Last week, the big iOS gaming news was the $400 million sale of ngmoco, and this week Chillingo – responsible for the mega-hits Angry Birds and Cut the Rope – has been acquired by Electronic Arts. Seriously people, I think this iPhone gaming thing is going to work out!
For those of you who don’t care about the business side of things, there were some notable game releases as well. Cartoon Wars is back, and Gameloft released yet another console-quality action game. I promise no business gossip for the rest of this article, only gaming goodness.
Cartoon Wars 2: Heroes ($0.99)
The Cartoon Wars series returned to the App Store this weekend, and the title can easily be described as an overall improvement from previous games, and a must-own for fans of the series. Cartoon War 2: Heroes is actually the third game in the series, following the original Cartoon Wars and Cartoon Wars – Gunner. There is a ton of content packed into the game, with 80 units, 20 skills and six heroes. While the characters are simple stick figures, the environments are far more detailed and make this a quality game visually. It is an interesting blend of button-mashing action gaming and tower defense/strategy gaming, and though there is not yet a lite version of Heroes, there is for the first two games so you can get a good idea of what Cartoon Wars is all about. Or, I can save you some time: if you’re are an action gamer, get the game while it is on sale, you will not be disappointed.
Star Battalion ($6.99)
Not everything Gameloft touches turns to gold, but sometimes it feels that way – especially when it comes to action gaming. The latest example of this is Star Battalion, a space shooter that has many features typical of a release from the company. The hi-def graphics are optimized for the iPhone 4 and are well above average, while the deep (and somewhat clichéd) storyline give this app a very console gaming feel. Perhaps the coolest feature, though, is the inclusion of a co-op multiplayer mode that allows you to play with other via a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. Yes it is pricey, but if you’re a sucker for this type of game, then you are sure to fall hard for Star Battalion.
Bonecruncher Soccer ($1.99)
Bonecruncher Soccer not only resembles Backbreaker in name, but in game play as well. The game has you guiding a soccer player the length of the pitch, avoiding (you guessed it) bone-crunching hits before taking aim at an open net. This is not a full soccer game but instead a sort of mini-game, and it is, in every way, the soccer equivalent of Backbreaker. The good news is that it’s also fun like Backbreaker is, and an ideal pick-up-and-play game for sports gamers. While there is no shortage of soccer options in the App Store, Bonecruncher is great at what it does and well worth the two dollar price tag.
Mani Golf ($0.99)
I like to think I have a pretty good feel for what most games will offer even before I play them, but there was a lot in Sogoplay’s Mani Golf that threw me for a loop. In the game you control a Wario-looking character and play through two 18-hole courses, though it becomes quickly evident that this app has more in common with a game like Cat Physics than your traditional golf game. That may be disappointing to some, but it is executed well and quite fun. The graphics are so-so and the controls can be difficult at the beginning, though neither will cause too many complaints. The game includes achievements and a leaderboard to add replay value, while Sogoplay has advertised that future courses will be added. Mani Golf may not be what I expected, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.
Robin Hood – Archer of the Woods ($0.99)
Archer of the Woods has received a good deal of attention since its release late last week, though a lot of that is due to the recognizable name in the title. This is your basic physics catapult/bow-and-arrow shooter, with game play mechanics that are not really that different from Angry Birds. Enemies come at you and you must shoot them down by pulling back and releasing, a simple and effective set up. The graphics are decent, and while they are a little on the cartoony side they are well done. The main issues are lack of content and repetitive game play, though both of those could be solved by some updates. In fairness the app is perfectly acceptable for its low price, though one that will only appeal to a narrow audience.
