Welcome back to the Week in Gaming Apps, a place where one moment you’re running over zombies with a train and the next you’re enjoying a motherly embrace with a globular pink alien. Thank you, mobile gaming.
One of the joys of covering the mobile scene for Kotaku is the sheer absurdity of the games that are created when free of the constraints of the console gaming environment. There are some really freaking odd people with equally odd brains out there in mobile development, unscrewing the tops of their skulls and pouring them onto Google Play and iTunes.
I’m not just talking about Dragon Up either.
If you’d rather play something more traditional, then there’s always After Burner Climax. It’s about shooting planes with other planes. Me? I’ll be the the corner cuddling the pink goo.
Here’s what we played this week!
Android
Beat the Beast – $.99 [also on iOS]
A circular take on tower defence, attackers spiral about the map as the player rotates the world and peppers it with defenses. Kind of nifty. [clear]
Dawn Hero – Free
He’s a hero, but only during very specific times. A lovely example of the corridor-based defence genre. It’s fun, at least until the paying starts.
Mission of Crisis – Free
An oddly enthralling little strategy game involving anthropomorphic animals.
iOS
Battle Line – Free
It’s just one of those corridor defence type of weeks I suppose. This one’s from the Gamevil folks.
Pin War – $1.99
Competitive multiplayer pinball on the same screen! A little simpler than I expected, but a ton of fun with another player.
After Burner Climax – $2.99
Ridiculously entertaining homage to the arcade original. Tons of action, not a lot of complexity.
Zombies & Trains HD – $1.99
Zombies attempt to get to a prize in the middle of an arena, and you control the trains. What’s not to like?
Word Monster – Free
A set of challenging word puzzles. Fun, but only the first set is free, the rest with cost you.
Dragon Storm – Free
A massively multiplayer online strategy game. Build your fortress, conquer the world. Word up to my Darkside homies.
Be Together – $.99
An absolutely adorable physics puzzler about bringing to separated lovers (or possibly just good friends) together through creative object placement.
Stick To It – Free
Another cute physics platform puzzler, this one involves reuniting a mother with her wayward (and sticky) child. A very smart game.
App Reviews for the Week of February 2 – 8
If This is What a Free-to-Play Pokemon Game Would Be Like, Then No Thanks.
Zuko Monsters has several advantages over Pokemon, the long-lived monster collecting role-playing game series that clearly serves as its inspiration. It’s got sharp and colourful graphics filled with personality, with nary a pixel to be seen. More »
You Don’t Lead Off a Game Called Garfield’s Escape with Odie, Dammit.
Garfield is the most relevant character in comics today. With his laissez faire attitude about life and the way he hides his deep abiding love for his family behind a wall of standoffishness and mild abuse, he’s a charming allegory for the decade we live in, an icon of our time. More »
Table Top Racing Just Isn’t Fast Enough to Meet My Toy Car Driving Needs
Sure, the venerable kart racing genre revolves around wacky track designs and a rotation of goofy-lethal power-ups. But, no matter how fun the chaos is, I still need to feel like I’m going really fast. More »
The Best Thing About This Dragon Breeding Game is Definitely the Vomit
It’s not the hand-animated visuals, crafted by artists whose resumes include My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and Atomic Betty. It’s not the challenge of matching each dragon with their favourite treasures, collecting and combining items to create more potent pieces. More »
Mobile Gaming’s Platforming Hero Returns — One Part Mario, One Part Sonic
In 2011 SilverTree Media introduced Cordy, a robotic platforming hero for the smartphone age. While other developers struggled with implementing traditional games using touchscreen controls, Cordy played as perfectly as the best console platformers, with more personality than most. More »
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