Mobile Monday
Another Monday, another wide range of iTunes App Store games for your amusement! From the frantic shooter to the calm and collected poker table with a little critter munching and physics toppling in-between, you won't have any trouble passing the time on train rides, car trips, or the annoying space in-between breakfast and lunch most people call the "workday".
We would also like to congratulate the winner of last week's iTunes gift certificate drawing: waycooler! Each week on Mobile Monday we offer you the chance to win an iTunes gift certificate that will cover the cost of every game featured in the article. All you have to do is sign-in with a Casual Gameplay account, leave a comment giving feedback about one of the games, then check back the week after to see if you've won. Simple!
Space Deadbeef - A sidescrolling shmup on a touch screen-only device? By all rights it shouldn't work, but this free game is surprisingly playable (and tons of fun). Touch and slide your finger to move your ship up and town, tap it to shoot the gun, and use your right hand to fire homing missiles at the enemy. It seems like an awkward setup in words, but when you play it, you'll see how well-made this hectic game is!
Topple - A fun physics-based shape stacking game with one of the most satisfying control schemes on the iPhone/iPod Touch. Simply use your finger to move blocks around the screen, setting them wherever you like with the ultimate goal of building a pile as high as you can. To rotate pieces, hold your finger over a block, then touch another point on the screen with a second finger and twist.
THTouch - A classic Texas Hold'em Poker app that looks great, makes excellent use of the touch screen, offers decent opponent AI that will challenge most any casual player, and is also light on the wallet. Play against up to 10 computer-controlled opponents in tournament-style poker. Checking, betting, and folding are all accomplished with a flick of a finger. Not many sounds in this one, and there's no option to play a cash game instead of a tournament. Still, if you love poker like many of us here at JIG do, then you will likely enjoy this little gem.
Critter Crunch - Most match-3 games have run their course on my gaming shelf, but Critter Crunch breathed a little life into the well-used puzzle genre. Slide your finger across the bottom of the screen to move the hungry little creature around. See the little guys lined in the columns above? Tap your critter to eat the bottommost one, then move and feed it to a larger creature. Feed it again to cause it to burst, setting off a chain reaction and eliminating same-sized creatures nearby. Several unique combo moves add a lot of strategy and chain reaction possibilities to the mix. Critter Crunch Lite is also available to get a free taste of the gameplay before you take the plunge.
NOTE: Games listed may not be available outside of North America. Prices are subject to change and are therefore unlisted. Please see the individual game pages for purchasing info.
I've played the normal Critter crunch on my phone. And it was good, even if it lasted 5 Min.
Space Deadbeef looks cool.
Went and downloaded Topple.
Very good game!
Liking levels as well as free play, and use of the moving console affecting game adds a nice realistic dimension.
:D:D:D
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
Space Deadbeef looks really cool! I wish I had an iPhone. :(
Topple is a very fun game. The perfect balance between care and speed is needed to do the final levels... still haven't gotten level 9.
Space Deadbeef is stunning, but the gameplay is a bit hindered IMHO by the fact that you actually cover the ship with your finger when you play... and it's difficult to see the enemies coming near.
Topple, in my opinion it's just not very rewarding... it's quite difficult, and it just doesn't excite me so much. But it's free, and it deserves a play to see how it is!
Great column, Jay! Last week I bought Edge, and I'm totally hooked! :-)
Mano
I've played THTouch as well as the other apple TH game. The AI on the apple game is terrible. THTouch is much better.
I agree that the AI on Apple's Texas Hold'em game is very different than on THTouch, and I prefer the THTouch game. It offers much more realistic play.
Wow, Space Deadbeef is pretty cool. I agree with the comment that covering up your ship makes the controls kind of hard. But it looks great, and it is pretty fun if you can get past not being able to see yourself.
I deleted Space Deadbeef after about 5 minutes of gameplay. Its just too simple for my tastes, and as others have said I wish you could use a separate finger to move. Topple is pretty good though, especially for a free game. Topple Too (yes, too, not two) is also coming out soon I think.
Topple is pretty good, for a free game. I got annoyed at it quite a bit, but I eventually beat it.
I have to say, Topple is more challenging than I expected. A good way to pass the time.
I just gave Space Deadbeef a try, and I have to say I rather enjoyed it. It does get a little annoying that your finger blocks the ship, but thats only a minor problem really, the gameplay definately makes up for it.
I've had Space Deadbeef for a while. The main problem with it is the repetitive gameplay. Each level is the same thing, with a couple of tweaks to make it harder. On the other hand, it is well made. My favorite thing about it is that it rotates with the screen (unlike most games).
One thing that wasn't mentioned about topple: tilting the screen causes the tower to lean, which can be used to your advantage if your stack is crooked.
Space deadbeef is fun, but it gets old after a while. Topple, though, rocks. I'm hooked.
I've downloaded all of those games except the last one. I just got the lite app and it's awesome so far. Love your reviews! 5/5
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