yes, I realize we included Dungeon Raid twice in these lists. The game is that good.

Sega Announces 'Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2'; Releases Teaser

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

Hey, remember Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1? It came out over a year ago, we liked it a lot in our review, and couldn't wait for additional episodes to come. Maybe I got spoiled by Telltale's release schedule, but I was sort of expecting Sega to rapid fire release additional episodes of the game. Well, it turns out we won't be playing the second installment until sometime next year. But, hey, it'll have Tails!

Check out this brief interview with Gamespot and the reveal trailer:

Cool, right? I'm a little worried about the engine change, as that seems like something that's a little strange to do between installments of an episodic game. It sounds cool though.

Still Don't Have an iCade? Pick One up From Bed Bath & Beyond for $49.99

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

Here's a small shout-out for our American iPad-owning but not iCade-owning audience: Bed Bath & Beyond, which seems like a strange place to buy an iCade to begin with, is apparently liquidating their inventory at $49.99 a pop. You can head on over to their site and order one, or check to see if any stores have them in stock locally. In the Chicago area, it seems like almost every nearby location has them, but your milage will vary.

We've already extensively reviewed the iCade in the past, and maintain a pretty awesome list of iCade-supported games to check out as well. If you were lucky enough to snag iMAME before it disappeared, consider that iMAME comes with full iCade support, making it pretty awesome. (Alternatively, you could always jailbreak and install imame4all if you missed iMAME.)

It doesn't seem like Bed Bath & Beyond ships outside of the USA, so our friends from abroad lose out on this deal. You likely have universal healthcare though, so I'd still argue you're winning overall even without $50 iCades.

Famitsu Reveals Taito's 'Rayforce'; Coming This Winter

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

It's always great to see companies with so much history (like Taito, in this case) bringing some of it to the App store. According to Famitsu [Translated], Taito will be bringing Rayforce to the App Store, and it'll be hitting at some point this winter. (Or, before March 20th, for those of you playing along at home.)

Rayforce is a vertical shooter which I'd guess not many North Americans have much experience with. It originally hit in the early 90's, with a new name for seemingly every region it was released in, you might remember it as Galactic Attack or Gunlock. Or, you might not remember it at all, since outside of Japanese and European arcades it was only ever available as a Sega Saturn game until PC ports started materializing much later.

[Andriasang via Joystiq]

'Dungeon Hunter 3' and 'Zenonia 4' Jump Down the Free to Play Rabbit Hole

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

Two favorite franchises of the TouchArcade forums, Dungeon Hunter and Zenonia both had sequels drop during the Christmas flurry of releases. Both the good news and the bad news is that these games are totally free to play. Depending on which side of the free to play fence you're sitting on, this is either great news or horrible news. I'm not sure there's any wiggle room in between, if arguments on our forums and in iTunes reviews are any indication. In my opinion, regardless of how you feel about the whole free to play thing, both Dungeon Hunter and Zenonia come from a pedigree of games that are worth giving the benefit of the doubt to. They're free to try, and who knows, you might not find their respective free to play mechanics that offensive… So I say, no harm in giving them a spin.

Dungeon Hunter hit in mid-2009 when we were still totally willing to overlook Gameloft being, well, Gameloft with their highly "inspired" games and were just beyond happy to get a great 3D dungeon crawler on the App Store. Dungeon Hunter 2 hit over a year later and improved upon the original in every way imaginable, most notably, adding online co-operative play.

Dungeon Hunter 3 [Free] departs from the traditional Dungeon Hunter formula in that it abandons all semblance of a story in exchange for a hoard mode which has become a surprisingly popular secondary game mode for all sorts of console games. Choose a class, kill everything as fast as you can, repeat. Like many "premium" games that make the "freemium" leap, progression feels artificially limited and grindy, unless you feel like opening your wallet. Still, if all you're looking for is to bash some monsters faces in, Dungeon Hunter 3 will do the trick.

Similarly, Zenonia hit the App Store in early 2009, and even though the Korean RPG formula leans heavily on grinding, there wasn't anything else available that came close to the gameplay offered. Iterative improvements were made both over Zenonia 2 and Zenonia 3 with new art, sound, classes, monsters, and more added with each jump in the series.

The recently released Zenonia 4 [Free] follows this trend, with a free to play mechanic sandwiched in. The controls feel just as clunky as every other Zenonia game, but just like previous installments, don't take long to get used to. Zenonia 4 is the best looking Zenonia title as well, as it comes packed with full Retina Display graphics. Progression doesn't feel any slower than other titles (which were never very fast) and the free to play mechanic hinges on a constant pressure to buy ZEN points which can be used to improve your character in basically every way you can imagine.

I just wish both of these games were available as a single purchase game, tuned to provide a fun gameplay experience from beginning to end instead of goading me to open my wallet or play for eternity. This seems to be the case for most of these "premium" games that make the free to play jump, so it's not like the shift in gameplay should be news to anyone. Regardless, they are free to try, and we still likely won't see any new games until next week...

App Store Links:
    Dungeon Hunter 3, Free (Universal)
    ZENONIA® 4, Free

A Quick Look at the Upcoming TouchArcade App

Tuesday, December 27th, 2011

You're looking at the very first released screenshot of the upcoming TouchArcade app. We've been working on this with designer Wolfgang Bartelme and the developers from Flexibits for the better part of 2011.

If everything goes as planned, it should be available in early 2012. As part of running TouchArcade over the last few years, we've come up with tons of tricks to take the App Store and distill it down to a manageable amount of great games to check out. The TouchArcade app automates this, and will grant anyone who downloads it instant access to not only every aspect of TouchArcade, but also a listing of hot new games which is constantly updated, 24 hours a day.

It has some other great features as well, but we'll get in to those as we get closer to actually releasing the app. I've been using it over the past few months as it has gotten closer and closer to what it will be like when it's released, and the app is fantastic. Our goal was to make the ultimate companion app for iOS gamers, and what we've got so far has even exceeded even my expectations of what the TouchArcade app should be when I first imagined it.

Stay tuned, 2012 is going to be one hell of a year- And be sure to follow Flexibits on Twitter, as now that the cat is out of the bag they'll likely be posting updates on the progress of the TouchArcade app.

TouchArcade Game of the Year 2011: 'Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP'

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

We've mentioned in the past how difficult it was deciding on Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor [99¢] as our game of the year in 2009, along with Space Miner [99¢ / HD] in 2010. It shouldn't come as much as much of a surprise that as the App Store has gained even more momentum, making these picks has become much more challenging. Interestingly enough, this year all of the games that we had in consideration for game of the year were also universal, which made the decision to drop the differentiation between the iPhone game of the year and iPad game of the year that we did in 2010 incredibly easy.

In 2011, we're looking at iOS games as exactly that, games for iOS devices. We might prefer playing some of these games on the iPad (or in some cases, even the smaller screens of the iPhone or iPod touch) but they're all fantastic experiences regardless of what device you're playing it on. With the advent of iCloud, we're hoping in 2012 developers take universal compatibility to new levels, and create games that are not only great on all devices, but can be seamlessly played on as many devices as you own.

Also, if you'd like to get some more insight on the TouchArcade game of the year process, check out the most recent episode of The TouchArcade Show. We discuss what we each liked about all of these games and more.

TouchArcade Game of the Year

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, $4.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Our minds were blown at GDC 2010 when we first got our hands on Sword & Sworcery. The initial experience of playing the game is so powerful that it gave me chills. I really can't think of any other mobile game that has invoked a similar emotional response that I've played in my entire life. Sworcery is an absolute flawless combination of an entirely original soundtrack by Jim Guthrie, pixel art that is easily among the best I've ever seen by Craig D. Adams, and the creative genius of Kris Piotrowski along with the proverbial behind-the-scenes glue provided by Capybara Games to bring the whole project together.

Sword & Sworcery is universal, and while we ever-so-slightly prefer the overall experience on our iPads, it's still just as incredible on the smaller screens of the rest of the iOS device family. In fact, if all you have is an iPhone or iPod touch, you might want to just opt for Superbrother: Sword & Sworcery EP Micro [$2.99], which is a couple bucks cheaper at the expense of losing universal compatibility. Regardless of what device you play it on, S&S is a game you simply must play, from start to finish, with a great pair of headphones on if at all possible.

TouchArcade Game of the Year Runner Up

Anomaly Warzone Earth, $1.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Tower defense games have always been an App Store staple. It just seems to be a genre that perfectly meshes with both the touch controls of iOS devices, as well as providing an overall gameplay experience that works really well for playing on the go. Unfortunately, it seems there's only so much you can do in a tower defense game, and even though the past few years have brought some great entries into the genre, they all felt sort of the same. Then, from out of nowhere, comes Anomaly Warzone Earth. In essence, 11 bit studios took the traditional tower defense formula, and flipped it around, offering a whole new take on an otherwise stale section of the App Store.

They didn't stop there though, as especially when played with headphones, Anomaly Warzone Earth is ridiculously immersive. Incredible amounts of effort went into creating a game that looks and sounds as good as it plays, and the game feels fresh the whole way through, as 11 bit studios constantly throws new challenges and gameplay elements at you all the way up to the last level. Similar to Sword & Sworcery, Anomaly Warzone Earth [99¢] is also available as a slightly cheaper although non-universal version as well.

Honorable Mentions

We also wanted to honor three other stand-out iOS titles that were among all of our best-of lists for the year. Like our game of the year and runner up, they're all universal and should be on every iOS device that you own if you're even remotely interested in iOS gaming.

Infinity Blade II

Infinity Blade II, $6.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - A great sequel to Infinity Blade [$5.99] by Chair Entertainment, Infinity Blade II expands upon the original in every way possible. It's by far the best looking game on the App Store, and we suspect it will likely serve as the graphical benchmark of what iOS devices are capable of throughout 2012. If you want to stretch the legs of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and see what its truly capable of, Infinity Blade II is the game to do it with.

Mage Gauntlet

Mage Gauntlet, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Rocketcat Games has had a fabulous track record for releasing phenomenal iOS titles with its Hook series of games, and Mage Gauntlet continues that tradition by being its best game yet. Flawless controls combine with all the retro trimmings to make us warm with nostalgia while feeling modern enough that even people who weren't around for the great action RPGs of the 16-bit era can appreciate it. Recent updates have improved gameplay even further, and have added universal compatibility. We can't wait to see what Rocketcat does in 2012.

SpellTower

SpellTower, $1.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - The App Store is home to a plethora of clever puzzle games, and Zach Gage's SpellTower is our favorite of the year. Gage elegantly combines the simplicity of a word game with the complexity of a strategy game, and its multiple game modes provide something for everyone regardless of whether you like to take your time and hunt for the best words, or be on the clock and racking up points as quickly as possible. We prefer SpellTower on our iPads, but it's just as much fun on the iPhone and iPod touch as well.

Best iOS Games: 2011 Buyer's Guide

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

Each year before Christmas we've put up a buyer's guide listing the best iOS titles of the year. Looking back at the 2009 Buyer's Guide and the 2010 Buyer's Guide, we've come a long way. Below you'll find all of 5 star rated iOS titles, as well as the standout 4.5 star games.

If you just opened an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad for Christmas, this is a great place to get started. To make this list a little easier to digest, we've broken these games into a few very vague categories. Oh, and if you also opened an iCade this Christmas, don't forget to check out our list of iCade supported games.


Casual

Tiny Wings

Tiny Wings, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - It's not every day that Angry Birds gets knocked to the #2 position on the top sales charts, but Tiny Wings did it. It comes packed with delightfully simple single button gameplay that even kids could enjoy along with increasingly difficult goals that even hardcore gamers will find challenging. Get this game, now.

Angry Birds Rio

Angry Birds Rio, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - As easy as it is to groan at Angry Birds Rio getting a 5 star rating, it's a fantastic game. It obviously takes the original Angry Birds formula and builds on top of it with the Rio tie in, boss battles, and some spruced up interface elements. There's also a few extra layers of parallax scrolling that really make this version of Angry Birds look much better than the others as well.

Bumpy Road

Bumpy Road, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - It's not often that a game comes along in the App Store that makes you think, "Wow, why didn't someone think of this sooner?". Bumpy Road is just that kind of game. The control system to control the game world rather than the car is remarkably clever, and since its initial release it's even seen some update love from the developers.

Tiny Tower

Tiny Tower, Free - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - NimbleBit set some sky high expectations with Pocket Frogs [Free], their previous (and first) foray into the free to play world. I'd go as far as to say that Tiny Tower is even better, as it has completely taken over my household.

Temple Run

Temple Run, Free - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Imangi Studios doesn't release games all that often, but when they do, they sure are good. Temple Run takes the endless runner formula, adds a third person chase viewpoint, some tilt mechanics, and heaps of power ups to cheat death. Additionally, Temple Run was voted the forum game of the week when it was first released.

Platformer

EDGE Extended

EDGE Extended, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - We thought the original Edge was incredible, and Extended somehow takes that same game formula, applies a substantial layer of awesome, then knocks it out of the park. Clever platforming mechanics combined with fantastic music really just create an experience that you can't miss.

Bring Me Sandwiches!!

Bring Me Sandwiches!!, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Adult Swim is batting 1000 lately with fabulous iOS games, and Bring Me Sandwiches!! keeps that tradition going strong. It's a cross between the collect-everything-you-see gameplay of Katamari Damacy with a platformer game. Additionally, tons of control schemes make the game great to play no matter what your control preference might be.

Sonic CD

Sonic CD, $4.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Here we have the best installment of one of the greatest gaming franchises, which received both flawless review scores and game of the year awards when it was originally released ported with complete perfection to iOS. This is a game you flat out need to buy if you even vaguely consider yourself an iOS gamer. Not only because it's such an impeccable port of an important piece of gaming history, but because we need to vote with our wallets to tell Sega (and anyone else who might be watching) that this is the quality we demand out of retro games brought to the App Store.

Whale Trail

Whale Trail, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Most games you can plot along a line graph with "gameplay" on one end and "presentation" on the other. The best games wind up somewhere in the middle, and Whale Trail definitely sits deep into the "presentation" side of things. Still, the game looks fantastic, and the incredibly vibrant graphics almost make you forget the gameplay is so simple.

Wind-up Knight

Wind-up Knight, $1.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Picture Super Mario Bros. Got a nice image in your head? Good. Now imagine Mario could never stop moving and would only change direction if he hit a wall. A little tougher. And what if absolutely everything could kill him in one hit, and there was no such thing as a checkpoint? That sounds like the sort of game that would have you cursing, spitting, and contemplating throwing your controller, and it also sounds a lot like Wind-up Knight.

Adventure

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, $4.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - This is the closest thing to what we'd call a "system seller" of a video game since the iPad was originally released. Sword & Sworcery is an absolutely incredible experience, a thought that has not only been shared by the gaming press, but also the mainstream media as well. If you have an iOS device and $5 to your name, there's no excuse not to spend it on this game. If you don't want to fork over a couple bucks more for the universal version, Sword & Sworcery Micro [$2.99] is just what the doctor ordered.

Machinarium

Machinarium, $4.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - This game generated a heck of a lot of controversy when it was revealed that it'd only run on the iPad 2 only, which had us more than a little worried about its performance if it requires top-end hardware. It turns out, Machinarium runs fantastically, despite its Adobe Air-based innards. If you've got the hardware, don't miss this remarkably clever adventure.

Aquaria

Aquaria, $4.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Imagine if a Metroidvania went underwater with a fantastic touch-based control scheme. That's what Aquaria is in a nutshell, but you've got to appreciate its fine touches and vision even if its formula doesn't jive with you.

Retro

Forget-Me-Not

Forget-Me-Not, $1.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - In our review we called Forget-Me-Not the "retrolicious lovechild of PAC-MAN and Rogue," and I'm really struggling with a better way to describe the game. An amazing scoring system combines with fantastic retro graphics that only bolster how much fun Forget-Me-Not is to play. If the thought of PAC-MAN combined with dungeon crawling at all piques your interest, stop what you're doing and download Forget-Me-Not immediately.

The Last Rocket

The Last Rocket, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Retro-inspired games are fairly common on the App Store, but The Last Rocket is one of the best examples we've seen of a modern-day title that could have easily passed as an absolutely fabulous NES game. The Graphics and music are all delightfully 8-bit, but even without all these retro trimmings the gameplay could stand on its own.

Velocispider

Velocispider, $1.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - This fantastic tilt-controlled shooter has sucked up entirely too much of our time. With nods to retro shooters like Space Invaders, awesome pixel art, and universal compatibility Velocispider is simply fantastic.

Another World - 20th Anniversary

Another World - 20th Anniversary, $4.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - It's hard to find a game on the App Store with more history behind it than Another World. Touch-based controls (as well as an optional virtual D-pad) along with both original and remastered graphics make for an outstanding port of this classic adventure game.

Role Playing

Infinity Blade II

Infinity Blade II, $6.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - We put incredibly powerful devices in our pockets and on our laps daily, but rarely do we see games that utterly embrace this like Infinity Blade 2 has. It's a showcase piece; a technically and visually gifted game that consistently delivers eye-popping stuff. The gameplay is great, too.

Mage Gauntlet

Mage Gauntlet, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Almost too many games lean on pixel art and chip tunes just because it's in style, but Mage Gauntlet draws inspiration from that era and allows it to permeate every aspect of the game. If you have any fond memories of Super Nintendo-era action RPGs, don't miss this game.

Pocket RPG

Pocket RPG, $4.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Crescent Moon Games' latest is this awesome spin on entirely randomized Roguelike gameplay mixed with the action-packed style of a dual stick shooter. It's a combination that works incredibly well, and being entirely randomized, is infinitely replayable. If you don't feel like springing for the universal version, there's also a cheaper Pocket RPG iPhone Edition [99¢].

Strategy / Sim

King of Dragon Pass

King of Dragon Pass, $9.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - No lie, I've spent more time playing this game than all the other games that we reviewed in September combined. If my exhaustive review wasn't clear enough, here's all you need to know: If you like simulation games, you needed King of Dragon Pass on your iPhone yesterday. I've still got my fingers crossed for an iPad version, but I'm more than happy managing my clan whenever I've got a few seconds to spare on my iPhone.

Great Little War Game

Great Little War Game, $1.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - As mentioned in our review, this game is anything but little. Great Little War Game is a turn-based strategy game that we consider a must have for anyone even vaguely interested in the genre. The developers are remarkably active in our community, and thus far GLWG's updates have been fantastic, both in implementing new features as well as forum feedback.

Pocket Academy

Pocket Academy, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - It seems like ever since Game Dev Story [$1.99 we just can't get enough of Kairosoft simulations. This one in particular puts you in charge of a school, and while many of the mechanics might not be immediately apparent, once the game grabs you, it doesn't let go.

Tiny Heroes

Tiny Heroes, Free - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - geoDefense and geoDefense Swarm cranked tower defense on the App Store up to 11, and, dare I say it, Tiny Heroes makes a great attempt to crank it to 12. Or, at least, 11 and a half. This fantasy-based tower defense title should not be missed by anyone who even vaguely fancies the genre.

Sid Meier's Pirates! for iPad

Sid Meier's Pirates! for iPad, $4.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - This pirate sim is a game with a ton of history behind it, and 2K Games did a marvelous job of porting it to the iPad. It has depth on top of depth, and will keep you busy for quite some time if it manages to suck you in. We've got our fingers crossed for more ports like this of incredible games that work phenomenally on the iPad.

Anomaly Warzone Earth

Anomaly Warzone Earth, $1.99 / HD - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Who knew that turning tower defense in reverse would make for such an incredible game? If you're even vaguely interested in anything to do to tower defense, Anomaly: Warzone Earth needs to be on your iOS device. The mechanics are solid, the atmosphere is cool, and it'll leave you wanting for a sequel.

Action / Shooter

Dead Spaceâ„¢

Dead Spaceâ„¢, $6.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - "Console quality" is a phrase that's thrown around a lot to describe portable games, and really, it's a fitting title for this iOS-exclusive version of Dead Space. We tend to prefer Dead Space for iPad [$9.99] over its iPhone counterpart, but both are fantastic games that should be a part of your collection.

Battleheart

Battleheart, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - This single player game perfectly combines everything that's good about complex party-based realtime battles found in MMO-style games with wonderfully simple and intuitive touch controls. Multiple character classes are included, as well as equipment upgrades. It's incredible just how much flexibility there is for tweaking your party and how you play the game. Battleheart is fantastic on the iPhone, but you can't miss it if you own an iPad.

THE KING OF FIGHTERS-i-

THE KING OF FIGHTERS-i-, $6.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Back in the day of the arcade fighter arms wars, it was Street Fighter versus The King of Fighters with as fierce of a rivalry among gamers as arguing Nintendo vs. Sega. KoF has arrived on the App Store, and it's every bit as good as its Street Fighter, although it remains to be seen if they'll match the online play found in Volt.

Jetpack Joyride

Jetpack Joyride, Free - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - This is our favorite game of the month, as this endless power-up packed single-button flying game is responsible for sapping days of productivity across the entire TouchArcade staff. There are so many hooks to keep you playing that you can do "one more game" for hours through achievements, missions, unlockables, and all sorts of cosmetic customizations.

Bug Heroes

Bug Heroes, Free - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Much like how Dungeon Raid took typical match three gameplay and made it awesome, Bug Heroes takes the dual stick shooter to the next level. The core of the game is based around the typical dual stick shooter formula, but multiple playable characters (each with strengths and weaknesses) as well as elements of both castle and tower defense make this a game that everyone needs to check out. Just keep in mind, it will be very difficult to go back to your basic survival-mode dual stick shooter after this.

Zombieville USA 2

Zombieville USA 2, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Tightly-constructed, well-executed, charming, different and entertaining are all words we freely use when describing Zombieville 2. It's a near perfect iterative entry to the franchise, as it artfully hones in on and turns up the volume on the two best parts of the original: the shooting and upgrade models.

Grand Theft Auto 3

Grand Theft Auto 3, $4.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Even though GTA 3 wasn't designed for virtual controls, you'll have a great time with it, even if all you do is drive around Liberty City listening to the fantastic in-game radio stations. (My favorite is the talk station.) As you become more accustomed with the splattering of virtual buttons all over the screen, you'll find hours upon hours of content to plow through. Having played GTA3 to completion many times in the past, I'm incredibly happy to be able to take it anywhere with me on my phone of all things.

Bug Princess

Bug Princess, $4.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Aside from a few small quibbles, Bug Princess offers yet another stellar entry in CAVE’s series of iOS shooters. It’s probably the most straight forward and least complex out of them all, which makes it a great starting point for bullet hell newbies, but it does have its share of depth for those looking to master its strategies.

STREET FIGHTER IV VOLT

STREET FIGHTER IV VOLT, $6.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Capcom is following their time honored tradition of relentlessly re-releasing Street Fighter with Street Fighter IV Volt. This time around there are three new characters as well as online multiplayer.

Dark Meadow

Dark Meadow, $5.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Atmospheric horror is a game genre that never really seems to translates to portable devices very well, but Phosphor Games did a great job of it with Dark Meadow. Set in a creepy hospital, and utilizing the Unreal Engine, the game looks and sounds great. A repetitive combat system drags down this otherwise fantastic title.

Puzzle

Where's My Water?

Where's My Water?, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - This super-fun liquid-centric physics game puts you in the driver seat of helping an alligator take a shower. Sure, it's hard to come up with a more ridiculous premise, but maybe that's part of this game's charm. A wacky scrolling mechanic on some levels is the only thing we have to complain about, otherwise Where's My Water is fabulous.

Dungeon Raid

Dungeon Raid, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - As mentioned in our review of the game, with the number of fish in the match three sea, it takes a lot to make one that's just as fun (if not more so) than the match three staples like Bejeweled 2 and other classics. Dungeon Raid accomplishes this by distilling the Puzzle Quest formula down to its basics, and providing match three gameplay that retains its simple nature while offering a shocking amount of depth via random equipment and character upgrades. Also, there's much more to matching than just high scoring, clearing each type of block has a purpose, and the order you clear them in can mean life or death. This game has stolen hours of my time, I can't recommend it enough.

Casey's Contraptions HD

Casey's Contraptions HD, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - There are tons of contraption-building games on the App Store, but few are as good as Casey's Contraptions. The theme of the game is gloriously whimsical, and you can spend hours delving through the clever and convoluted solutions your friends post via Game Center.

Gesundheit!

Gesundheit!, $1.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - This stealth-centric sneeze-powered puzzle game comes with fantastic controls, some of the best hand-drawn art we've seen in action on the App Store, and details like shadows moving relative to your iOS device's gyroscope readings. We prefer the iPad version, but only because you'll want as much screen real estate as possible to enjoy this game's incredible art.

Wooords

Wooords, $1.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Games where you search for words within a pre-defined set of letters have some serious roots, heck, this kind of puzzle was published in newspapers before video games even existed, and there's a zillion variations on the App Store. Words totally impressed us with its slick presentation that feels less like playing a word game and more like moving magnetic letters around on a refrigerator.

SPY mouse

SPY mouse, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Firemint has managed to de-throne Angry Birds from the #1 position on the App Store with this line-drawing-powered stealth game. Collect cheese, evade cats, use various tricks, and even fight bosses. All the gameplay elements go together incredibly well, and Firemint even managed to remove a lot of things that have historically annoyed us about stealth games in the process.

SpellTower

SpellTower, $1.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Word games can still be fun. Elegant, clever and fun, SpellTower a complete package, brought together by Gage's trademark use of cheerful colors, simple patterns and elegant typography.

iBlast Moki 2

iBlast Moki 2, $0.99 / Universal HD - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - This game sets the standard of what gamers should expect of sequels. It's got familiar puzzle-centric physics mechanics of the original with tons of new features that add complexity and all kinds of new ways to solve puzzles. Additionally, a perfectly integrated solution system can show you how your friends completed a level if you get stuck.

Monsters Ate My Condo

Monsters Ate My Condo, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Adult Swim and Pik Pok joined forces to bring us one of the craziest matching games we've ever seen on the App Store. The game requires matching similarly colored floors while appeasing nearby color-coded monsters, each with a more ridiculous super-power than the last. Also, you can score billions if you're good. Billions!

Scribblenauts Remix

Scribblenauts Remix, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Originally released on the Nintendo DS, Scribblenauts is a game that's so unique that you simply must play it. Remix combines the best elements from both of the DS games along with 10 iOS-exclusive levels. In addition, it's even universal and boasts complete iCloud save syncing support.

Bejeweled Blitz

Bejeweled Blitz, Free - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - Popcap takes the glorious match-three mechanic of the classic puzzle franchise, pumps up the volume on the jewel and match bonuses, and then condenses it all down into frantic, one-minute bursts of eye-gasmic, point-laden play.

Sports

NBA JAM by EA SPORTSâ„¢

NBA JAM by EA SPORTS™, $0.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - iOS gamers really couldn't ask for much more when it comes to EA's port of NBA Jam… Multiplayer was even added in an update! All of the massive dunks and secret modes are intact, making this a surprisingly faithful port. EA even recently updated the game's roster, bringing it in line with this NBA season.

Pocket HalfPipe

Pocket HalfPipe, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - This incredibly awesome skateboarding game is highly reminiscent of the halfpipe in the classic NES series Skate or Die, but with much better graphics and crazy dual stick controls that allow you to pull off all kinds of moves. The game could easily be described as basic, but it's so much fun that we don't care. The tricks you'll be able to pull off after a bit of practice are cool, and stringing a massive chain together is hugely rewarding.

Fight Night Champion by EA Sportsâ„¢

Fight Night Champion by EA Sportsâ„¢, $4.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - A surprisingly competent boxing game that feels like an equal to its console counterpart instead of a typical watered-down mobile version. Great touch screen controls combine with different game modes to create a boxing experience that is among the best that the App Store has to offer.

Music

Groove Coaster

Groove Coaster, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - There have been a ton of rhythm games released on the App Store, but none have the amazing presentation of Groove Coaster that almost makes it less of a game and more of an experience-- And this is one experience you really can't miss especially if you enjoyed its creator's other game, Space Invaders Infinity Gene.

Radballs

Radballs, $2.99 - [Review] - [Forum Thread] - We fell in love with RadBalls inside of the first few seconds of the trailer, and by the time it was over we were ready to yield our first born to its creator. Oh, yeah, the game is fun as hell too. It's a music-centric matching game that even allows you to use your own tracks. Check it out.

Best iOS Games December 2011

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

Our ratings for games we reviewed in December are now in place, and we now present to you the ones that are on the top of the heap. Each game reviewed receives a 1-5 star rating relative to the other games from that month. Generally, a three-star or higher is considered a "good" rating.

Our final scores are not the product of any traditionally objective measures such as graphics or sound, but simply reflect the games we would most recommend to others. Keep in mind, this listing is comprised of games we reviewed in December, and not necessarily games that were specifically released in December.

(more...)

'iDOS' Returns… Sort of, as 'Aemula Oldies'

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

Let's wind back the clocks a bit so those of you who weren't around for the great iDOS fiasco of 2010. It all started with Apple ever-so-slightly easing up on their approval guidelines which opened the floodgates for quite a few apps (such as the Google Voice apps) that seemed to eternally be trapped in approval limbo. Whether this had anything to do with iDOS or not is debatable, but it seems awfully coincidental otherwise. Anyway, on the morning of October 26th last year, iDOS hit the App Store. It was a shockingly full featured DOS emulator complete with keyboard and mouse support, as well as a basic virtual gamepad, multiple screen modes, and so much more.

The crazy part about iDOS is there seemed to be nearly no limit to what it was capable of. If you scroll down on this story you'll even find someone successfully installing Microsoft Windows, within iDOS, on their iPad. iDOS was quickly pulled, then re-appeared in late January of this year with quite a bit of its functionality stripped. Regardless, people quickly figured out how to load things into iDOS, utilizing utilities like iExplorer and other Mac/Windows programs that allow you to fiddle with the file system of your iOS device. Once again, iDOS was removed from the App Store.

Yesterday, iDOS hit the App Store once again, this time as Aemula Oldies [Free] for the iPad and Aemula Oldies S [Free] for smaller screen devices. There's also the Aemula Gamepad [99¢] which works a lot like the other gamepad apps and pairs with an iPad playing a game. It seems that the functionality has been stripped even further, as all the previous command line access has been traded for a simple menu to load the included games.

The freebies packed in with Aemula Oldies are Mille Bornes, Commander Keen 4: Secret of the Oracle, Duke Nukem, Dangerous Dave in the Haunted Mansion, Scorched Earth, CD-Man, The Catacomb Abyss, Bio Menace, Monster Bash, StarMines II: Planet of Mines, 4D Prince of Persia and CHAMP Kong. They all seem to work decently well, too.

I sort of think third time is the charm for iDOS, err, Aemula Oldies, as I'd imagine that there aren't any holes for slipping other things to emulate in left anymore. Of course, I could be totally wrong on that, so if anyone figures out any tricks, be sure to let us know.

App Store Links:
    Aemula Oldies S, Free
    Aemula Oldies, Free (iPad Only)
    Aemula Gamepad, $0.99

Get It Before It's Gone: 'iMAME' Hits the App Store

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

Emulators have had an interesting history on the App Store, to say the least. There are a few emulator apps that have received Apple's blessing, namely Manomio's Commodore 64 [$4.99] and a choice group of similar emulators. More often than not though, they randomly appear, having slipped through the Apple approval system, then are quickly pulled. Right now we've got no clue which side of the fence iMAME [Free] is sitting on, but it's free, so there's absolutely no reason not to download it just to have it.

iMame comes preloaded with nine less than stellar ROMs to play, but the real interesting part is going to be whether or not it's possible to side load other ROM files into the app. I've been tinkering around with various tricks to load other ROMs into the app that have worked in other instances of similar emulators on to the App Store, and so far haven't had anything work. Regardless, I give it about two hours (or potentially much less) before someone figures it out, and a few hours after that for Apple to pull it from the App Store.

Go go go!!! I'll keep this post updated as new things develop.

Update: It seems that the same method used to get games into iDOS also works in iMAME. Twitter user @mattlukens mentions, "Yep, add a .zip rom to the Docs folder through PhoneView and it works perfect! Just tried Crime Fighters!" He also provided a screenshot. The clock is really ticking now on Apple pulling this down.

Update: iMAME supports the iCade.

Update 12/23: iMAME has been pulled from the App Store.

App Store Link: iMAME, Free (Universal)


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