Here's a game I never saw coming: a driving title where you're supposed to drive like a vigilant hypermiler. Yep, that's exactly what the unholy union of Volkswagen and Fish Labs turned out with the Volkswagen Think Blue Challenge, a game where the goal is make every last drop of your fuel count. Here's something even crazier - it's quite entertaining.
While the premise sounds silly, the challenge is not. It's one thing to delude yourself about your eco-friendly driving abilities when you're on the road. When you've got just a small amount of fuel to make it through checkpoints, though, it becomes a...gasp...game.
In Think Blue, you start the game with a small amount of gas and drive from one checkpoint to the next, getting a small amount of extra fuel for every one you clear. You complete checkpoints by correctly answering a question about efficient driving. Don't worry, if you drive even a little bit, you probably know the answers.
Once you've finished all checkpoints, you then begin driving your car on the open road. Make sure you apply every fuel efficiency trick up your sleeve, from coasting down slopes to managing your throttle to taking turns intelligently, allowing the vehicle to cover as much ground as possible before your tank goes empty. The game does help you out, suggesting how to maximize whatever's in your tank, going so far as to explain why each technique works. You will eventually run out of gas and when you do, the game submits how far you've driven to the online leaderboards, where you can see how you fare among the mass of iPhone-toting hypermilers around the world.
Volkswagen Think Blue Challenge is built upon the same engine as Fish Labs' Rally Master Pro 3D, so the graphics and the mechanics are all awesome. While it's not going to be the most exciting game in your library, it is quite addicting, especially once you see how far the top performers have gotten. Plus, you might even learn a new thing or two about technical driving. You can download the game for free from the App Store.
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While I generally avoid games where the main players onscreen consist of dots, arrows and other simple shapes, Tilt to Live turned out to be a totally different beast. Despite using simple-looking characters, it manages to deliver an experience that's both very edgy and extremely addicting.
At its most basic, this is just an object-avoidance game, where you tilt and swerve your phone to help your "arrow" avoid the "dots" going after it. Yep, it's that straightforward. The way it plays, though, is just a bundle of insanity.
Your arrow does have a wide range of weapons to aid it in subduing the onslaught, each of which require different strategies to be really useful. These include nuke explosives, an enemy-seeking multi-rocket and a haduken-style fireball, all of which are not only very effective, but are a joy to witness when fired.
The evil dots, on the other hand, aren't just dumb balls rolling forward either. They band together different shapes (like large arrows) to attack you in one big swoop, crowd you into a corner and circle you like vultures. Let even one of the dots touch you and you're dead. Hundreds of them can come up on the screen at any one time, by the way, which just sends the action into a frenzy.
Despite the basic-looking appearance, a lot of serious thought obviously went into Tilt to Live, making the level-ups, unlock-able weapons and other factors fodder for serious strategic gaming. It's a definite surprise out of left field, one that a lot of iPhone owners can probably appreciate. Well-priced too at only $1.99.
[Tilt To Live]
Tilt To Live Is Both Addictive And Interesting3.5833333333333noel2010-03-07 00:43:39
App Reviews,iPhone AppsTilt To Live Is Both Addictive And Interesting
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Originally available for other mobile platforms back in 2008, the Transformers G1 Awakening has finally found its way into the App Store. Mixing turn-based strategy gameplay with shape-shifting robots of the legendary franchise and the iPhone's power, it's only natural to be expectant.
Based on the original TV series rather than the movie, it includes a cast of characters that should make hardcore Transformers fans giggle with delight. The storyline follows the show faithfully as well.
Like the non-iPhone version, gameplay is a regular turn-based strategy. You wait your turn, move a certain number of squares, effect an attack, capture structures and all that. There's really little deviation from the old formula, except for the fact that your characters can transform. Naturally, being either a vehicle or a robot brings its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Because each Transformer has special abilities, the game becomes heavy on the strategy too - a fact that should delight true fans of the genre.
Transformers G1 has three game modes - Campaign, Showdown and Multiplayer. The campaign mode comes with a total of 17 missions, good for about four hours worth of play. Showdown is a special challenge mode that puts Autobots versus Decepticons on a number of difficult situations. The multiplayer sucks, however, as it's strictly as pass-and-play affair.
Ported directly from the 2008 version, graphics hardly take advantage of the iPhone's talents at all. In fact, the visuals can be downright silly at times, although the battle scenes are gratuitously entertaining.
Overall, Transformers G1 Awakening is a must for any old-school Transformers fan. For other gamers, it offers enough of a challenge to be a worthy contender, especially if you're a fan of turn-based strategy titles. Despite the graphics complaint, it's totally worth the $4.99 price.
Download Now
Transformers G1 Awakening Brings A Challenging Strategy Battle3.8333333333333noel2010-02-26 16:14:17
App Reviews,iPhone AppsTransformers G1 Awakening Brings A Challenging Strategy Battle
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During its 2008 release, Brothers In Arms for iPhone was lauded as the most complex 3D game on the platform. The follow-up, Brothers In Arms 2: Global Front, is now in the App Store and it raises the ante a whole other level.
Instead of a simple port, the new game was designed for the iPhone from the ground up. As such, it sheds off the difficult control system, which marred the first iteration of the franchise. It also changes perspective, moving to a largely first-person gameplay, compared to the over-the-shoulder third-person style of its predecessor. The latter is still present in many scenes (such as when you're manning the turret in a military vehicle), but the first-person perspective during regular gunfights make it more engaging.
In Global Front, you play the role of David Wilson, an American soldier tasked to help push back the Germans and Japanese during WWII. A secondary mission requires you to solve a mystery that finds your slain brother (also a soldier) revoked of his medal of honor. Yep, there's some good plotlines here that go beyond the usual battlefield shootouts.
There are three modes of play: Mission, Campaign (quick play in any unlocked locale) and Network Play (over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth). In the main mission, you get a 13-level story that happens across five different theaters: Pacific, Sicily, Normandy, Germany and North Africa. Most of the locales will have to be unlocked.
Graphics are amazing, with complex environments and plenty of visual touches that bring immense realism. The control system feels highly-improved too, making for much more comfortable maneuvering throughout the game. With plenty of weapons and vehicles, paired with fast-paced action, Global Front makes you feel that iPhone gaming really has grown up.
On the downside, this is a heavy game, to the point that you'll suffer occasional lags even on a 3GS. Enemy AI isn't the smartest too. Regardless, Brothers In Arms 2: Global Front is a mature title for a console that has truly come of age. It's a good deal for the $7.99 price.
[Gameloft Website]
Brothers In Arms 2: Global Front Brings Gorgeous WWII Graphics, Expansive Gameplay4.25noel2010-02-22 11:56:19
App Reviews,iPhone AppsBrothers In Arms 2: Global Front Brings Gorgeous WWII Graphics, Expansive Gameplay
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Pumped up from the Winter Games? You can snowboard like a heavily-padded athlete on your iPhone too with X2 Snowboarding, the first really good snowboarding title to ever grace the platform.
First, a disclaimer. I'm not a big fan of snowboarding games. In fact, I'd never been able to tolerate them until a friend turned me onto SSX some years back. While it hasn't grown on my stable of favorites, I do enjoy a pick-up game every once in a while.
The graphical presentation of X2 is really noteworthy. While cartoony, the overall look is exceptional, especially when compared to competing titles on the App Store. The instant replay, which allows you to watch scenes from various angles over and over, are a constant source of amusement.
You get a choice of six characters, each one with a varied skill set that gives you different advantages and disadvantages during play. There are six possible venues (USA, Switzerland, Japan, New Zealand, Canada and Chile) and three types of competitions (Freestyle, Race, and Trick-Race). The slopes are very long, with plenty of variations, making for a challenging romp every time down.
Controls are a combination of tilt and touch, but are geared quite loosely, which works really well for both the platform and the fast-paced action. The basic buttons control jumping and turbo, while a third one helps you tie tricks together. When you're up in the air, buttons appear to perform various grabs. You can also tilt the phone to rotate the character during the trick.
With an excellent soundtrack to top everything off, X2 Snowboarding is one of the most immersive and exciting solo sports games on the iPhone. Very surprising. The price feels a bit steep, though, at $6.99.
X2 Snowboarding For iPhone Brings Great Graphics, Engaging Tricks And Immersive Gameplay4noel2010-02-19 17:36:29
App Reviews,iPhone AppsX2 Snowboarding For iPhone Brings Great Graphics, Engaging Tricks And Immersive Gameplay
