I return once again from the land of iOS devices with new apps that I have uncovered during my stay. I urge you to buy them all because I get a percentage of all profits for advertising for iTunes. At least that’s what I like to think happens.
Shift 2
Shift 2 can be purchased for 0.99 on the App Store.
If you missed out on Shift then shame on you, but all can be forgiven if you get Shift 2. The basic idea of Shift is that you play in a black/white world where your goal is to reach the door. The trick to actually getting to the door involves ‘shifting’ which makes your character flip from whatever colored area they are on to the one below them. Spikes from a black square will suddenly become spikes in a white area, holes will suddenly become new platforms, and you’ll have to do this fast because one small mistake and you could either be facing a spike or saying ‘hello’ to the timer that’s counting how long you take. The game definitely gives off a Portal feel with the levels containing messages of false hope that border on being snide, which I like since isn’t done enough to make it feel played out. There are over 100 levels plus over a dozen bonus stages and hidden games you can find by scanning special bar codes by the developers so you can expect to be playing this game for a while.
Enigmo 2
Enigmo 2 can be purchased for 0.99 on the App Store.
I’m the kind of person who loves RTS games even though I’m complete garbage at them and the same case applies here with the puzzle game Enigmo 2. You start out having to simply move drops of water from one nozzle to another using tubes, trampolines, and platforms. This eventually evolves into needing to move lasers and plasma energy with tons of new items help manipulate the path they take. I’m only a few levels in but this is something I can already tell I’m going to enjoy my stay at the Enigmo hotel. There are also around 50 levels with new items added after a few levels to keep things fresh.
Overkill
Overkill is currently free on the App Store.
I’m usually pretty wary about shooters on iOS devices but when I heard Overkill is basically a shooting gallery styled game I had to pick it up, plus it’s free. There are 4 levels with 20 waves each but the waves can be considered levels since they’re all separated, and a ‘hell wave’ which I assume is a harder wave since I have yet to reach it. Each level is merely a stationary picture and the enemies come out like a shooting gallery where they’ll wait a few seconds before beginning to fire at you. There are 12 guns to unlock with various upgrades for each gun that you’ll unlock by getting money from completing or failing a wave (of course not as much for failing). You’ll also be able to get various upgrades while in a wave such as faster reloads, health bonuses/packs, & faster firing. Graphically it’s decent at best and the gun sounds aren’t the best around, but it is a nice diversion for it’s price tag of free.
Infinity Blade Update
Infinity Blade can be purchased for 5.99 on the App Store.
Infinity Blade needs no fancy introduction since I’m sure you all know what this game is. If you don’t then just know it’s a pseudo-hack/slash game where your goal is to fight your way up a castle to kill the God King who killed your father. There are tons of different weapons, helmets, shields, rings, and armor to get while you make your way up there. This time they added a massive update that includes a raised level cap, tons of new loot to get (giant finger sword here I come), enemies, new-game+, and the ability to visit the dungeon. When you enter the dungeon from one of the two entrances you’ll be able to face off against some pretty ticked off enemies that include a new dual-wielding monster, but the biggest addition are the 3 Deathless Kings you can fight and a special extra boss once you defeat them. If you somehow haven’t updated then hurry up since it’s obviously free, and if you haven’t purchased Infinity Blade yet then you’re missing out on one of the best iOS games out.
Land-a Panda
Land-a Panda can be purchased for 0.99 on the App Store.
Land-a Panda is probably my app on this list due to it’s deviously sneaky puzzles and charming arty-style. You play as Yang Guang, a panda just trying to get to his girlfriend but somebody thought it would be funny to fill his path with a quick death. Each level tasks you with navigating your way across spikes, steel walls, ghosts, angry birds, and ninja stars that want to stop you from reaching your pretty panda girl. You’ll move around by blasting out of cannons, Donkey Kong style, which come in a variety with stationary/moving cannons, timed, rotatable, rockets, and portal cannons. If you feel like going the long way to your girl then you can expect to find 3 golden coins to collect in each level. Besides crisp graphics Land-a Panda has a pretty catchy soundtrack that you’ll here in it’s 4 stages that each have 20 levels within them.
Piyo Blocks 2
Piyo Blocks 2 can be purchased for 0.99 on the App Store.
Piyo Blocks is an interesting Bejeweled clone where a wacky Japanese art-style and a more frantic feeling while playing. As you’d expect your goal is to match up blocks of the same color to reach the target for that stage to move on to the next one. For example if the stage says you need to hit a target of 6 for each color then matching 2 groups of 3 blue blocks will give you 6 points, or a group of 4 and 3, just any combination to hit that target. There are different modes but they’re all pretty much the same with slight differences such as Time Attack, Endless, Disco, and Hyaku. The most interesting mode is Three Seconds where you have three seconds to make a single combination of any color, each time to match 3 or more the timer will reset for another 3 seconds. It is pretty much a Bejeweled clone but since you’ll be focusing more on getting matches of certain blocks to get to the next stage it feels like a frantic race to hit that next target.
