Review: Tunnels (V: 1.0.3)

Tunnels is a simple game where you pilot a spacecraft through a tunnel.  It was developed, and published by Terry Peng.  It currently sells in the App Store for $1.99. 

Presentation

There is no story at all in this game.  The menus are extremely simple, but (in my opinion) are best expressed this way.  The opening menus asks which way to control the game (tilt, or touch), then which difficulty.  A simple game like this should have simple menus. 

Score: 9

Graphics

These graphics aren’t going to win any awards.  They aren’t going to make you drool either.  But, they get the job done.  Like everything else in this game, the graphics are very simple in this game.  Would better graphics have increased the value of the game a lot?  Most definitely!  But, at $1.99, your not buying the most advanced, expensive, awesome game!

Score: 8

Sound

Either my speakers are broken, or there is zero sound in this game.

Score: 0

Gameplay

Gameplay is simple in this game.  There are two ways two control the game: Tilt (self-explanatory), and touch (where you touch little arrows on the side of the screen the turn left and right.).  Oh, and you are constantly going up (no stopping in this game!).  There also 4 levels of difficulty: Training (super, basic easy), Easy, Medium, and Hard.  Each difficulty controls how fast your ship is going.  Both controls are very easy to use, and work spot on!  Have no issues with the controls at all!

Score: 10

Value

At $1.99, there should be a little more to the game.  Maybe some sort of worldwide leaderboards.  $.99 would have been a much fairer price.  Hopefully, through more updates, we will get more bang for our bucks!

Score: 7

Lasting Appeal

If you like arcade style, high-score games, this is a game you must pick up.  I have spent countless hours playing the game just to beat my brothers’ scores on the game.  The fun never end with this one!

Score: 10

Overall

In the end, this game is a good buy for $1.99.  Your not paying much, but your getting a simple, addictive game.  No matter who you are, you should definitely take a look at this game!

Presentation: 9
Graphics: 8
Sound: 0
Gameplay: 10
Value: 7
Lasting Appeal: 10
Overall: 8.5

What To Do (Buy Or Not): Buy

The Apper

October Blues

I’m sorry to all that view this website. Yes, I know, nothing has been posted in October, but I bring you good news! This weekend is a weekend to end October Blues. You can also help. That’s right, read reviews, leave comments. You can help end the madness.

All jokes aside, this is going to be a great weekend! Lets look at the list of games I’m going to review this weekend:

- Surprise! (it’s not called that, I just can’t tell you just yet!)
- Shards (Thanks to our good friends at CouchWorld Games!)
- Hedronism (Thanks to our good friends at CouchWorld Games!)
- Tunnels
- BlocksClassic
- LineRider iRide

I can’t promice you that they’ll all be done this weekend, but I’m going to try!

Also, yes, I do know that many of the games I have review have been updated. I will eventually change them, so that they are at the correct version. But, for now, I’m just going to list which version I reviewed the game in.

Lets Get This Weekend-Long Party Started!!!

The Apper

“Apper” Release Date Announced

I’m proud to announce that the official mobile version of The Apper will be available on the iTunes App Store around October 23rd for a very low price of .99 cents.

It’s going to have all of the same features that I have previously mentioned, and it’s going to include 7 popular App Store fansites including “The Apper” (obviously), TouchArcade, Fingergaming, HawtApps and iGames.

So we have a great functioning app with an easy to use interface, 7 of be best websites for news and reviews along with a beutiful logo and a great price. What’s not to love?

As we near the projected release date for the application I will keep you updated with screenshots, a more exact release date and everything else.

- James (The Assistant)

Review: Newsstand

Newsstand is a high-end RSS reader for the iPhone and iPod touch that allows you to view your favorite web articles in style. Newsstand is available on the AppStore for $4.99. 

App Store Link

Presentation:

Newsstand is one of the most well designed applications for the iPhone OS. It’s perfect all the way down to the folder creations feature and detailed instructions.

Score: 10

Function:

The app serves one single and fairly simple purpose: keeping you up to date with whatever online news you want – and it does a great job at it!

Score: 9

Value

Compared to other apps with the same functions, Newsstand is the most expensive by a few dollars, but if you think that you will really be using it, and if you want an application to read feeds right – it may be worth the extra money.

Score: 7.5

Lasting Appeal

As long as the news keeps coming, you’ll have a reason to keep using Newsstand. This really is one of those things that doesn’t get old, mostly because it serves an important purpose – but also because of the way that it was carefully and thoughtfully developed. What I’m really trying to say is – Newsstand is going to last you a long, long time.

Score: 10

Overall

Overall, Newsstand is one of my very favorites applications available on the App Store. It has one important function, and it does it the best it possibly can. Newsstand makes getting the latest news as easy as…. well… as easy as reading it!

Presentation: 10
Function: 9
Value: 7.5
Lasting Appeal: 10
Overall: 9.6

What To Do (Buy Or Not): A Must!

Upcoming: X-Plane 9, Kroll, Line Rider, Beejive and the release date for “Apper’ and special 3-part developer series! 

- James (The Assistant)

Freebies 007: Casino Royale

Today, is the super-awesome-mega-ultra casino themed freebies (it will twice as long too)!  There are so many free casino apps out there, I’ll tell you which one are worth your time.

iSlots

This is a very simple, but fun app.  This is just a straight out slots simulator.  The only problem with it is that I wish I could save how much money I lost/won after exiting the app.

Score: ♥♥♥♥½
Download?: A Must

21 Pro: Blackjack – Sponsored

This version is that good.  It’s good enough to take, but not much more.  The game is extremely glitchy, and I had to reboot my iPhone several times.  The advertizing also is extremely annoying.  Take your own risk!

Score: ♥♥♥½
Download?: Opinion

iPint

Not exactly a casino game, but is found in every single one of them.  This one, like iBeer, won’t last very long.  It’s good for a couple laughs, but gets old quickly.

Score: ♥♥♥½
Download?: Yes

BlackJack Free

Terrible, terrible game.  Glitchy and has horrible graphics.  They should have done than this.

Score: ♥½
Download?: No

Cookie Bonus Solitaire

Nothing is “wrong” with the game, but it’s not that fun to play.  Controls aren’t great, and the cheats make the game less interesting.

Score: ♥♥♥½
Download?: Opinion

Blackjack (Free)

Yes, more blackjack (sigh…).  And this one isn’t much better than the last one.  What really turns me off these games is the horrible graphics.  I know it’s free, but they could have done a better job than this.  If you want a free blackjack, get “21 Pro”.

Score: ♥♥
Download?: No

Free Video Poker

More terrble graphics.  Why?!?!  I mean, there aren’t many reviewers out there, so if I were buying one, I would look at the screen shots.  And these don’t look any good.  But, gameplay wise, the game is ok.

Score: ♥♥♥
Download?: Opinion

Bingo Card

This app really doesn’t serve any purpose at all.  You can’t win prizes, you can’t use it in real bingo, and there isn’t even a number generator in the app.  It says it goes hand in hand with bingo caller ($.99), but how do you run both apps?  Once you close one, that app forgets where you are.

Score: ♥½
Download?: No

Bingo

Yay!  An app that does exactly the opposite to the one above, wait, no, that’s bad.  Why aren’t both one app?  It seems so stupid not to have one app do the two things.

Score: ♥½
Download?: No

Fat-Free Video Poker (Free)

Let me sum up this game (like most others on the list): terrible graphics, good gameplay.  Although, terrible is a harsh word because the graphics aren’t that bad.  Just try the game for yourself to see if you like it.

The Apper

Review: Bugdom 2

Bugdom 2 is the first major fully 3D adventure game for the iPhone and iPod touch. The developer is Pangea Software and it sells for a very low temporary price $2.99.

Presentation:

The menu of Bugdom is very creative and is really easy to navigate. You are also presented with a lovely logo and plenty of extra features besides the main game.

Score: 8

Graphics:

The screenshots of the game make the graphics look pretty nasty, but once you start playing, you realize how good thy really are.

Score: 8.5

Sound:

I simply love the soundtrack included in Bugdom. It’s happy and fast and jut fun to listen to. It really does go well with the gamplay, which is what I will talk about next.

Score: 8

Gameplay:

If nothing that I have said so far convinced you to go and get Bugdom, this will. The gamplay for Bugsom is just amazing. The tilt to move controls work better run I could have even amagined. Jumping and flying is activated through virtual buttons, along with another few features.

Score: 9.5

Value:

The value of Bugdom is better than most games currently on the store. For the current sale price of jut thee dollars, you simply can not pass up this game.

Score: 10 (For now)

Lasting Appeal:

In total, you’re going to be playing this game it a good 3 hours before you bet it, and thatsbjust if you’re olaibg nonstop. Spread out overtime, you might neve get tired of it. 

Score: 9

Overall:

Overall, Bugdom is another great game from Pangea Software. It is also the best/only real 3D adventure game that exits so far – so if you’re looking for a game that’s going to entertain you for hours (and you already beat Super Monkey  Ball) this is the perfect game for you.

Presentation: 8
Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 8
Gameplay: 9.5
Value: 10
Lasting Appeal: 9
Overall: 9.3

What To Do (Buy Or Not): A Must!

- James (The Assistant)

Review: Newsstand

Newsstand is a high-end RSS reader for the iPhone and iPod touch that allows you to view your favorite web articles in style. Newsstand is available on the AppStore for $4.99. 

App Store Link

Presentation:

Newsstand is one of the most well designed applications for the iPhone OS. It’s perfect all the way down to the folder creations feature detailed instructions and detailed instructions

Score: 10

Function:

The app serves one single and fairly simple purpose: keeping you up to date with whatever online news you want – and it does a great job at it!

Score: 9

Value

Compared to other apps with the same functions, Newsstand is the most expensive by a few dollars, but if you think that you will really be using it, and if you want an application to read feeds right – it may be worth the extra money.

Score: 7.5

Lasting Appeal

As long as the news keeps coming, you’ll have a reason to keep using Newsstand. This really is one of those things that doesn’t get old, mostly because it serves an important purpose – but also because of the way that it was carefully and thoughtfully developed. What I’m really trying to say is – Newsstand is going to last you a long, long time.

Score: 10

Overall

Overall, Newsstand is one of my very favorites applications available on the App Store. It has one important function, and it does it the best it possibly can. Newsstand makes getting the latest news as easy as…. well… as easy as reading it!

Presentation: 10
Function: 9
Value: 7.5
Lasting Appeal: 10
Overall: 9.6

What To Do (Buy Or Not): A Must!

Upcoming: X-Plane 9, Kroll, Line Rider, Beejive and the release date for “Apper’!

- James (The Assistant)

Review: “Top 3″ Solitaire

Solitaire is any of a family of single-player card games of a generally similar character, but varying greatly in detail. These games typically involve dealing cards from a shuffled deck into a prescribed arrangement on a tabletop, from which the player attempts to reorder the deck by suit and rank through a series of moves transferring cards from one place to another under prescribed restrictions. Some games allow for the reshuffling of the deck(s), and/or the placement of cards into new or “empty” locations. “Top 3″ Solitaire is a collection of three solitaire games: Klondike, Freecell, and Spider. It currently sells for $2.99 in the app store. It was developed by Chris Miles, and published by PosiMotion.

Presentation

This has a very simple look to it.  It starts you off in a menu to choose your game, then gives you a quick tutorial (which you can skip), and the game starts.  Very quick, and simple, just the way a solitaire game should be like.

Score: 9

Graphics

This part of the game is extremely polished and very nice.  This game probably looks better than most of the other solitaire games.  And, this game has six different skins, which is a nice option.

Score: 9

Sound

None, zero, zipo, nana, empty.

Score: 0

Gameplay

I’m not going to go into detail about how to play the card games (google is your friend).  The game plays extremely to the Microsoft version found on windows.  You just drag or double tap (to move to the top pile) the card to move it.  Extremely simple, but extremely fun.

Score: 10

Value

To get 3 games for $4 is a not bad deal.  But, if you really want to stetch your money, go with some of the $10 games that have over 100 games.  The deal isn’t great, but they aren’t ripping us off.

Score: 7

Lasting Appeal

(NOTE: this game is not for someone who is board and wants a game to play all the time.  This game is for people who like a fun game to play for 10-20 minutes every few days.)  With that in mind, this game will last you forever.  Solitaire never gets, and this version won’t either.

Score: 10

Overall

To be honest, this game isn’t an easy game to review.  Nothing is “wrong” with the game.  Everything is great about this game.  The problem is that I don’t have other solitaire games.  I can’t compare them to this one becaues I’ve never played them.  When your shopping for a solitaire game, just remember three words about this game: cheap, small, fun.

Presentation: 9
Graphics: 9
Sound: 0
Gameplay: 10
Value: 7
Lasting Appeal: 10
Overall: 9.1

What To Do (Buy Or Not): Opinion

The Apper

Review: MobileChat

MobileChat is the best way to use instant messengers on your iPhone, but even though I said “best” – it’s really not that great. It currently sells for $2.99 on the App Store. 

Presentation

You’d think that this app is going to be just incredible based on the well written description and nice interface – but unfortunatly things aren’t always what they say they are. 

Score: 7 - But it’s really more like 1.

Function:

The point of this app is to be able to use almost any instant messaging services right on your phone or iPod. The point doesn’t work very well – At all!

Score: 1

Value

For $2.99…. you should be getting an app that actually works. Even if this app was free, I would avoid downloading…. it’s a waste of 0.4 MB on your computer’s hard drive.

Score: 2

Lasting Appeal

One of the reasons I actually bought this app is that I though it was going to last me forever! The only way this could last forever is if I could actually manage to set it up!

Score: 0

Overall

You’ve probably already guessed it, but I never did manage to set up a chat on this app. I tried extremely hard to get it to work, but it just didn’t seem to want to cooperate. Overall, this app is almost as bad as GhostEX.

Presentation: 7
Function: 1
Value: 2
Lasting Appeal: 0
Overall: 3.5

What To Do (Buy Or Not): Do Not Buy!

Look out for plenty of more game and app reviews in the next couple of days!

- James (The Assistant)

Review: Asphalt 4

Asphalt 4: Elite Racing from Gameloft is currently the latest and maybe greatest addition to the batch of racing titles available on the App Store. You can purchase it for the fair price of $9.99.

Presentation

The first thing you see when you enter the game is a really slick intro video that gets you excited to start playing. Once it’s finished, you get to the menus that are clean and easy to navigate.

Score: 9.5

Graphics

The app’s graphics are extremely nice and detailed, making Asphalt 4 eye candy when it comes to mobile video games. You can even notice details like building windows and sidewalks. They really are great!

Score: 9.5

Sound

It’s the same as it is with most other titles – you’re going to almost always want to be listening to your own music, not the theme songs that are built in to the game. Still though, I should be giving the music a good critique, and I’m going to have to say that he music is very nice to listen to.

Score: 9

Gameplay

Incredible! Asphalt 4 takes advantage of the iPhone’s features with three different ways to control your car: Accelerometer, virtual wheel or tapping either side of the screen. Tilt control works great as you would expect, as does the virtual wheel which is a new type of control. Another new type of method of control introduced in this game is a second touch screen scheme. You tap the left side of the scren to turn left and likewise for right. Al l three control options are very fun and easy to use!

Score: 9.5

Value

$9.99 seems like a pretty fair deal, considering that all of the racing titles started at the same price. I don’t expect any price drops any time soon so I suggest you just go and try it out.

Score: 8

Lasting Appeal

Like most racing games, Asphalt 4 is a great time passer. One of the things that really extends your interest is that the game has a great new feature that allows you to play two player over a Wi-Fi connection. It really is one of those games that keeps you entertained for a while.

Score: 8

Overall

Overall….this is the best racing title et on the App Store. Once Need for Speed is released, that opinion might change…. but this game really is one of the better apps available. If you want a solid iPhone title – this is what you’re looking for.

Presentation: 9.5
Graphics: 9.5
Sound: 9
Gameplay: 9.5
Value: 8
Lasting Appeal: 8
Overall: 9.2

What To Do (Buy Or Not): A Must!

Look out for plenty of more reviews in the next few days!!!

- James (The Assistant)