This week’s big games release in the iTunes App Store sees the addition of Minecraft: Pocket Edition, an iOS version of the incredibly popular indie PC sensation in which players have built all kinds of amazing, huge structures. Following that is RPM: Gymkhana Racing, a racing game that puts the emphasis on insane drifts and finesse. Superman finally comes to iOS care of Chillingo in a side-scrolling action game, and twin-stick shooter Bullet Time HD packs role-playing elements to make a deep action experience that includes multiplayer support.
Minecraft: Pocket Edition (iPhone, iPad) $7.99
A monster indie hit on the PC, Minecraft has already made its way to Google’s Android operating system, and now finally shows up on the iPhone and iPad. The first-person game is all about mining for various resources, cutting down trees and gathering items to use to construct all kinds of things – think “virtual LEGO” and you have the right idea.
This version of Minecraft isn’t quite as complete as the one available on PC, lacking things like animals, online multiplayer support and the frightening “creepers” that attack players within the game. Instead, it focuses on constructing things in the game world. It also includes local multiplayer over a Wi-Fi network, so you can join in with your friends to build houses, towns or even scale models of the Starship Enterprise (yes, somebody did that).
RPM: Gymkhana Racing (iPhone, iPad) $2.99
Top-down racing game RPM: Gymkhana Racing isn’t just about posting top times on each track. To really rack-up high scores and grab the best times in the game, you need to master the ability to drift around corners. This lets you max out your car’s top speed as well as score points. In each race, you’ll also have objectives to meet, like grabbing certain objects or avoiding collisions.
RPM packs 25 tracks across five different locales, ranging from New York to Dubai. You can work through tracks in a variety of ways, and locating shortcuts is key to your success. As you clear tracks, you’ll also unlock new cars and accessories to further your racing ambitions.
Superman (iPhone, iPad) $0.99
The Man of Steel finally has an iOS game of his own. With a comic book look and feel, Superman puts you in the role of the iconic superhero as you fight through waves of dangers and crimes taking place in Metropolis. You’ll fly around the city to blast space probes with Superman’s heat vision, fly at super-speeds to take down thieves, and bash missiles until they explode harmlessly before impacting the city.
Superman has simple controls that allow you to use a host of his abilities while utilizing only a couple of virtual buttons on your iOS device’s screen. The game packs 18 levels to play through, and in each you’ll be scored on how quickly and efficiently you defeat your enemies. It also has Game Center support for achievements and leaderboards.
Bullet Time HD (iPhone, iPad) Free
Grab your guns and get ready to take on mutants in Bullet Time, a twin-stick shooter with some great graphics optimized for the iPhone 4S and iPad 2. The game is filled with fast-paced shooter action as blade-wielding mutants charge you, flanked by their gun-toting allies. You’ll need to take them all down carefully while completing other objectives in order to move forward through the game’s two big single-player campaigns.
Bullet Time also contains quite a few role-playing game elements, like the ability to find or buy new weapons and armor to better your character over time. It also includes a pretty robust cooperative multiplayer mode, allowing you to take on the game with up to two friends. You can track your scores using Game Center’s online leaderboards.
