As 2011 draws to a close our debate for Game of the Year is heating up. And one of the games we'll be seriously considering as the victor,Jetpack Joyride[$.99], is now free on the App Store. Jetpack Joyride is fantastically good; we're big fans of its irreverent style and its simple, yet stunningly engaging flying action. That's why we're considering it, and why we're endorsing you giving it a free download right now.
If you're a TouchArcade merit badge holder, you're more than aware that we posted about the game once again last week. Halfbrick has continued its commitment to updating the flyer consistently and often. The latest update sees the introduction of seasonal stuff, like Christmas tree-themed jetpacks and festive clothing. Get that now, if you haven't.
During GDC this year, Team Phobic released Undead Ocean [$1.99], an action platforming title built from their experience with the excellent Bounce On series and a healthy nod to classic action platformers from the bygone 16-bit era. We liked Undead Oceanquite a bit when it initially launched, especially due to the fantastic level designs and copious amounts of hidden areas. It really felt like the kind of game I would have gobbled up back in the day on my SNES.
Originally, Undead Ocean was built with expansion in mind by way of adding additional islands with new levels via updates. It might have taken a while, but the first major addition to Undead Ocean has hit the App Store. This update includes a new island with 15 brand new levels, new enemy types and boss fights, new powerup items, new story cutscenes, and of course something that any good island adventure needs: a huge volcano. You can see most of these new goodies in the following trailer:
Undead Ocean is one of the better action platformers available on iOS, and today's update practically doubles the amount of content from the original release. If you're looking to try before you buy, you can grab Undead Ocean Dojo [Free], a free spinoff title that features an intro level not contained in the regular game which should give you more than a good idea whether or not you'll be interested in the full, and is a pretty cool game on its own merits as well.
We've all been in a mind-numbingly tense "Oh, god, Super Crate Box is about to release" state for a bit since hearing about its submission to Apple, and, sadly, we'll have to survive with this burden a wee bit longer. Developer Vlambeer has just announced that Super Crate Box won't appear on the App Store before Christmas as was expected. Instead, it'll launch this January 5th on the platform.
That's not too bad as far as release date pushes go. And besides, it's not like you'll have trouble finding something to bide your time with while you wait. As you've noticed by the look of our page the last couple of days, there are a lot of games, and a lot of new updates, to dig into. Go get'em Cowboy!
Every iOS game has a story behind its development, but the one behind MinoMonsters [$0.99] may have been one you've already heard if you pay attention to iOS news. Like that the guys that founded the company that made the game are some of the youngest game designers to score an investment of this size for their project ( a cool million, to be exact), but they have some meaty people on board too, such as TJ Murphy, who co-founded the Social Gaming Network. In other words, MinoMonsters has a hell of a pedigree. And with that kind of story behind it, well, it's hard not to expect one hell of a game.
Luckily, the final product is pretty stellar. MinoMonsters operates off the Pokemon strategy, as it puts you in the role of an (unseen) hero who collects adorable creatures and trains them to fight on your behalf as you progress through a lush world populated by a series of different stages. The game looks like a comic book in action, and is absolutely gorgeous to play -- definitely a standout when it comes to what's on the App Store. There are tons of cute titles out there, but MinoMonsters looks and plays like a really handsome action RPG. Since I love that genre, I was instantly hooked on the combination of monster training and exploring.
A santa hat and suit are now a part of Jetpack Joyride [$.99]. Earlier today, Halfbrick's flyer received a yuletide update that integrates some pretty hip seasonal junk including the aforementioned, as well as a Christmas tree themed jetpack, a snow machine jetpack, and pudgier scientists who obviously had a little too much cheer of late.
All this, of course, is free for owners of the $.99 joint. Halfbrick is on a roll of late with Jetpack updates, if you haven't noticed. Just the other week, the game received its first new area and a new challenge mission structure that rewards the hardcorest of its hardcore fans. And, hey, if you haven't got around to this yet, now you can reach new heights of prestige in a Santa hat. Hats, guys! HATS.
Prior to Grand Theft Auto III I'd say I had fun messing around in Grand Theft Auto games, but never really enjoyed myself. The top-down view felt incredibly claustrophobic, and, at least for me, made getting immersed into the game world incredibly difficult. I don't think it's hyperbole at all to say that GTA 3 changed everything.
Originally released in 2001 as a Playstation 2 exclusive, Grand Theft Auto III featured a full 3D game engine for the first time in the game series. At least for me, this transformed a silly and entirely too controversial set of video games into a living and breathing universe. It's debatable how well the game has aged in ten years, but in 2001, after the initial cut scene rolls and you're driving through the beginnings of Liberty City, there was no way your jaw wasn't on the floor.
Containment: The Zombie Puzzler [$4.99] from Bootsnake Games is definitely not your typical match-3 game. In fact, you don't even need to match three of anything. Instead, the goal is to surround zombies with cops, soldiers, scientists or punks. This is far more interesting than matching colorful gems, tiles or bubbles, and once you've contained some zombies they'll be eliminated in a blood-splattering burst of gun-fire.
Each type of human unit has a different advantage and a different weapon for taking out zombies. If you surround zombies with cops, you can earn a sniper-shot, whereas soldiers earn grenades. Containing some zombies using punks can earn a molotov to throw, while the female scientists can help you obtain a zombie resistant suit. Three slots are available for storing these life-saving items.
One genre that seems to be overlooked a bit on the App Store is tank games. Sure, there’s certainly a ton of them available for download, but it always seems as if they contain the same boring gameplay, drab military-esque visuals, and awkward controls. Enter Tank Riders [$1.99], the latest title from Polarbit (maker of Reckless Getaway) which attempts to differentiate itself from the rest of the genre with vibrant visuals and objective-based campaign gameplay. Unfortunately, the lack of content, multiplayer issues and frustrating controls keep Tank Riders from reaching its true potential.
At its core, Tank Riders is a somewhat simplistic, top-down 3D tank driving game. Players run through approximately 25 colorful levels (with five additional tutorial levels) with the goal of either getting to the other end of the map or collecting items to advance to the next mission. At the completion of each level, players are scored via a number of categories (such as health and speed) and are ranked via a 3-star system.
One of the coolest tactical turn-based games we've ever seen on iOS, Hunters: Episode One[$.99 / HD], is getting a sequel. Rodeo Games, the original creator of Hunters, have revealed with us that it is indeed working on Hunters 2. And guys, it sounds and looks radical.
Hunters 2, which is slated to hit Spring 2012, will build on the same combat that made the first game so popular, but it'll also throw in some notable new systems and weapons. For example, the team is dropping in a new mini-gun that fires blistering bursts of 10 rounds. That's especially hip, we're told, because it'll show off the game's new projectile system, which lets you see every round fired.
New enemies, environments, and mission types will naturally be part of the fresh package, but so will a fleshed out and scripted campaign mode featuring Rodeo's new hero character Caius Black. One of the promotional images we've received notes that he'll be "alone, wounded, and betrayed."
As if that wasn't enough, the game's engine has been scrapped in favor of a new one that'll integrate real-time dynamic lighting and "loads of customization options." Get a taste below:
Speaking of customization, that's something Rodeo is focusing on character-side, too. In Hunters 2, each Hunter will have a talent pool and you'll assign points in specific skill and build trees. Rodeo tells us that this system "really individualizes your Hunters and brings all sorts of new tactics" to the fold.
We'll be getting our hands on Hunters 2 in the coming weeks. If you'd like to try the original game, now is a great time -- both versions are on sale now at $.99 instead of their usual $4.99 and $6.99 price points.
Initially, I rolled my eyes a bit when I saw a thread in our forums posted for a game called Infinity of God. After the sweeping success of the Infinity Blade series, tacking "infinity" onto your title in any way has just about as much effect on me as if it was "doodle" or "angry." That's to say, the predetermination is that what I'll find will be a low quality knockoff of the highly successful games that have made those words ubiquitous on the App Store.
For better or worse, Infinity of God actually does not resemble Infinity Blade so much, but it definitely does not hide the fact that it's a God of War-inspired game. In fact, it appears that in the developer Calvi Game's native Chinese, the subtitle reads as "Wrath of God of War". And so it goes.
However, no matter your feelings on games that are very blatantly "heavily inspired" by other successful games, the trailer for Infinity of God looks mighty impressive:
Earlier this summer, we caught word that Frontier Developments's LostWindswas headed to iOS and Android. Now, we've got a great first-look at the iOS version title in action -- and, guys, it's silly gorgeous.
Once an acclaimed WiiWare title, Frontier has obviously pushed the visuals to the max for our phones and tablets. And if you look, you'll notice that it's a fairly HUD-free port with specific touch actions, which has us thinking that we're actually in for an all mobiled-out experience.
No solid date or price point have been announced, but we do know that LostWinds is coming to every iDevice this holiday as a Universal app. Also, it'll ship with a "new map feature" specific to touch devices. Our popcorn is ready, for sure.
UPDATE: Yay, technology! The trailer we originally posted was cut short for some... reason. This is the full thing.
The Mr. series by developer Ponos has been a favorite of casual gaming fans for several years now (and has been covered by us severaltimesbefore). Mr. Oops!! [99¢], the latest title in the series, looks to continue the popularity of its predecessors by offering the same approachable controls, frenetic gameplay, and leaderboard-based competition that made previous games successful. As far as casual titles are concerned, Mr. Oops!! succeeds at preserving the fun we’ve had with earlier titles and is a game worthy of recommendation.
If you’ve never played a Mr. game before, each title centers around a simple premise, easy controls, and a difficulty curve that ramps up quickly. In the case of Mr. Oops!!, players must maneuver their Mr. stick figure across a checkerboard-like environment in the hopes of avoiding the weapons being launched down the grid. Also accompanying the game is a rocking musical score that sets the tone well for the game.
Back in late October we posted an update on Elite Systems' coming Elite Collection (iPhone) and Elite Collection HD (iPad) apps, which will offer a bundled collection of classic Commodore 8-bit home computer games, as well as an in-app game store for purchasing additional singles and bundled arrangements of games. At that time, Elite indicated that these applications would be delayed due to a trademark complication. We're now happy to report the studio has informed us that the titles will land in the App Store on Friday, December 16th, and at a one-week promotional launch price of $0.99 each. [ UPDATE: Apologies to readers in our overlooking the fact that the stated release date does not apply to the Americas. These titles will see release there in mid-to-late January. ]
Earlier this week, Warner Bros. and Mortal Kombat developer NeatherRealm Studios surprised everybody by dropping Batman Arkham City Lockdown [$5.99], an iOS spinoff of the critically acclaimed console series, into the App Store. Batman Arkham City Lockdown is a streamlined take on its console big brother games, placing you in the role of Batman as he faces off against a stable of Gotham City's infamous villains in one-on-one battles. The presentation and overall "Batman-ness" of the game are absolutely fantastic, and although the combat is a bit rigid and flat, Arkham City Lockdown offers a fun mobile version of The Dark Knight's superhero escapades.
Immediately upon starting up the game, you're thrust into a fight with one of the Joker's thugs which acts as a tutorial in the ways of combat. The controls are fairly straightforward: Tapping the screen allows you to dodge an incoming blow, swiping the screen left or right throws those respective punches, swiping up does an uppercut, and swiping down just when an enemy is about to strike does a deflection move resulting in a dizzied opponent.
Last month, CAVE announced plans to bring Bug Princess to iOS. Details were vague aside from a teaser video and a "winter 2011" release data. Well, this afternoon CAVE let the proverbial cat out of the bag and revealed that it'll be available on the 15th as a universal app for $4.99.
My favorite part of the trailer is about half way in when they show the side by side gameplay of the different difficulty levels. I've never really been good enough at CAVE games to advance past the easy modes. Thinking that it's possible for someone to rock out in "hell" mode sort of makes my head explode.
Bug Princess is just the latest of the plethora of games that are scheduled to be released on the 15th. Strap in, next week is going to be insane.
As 2011 draws to a close our debate for Game of the Year is heating up. And one of the games we'll be seriously considering as the victor, Jetpack Joyride [$.99], is now free on the App Store. Jetpack Joyride is fantastically good; we're big fans of its irreverent style and its simple, yet stunningly engaging flying action. That's why we're considering it, and why we're endorsing you giving it a free download right now.
A santa hat and suit are now a part of 
Prior to Grand Theft Auto III I'd say I had fun messing around in Grand Theft Auto games, but never really enjoyed myself. The top-down view felt incredibly claustrophobic, and, at least for me, made getting immersed into the game world incredibly difficult. I don't think it's hyperbole at all to say that GTA 3 changed everything.
Earlier this summer, we caught word that 
Back in late October we posted an update on 
