Monthly Archives: February 2010

Mole – Quest for the Terracore gem!

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Mole – Quest for the Terracore gem! is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

Mole – Quest for the Terracore Gem! by Roo Games is a digging game. You play as Mark the mole and unsurprisingly, he digs. That’s pretty much all we know about Mark, as the game is pretty light on story. He’s a mole that owns a mining operation and has an unquenchable urge to find the Terracore Gem. Think “Indiana Jones and the Quest for the Terracore Gem”, but with moles. It belongs in a museum! Actually, don’t think that…

Like I was saying, Mark digs deep down into the earth or “mole planet” and finds literally tons of jewels, gems and metals. The jewels and gems pump up your score but the metals are the real treat. With these metals, Mark can upgrade his equipment. He can upgrade his pickaxe, metal and gem detector, bombs and most importantly, his airtank. The pickaxe allows him to dig faster, the detector obviously lets him see further, the bombs can blow more rocks more quickly and the airtank lets him stay underground longer. If he runs out of air down there, he has to be rescued and everything he found on that dig is lost. Yes, at the beginning, Mark is a fragile backyard digging enthusiast but as you upgrade his equipment and dig down deeper, Mark becomes a professional one mole mining operational maniac.

You find large drills at certain points during your spelunking that allow you to ride them back up to the surface instantly. This is especially helpful, because you can then use these drills to get back down to where you found them. They are basically unlockable shortcuts. There are also several different layers of soil underground and each has it’s own properties. Properties like not being able to use bombs, detector not seeing as far, or just really slows down your digging speed. These layers add some extra flavor to the world and make it exciting to keep digging.

Did I like this game? Yes. Did I beat this game? Yes. Did I play the crap out of this game? Yes. You can take it from me that Mole is fun to play. It has a great art style and very nice graphics. The digs are quick enough that you can easily sneak a few in here and there. Also, I’m a total sucker for equipment upgrades. It’s all around a very well polished game and I cannot wait to see what Roo Games does next.

Beautiful title screen
Our hero, Mark the mole
Main menu
One page overview
Digging away
Saving up for that sweet airtank
Found a huge drill
Beat that high score
Win!
Almost got all the medals
Those responsible

iTunes Link – Mole – Quest for the Terracore gem!
Version 1.1
Reviewed on iPhone 3GS OS 3.1.3


New Video of Upcoming Rhythm Shooter ‘Radio Flare Redux’

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New Video of Upcoming Rhythm Shooter ‘Radio Flare Redux’ is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

Chillingo has just provided us with a new gameplay video of the upcoming musical shooter Radio Flare Redux by Studio Radiolaris, a sequel to the late-2008 iPhone original which was a finalist in the 2009 IGF Mobile and IndieCade competitions.

As with the original, Radio Flare Redux challenges you to battle extraterrestrial enemies while jamming to pumping background beats in a gaming experience that's more or less Rez meets the side-scrolling shooter. The developer suggests adding a few words to your vocabulary to prepare for the experience.

Hyperjump [hī'pər] – noun: Takes as long as the blink of an eye. The split-second of traveling through hyperspace, where the brain experiences a unique audio-visual sensation à Synchronicity.

Synesthetic [sĭn'ĭs-thē'zhə] – noun: A unity of the senses such as hearing colors and seeing music. à Players receive a synesthetic experience with Radio Flare REDUX’s tightly connected melodies and stimulating game visuals.

Everything in the game, from the movement of the enemies to the firing of your ship, is synched to the beat of the licensed techno, club, and house tracks. The game features fast-paced shooter action and "club style" visuals across 33 unlockable levels that, the developer assures us, combine to deliver a truly "synesthetic" experience.

Radio Flare Redux features both drag and virtual stick controls for negotiating the side-scrolling battlefields. Online leaderboards through Chillingo's social network let you compete with friends. And, in a zen / psychedelic twist, there's an unlockable Musical Toy sequencer that allows you to arrange sound effects, create rhythms, and experience a Visualizer mode that takes you through an enemy-free level where it's all about the eye candy.

Radio Flare Redux is expected to appear in the App Store sometime in the next few days.


eBuddy Pro

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eBuddy Pro is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

 

Some apps you get, you use for about a week or two and then you delete them.  I call those my ‘one and done’ apps.  Games are a good example.  Other apps you get and use over and over again, week after week.  Social Networking apps like Facebook or Twitter are good examples.

Every iPhone or iPod Touch owner should have a good Instant Messaging app and while you could simply download Yahoo Messenger, AIM, GoogleTalk, MSN, or Facebook’s individual apps and use those, who really wants to clutter up their homepages with all those app icons and suck up precious memory space?

Not me. Plus, some of those individual apps cost money.  If I’m going to pay for an app, it’s just more convenient to have everything I need in a single one.

Enter eBuddy Pro.  I have to say, this is one robust IM app.  Here are some of its features:

  • Push notifications for incoming messages up to 3 days even after exiting the app
  • Automatic reconnection if your cell or wifi signal is lost
  • Ability to view offline messages
  • Ability to select a display image from your iPhone/iPod Touch library or camera
  • Chat features including landscape orientation

The current version has 11 different themes, from a Classic white with light blue diagonal stripes to a retro wood paneling design.  It can go into an auto-away mode after a customized time and will even send auto-away messages should someone send an IM to you and you don’t want to can’t respond.

On the plus side: I liked the fact that eBuddy Pro would keep me logged in to my accounts for up to 3 days at a time.  And that auto-away response came in very handy with those who felt the need to send me IMs at 3 in the morning.  On the minus side: I did notice some lag in the push function at times.

The $4.99 price tag seems a little steep, but I guess that’s the standard cost for IM chat clients.  If the price makes you a little nervous or you’re the frugal type, try their free version (eBuddy) first and then upgrade.

iTunes Link – eBuddy Pro

Version 3.0.4

Tested on a Ipod Touch 3.1.3

Loading screen
Available themes
Accounts page
Buddy list
Status possibilities
This is where chats would appear


iGlowdown is All the Rave

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iGlowdown is All the Rave is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

Price: $1.99    Score: 8/10    By Steve BeaudryiGlowdown

There must be dozens of DDR/Guitar Hero clones in the app store, but iGlowdown is the first one to use glow sticks. And apart from a couple more features, that’s pretty much where the differences end.

If you’re familiar with the Tap Tap Revenge or Rock Band app, then you essentially already know how to play iGlowdown by GloME Interactive Studios. When you start a new game, you’re asked to chose a male or female character, with others available to unlock later in the game. After that, you choose the colors of your two glow sticks and then select your music. As far as gameplay goes, when the music begins to play you tap buttons on the screen to the beat of the song. If you can stay in time, your character dances around with his/her brightly glowing glow sticks. If you miss a few beats, the glow sticks begin to dim and your character’s dancing suffers.

Personally, I’ve grown a little bored of these kinds of games, but if you’re a fan of them or if you’re into glow sticks and haven’t enjoy the rhythm-tapping genre then this game will be right up your alley. There are only a couple things holding it back from a perfect score:

1) The stick color selection screen could be a little more intuitive. You only get one button to scroll through a boat load of different colors. If you pass the one you want, you have to just keep on tapping until you come back around to it.

2) The song selection screen is a tad bit confusing. You’re supposed to tap on the album art, but the whole information pane looks like a button. When you tap on the song name and nothing happens it’s difficult to figure out why.

Other than that, it’s a pretty solid game. I like that iGlowdown connects with Facebook and Twitter through OpenFeint. I like the syncopated rhythms of at least the first two songs. I like the fun, colorful graphics. I don’t want to sound like I’m bashing it just because I’m just not a fan of the genre. There’s got to be some reason these types of games are flooding the market, and if you’re part of that reason, then you’ll like it.

iGlowdown requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch.

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iGlowdown is All the Rave

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Need to Reset or Reboot your iPhone 3GS? — Do it the Simplest Way

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Need to Reset or Reboot your iPhone 3GS? — Do it the Simplest Way is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

What will you do when your iPhone 3GS system locks up or crashes?

We know that iPhone 3GS is indeed another type of computer device, though the size differs from the real computer machine. However, inside such portable contrivance are the programs running on a certain platform, utilized by the users to perform specific functions just like what computer programs do.

Basing on this concept, it is also inevitable that there will be instances when the iPhone 3GS system would crash, runs slow or suddenly locks up due to various reasons. When this happens, basic troubleshooting procedures are to be performed by the end-user prior to calling for technical support.

Basic Simple Resolution

Considered the basic and simple resolution to iPhone 3GS system crashing or locking up issues is the resetting or restarting of the phone itself. The same concept is applied when the computer hangs up. Doing so will refresh the device’s memory thus, clearing out whatever glitches that halted the process.

Resetting iPhone 3GS

Here is the simplest iPhone resetting procedure:

#1. Locate the home button in front of the iPhone screen, likewise the hold button on the upper right side of the screen.

#2. Simultaneously, hold down these two buttons for about 10 to 20 seconds, or until phone screen gets dark. This time, the iPhone should be turned off.

#3. Leave it off for about 30 to 60 seconds to refresh.

#4. After 60 seconds, do a long press on the hold button on the upper right side of the screen.

#5. Keep holding it down until the Apple logo shows up on the screen. At this instance the iPhone should initiate to boot up.

#6. When fully booted up, the system should start normally.

Usually, either computer machine or the iPhone’s internal memory needs to be refreshed from time to time. They too, may tend to get overloaded with the functions they performed. Note that systems too have limits. When they exceed their limits, tendency is there performance would become dawdling. Eventually, they would lock up or crash. This is the instance when system refreshing is necessary. And this is made possible by simple resetting or rebooting the device itself.

If in case, the abovementioned iPhone 3GS system resetting procedure will not do any good, a more advanced troubleshooting would then be necessary. If you think it is already beyond your capabilities, you may consider calling technical support for further assistance.

Related posts:

  1. iPhone Won’t Turn On
  2. Getting Rid of Unnecessary App Store Applications from your iPhone 3G
  3. What to Do when iPhone Does Not Recognize SIM Card?


Toy Story Mania – iPhone App Review

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Toy Story Mania - iPhone App Review

Toy Story Mania ($4.99)

Version 1.0

REVIEW – “Bring the the fun of Toy Story right to your iPhone in this great arcade game”

Toy Story Mania - iPhone App ReviewThis game is great fun because it brings to life not only the Toy Story world but also the old fashioned carnival games that everyone used to love, the only difference is that you can actually win these games. Toy Story Mania involve shooting, egg tossing, ring tossing and more in order to win tickets to earn prizes.

This app is actually a number of different games rolled into one. You have the Hamm ‘n Eggs egg toss which really gets you to learn fun ways to break eggs. Not to mention the further you progress the more little secrets you learn that can get you extra points. Toy Story Mania - iPhone App Review

Another game is the Green Army Men Shoot Camp where you have to practice your shooting aim by breaking a number of different plates. The Buzz Lightyear ring toss features those adorable green aliens that are just too fun to look at.

There is also Bo Peep’s Balloon pop and Woody’s Shootin’ Gallery to add even more fun. The great thing is that each of these games has their own controls and dynamics so that it really feels like a completely different game from the others.

As you progress through the mini games you earn tickets and these tickets can be redeemed for prizes that can help you achieve higher scores in the games and help you move up in difficulty levels.

Toy Story Mania - iPhone App ReviewThe more you play the more than gets unlocked in the game and not to mention you’ll will want to move up in difficulty and get further along in the stages.

There is even a special bonus for anyone that manages to get to one of the actual Toy Story attractions, so anyone who lives in or is planning a trip to Florida or California will get even more out of this app.

I really enjoyed that the background music was just like the music from the movie because it really brought the fun of Toy Story to the game. The graphics and the game play were very smooth as well which makes this game one that both kids and adults will want to pick up again and again.

Stephanie S.

Download Now!

Toy Story Mania

++++++++++++++++++++

Developer – Walt Disney

© 2010, iPhone app reviews. All rights reserved. AppShouter LLC

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Review: Final Fantasy

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Review: Final Fantasy is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

ff1_shot1

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

I have fond memories of finishing the original NES version of Final Fantasy. I played through the Dawn of Souls remake for the Game Boy Advance as recently as last year. Suffice to say, I enjoy the game a lot.

The source material holds up surprisingly well, I’ve found. Despite being more than 20 years old, the original Final Fantasy remains very playable. It’s very well-paced, it keeps up a satisfying sense of progression throughout, and it contains very few points where the player is left wondering what to do, especially when compared to other games of its vintage.

In terms of visuals and content, the iPhone and iPod Touch version of Final Fantasy is largely identical to the Anniversary Edition remake released for the PlayStation Portable. This particular version has its quirks — the challenge level has taken a significant hit, and the shift in graphic style is questionable — but it otherwise remains a solid recreation of the original Final Fantasy experience.

Unfortunately, Final Fantasy arrives in the App Store with all the grace and splendor of a bad mobile phone port. The controls are inconsistent. The framerate jerks and stutters unpredictably. Worst of all, a major oversight in the overhauled battle interface destroys the game’s key sense of pacing.

ff1_shot2

I’ve railed against the virtual d-pad approach to iPhone control interfaces before, and it’s as flaky as ever in Final Fantasy. Many of your presses on the pad will not register, and you’ll spend a lot of time tapping non-responsive parts of the ornate design before you get a feel for which portions actually make your character move.

Menus have their own unique share of problems. Square Enix has redesigned every menu screen in Final Fantasy to use the iPhone’s touch screen, but the result is actually much less accurate and convenient than the original cursor-based system.

ff1_shot3

In any menu, there’s always a slight, irritating delay between touching an option and the game recognizing your input. It’s especially noticeable in the new shop interface, which no longer allows players to see which characters benefit from available weapons and armor at a glance, without individually selecting each item.

The new battle interface is what hurts Final Fantasy the most, however. In theory, the new system should be more convenient — players can now tap the “Fight” command and then tap directly on the targeted enemy, rather than guide a cursor to complete both actions.

While this comes in handy for the occasional fights that require strategy, your characters often square off against much weaker creatures. You’ll want to get the vast majority of battles over with as quickly as possible, in other words, especially since a large chunk of your playtime will be spent grinding for experience.

ff1_shot4

In earlier remakes of Final Fantasy — including the PSP version — players could simply hold down the “confirm” button to automatically tell each party member to attack in rapid succession.

In the iPhone version, this is not possible. Even when your level 50 party members are confronting a gang of weakling imps, you’ll need to issue individual fight commands — a minimum of eight screen taps per turn. Factor in a split-second input delay for each command, and you end up with a lot of wasted time over the course of the game.

I still enjoy Final Fantasy’s core content a lot. The storyline is classic stuff, the dialog is well-translated, and the process of leveling up your characters and outfitting them with more powerful equipment will always be fun. Ultimately, though, the iPhone version’s flaws just make the experience more frustrating than it should be.


App Sale: Sky Force Reloaded

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Sky Force Reloaded is on sale for free – normally $1.99

Sky Force is a top-down shmup similar to iFighter and Hotfield… it’s a quality game and has its own style, and apparently it’s on sale for one day only so grab it for free while you still can! I don’t know exactly when the sale ends but it’s probably very soon.

iTunes Link – Sky Force Reloaded


Find a Doctor Across the Pond with mPassport London

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Find a Doctor Across the Pond with mPassport London is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

Price: Free    Score: 9/10    By Lara VukelichmPassport London

Like its predecessor, mPassport Paris, the mPassport London application is very useful. The app by HTH Worldwide provides a number of medical resources, from a physician locater to a drug equivalency guide for any American living in or traveling to London.

Under the doctors tab, you can select the type of physician you need by specialty. Given the size of London, some of the specialties have very limited lists (for instance, I am sure there are more than seven doctors in London specializing in pediatrics). That being said, the app creators have screened the doctors for those willing to accommodate patients on short notice and charge reasonable fees, so at least you know the person you’re contacting will likely be able to see you soon, or refer you to someone who can.

Using the app’s GPS locator will help you find the doctor nearest to you, or if you happen to be at a particular tube station or landmark, the app can locate the doctors nearest to those as well. You can also browse all doctors within a specific neighborhood. Selecting a particular doctor will bring up contact information, as well as their credentials and education.  You can also use a form to request a future appointment and view a map of the route to the doctor’s office.

One thing travelers to London will want to keep in mind is that every country has their own emergency calling system. Having the necessary numbers handy is a good idea, because in the chaos of a sudden illness or accident you may not have the presence of mind to track them down. mPassport has both London and European Union emergency contact information stored and easily accessible on the main screen. Just underneath, you can find a list of hospitals with 24/7 emergency services and their distance from you (as long as the GPS function is set to your current location).

When I was living in London, one of the most frustrating things was coming to realize that I don’t speak English, I speak American. This goes for medication too. Going in search of Tylenol will take you on a goose chase unless you know you actually need to ask for Panadol. Luckily, this app also has a medication equivalency translator. Just search the comprehensive list of drugs for the American name, and you will be able to see how it is sold by name brand and generic in the United Kingdom.

A pharmacy search is also available, replete with contact information and available hours. Do learn from my mistake and ask for the chemist when you get there, though, not the pharmacist.

I would definitely recommend this app for anyone traveling abroad. The information it contains can not only serve as a convenience, but could save precious minutes in an emergency.

mPassport London is compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch and requires iPhone OS 3.1.2 or later.

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Weekend App Sales: Square Enix’s Catalog Gets Cheaper

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Weekend App Sales: Square Enix’s Catalog Gets Cheaper is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

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To promote the release of Final Fantasy I and II, Square Enix has discounted every other title in its App Store catalog. Recent releases like Hills and Rivers Remain and Song Summoner get a little cheaper, and the company’s accelerometer-controlled Sliding Heroes is now available for only 99 cents.

Other discounts for this weekend include the classic platformer Giana Sisters, FMV action game Cobra Command, and Gamevil’s action-RPG Vanquish.

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Nonverbal Debuts Monospace Follow-Up Colorbind

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Nonverbal Debuts Monospace Follow-Up Colorbind is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

colorbind

Monospace developer Nonverbal has launched Colorbind ($0.99), a “relaxing but challenging” puzzler for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Colorbind challenges players to join a series of spots in each level by dragging and folding paper strips. The process involves a fair amount of planning and strategy — horizontal strips will be placed under vertical strips, and folded portions may not stack on top of one another.

Colorbind includes 84 levels across three difficulty levels. A free Lite version is also available.