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Angry Birds Seasons (iPhone Application)
by SWSt There can be few people who haven't played Angry Birds and even fewer who haven't at least heard of it. It's one of those games that has taken the world by storm, breaking free of the realm of the hardcore gamer and proving attractive to virtually everyone. Inevitably, the success of Angry Birds means sequels and, equally ... inevitably, "sequel" is generally shorthand for "more of the same". In this case, though, it doesn't matter too much because the first game got things so right that making major changes might be a big mistake. The aim on each level is to take out the green pigs that have stolen your eggs by firing birds from a catapult and knocking down the defences the pigs have built. Each bird has a different ability and you have a limited number of birds at your disposal on each level. In keeping with the "seasons" theme, each set of levels is set at a particular time of year, although this only really affects the presentation, rather than the actual gameplay. Anyone who has played Angry Birds will feel instantly at home as the graphics, sound and birds are all identical. Graphics are big, bold and colourful. Their cartoon-like appearance is instantly appealing and (unlike some cutesy games) doesn't become tiresome. The sound is equally chirpy and upbeat from the title screen tune through to the sound effects. These latter are incredibly immersive. When you beat a level, your birds chirp and squeak encouragement that make you feel like you've done something really special; when you fail, the derisive snorting laughter of the pigs will stir you into having another go so that you can make them laugh on the other side of their faces! Level design is fiendishly imaginative and really makes you stop and think. You have to look at which birds you have at your disposal (each has different properties) and figure out the best way to use them. This is a lot tougher than it sounds thanks to the clever level design and Angry Birds is a surprisingly strategic title that surpasses the apparent initial shallowness of the gameplay ("destroying stuff. How difficult can that be?!") This is a game with tons of long-term challenge. Simply getting through all the levels (there are dozens) will take some time to start with. Then there is the additional challenge of going back to secure the maximum of three stars on every single level - no easy task. To fully complete the game, you are easily looking at gameplay in the region of 50+ hours. Gameplay is perfectly balanced. Levels are very short and typically each one will take you just a couple of minutes whether you succeed or fail. This makes it perfect to just quickly pick up and play when you have a bit of time to kill. At the same time, the gameplay is so addictive that once you start, it becomes difficult to stop. If you get stuck on a level, you'll keep going, determined that you will beat it; if you beat a level, you'll be tempted to "just have one try" at the next. A quick few minutes play rapidly becomes an hour and more. It's also the perfect blend of fun and frustration. I've had the original Angry Birds on my phone now for over three years and I STILL go back and play it on a regular basis. There is no other game on my iPhone that has had that sort of longevity. I've almost completed the whole thing, but there are just a couple of levels where I can't get the full three stars and keep going back for just one more go at it. The same is true of this game. The blend of addictiveness and challenge is absolutely spot on and it keeps you coming back for more. This combination of addictiveness and accessibility is Angry Birds' crowning glory. It's challenging enough to offer traditional gamers a good experience, but instantly accessible to casual gamers that wouldn't normally touch a computer game. Even Mrs SWSt has been known to steal away my phone for a bit of finger flicking fun! The accessibility owes much to the simple controls. Firing the birds from the catapult is simply a matter of drawing the elastic back with your finger and setting the trajectory before letting go, whilst accessing the special power of each of the birds is just a matter of tapping the screen when you want to unleash it. Simple controls, yes; but ones which give you an incredible amount of influence over the on-screen action. Crucially, the in-game physics are spot on, so things move in exactly the way you would predict. You could argue that Angry Birds doesn't show much imagination. Apart from the setting (which is mostly irrelevant) and the level design, this is just the original Angry Birds in a new skin. The graphics are more or less identical, as is the sound; the birds are the same and so are the controls. The thing is, though, the original got everything so right that for once this "lack of imagination" is a good design decision. The one major difference is that you now have an on-going cumulative score which is matched against those of other players to show how you rank against them. This is a good addition and adds quite a lot since you get a feeling of progression as you see yourself climbing through the ranks, as well as adding to the competitive element. There are only just a couple of flies in the ointment. First of all because you have to complete one level to unlock the next, it can be annoying if you get stuck on a particular level and can't progress any further. This means endless re-playing of the same level over and over again until you finally beat it. Similarly, if you want to go back and get three stars on each level, then this can take a mighty effort, playing and replaying the same level until you finally do it. Doing so, however, does give you a real sense of achievement when you finally get there. Angry Birds Seasons might be little more than an expansion pack for the original game, reskinned with a new theme but don't fall into the trap of thinking that it's just a cheap cash-in. It offers just as much fun and challenge as the original and a download price of just 69p is just ridiculous. This game will give you months of fun for about the price of a first class stamp. I know which one I think offers best value for money. © Copyright SWSt 2013e Read the complete review |
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Beyond Ynth (iPhone Application)
by SWSt The biggest problem facing users of the App Store is that it is so full that it can be difficult to just browse and find good stuff at random. Even excellent titles get lost in a sea of mediocrity unless someone happens to draw your attention to them. Which is why I'm drawing your attention to Beyond Ynth. It's not a normally ... a game that would immediatel appeal to me - the rather cutesy graphics would have put me off. However, the almost universally glowing reviews persuaded me to take a chance on it; a decision I've never regretted. You play as Kribl, a small ladybird type creature who lives in the land of Kriblobnia. When all your friends are captured by the Dark Spiders of the Apocalypse, it's up to you to set out and rescue them, collecting the Dazzling Diamonds along the way so that peace and happiness can once again be restored to the land. Hooray! Generic plotting aside, Beyond Ynth offers a level of innovation rarely seen on iPhone titles. Rather than having to leap across platforms or shoot things, Kribl must make his way through the landscape via a series of boxes. These boxes must all be aligned correctly so that Kribl can pass from one to the other - something he achieves by entering a box and rotating it to the angle needed. It's an interesting and differnet gameplay mechanism that works well and is instantly challenging and fun. Mind you, most people will probably initially be attracted by Beyond Ynth's presentation. It is one of the brightest and cutest games on the iPhone. The high standards of presentation start from the very beginning, with a parchment style map showing you the s locations in the game (and giving you some idea of its size). Similarly, when you select a level, leaves blow across the screen as a transition from the static screen to the actual game. It might not sound like much, bu small things like this show the level of care that has gone into the game. The in game graphics are equally bright, colourful and cartoon-like. There are some nice forest-related backdrops, full of green trees and other scenery, whilst Kribl himself is a rather cute looking ladybird with a permanently happy grin attached to its face. No matter how old and cynical you are, it's impossible not to like him (and believe me, I've tried). Other characters are equally well animated and the boxes (which form a crucial part of the game) are basic but clearly drawn so it's obvious (for example) where gaps, springs or other helpful items are located. Sound is also appropriately cute. A rather jaunty little tune plays throughout (this is fine, although longer gaming sessions can see it starting to grate a little), accompanied by relatively sparse, but entirely appropriate sound effects. The sound perfectly suits both the style of the gameplay and the graphics and is really reminiscent of old Super Nintendo or Master System games. But it's the gameplay that will keep you coming back to Beyond Ynth. Not only is it innovative and different, it's also a lot of fun and has a surprising amount of depth. At first glance, you might dismiss it as "just another platform game", but nothing could be further from the truth. It has more in common with a puzzle game as you need to work out exactly how to align the boxes to allow you to progress. The difficulty level is superbly balanced. The initial tutorial levels are nice and straightforward and will probably have you thinking the game is too easy. The beauty of them, however, is that they are so well designed that they seamlessly introduce you to the basic gameplay mechanics whilst at the same time hooking you into the game. Once you start playing, it's a hard game to put down, as there is always that temptation to "just try one more level". Beyond Ynth also offers considerable long-term playability. Yes, there is the potential to get stuck occasionally, which is frustrating, but you'll still keep coming back to see if you can crack that tricky puzzle that's holding you up. It's one of those games that will have you thinking about it even when you're not playing it, turning different scenarios over in your mind to see if you can crack it. Helpfully, if you get really stuck, the creators have included a series of video solutions which take you through how to solve each puzzle. Of course, if you're weak-willed, you could use this as a simple walk-through to help you complete the game but then that's your own daft fault! There are a massive 80 levels to complete, which the developers reckon equates to around 15 hours' gaming time, although I've played it (on and off) for longer than this and have still not reached the end. Even when you complete every level, there remains the additional challenge of collecting the maximum number of diamonds for each level, so it's a game that offers a lot of fun in both the short and longer term. Controls have also been well thought out and executed. Two arrows in the middle of the screen control left or right movement, whilst two arrows above them are used to jump in the respective direction. These are incredibly smooth and responsive and the buttons are just the right size so that you can use them easily without them obscuring the screen. The buttons are well spaced (although I had a little bit of trouble initially switching quickly between walk and jump) and you will soon find that your fingers start to gravitate to exactly where they need to be. The game is also iCade compatible, although to be honest, the standard touch screen controls work so well what I rarely bother with any alternative. A further nice touch is rewind option. If you get stuck, or have messed up a box you can "rewind" the action to a point where you can get yourself unstuck. This is a really useful feature that encourages a trial and error approach to the gameplay. It's nice to know that you can try different things and if the worst happens just rewind a little, rather than having to start the whole level again. It's only £1.49 to download and comes highly recommended for anyone who likes cute puzzlers. I'm glad I took notice of all the positive reviews and took a chance on it. Having read this, maybe you should do the same? © Copyright SWSt 2013 Read the complete review |
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Walking Dead: The Game
by Dentolux The Walking Dead is a 2012 video game based on a popular comic book series that at present is also being adapted into a hit TV show. The game is developed by Telltale Games, a California based studio that specialize in making downloadable point and click adventures. Their previous work include resurrecting Lucasarts franchise Sam & ... Max, for a modern day generation, along with numerous titles based on well known movies (Jurassic Park, Back to the Future, Wallace & Gromit etc.) At first glance you could be excused for thinking that The Walking Dead is just another example of Telltale following a formula that works, but thanks to some stellar writing the game elevates itself into being a release that many agree was 2012's game of the year. As with many Telltale projects the game is broken up into episodic chunks, which is a neat sales model when done right (take note Valve, when are you going to release episode three of Half Life?) I like how you get to try out the first part, for a low price, before deciding on whether to invest more cash on the remainder of the story. It sure beats paying full price for a game, from the offset, only to then discover your purchase is a load of poo. As it turns out I loved episode one so much that upon completing it I immediately downloaded the next four installments. Once I consumed those I went on to visit Comixology and bought all the Walking Dead graphic novels on offer. It's that damn good. The game's protagonist is Lee Everett, an African American university professor who is convicted of murdering a senator who was having an affair with his wife (a politician embroiled in sleaze, surely this story is pure fantasy.) When the story begins Lee is in the back of a cop car being driven to the slammer. The pig driving the automobile should have kept his eye on the road because the cop car in question ends up getting into a nasty crash. Lee emerges from the vehicle's wreckage, a free man, but incarceration may have been preferable as the city he is in is currently being ravished by a zombie infestation. Before long Lee teams up with an adorable girl named Clementine who he vows to protect from the undead dangers tormenting them. The immediate goal is to escape the carnage and ultimately reunite Clem with her parents. Given that this is a an adventure game you can expect some puzzles involving the use of items you pick up, but it is nowhere near as taxing as the point and click games of yore. The brainteasers in question are fairly straight forward, such as following a manual to start up a train or loading up a radio with fresh batteries. The simplistic riddles work well as you don't want the compelling story to get interrupted by long pauses were you are stumped and forced to consult a guide in order to advance the narrative. With the puzzle aspect getting relegated to performing rudimentary tasks the focus of the game ends up landing on your interaction with other characters. As the story progresses Lee and Clementine join forces with other survivors forming a ragtag group that don't always see eye to eye. By using multiple-choice answers you can leisurely converse with your companions whenever the coast is clear. The same mechanic is used for making life and death decisions, when disaster strikes, but in those instances a timer will force you to choose quickly preventing you from pondering too much on what is the best option to take. It's the ability to influence the story via these selections that make the game so much fun to play. Different players can expect to have a distinct experience depending on how they tackle the challenges they come across. Whether you choose to be diplomatic or a selfish jerk determines how key events pan out and influences who lives or dies. The composition of the group that makes it into the final episode will therefore vary drastically depending on how you react in certain situations. Yes, in the short term it may be tempting to eliminate a hostile character, but be aware that your teammates remember your actions. The disruption you cause by being rude to someone can bite you in the ass later when you need their assistance with something (gripes this reminds me of office politics at work.) Some critics have accused the choices you make as being nothing more than smoke and mirrors giving players the feeling of freedom in what is a linear game. They cite the fact that the game only has one ending as an example and how certain characters will die no matter what you do (so in a sense all you are determining is the manner in which they meet their demise.) Although they have a point, I think the game is just being realistic. When you are surrounded by a horde of zombies it doesn't matter whether you act like a saint or dictator, you have to accept that someone is going to die. Given the limited scope a downloadable game has, I didn't feel cheated by this revelation unlike say the conclusion to Mass Effect. In that game promises that your actions over the course of a trilogy would wildly change the finale proved to be nothing more that false marketing spiel. In terms of presentation I was impressed by the overall package. The visuals are great, especially when you consider that Telltale like to keep file sizes to a minimum in order to facilitate quick downloads. The graphics are very good for a mobile game and have an art style reminiscent to its comic book roots. The characters have expressive faces that, in conjunction with some fine voice acting, do a brilliant job of conveying what the cast is feeling during the emotional rollercoaster they are aboard on throughout the five episodes. Control wise I found the touch screen to be suitably responsive. Certain genres of game don't work on mobile devices, but adventure games are a perfect fit for the medium. Tapping the desired area of the display handles both movement and dialogue choices. Despite the zombie setting action moments are rare, but when they occur they are handled via quick time events, which is just fine. You may for example have to swipe across the screen or tap furiously on the iPad to wrestle yourself free from the clutches of a brain-feasting corpse. Thankfully if you screw up and die the game restarts you from the beginning of the encounter so less dexterous players won't find themselves getting penalized too heavily. There's not a lot else for me to comment on without giving away spoilers. I would strongly recommend downloading The Walking Dead even if you don't class yourself as a hardcore gamer. The writers deserve the most praise for making the game a success as it wouldn't have garnered the praise it has had it been a bog standard adventure with a mediocre plot. Much like the comic books I couldn't put the game down after getting hooked on the plot. I would literally finish a two-hour episode and immediately start loading up the next part. Even though I feel that zombies are oversaturating pop culture at present, there's no denying a good zombie tale can grip you like nothing else. It's not so much the appeal of battling the undead, but rather seeing the depravity humans will sink to when society crumbles. Even the player will not be immune to performing horrific acts just to survive. I would find myself gloating with satisfaction at exacting revenge on an evildoer, only to then feel shame when Clementine's puppy dog eyes looked at me in disappointment. The comic book is great, but I have to say the game is more engrossing as you are engaging in the terror as opposed to passively watching it all unfold. The Walking Dead succeeds in making this jaded gamer get emotionally attached to the story and characters like nothing else before it. If you don't feel the same by the time the end credits roll I would suggest checking your pulse... you may well be dead just like a zombie. Read the complete review |
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