Archive for the ‘Best Game Apps’ Category
Well, kind of…
Gameloft have announced that they’re releasing the first WOW style multiplayer online game app called Order or Chaos? Which I think is a pretty weird/crap name but hey ho. The game should be out in a couple of months, and if it’s anything like how addictive WOW is then I definitely need to stay away!! I even got addicted to the Ninjas Live app! Anyway, here’s a teaser video…
Command & Conquer: Red Alert whilst an enjoyable game is flawed in some major ways.
The controls and graphics are pretty good, but actual game play and lack of a multiplayer option gives you the feeling that this is just a test rather than a mature product.
I’ve always loved the PC C&C series and had high hopes for this game, and whilst all the elements exist in the game to make this a hot new iteration – great controls, including fairly easy unit selection and grouping, and smart screen options to maximise the small iPhone screen, there are still flaws that are highly annoying.
The most annoying problem is that units have a habit of bunching up and making it impossible to distinguish one from the other. It’s also very confusing if you’re trying to manage more than 2 groups of units at a time as the whole map feels quite squashed.
It is possible to create tabbed groups which helps keeps the game playable, but you can only create 3 of these at a time which is a serious disability when being attacked from all angles on multiple fronts! The units also are always getting stuck behind buildings and trees which means that you always have to be keeping an eye on them and can’t just make them attack and then go back to defending your base.
One of the features I really like is the diversity of units available, and once you’ve worked out what they all do and how to best use them the game gets a lot better. There is a lack of naval units however, and little chance to really get into base building.
Command and Conquer: Red Alert has very few maps unfortunately, and the only way to extend the game is to purchase them from within the app, and without multiplayer I get bored pretty quickly and would like a new challenge.
One of my main gripes is that of the few missions that there is, most of them are not what I would call strategy, the challenge being little more than building as many units as possible and full frontal assault. A little more sophistication wouldn’t go amiss.
I think that Red Alert’s flaws are serious, but definitely remediable, and to be honest I haven’t played a better old school strategy game on the iPhone.
The second Dark Nebula game by 1337 Game Design is out!… This is a wildly better game app than the first one, as while the original looked great and played pretty well there were some major short-comings in regards to the length, and the fact that you couldn’t recalibrate the controls meaning you had to play this app on the horizontal which ain’t always comfortable. The sequel however is brilliant. I give it a 8/10, but this could potentially go up with more game play. Calibration is cool, and the game lasts much longer. This game’s graphics are scrumptious! Best of any game app I’ve seen so far… it’s a top view, 2D, but layered to give a 3D paralax effect which is amazing.
One of the many improvements on the original Dark Nebula app is that you can now get a kick as plasma weapon which swings round you and mashes up giant spider robots and door locks right, left and centre! It’s great!! Well done 1337!!
