tag:destructoid.com,2006:blogdestructoidhttp://bulk2.destructoid.com/ele2/images/destructoid/favicon.ico2012-11-08T09:00:00Ztag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=238214Jim Sterlinghttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Jim+SterlingTy the Tasmanian Tiger: Boomerang Blast now on iOS2012-11-08T09:00:00Z2012-11-08T09:00:00Z <p>
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<p><span><object id="dest007_c2b020f7ad761364151429c15068d155" class="SpringboardPlayer" width="620" height="376" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://www.springboardplatform.com/mediaplayer/springboard/youtube/dest007/0SohGauG6XI/"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.springboardplatform.com/mediaplayer/springboard/youtube/dest007/0SohGauG6XI/" width="620" height="376" name="dest007_c2b020f7ad761364151429c15068d155" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent"></embed></object></span></p>
<p><em>Ty the Tasmanian Tiger</em> is officially back! The mascot nobody wept for has returned from the dead in an all-new adventure ... for iOS, of course. <a target="_blank" href="../a-new-ty-the-tasmanian-tiger-game-is-in-the-works-232048.phtml?t=contests">Just like we all predicted</a>. </p>
<p><em>Ty the Tasmanian Tiger: Boomerang Blast</em> is <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/id532039064?mt=8">now available on iTunes for free</a>, and it looks exactly like a free iOS game with "Blast" in the name should look. As in, not all that thrilling. </p>
<p>You can check out a gameplay video above, where you'll be dazzled by boomerangs BLAAAAASTING stuff. You'll be blown away. Except not. </p>
<p>It might be good though, so check it out maybe? Or not? Who cares, really?</p>tag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=238101Allistair Pinsofhttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Allistair+PinsofShove Pro: The only shoving simulator you need2012-11-06T10:30:00Z2012-11-06T10:30:00Z <p>
<img src="http://www.destructoid.com//ul/238101-shovehd.jpg" alt="Shove Pro: The only shoving simulator you need screenshot" width="620" border="0" />
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<p>Rad Dragon, the goofs behind <a target="_blank" href="../products_detail.phtml?p=The+Moonlighters&category=pc"><em>The Moonlighters</em></a>, are making a shoving simulator for iOS. In <em>Shove Pro</em>, players take on the role of fictional stuntman Lars Speedwagon, who creates fabulous displays of shoving across European cities. Fingers crossed you can shove some snotty bourgeois and mimes into fountains.</p>
<p>I once shoved a kid through a wall in sixth grade.* You know, shoving people is pretty cool but rarely does an opportunity come along that allows us to legally and safely live out our shoving pleasures. Thank goodness for videogames, right?</p>
<p>The above trailer is certainly inspired and entertaining in a way few game teasers are but it doesn't show off much of the game. From what I've gathered, this is an endless runner game that plays a bit like <a target="_blank" href="../it-came-from-japan-pepsiman-215049.phtml"><em>Pepsiman</em></a>. We'll just have to find out together when <em>Shove Pro</em> arrives on App Store, November 8, for $1.99.</p>
<p><sub>*It was actually a playful three-way shoving match in my Texas history class. I shoved the BIG guy a bit too hard, he lost his balance, and he fell through the wall, leading to an empty space under the school stairs. My private school was too cheap to fix the hole, so they just put a lot of posters on top of the hole. I was locked away in a room for the next three days of school. I designed an ambitious <em>Half-Life</em> mod that would pit aliens against humans on Omaha Beach. It's a work in progress. </sub></p>tag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=238095Jim Sterlinghttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Jim+Sterling22 Cans' Curiosity - What's Inside the Cube? out now2012-11-06T08:00:00Z2012-11-06T08:00:00Z <p>
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<p>Peter Molyneux's latest flight of fancy -- <em>Curiosity - What's Inside the Cube?</em> -- is now available to <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/curiosity-whats-inside-cube/id557549271" target="_blank">download for free on iOS</a>, with an Android version promised soon. </p>
<p>In case you're not caught up with the mad idea, it's a "game" in which you're expected to obsessively tap on a cube to remove bits of it. Potentially thousands of other "players" are tapping the cube, but only one person in the world can hit the very last piece and find out what's inside the box. </p>
<p>A "life-changing" prize is promised to whoever finds it. This is where I had originally planned a <em>Se7en</em> reference, but everybody's already beaten me to it.</p>
<p>First impressions? It's exactly what it sounds like. Incessant tapping. Pretty dull in practice, despite the interesting premise, and I wonder whether people will keep "playing" once the fun of tapping out penis shapes dries up. But hey, at least it's not on rails!</p>tag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=238057Niero Gonzalezhttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Niero+GonzalezDestructoid Mobile has been redesigned, go play2012-11-05T16:45:00Z2012-11-05T16:45:00Z <p>
<img src="http://www.destructoid.com//ul/238057-shitfucks.jpg" alt="Destructoid Mobile has been redesigned, go play screenshot" width="620" border="0" />
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<p>We've been promising you a better mobile for ages, and it's finally here. You can now use virtually all of the features of our desktop site on our new smartphone site. No apps to download, no nonsense to install, no gimped commenting or community blogs experience. It also looks mighty sexypants on the new iPad Mini, so give it a go! </p>
<p>Now that it's done, we can't wait to make it even better. Please give us some feedback, how can we make a mobile Destructoid even better for you? Sound off in the comments.</p>
<p>Next time you're on a toilet, we hope you'll think of Destructoid! Wait.</p>tag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=237776Jim Sterlinghttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Jim+SterlingReview: Borderlands Legends2012-11-01T14:00:00Z2012-11-01T14:00:00Z <p>
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<p>While many longtime game fans sneer at mobile gaming, I've always tried to keep an open mind about it. Done right, a touch-based game is perfectly valid as a form of interactive entertainment, and while there are plenty of banal and pointless titles clogging up app stores, there remain surprisingly wonderful offerings. </p>
<p>A game's quality is defined not by its platform, but by how it uses that platform to provide an entertaining experience. With that in mind, I was hoping <em>Borderlands Legends</em> would be one of those enjoyable surprises, and not the limp little spin-off everybody had expected it to be. </p>
<p>Oh well ... limp it is, then. </p><p><img src="../ul/237776-review-borderlands-legends/2KGMKT_BL_LEGENDS_IPAD_BLLHD-620x.jpg" border="0" width="620" height="465" /></p>
<p><strong><i>Borderlands Legends </i>(iOS</strong><strong>)</strong><br /><strong>Developer: 2K China</strong><br /><strong>Publisher: 2K Games</strong><br /><strong>Release: October 31, 2012</strong><br /><strong>MSRP: $4.99, $5.99 (HD)</strong></p>
<p><em>Borderlands Legends</em> eschews the first-person perspective of the series' main entries to instead provide squad-based combat of a more tactical leaning. In essence, it takes all its cues from <em>Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War</em>, giving us our four vault hunters -- Lilith, Roland, Mordecai, and Brick -- to command on an isometric battlefield.</p>
<p>Issuing commands is as simple (in theory) as touching a character and touching a target, after which the designated hero will automatically attack. Each of the four characters unlock and use up to three special abilities, engaged by touching the corresponding icons underneath their name. These abilities are in keeping with the character's role in the original game, with Mordecai able to send out his pet Bloodwing to score extra damage, Brick able to pound enemies with powerful melee attacks, Lilith phasewalking to avoid fire, and Roland summoning a turret. As characters level, they can gain new passive and active abilities, allowing them to taunt foes, engage a stealth mode, or create a fake target to draw fire.</p>
<p>In addition to offensive skills, each character also has a support ability, used by touching one ally before touching or dragging to another. Roland can heal his teammates, while Lilith increases their running speed, Mordecai boosts damage, and Brick launches a protective shield. </p>
<p><img src="../ul/237776-review-borderlands-legends/2KGMKT_BL_LEGENDS_IPAD_RandomMissions-620x.jpg" border="0" width="620" height="465" /></p>
<p>Missions are made up of sequential screens that spawn enemies from different sides of the map. The objective is basically to wipe everything out, with the occasional extra goal being to destroy certain objects or protect an NPC. After a number of screens, players are taken to a vendor where they can buy new weapons, shields, or ability-enhancing utilities, as well as spend any skill points earned from level gains. Like in the main games, if a character is downed, it can still attack for a limited time, and get a "Second Wind" with a sliver of health if it kills anything. Placing an ally near a downed team member can also revive him or her. </p>
<p>That's ... it. After each mission, you get some extra cash, and are thrown into a waiting screen to buy more gear, spend points, and do it all again. Naturally, each mission brings tougher challenges and harder enemies, and there are a few boss-level creatures, but eventually you get the feeling that you're walking in circles, rotating through the same few screens and fighting the same few enemies, with no real objective other than to keep doing it. That's not necessarily a bad thing, provided the action is fun in the first place -- it isn't. </p>
<p>On a technical level, <em>Borderlands Legends</em> is too cluttered and messy to really work. You have to command each character individually, and getting the right target selected can be a pain when enemies pile in and you're trying to pinpoint the correct, tiny character model. The squad is pretty unreliable, too. Sometimes they'll simply ignore commands, or get stuck on bits of scenery (or each other). Half the time it's better to let the protagonists deal with enemies however they see fit, letting them automatically attack whatever comes close while you dish out combat skills when necessary. </p>
<p><img src="../ul/237776-review-borderlands-legends/2KGMKT_BL_LEGENDS_IPAD_36UniqueAbilities-620x.jpg" border="0" width="620" height="465" /></p>
<p>Relying on the A.I. to do half the job is made doubly worse by the fact that, all told, <em>Borderlands Legends</em> is tedious in all of its elements. Lacking the pace, versatility or tactical slant found in <em>Dawn of War</em>, this effort from 2K is a tepid recreation, as small waves of cloned enemies wander aimlessly into view to be popped off by the Vault Hunters in unspectacular ways. It's playable, inoffensive, but ultimately boring. </p>
<p>While there is some simple compulsion in the form of loot-nabbing between rounds, there are many better games to feed one's hoarding urges. Even on iOS, I'd say the leveling and loot system found in something like <em>Infinity Blade</em> is worth your time over this. Outside of the mobile platform, pretty much <em>anything</em> is more rewarding. The real <em>Borderlands</em> games, for example. </p>
<p><img src="../ul/237776-review-borderlands-legends/2KGMKT_BL_LEGENDS_IPAD_StrategicCover-620x.jpg" border="0" width="620" height="465" /></p>
<p>Beyond the poorly implemented interface, there's nothing particularly wrong with <em>Borderlands Legends</em>. It's a serviceable little iOS spin-off that provides the most basic and fundamental of playable experiences. However, it's still a monotonous and unexciting slog through a game that plays out like a stuck record, and even the most hardcore of <em>Borderlands</em> fans will find little of interest, lacking as it does the series' trademark personality. </p>
<p>If you ever spot it available for a dollar (and it <em>will</em> be available for a dollar at some point), then it's worth picking up for those days when you're really, really bored. There's nothing in here worth any greater investment than that. </p> <p class="post-photos">
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tag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=237743Chris Carterhttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Chris+CarterMolyneux is nearly ready to unleash Curiosity2012-10-31T13:30:00Z2012-10-31T13:30:00Z <p>
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<p>Remember <a target="_blank" href="../molyneux-s-latest-curiosity-has-been-delayed-233659.phtml">that Peter Molyneux game</a> that was supposed to "change the world?" You know, <em>Fable</em>? Then <em>Fable 2</em>? Then <em>Fable 3</em>?<br /><br />I kid, I kid. But seriously, Peter <a target="_blank" href="../review-fable-the-journey-236153.phtml">"not on rails"</a> Molyneux is now once again promising great things, as his iOS game <em>Curiosity</em> is now poised to be the "greatest experiment in Curiosity the world has ever known" on November 7th, 2012. It's passed Apple's certification process, so all it needs to do now is hit the App Store.<br /><br />Yep, he's still all about those hyperbolic promises folks! I can't wait for the redaction when <em>Curiosity 2</em> comes out: "no, you guys just weren't curious enough!"</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.vg247.com/2012/10/31/curiosity-molyneux-reveals-release-date-apple-submission-has-begun/">Curiosity: Molyneux reveals release date, Apple submission successful</a> [VG247 -- Thanks, de5gravity]</p>tag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=237761Jim Sterlinghttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Jim+SterlingReview: Halo 4: King of the Hill Fueled by Mountain Dew2012-10-31T12:15:00Z2012-10-31T12:15:00Z <p>
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<p>I'll admit to not being the world's biggest <em>Halo</em> fan, so it took me by surprise to find out that Microsoft had changed <em>Halo 4</em>'s name since I last saw it at E3, deciding instead to call it <em>Halo 4: King of the Hill Powered by Mountain Dew</em>. </p>
<p>The sudden change from Xbox 360 exclusive to iOS also shocked me. Currently available -- for free no less -- from the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/halo-4-king-hill-fuled-by/id565679301?mt=8" target="_blank">New Zealand App Store</a>, this game is sure to quench your thirst for action, and fuel your desire for fun!</p><p><img src="../ul/237761-review-halo-4-king-of-the-hill-fueled-by-mountain-dew/01-620x.jpg" border="0" width="620" height="350" /></p>
<p><strong><i>Halo 4: King of the Hill Powered by Mountain Dew </i>(iOS</strong><strong>)</strong><br /><strong>Developer: Ogmento Inc.</strong><br /><strong>Publisher: A Great Bunch of Guys</strong><br /><strong>Release: October 31, 2012</strong><br /><strong>MSRP: Cheaper Than A Bag of Fulfilling Doritos</strong></p>
<p>The game is as mysterious as its name. Why is a satiating carbonated beverage being used to provide power to a<em> hill</em> of all things? Why does a mass of land need fueling of any kind? Is it on wheels? Is it mechanical? And who would claim regal dominion over such a contoured mockery of geography? We may never know. All we know is that Mountain Dew provides the flavor you're craving, and the energy needed to get you in the game -- the <em>HALO</em> game, that is!</p>
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<p><em>Halo 4: King of the Hill Fueled by Mountain Dew</em> (so tasty) is a visceral shooting experience of epic and visceral proportions. You shoot at a Sparkan with your gun's bullets for a bit, really living the life of Mister Chives. In order to resupply your supplies in the game, you have to resupply your supplies in real life, by going out and stocking up on delicious bottles of Mountain Dew and bags of hearty Doritos-brand corn chips (found in your local 7-Eleven). By scanning the barcodes of these reasonably-priced items, you can transport (as if by magic) new bullets to your gun so you can keep shooting Sparkans. </p>
<p><img src="../ul/237761-review-halo-4-king-of-the-hill-fueled-by-mountain-dew/02-620x.jpg" border="0" width="620" height="350" /></p>
<p>If you become king of the mysterious, Dew-powered Hill, you can win some fantastic <em>Halo 4</em> prizes! We all like prizes. I'm going to Tweet for some as soon as I've finished writing this. Answer your <em>thirst</em> for victory, and stuff it down the <em>throat</em> of doubt. <em>Soda</em>mn good! </p>
<p>At this point I'd like to remind you of the refreshing taste of Doritos. Using a unique blend of corn, chemicals, and even<em> ingredients</em>, the Frito-lay family strikes gold with every bold new flavor it produces. From Cheese to Flavors Other Than Cheese, you can count on Doritos to be the <em>arbiter</em> (like in <em>Halo</em>) of your party snack choices. </p>
<p><img src="../ul/237761-review-halo-4-king-of-the-hill-fueled-by-mountain-dew/03-620x.jpg" border="0" width="620" height="350" /></p>
<p>Combined with Mountain Dew, you have the perfect covenant (<em>Halo</em> again) of satisfying crunch and quenching refreshment. I don't know about those bad guys called The Flood, but I'd certainly love it if my house was <em>flooded</em> with Mountain Dew. Until it attracted ants. </p>
<p>While you're reading, may I also remind you about <em>Halo 4</em>'s other fantastic partners? Pizza Hut is wanting a <em>slice</em> of the action, and don't let V Energy <em>sugar</em>coat any of the hardcore combat you'll be facing when <em>Halo 4</em> is all up in your business. Speaking of business, Microsoft runs a terrific one, wouldn't you agree? I give its glorious enterprise a <em>Windows 8</em> out of 10!</p>
<p><em>Halo 4: King of the Hill Fueled by Mountain Dew</em> is a game-changer for the industry, and something I can see myself playing 24/7-Eleven. What, exactly, are you waiting for? <em>Dew</em>nload it today, and don't say we at Destructoid, or our new partners Frito-lay, never Dori<em>told</em> you about this explosive new title! </p>
<p><strong>Score: Yummy/10</strong></p>
<p><em>[Note: Mountain Dew cannot be used as a fuel of any kind. Destructoid cannot be held responsible for damaged cars, burnt sockets, or damp barbecue grills. Furthermore, the surgeon general warns that Doritos can cause health problems, including but not limited to: heart disease, diabeetus, liver failure, lung growth, St. Shriven's Fever, gout, Gutsman's Ass, fatness, bias, foreclosure of the kidneys, and aching anus.</em></p>
<p><em>Sponsored by Netscape Nagivator.]</em></p> <p class="post-photos">
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tag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=237742Dale Northhttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Dale+NorthBorderlands Legends is now out for iOS devices2012-10-31T11:30:00Z2012-10-31T11:30:00Z <p>
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<p><em>Borderlands</em> goes mobile with <em>Borderlands Legends</em>, a new title now available on the App Store for iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad. This game looks a lot like the console titles, but claims to be more strategic than action-y. Brick, Mordecai, Lilith and Rolland return from the original game to cover maps with random strategies. 2K says there's also "bazillions" of randomly generated weapons and utilities to nab.</p>
<p>It's available now on the App Store for $4.99/$6.99.</p>
<p>Jim isn't digging it, it seems. Have you tried it? What do you think?</p><p> </p>
<p><span><span> </span><br /></span></p>tag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=237269Chris Carterhttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Chris+CarterReview: Need for Speed Most Wanted (iOS/Android)2012-10-30T14:00:00Z2012-10-30T14:00:00Z <p>
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<p><em>Need for Speed Most Wanted</em> is quite an anticipated game for many racing fans, heralding a welcome return to Criterion's open-world style, with tons of stylish cars and modes to boot. Naturally, this is an opportunity for EA to pare down the franchise and package for mobile devices in the form of <em>Need for Speed Most Wanted</em> for Android and iOS.</p>
<p><em>Most Wanted</em> mobile may not be open world (or developed by Criterion), but it delivers a decent bite-sized experience of the core game -- with a number of hiccups along the way.</p><p><img src="../ul/237269-review-need-for-speed-most-wanted-ios-android-/NF3-noscale.jpg" border="0" title="Crashes aren't as spectacular as they should be, but they look decent for a mobile game. If you crash though, it's retry city for you -- and on some of the longer Most Wanted races, this can be a hair pulling affair." width="620" height="350" /></p>
<p><strong><em>Need for Speed Most Wanted </em>(Android, iOS [reviewed])</strong><br /><strong>Developer: Firemonkeys Studios</strong><br /><strong>Publisher: </strong><strong>EA Mobile</strong><br /><strong>Release: October 30, 2012</strong><br /><strong>MSRP: $6.99</strong></p>
<p>No, the mobile version is not open world -- it's entirely menu-based, old-school racing action. I definitely understand the limitations of the mobile space, but I feel like this of all franchises would have been a great opportunity to seize the open world space on iOS -- even if it was just a snapshot of Fairhaven. <br /><br />So if it's not an open world, what's the point of the game then? Well, you select races from menus, earn more cars, and become the "Most Wanted" driver in Fairhaven. In other words, your standard racing game experience.</p>
<p>To help satiate people looking for more than just regular ol' racin', Most Wanted races return, and function the same way as in the retail release. Every so often, you'll climb up the ranks and have the opportunity to take on an exotic car: beat it, and you'll earn it. This is essentially the game's "story," as you complete races that ultimately all go towards working your way up the "10 Most Wanted list." The bad news is, you still have to <em>buy</em> those awesome-looking cars once you beat them (more on that later).</p>
<p>Like many racing games in the mobile space, your car's acceleration is automatic. You do have a lot of control over your vehicle however, as you can brake by holding the left side of the screen, powerslide while holding the right, and activate nitrous boosts by swiping up.</p>
<p><img src="../ul/237269-review-need-for-speed-most-wanted-ios-android-/NF4-noscale.jpg" border="0" title="Even if you can't truly explore the city, Most Wanted mobile still looks really darn good. Odds are you'll just want to check out the full version to see how the city really feels though." width="620" height="350" /></p>
<p>If you're so inclined, you can use gyroscope controls, but thankfully, a virtual touch wheel is an option. Touch controls feel pretty finicky at first, but once you adjust the sensitivity to your liking, it feels pretty spot on. Speaking of controls, overall, <em>Most Wanted</em> mobile feels great for a racing game, and I can't really complain in that department.</p>
<p>Visually, it's impressive (even on my iPhone 4), and in my experience, there aren't really any mechanical issues/glitches to report. Firemonkeys Studios even succeeds in porting over what sounds like most of the soundtrack from the core game as well, which goes great with the enhanced visuals, giving off the allure of more than just a mobile title. The Autolog social features (which are done through Origin) are inoffensive, and gently nudge you with things like leaderboards and SP (Speed Points, which are essentially XP) comparisons to give you a little incentive to keep playing.</p>
<p>But the presentation isn't the problem: the main issues are with a number of design choices that poke holes in the fun you'd otherwise have with it. For one, the game features the same annoying, kill-crazy cops from the console version. These cops don't have anything to live for: no wives/husbands, no dog, no prospects, and they've hit rock bottom. They'll kill you on sight or die trying.</p>
<p>As you can imagine, this makes for a pretty uncomfortable experience; they can just pop up without warning on nearly any race. Then you add in the fact that if you're wrecked once, you lose the entire race, which is no fun for anyone -- especially if you've held a lead for the entire stage and just happen to make one mistake.</p>
<p>Also, the intricate upgrade system found in the core game is missing here, making cars feel more like a commodity than a treasured acquisition -- and that's probably the end goal for EA Mobile, as they shuffle you into the microtransaction system.</p>
<p><img src="../ul/237269-review-need-for-speed-most-wanted-ios-android-/NFS5-620x.jpg" border="0" title="Here's the HUD, which is pretty simplistic. Ranking overlays also are above each car actually in the race, so you don't accidentally try and wipe out someone who was just going on an evening errand, grabbing the last tub of Chubby Hubby flavored ice cream." width="620" height="349" /></p>
<p>Sadly, a lot of content is hidden behind a paywall, which forces you to grind through races you may not enjoy just to procure the in-game funds to continue -- of course, not before the game presents the lovely option for in-app purchasing.</p>
<p>On top of EA's usual micro-pay tactics, you need Speed Points to even have the opportunity to purchase cars; then you need to spend in-game cash to acquire them. This backwards system is a staunch contrast to <em>Most Wanted</em> on consoles, where you can simply find cars lying around in the world and own them for good.</p>
<p>It's unfortunate that on top of a $6.99 base asking price, there would be an effort to paywall people like this, especially when coupled with the fact that the game itself is actually <em>pretty good</em>.</p>
<p>If you can fight through the lack of variety and questionable design decisions, <em>Most Wanted</em> mobile is decent little companion to the full retail release. It might not be the best racing game on the mobile market, but if you're hurting for virtual driving on the go, you should think about picking it up.</p> <p class="post-photos">
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tag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=237604Dale Northhttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Dale+NorthAirtight Games' first mobile title, Pixld, is out now2012-10-29T17:00:00Z2012-10-29T17:00:00Z <p>
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<p>Airtight Games, the folks behind recent the fantastic first-person puzzle-fest, <a target="_blank" href="../review-quantum-conundrum-229875.phtml">Quantum Conundrum</a>, recently announced the launch of a mobile games studio. And now they've just released their first mobile game, called <em>Pixld</em>. </p>
<p>It's a matching-style puzzle game with a pixely design where you'll work to clear as many blocks as you can before time runs out. When you tap a block you'll change its color, but this will also change the color of the other blocks around it.</p>
<p>There's a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9P3lmTA4pc&feature=youtu.be">gameplay trailer</a> out there, but I'm not embedding it into the story as it's absolutely useless in showing how the game works. Hhmph.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/pixld/id567616583?mt=8" target="_blank">Pixld</a></em> is up on the App Store for iOS devices, and is being offered at a introductory price of $0.99, which cuts the original cost by 50 percent. </p><p> </p>
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<p> </p>tag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=237277Mr Andy Dixonhttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Mr+Andy+DixonContest: Win a new iPad Mini! (Update)2012-10-29T14:30:00Z2012-10-29T14:30:00Z <p>
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<p>[<strong>Update:</strong> The finalists have been selected! Head over to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.377898285623457.92585.241490282597592&type=1">Big Fish's Facebook page</a> and vote for your favorite!]</p>
<p>Our buddies at Big Fish Games are currently giving away codes for their latest golf-themed iOS puzzler, <em><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/fairway-solitaire-by-big-fish/id476127375?mt=8" target="_blank">Fairway Solitaire</a></em>! The game is a ton of fun according to my wife, who's been playing it since release. Here's her mini-review:</p>
<p>"It's a ton of fun!"<br />--Mrs Andy Dixon</p>
<p>Thanks, wife! To snag a code for yourself, just <a href="http://giveaway.fairwaysolitaire.com/?utm_source=destructoid&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=fairwaycodes" target="_blank">visit this giveaway page</a> and press the button. Easy! In addition, <strong>they've also handed over a brand new iPad Mini to give away exclusively to Destructoid readers</strong>! Hit the jump to see how you can win!</p><p><span><object id="dest007_21c12a95a15f8d022fa775b8dcda68c2" class="SpringboardPlayer" width="620" height="376" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://www.springboardplatform.com/mediaplayer/springboard/youtube/dest007/z0ga5GJZzRk/"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.springboardplatform.com/mediaplayer/springboard/youtube/dest007/z0ga5GJZzRk/" width="620" height="376" name="dest007_21c12a95a15f8d022fa775b8dcda68c2" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent"></embed></object></span></p>
<p>To enter the contest, you need to snap a pic of yourself making your best "McDivot" face. (McDivot is the game's gopher mascot, seen in the header and video above.) After you take the pic, just upload it in the comments thread below! The folks at Big Fish will then judge the entrants and pick three finalists, who will proceed on to a final showdown on Facebook, with the winner being awarded a brand new iPad Mini... <em>and five green Skittles</em>!</p>
<p>The contest closes this Sunday, October 28 at 11:59 PM Pacific, after which time Big Fish will select their finalists and the voting will start on their Facebook page. We'll ship the iPad to anyone with a U.S. mailing address. Good luck!</p>tag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=237438Steven Hansenhttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Steven+HansenPreview: Borderlands Legends2012-10-26T09:00:00Z2012-10-26T09:00:00Z <p>
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<p>If you followed Destructoid at all last month, you know that the site was pretty collectively excited about <a href="../review-borderlands-2-235087.phtml"><i>Borderlands 2</i></a>. Of course, in the fast cars, loose joysticks world of videogames, a month ago is practically forever ago and I know many of you have already finished gorging voraciously on looting until you were fuller than you would have liked. Unless you also caught wind of that <a href="../review-borderlands-2-captain-scarlett-dlc-236782.phtml">recent DLC release</a>, calling to you like a 2,000 calorie dessert at the end of a belt loosening meal. <br /><br /> My svelte level 15 Zer0 is still wasting away in lovely Pandora, presumably with a sad emoticon across his face display, because it’s been a while since I’ve found the time to visit with him. However, assuredly there are folks out there with stomachs like interminable abysses hungering for even more <i>Borderlands</i>, and so we have <i>Borderlands Legends</i> for iOS inviting you to sink your teeth into even more obsessive collecting and shooting. Go on. Take another bite. Eat until you hate yourself.</p><p><img src="../ul/236439-/image002-noscale.jpg" border="0" width="620" height="465" /></p>
<p><b><em>Borderlands Legends</em> (iOS)<br /> Developer: 2k China<br /> Publisher: 2k Games<br /> Release: October 31, 2012</b><i> </i><br /><br /> 2k Games is riding the <i>Borderlands</i> popularity dune buggy, and what better way to continue to cash in and grow the brand than with an iOS title? Seriously, if you have any idea, leave them in the comments section. Until then, you get an iOS title coming from 2K China, which worked under the supervision of Gearbox to ensure that <i>Borderlands Legends</i> feels like a <i>Borderlands</i> game despite the drastic departure in genre. <br /><br /> As you no doubt have gathered from looking at this article’s accompanying images, <i>Borderlands Legends</i> is not a first-person shooter in the vein of the series’ first two titles, though it does hark back to the original game quite often. For one, it has you play as the four characters from the first -- Lilith, Mordecai, and the two boring ones. And I mean it has you play as all four simultaneously, because <i>Legends</i> is isometric and more akin to real-time strategy than solo, first-person shooter play. Which is fine because I still struggle trying to play first-person shooters on tablets.</p>
<p><img src="../ul/236439-/image001-noscale.jpg" border="0" width="620" height="465" /><br /><br /> <i>Legends</i> sets you off on randomly generated, objective-based missions in either a distinctly indoor region or a distinctly outdoor region. More diversity shows up in the randomly generated levels and various positioning of cover and other impediments. Each screen of the level throws waves of familiar enemies at you -- skags, psycho bandits, butt-vulnerable spider ants, and so on -- and you don’t necessarily know how long a level is going to last, though you can be sure missions will end with some sort of decidedly more climactic encounter, like boss fights against the Skag Rider, Crimson Lance Devastator, or Hellhound (a Cthulhu-ish kin of the first game’s tentacled Vault monster). Occasionally, there will be objectives on top of killing all of the things, like keeping safe a precocious Claptrap or collecting magazine crates during the fight (a stipulation that I failed to notice while I was busy killing the Crimson Lance Devastator). <br /><br /> The gameplay is simple enough. You can tap and drag any of your four team members to situate them on the cozy battlefield -- you get a defense bonus if you nestle them next to cover, too. You can also tap your characters and then tap an enemy, causing them to take aim at said enemy and kill them with reckless abandon. It’s simple enough and mostly works, save for a few instances of my puppets not going exactly where I wanted and instead wandering about a bit haplessly, often running around cover as opposed to behind it, though this less than elegant management never put me at too much of a disadvantage. <br /><br /> Action skills are also making a return, this time in threes. While you begin with one action skill unlocked, accruing enough skill points can unlock two additional action skills that just might prove helpful on the battlefield, while you can also invest skill points in your typical, more passive abilities like ones that increase health or damage output. Tapping any of the characters opens up a small dialog where you can choose between one of their three action skills to use. Additionally, the characters each have their own utility (Brick’s repairs shields, Mordecai’s grants more damage) that can be use on the character themselves or on one of their teammates for brief fits of advantage.<br /><br /><img src="../ul/236439-/image004-noscale.jpg" border="0" width="620" height="465" /></p>
<p>It would not be <i>Borderlands</i> without the ability to buy more and more absurd weapons, and <i>Legends</i> offers on that front as well. I only collected money during my shooty bits, but in transition screens between one set of enemy waves and another, I was frequently whisked away to Marcus’ shop where I could buy new gear. In <i>Legends</i>, the four party characters are restricted to the types of weapons they excelled with in the first game, so the shop does well to order weapons based on who you’re buying for at any given moment, and there are easy to use comparisons between what you have equipped and what the shop is offering. The desire to tinker with equips and find that gun that has just a couple more points of stats -- those sweet, sweet green arrows! -- remains strong, and there are thousands of randomly generated weapons of varying rarity. <br /><br /> While you’ll likely have all of your characters fully upgraded around level 35, enemies will continue to scale proportional to your level. Couple this with randomly generated levels and missions and you can theoretically play <i>Borderlands Legends</i> for ages, or at least until you get tired of slaughtering waves of things. The missions are contextualized with brief paragraphs telling you what to do, but they’re largely in disconnect and there’s no canonical link between <i>Legends</i> and the two console titles.</p>
<p>I enjoyed the almost clerical bits of outfitting my homies with the best equipment, and navigating through touch-based menus is a lot easier than dealing with the console games’ UI, but the idea of slaughtering wave after wave doesn’t have too much appeal to me. I suppose that in short bursts it could prove a decent distraction for big <i>Borderlands</i> fans, though you’ll likely want to turn the sound off to avoid repeated, shrill death screams. I also sort of appreciate the fact that <i>Legends</i> won’t be employing any sort of micro transactions; it launches next week for $4.99 on iPhone and $6.99 on iPad.</p> <p class="post-photos">
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tag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=237437Jim Sterlinghttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Jim+SterlingGrand Theft Auto: Vice City coming to iOS and Android2012-10-26T08:00:00Z2012-10-26T08:00:00Z <p>
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<p><em>Grand Theft Auto: Vice City</em> is preparing to enjoy its 10th anniversary, and Rockstar is celebrating by porting the 80s-themed classic to iOS and Android devices. I'm up for that!</p>
<p>Although a date is yet to be revealed, it seems <em>Vice City</em> will be subject to the same enhancements <em><a target="_blank" href="../review-grand-theft-auto-iii-10-year-anniversary-218563.phtml">GTA III</a></em> got, boasting "HD visuals" and some other improvements. </p>
<p><em>Vice City</em> was a thing of beauty and I'm totally up for having it on my iPad. I just hope they tweak the controls a little over <em>III</em>. It was a good port, but could've used the touch input a bit better than it did. Just steal one of the control schemes from Gameloft this time!</p> <p class="post-photos">
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tag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=237382Dale Northhttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Dale+NorthPreview: Wizardlings2012-10-25T13:30:00Z2012-10-25T13:30:00Z <p>
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<p>I had a chance to check out Square Enix's casual iOS (and soon Android) RPG <em>Wizardlings</em> at New York Comic-Con a week or so back. It's a cute little title that has your hero or heroine moving to lift the darkness and push back the shadows, tile by tile. </p>
<p>Your character follows the tap of your finger around floating segments of the colorful world of Skywind, but their movement is limited to the lit/uncovered tiles only. When coming to a tile covered in dark shadows, it's your job to cast the darkness out with one of your magic wands. The eventual goal is to clear out all of the darkness, unearthing scenic lands and treasure along the way, moving on to explore more of Skywind. But monsters hidden in the shadows won't make it easy for you.</p><p><img src="../ul/237382-preview-wizardlings/1-620x.jpg" border="0" /></p>
<p>When an enemy (or multiple enemies) pop out of the shadows, a battle kicks off. This is a turn-based encounter that makes use of your spellbook. With the treasures and supplies found during exploration, you're able to use the spellbook to combine them to create magic spells that can be used in battle.</p>
<p>In battle, brewing up a spell is as easy as touching one of the icons at the base of the battle screen. If you have enough resources, the spell is created. Another tap puts the spell to use. These are all based on elements, giving the battle system a rock-paper-scissors kind of feel. Finding more wands through exploration gives you access to more spell types, letting you take on even more monsters.</p>
<p>These supplies, like ingredients and gems, are finite sources, so you'll want to go into battle stocked up, which means that you'll want to poke all of the little dark tiles. I realize that this doesn't sound very exciting on paper, but it is fun randomly finding treasures and enemies. Along with these found supplies you'll also uncover things like armor and accessories during exploration. Like any good RPG, you can equip and customize your character with them.</p>
<p>All of my enemy encounters were more entertaining than challenging, but I could see that changing as the game progresses. Too easy? Maybe, but this is a casual game. And it could be that tapping dark tiles to make them light might not engage more hardcore gamers. If that's the case, this game probably won't satisfy your RPG itch. But, if you go in looking for something cute and simple, you'll have a good time with <em>Wizardlings</em>.</p>
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<p>Either way, I'll say that this game features what are probably the cutest enemies in an RPG ever. Overall, <em>Wizardlings</em> is very cute game with its deformed characters, cuddly-mean baddies, and vibrant world art. The floating land masses and their strong colors seemed to pop right off the iPad I was using to test out the game. </p>
<p><em>Wizardlings</em> is a free-to-play iOS title, which means that there's a pay element built in. Mind you, that was never apparent in the time I spent with the game. What it boils down to is that uou can pay to acquire more resources instead of hunting them down. Square Enix tells us that everything you can buy can also be found, which is nice to hear.</p>
<p><em>Wizardlings</em> is <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wizardlings/id553591051">available for iOS now on the App Store</a>. Square Enix says that it will come to other mobile devices soon. </p> <p class="post-photos">
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tag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=237188Chris Carterhttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Chris+CarterReview: Punch Quest2012-10-24T22:00:00Z2012-10-24T22:00:00Z <p>
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<p>I've played a lot of endless runners in my day -- and by "my day," I mean ever since I've seen the iOS and mobile market get flooded with them for the past three years.</p>
<p>There's only so many times you can watch a dude run from one end of the screen to the other on an infinite loop before you shut it down and play something else.</p>
<p>But not every "endless" title is created equal. Games like RocketCat's own <em>Hook Champ </em>and Ubisoft's <a href="../review-rayman-jungle-run-235521.phtml?s=51" target="_blank"><em>Rayman Jungle Run</em></a> broke the mold with charming graphics and an actual established leveling order, while <a href="../review-jetpack-joyride-210401.phtml" target="_blank"><em>Jetpack Joyride</em></a> owned the scene with its unique take on quests.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/punch-quest/id554223561?ls=1&mt=8" target="_blank">Punch Quest</a></em> isn't as good as <em>Hook Champ</em>, <em>Jungle Run</em>, or <em>Jetpack Joyride</em>, but it's still worth piling into the "endless runner" folder on your device.</p><p><img src="../ul/237188-review-punch-quest/PunchQuest2-620x.jpg" border="0" title="This wizard dude is pretty boss, but that powerup has nothing to do with his stylish hat. The fist is actually a power that this player bought -- like most 'super era' fighting games, once you reach a certain threshold on that little bar in the top left, you can utilize a super move for a short while. Hence, blue fists of fury." /><strong><em></em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Punch Quest</em> (iOS)</strong><br /><strong>Developer: RocketCat Games</strong><br /><strong>Publisher: </strong><strong>RocketCat Games</strong><br /><strong>Release: October 25, 2012</strong><br /><strong>MSRP: <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/punch-quest/id554223561?ls=1&mt=8" target="_blank">Free</a> (with IAP)</strong></p>
<p><em>Punch Quest</em> differentiates itself from the competition right off the bat, as it's a tad over the top<strong>. </strong>For starters, there are giant eggs that cause you to explode, then transform into dinosaurs or gnomes. There's special food where, if you eat it, you start seeing gnomes and embark upon a special bonus area.</p>
<p>But despite the wackiness, the game is actually very simple to pick up.The left side of the screen triggers a vertical uppercut punch attack, and the right side functions as a forward/horizontal straight punch. There are a few advanced moves you can do, such as pressing both of them (or swiping) to block attacks, or uppercutting first, then forward punching to get extra air and clear some gaps. While there isn't a whole lot of depth here, the control scheme is easy to use, and gets the job done.<strong></strong></p>
<p>Another cool thing that sets <em>Punch Quest</em> is the fact that you're going to do a minimal amount of jumping. Although there are spike pits and some platforming segments, for the most part, the game is combat-centric and not hung up so much on traversing pitfalls. Also, the addition of blocking is a great mechanic that's often not found in these types of games, as it adds a small layer of strategy and split-second timing to your journey.<strong></strong></p>
<p>Just like a number of other contemporary runners, there are three "quests" to complete during each run -- such as "block three attacks," or "uppercut 20 enemies." The game also has bosses, which is a rarity in the runner genre.<br /><br /><img src="../ul/237188-review-punch-quest/PunchQuest3-noscale.jpg" border="0" title="Ok so this dude is totally George Washington. Or should I say 'George Wash-your-face-off-cause-you're-bleeding-a-ton'. You know, because he punches stuff. Moving on..." width="620" height="350" /></p>
<p>Aesthetically, <em>Punch Quest</em> is a good mix of old school retro and RocketCat's signature art style, which comes together nicely. My favorite part is probably the strong focus on customization. If you want to be an African American Punch Wizard, go ahead!</p>
<p>If you want to be a heavily armored Phalanx-style Punchette, you can do that too. Personally though, I was fine with the original base character. In terms of other visual options, RocketCat promises iPhone 5 optimization, mainly the addition of more screen real estate -- but since I only had an iPhone 4 on hand for this review, I wasn't able to test said optimizations.<strong></strong></p>
<p>So all of the above sounds great on paper, and should make for a pretty varied experience, right? Well, after all is said and done, <em>Punch Quest</em> is still an endless runner game, albeit with few unique mechanics. You're still going to try to go for an impossibly high score; you're still going to have to play it hundreds of times to unlock anything substantial; and you're still going to want to play it in spurts rather than marathons.</p>
<p>I was longing for <em>real</em> quests with an actual conclusion. It would have been nice to have an option to play a mode with a payoff at the end -- that's the kind of mechanic that keeps people playing for hours, and something other games in the genre have handled brilliantly.</p>
<p><strong><img src="../ul/237188-review-punch-quest/PunchQuest1-noscale.jpg" border="0" title="See these pillars? This is the 'minimal' platforming I was talking about earlier. Those bags contain gold, and that weird looking face is an idol -- all cash bonuses to buy more upgrades -- and you're going to need a lot of cash for that helmet/hat." width="620" height="350" /><br /><br /></strong>Provided that you're willing to see a number of the same screens over and over, longevity shouldn't be an issue, so long as you have the fortitude to work through the hundreds of potential in-game currency options. Once you've exhausted your Power I, Power II, Super Move, passive upgrade and hat options, you can move onto boosts, which temporarily increase your abilities for one run -- essentially elongating your experience to an infinite amount of playtime.<strong></strong></p>
<p>Given that the app is free, in-app coin purchases are included, should you choose to pay real cash for upgrades, but just know that I never once felt like I hit a paywall. While it may feel like some upgrades are a bit grind worthy, the game doesn't feel like it's <em>withholding</em> content, because the bulk of your expensive purchases are going to be solely for aesthetic value (hats, faces).<strong><br /> </strong></p>
<p>At the end of the day, I wasn't enamored by <em>Punch Quest</em>, but I enjoyed my time with it, and it has enough content to keep you going for a while. If you like endless runners and punching things, odds are you'll enjoy RocketCat's latest effort. If not, I doubt it'll make any convincing arguments to convert you.</p> <p class="post-photos">
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tag:destructoid.com,2006:/post.phtml?pk=237325Audun Sorliehttp://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Audun+SorlieShadowgate opens the castle gates once again2012-10-24T18:00:00Z2012-10-24T18:00:00Z <p>
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<p>It's not the first time, nor the second, but a timeless adventure such as <em>Shadowgate</em> is always welcome to be remade again and again. At the helm of this new version is <a href="http://www.zojoi.com/shadowgate.htm" target="_blank">Zojoi</a>, a company founded by Dave Marsh and Karl Roelofs who coincidentally are also the original creators of the original game.</p>
<p>While they promise to keep all the classic adventure and puzzles intact, they are also stating that they will go further to really kick things up a notch, with high res artwork, tons of new puzzles and rooms, object specific animations and a new dual soundtrack, with the choice between a cinematic score or the original NES soundtrack which is regarded as one of the classic system's finest. The game is planned for Windows, MAC, and iOS.</p>
<p>Zojoi earlier had a <em>Sherlock</em> game on Kickstarter and <em>Shadowgate</em> will follow suit, so if you long to enter the castle and play with the wizard's stick, keep up with their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/zojoigame" target="_blank">Facebook</a> for more news as the Kickstarter launches this Friday. Now bring back <em>Deja Vu</em> and have <a href="../oneup-studios-has-a-10-year-anniversary-sale-right-now-223976.phtml" target="_blank">The OneUps</a> do the soundtrack, kthx.</p> <p class="post-photos">
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