The iPhone’s best games this week might begin with a (terrific) port of an 11 year-old shooter, but there’s plenty to enjoy for fans of racing, fighting, puzzle and adventure games, too. And that port is no slouch either, as Max Payne Mobile reminds you of everything you loved about the game when it was first released over a decade ago.
Max Payne Mobile ($2.99)
Rockstar is capitalizing on the imminent release of the third iteration in the Max Payne series by releasing the original on the iPhone. But it’s more than a clever marketing opportunity, it’s a really good game. Max Payne brought a whole new level of story telling to consoles with its dark noir narrative when it was originally released in 2001 and the slow-down time Matrix-esque bullet time shooting was amazing for its time. While those features don’t have the same surprise in 2012 as they did 11 years ago, Max Payne Mobile looks fantastic on the iPhone and retains every bit of its gritty story.
Burnout CRASH! ($4.99)
You can keep your racing games, I prefer my cars to crash and go boom. In that respect, Burnout CRASH! serves every car-related gaming desire I have. Burnout features 54 levels packed with collisions. Players can race against a clock in one game mode, attempt to stop traffic in another, and just cause all out havoc in a third. Players can also have one-on-one turn based smash battles with a friend.
Infinity Blade II update ($4.99)
Infinity Blade II has been a hit for a while now, but its latest update offers a new way for longtime fans and newbies alike to experience the game. The update centers on ClashMob, a system where players can complete challenges while receiving help from others who are also working on the same challenge in their copy of the game. Essentially, it lets a mob of gamers collectively go on treasure hunts or defeat large enemies together and reap the rewards of their teamwork through special items given for completing the challenge.
Got Cow? ($0.99)
The Angry Birds might be in space, but they don’t have a rocket launcher like Got Cow? This crafty puzzle game has you controlling a cow with a rocket launcher and a vendetta against the aliens crowding the atmosphere over 60 unique levels. Players fire the rocket and then guide it using a joystick to hit all the aliens in their path. It is an odd, colorful, cartoony game that should appeal to anyone who prefers a little whimsy in their puzzle titles.
Crow ($4.99)
If Crow isn’t the best looking iPhone game I’ve ever seen, it’s certainly in the top five. This absolutely gorgeous adventure game takes players on a journey to an unknown land as they fly as a crow collecting trinkets and gaining strength for the game’s tricky boss battles. Crow is about atmosphere as much as it is killer gameplay, though it delivers equally on both thanks to its immersing visuals and intuitive controls.
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