Category Archives: zen bound 2

Review: Zen Bound 2 Universal

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Review: Zen Bound 2 Universal is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Zen Bound 2 is the type of activity a psychologist would ask a patient to perform during an examination. Wrapping shapes in twine is quite a subdued task. It’s interpretive, reflective, and it relaxes the mind.

The physical act of binding a wooden object, which occasionally creaks like the hull of an old ship, rests in direct opposition to the accompanying thought process. As the piece becomes entangled, the mind slowly unwinds.

According to Freud, the unconscious is reason’s seething, dingy underbelly where the urges that guide thought reside; it’s a murky, primordial ocean swirling with misplaced memories and submersed desires. The evocative puzzles in Zen Bound 2 serve as a vessel to this bizarre whirlpool of a place.

The game starts out innocently enough, having the player wrap some familiar-looking animal shapes in rope while they grow accustomed to the game. It’s a war of attrition. The player is given a limited amount of rope and is asked to keep wrapping it around the animal shapes until a certain percentage of the surface is covered.

The rules quickly become second-nature. Here, most games would introduce some new wrinkle to keep our minds tuned in, but Zen Bound leads our thoughts astray. The objects change from animal shapes to anthropomorphic statues, and suddenly a cheerful round of wrap-the-frog shifts into something altogether more sinister.

Players find themselves trapped in the odd dream of a bondage fetishist. Were these bog-people willing participants? Do they get off on being wrapped up like a mummy? Would they insert needles in their skin and hang from the ceiling? Are they to be tarred and feathered?

The beauty, and mystery, of Zen Bound is in how it ever-so-casually solicits latent feelings, and in some cases horrors, from the user. It’s at times unsettling, but it’s always compelling how the unconscious will slowly creep up on you.

One minute, you’ll find yourself doing something harmless like lassoing a UFO out of the sky, and the next, you’ll confront an ill of humanity as the puzzle will look a hell of a lot like you are baiting a bear.

It’s genius how the game tricks the player into performing such an atrocity, not only because it draws attention to an important issue like animal cruelty, but because it makes us look inside ourselves and find the tiny shred of resemblance that’s necessary for compassion.

There’s also a final set of levels in which you entwine cameos of recognizable characters from other indie games. Ah, well. No one ever claimed the unconscious was necessarily morbid and disturbing.


Geometry Wars: Touch Goes Universal; iPhone Version of Zen Bound 2 On Its Way

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Geometry Wars: Touch Goes Universal; iPhone Version of Zen Bound 2 On Its Way is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

Activision’s Geometry Wars: Touch and Secret Exit’s Zen Bound 2 were standouts in the iPad’s launch lineup, each offering polished experiences that left iPhone and iPod Touch owners seething with jealousy.

Well, seethe no more. An iPhone version of Zen Bound 2 is currently in development, and Activision has updated Geometry Wars: Touch with support for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Geometry Wars: Touch is now available as a universal binary, so if you’ve already purchased the previously iPad-exclusive version, you may now play it on any other iDevices you may own. The game’s price has also dropped to $4.99, making a purchase all the more tempting for anyone wowed by the initial iPad release.

Secret Exit notes that Zen Bound 2 is currently being retooled to be compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch. iPhone 3GS and third-generation iPod Touch devices will see the benefit of added visual effects, though the game will also be fully playable on older hardware.

Secret Exit has not yet revealed whether iPhone compatibility will arrive as a universal binary or as a separate app. A release date for the iPhone version of Zen Bound 2 has not yet been announced.


Feature: Your Survival Guide to the iPad’s Launch Lineup

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Feature: Your Survival Guide to the iPad’s Launch Lineup is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

ipad2It’s almost here. You’ve waited patiently. You’ve put down your $500. Tomorrow, you may be holding an iPad in your grubby, unwashed hands.

First of all, wash your hands. The iPad may be magical, but its touch screen isn’t magically protected from filth.

Now, once you’ve wrapped your clean, fragrant hands around an iPad for the first time, you’re probably going to want to put it through the paces with some new games. Loading up iTunes, you may be slightly horrified to find out that more than 700 iPad applications have been released in the days leading up to the device’s U.S. launch.

Given that many iPad-optimized games are significantly more expensive than their predecessors for the iPhone and iPod Touch, you’ll want to do some research before downloading anything that catches your interest. Download a dud app for your iPhone, and you’ll be out 99 cents, or a couple of bucks at the most. Buy a bad iPad game, and you may have wasted fifteen dollars.

Here are 10 iPad games that you’ll want to check out in preparation for tomorrow’s launch.

geowars

Geometry Wars: Touch for iPad (Activision, $9.99)

Twin-stick shooters don’t get much better than this. Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved was an early standout for Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade service, and the iPad version of Geometry Wars promises to be an equally important title for Apple’s new platform.

The premise: Left thumb moves. Right thumb shoots. Kill all of the evil geometric shapes before they kill you.

Why it’s better on the iPad: Geometry Wars is a frantic game in which swarms of enemies threaten to overwhelm the player at any moment. The iPad’s bigger screen gives players greater visibility — and a better chance at survival — than the iPhone or iPod Touch ever could.

Worth it? Twin-stick shooters are surprisingly playable on an iPhone and iPod Touch, and if it’s as enjoyable as its console predecessors, you’ll get plenty of playtime out of Geometry Wars: Touch.

scrabble

Scrabble for iPad (EA Games, $9.99)

The iPhone and iPod Touch version of Scrabble remains a top seller for EA, and the iPad edition has been getting rave reviews even from non-gamers.

The premise: Get letters. Make words. Feel smart when you outscore other players.

Why it’s better on the iPad: The iPad’s screen allows players to see the entire Scrabble board at once, without scrolling or zooming. Even better, if you also have an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can sync up with Scrabble Tile Rack — a free expansion app that gives you private access to your letters during a multiplayer game. Come on, that’s just awesome.

Worth it? If you love Scrabble, it’s hard to go wrong here. The price is a bit of a turnoff, though. As an alternative, you might want to check out Newtoy’s Words with Friends HD ($4.99). Not only is it five dollars cheaper, but it also includes an asynchronous online multiplayer mode that allows you to compete in up to 20 online matches at a time.

samnmax

Sam & Max Episode 1: The Penal Zone for iPad (Telltale Games, $9.99)

Actually the first episode in Telltale’s third “season” of Sam & Max games previously seen on consoles and PC platforms, this is the first traditional adventure game released for the iPad.

The premise: Trigger-happy dog and psychic/psychotic bunny-thing solve crimes, cause hilarious mischief.

Why it’s better on the iPad: Adventure games like The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition and Beneath a Steel Sky have felt a little cramped on the iPhone and iPod Touch; the iPad provides greater input accuracy, and allows players to see background details they may otherwise miss.

Worth it? Telltale totally nailed the humor crucial to the Sam & Max series in previous episodes, and boasts an impressive track record with the Tales of Monkey Island and Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People franchises. Ten bucks will get you a lot of laughs here.

labyrinth2

Labyrinth 2 HD (Illusion Labs, $7.99)

Labyrinth provided an early demonstration of the iPhone’s potential as a gaming platform, with realistic physics and spot-on accelerometer controls creating a convincing experience. This expanded version of Labyrinth’s sequel promises to be equally impressive.

The premise: Tilt the iPad to guide a ball through a wooden obstacle course.

Why it’s better on the iPad: Illusion Labs has created an all-new series of levels that take full advantage of the iPad’s expanded screen real estate, each offering more obstacles and a grater challenge for Labyrinth fans.

Worth it? In addition to the new iPad-exclusive levels, Labyrinth 2 HD also includes every stage featured in the original iPhone and iPad Touch version. If that’s not enough for you, check out the hundreds of thousands of free user-generated levels created with the game’s robust level editor. A free Lite version is also available.

mirrorsedge

Mirror’s Edge for iPad (EA Games, $12.99)

Wondering what happened to the iPhone and iPod Touch adaptation of EA DICE’s free-running action game Mirror’s Edge? Wonder no more — the game has resurfaced in the App Store as an iPad exclusive.

The premise: Run, jump, and slide for your life as you escape from your armed pursuers.

Why it’s better on the iPad: EA has taken the extra development time to add a split-screen, head-to-head race mode for two players.

Worth It? Honestly, I’m not sold. Mirror’s Edge was already up and running on iPhone and iPod Touch hardware, and it’s easy to get the impression that releasing it as an iPad exclusive was a last-minute decision to justify a higher price point.

It’s worth noting that the two-year-old console and PC version of Mirror’s Edge is now available for less than ten dollars at many retailers. All evidence indicates that the iPad edition of Mirror’s Edge offers nowhere near the depth of the console and PC version — why pay more for a scaled-down experience?

zenbound2

Zen Bound 2 (Secret Exit, $7.99)

Another long-delayed iPhone game that finally saw release this week as an iPad exclusive, Zen Bound 2 boasts improved graphical fidelity and over 100 challenging levels.

The premise: Wrap rope around stuff. It’s relaxing.

Why it’s better on the iPad: The larger screen allows players to appreciate the graphical detail in Zen Bound 2’s woodgrain sculptures. Given that gameplay revolves around creating a convincing simulation of a tactile act, this could add more to the experience than you might expect.

Worth it? The price is reasonable, and 100 levels will keep you occupied for quite some time. The original Zen Bound ($2.99) is also worth a look, if you haven’t played it yet.

harbormaster

Harbor Master HD (Imangi Studios, Free)

Imangi Studios brings its line-drawing time management hit to the iPad with redrawn graphics and new challenges. Best of all, it’s available as a free download for iPad owners.

The premise: Guide boats to docks with your finger.

Why it’s better on the iPad: The iPhone and iPod Touch version is not free. The iPad version is free. Free is better.

Worth it? The iPad version of Harbor Master features redrawn high-resolution graphics and all-new content. And I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this yet, but it’s free. Why not give it a shot?

werule

We Rule for iPad (ngmoco, Free)

ngmoco takes on Zynga’s Facebook phenomenon FarmVille with this microtransaction-supported social kingdom sim.

The premise: Rule a kingdom. Farm. Pay real money for perks.

Why it’s better on the iPad: ngmoco notes few iPad-specific enhancements, but a wider view of the action is always appreciated in a game like this.

Worth it? It’s free, so what’s the harm? Be warned, though, that your progress will be very slow if you choose not to buy the optional “Mojo” packs that accelerate plant growth and building construction. Mojo packs range in price from 99 cents to $49.99.

realracing

Real Racing HD (Firemint, $9.99)

Real Racing set new standards for iPhone racers, and few games have come close to matching its impressive graphics and simulation-focused gameplay.

The premise: Race cars. Go fast.

Why it’s better on the iPad: It was gorgeous on the iPhone and iPod Touch, and on the iPad, it looks even better. The HD edition also features customizable car skins and the ability to race against pre-recorded ghosts saved either locally or downloaded from Firemint’s leaderboards.

Worth it? While it may not be worth a second purchase if you already own the iPhone and iPod Touch version of Real Racing, the new HD edition features plenty of content, and is bound to make your non-iPad-owning friends jealous when they see it in action.

metalgear

Metal Gear Solid Touch (Konami, $7.99)

Instead of developing a standalone HD version of Metal Gear Solid Touch, Konami has released a free update for the iPhone and iPod Touch edition that adds full iPad support. Awful nice of them!

The premise: Shoot stuff in the war-torn future. Story’s all kinds of crazy.

Why it’s better on the iPad: Konami’s update improves the visual quality and adds an option to scale the gameplay to the full width of the iPad’s screen.

Worth it? It’s one of the App Store’s most prominent releases to date, so you may already own a copy of Metal Gear Solid Touch. In that case, the iPad update is just a free bonus. If you’ve never played it before, though, check out the free Lite version and judge for yourself whether the full version is iPad-worthy.


Zen Bound 2 Coming To The iPad

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Zen Bound 2 Coming To The iPad is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

ZB2_08_ComparisonWho would’ve guessed that one of the biggest App Store hits thus far would involve wrapping string around a wooden object? Apparently the success of the original Zen Bound even took developers by surprise. “We never expected the calm gameplay of wrapping wooden statues with rope to find such a great audience on the iPhone, much less win multiple awards over the year.”

Fortunately for us, the team over at Secret Exit announced Zen Bound 2 today, and it is specifically being tweaked to take advantage of the iPad’s graphic and size advantages. On top of that, Secret Exit has said that Zen Bound 2 “is both a sequel and a revision to the original, with more music from Ghost Monkey, new levels and new kinds of gameplay, but Zen Bound 2 also includes the original soundtrack and upgraded versions of all levels from the first game.” Secret Exit expects Zen Bound 2 to launch right around the iPad launch date… my guess is that the launches will coincide. There’s no video trailer yet, but there are a ton of screenshots after the break. Enjoy!