Super Stickman Golf 2 review (iOS / Universal)

10 word description: 2D puzzle golfing sequel. 20 courses, 60 achievements, iCloud support.

10 word review: Essentially fun. Some courses are annoying. I hate IAPs.

You will like this if you enjoy: Super Stickman Golf. Paying for IAPs that add a last shot power indicator or let you play more simultaneous multiplayer games. Please stop doing this or I will give up.

The good news: The first few courses are great, bringing back memories of everything that was enjoyable in the original game. Graphics are good. Controls work well. Loads of golfers, hats and power-up balls to unlock by playing the game.

The bad news: The additional gimmicks such as the portals don’t make the game any better. personally, I hate the first portal course and I am sticking with the earlier ones while I try to unlock as much as possible. The IAPs are irritating. The one for “last shot power indicator” is a virtual kick in the nuts because it’s arguably a basic feature of the game that has been deliberately left out purely to get as many people as possible to hand over more money. It’s not an expansion pack or an unessential cosmetic item, it’s an integral part of the game controls. You’re very silly putting this sort of IAP in a paid-for game, because it attracts bad comments in reviews. That was mine. You’re more than welcome.

Arcadelife verdict: Half the game is a lot of fun. The rest is a mixed bag of frustration and cynical cash-grabbing. I’m mostly enjoying it and I’m not a hypocrite – it is possible to utterly detest some aspects of a game and yet still keep going back to the parts that you enjoy. Ultimately, I’ll recommend it with a bloody great disclaimer and a warning for anyone who reacts similarly to ridiculous IAPs and video game golf courses that are often frustrating purely for the sake of it.

Arcadelife rating

Presentation – 8.5/10
Visuals – 8/10
Controls – 9/10
Content – 7/10
Fun – 6/10
Final rating – 6/10

GOOD

Rating categories explained here.

Version reviewed by Arcadelife is 1.0

Arcadelife played and reviewed this game on:
4th gen iPod Touch (iOS 6.0.1)
4th gen iPad (iOS 6.0.1)

247 Missiles review (iOS / Universal)

10 word description: Command your missiles to defend your cities against enemy attack. (Copied from app store description – thanks!)

10 word review: Essentially it’s Missile Command, enhanced and tailored for touch screens.

You will like this if you enjoy: Missile Command. Arcade shooters where you tap where you want your shot/missile/whatever to go.

The good news: Slick interface, great performance, decent graphics. Very interesting soundtrack with songs that fit the mood of the game, but not quite in a way you might expect. Fairly addictive one-more-go arcade shooter gameplay. Unit and city upgrades that contribute to the incentive to keep playing. IAPs that you won’t need unless you’re lazy on a genetic level.

The bad news: The single mode, where you begin at the beginning and last as long as possible, may not offer enough variety for some players.

Arcadelife verdict: This is a smart variation on the Missile Command theme with sensible, responsive multi-touch controls and a fairly steep difficult curve that feels consistent with the roots of this game. Overall, a fun and fairly addictive iOS game but possibly not for those seeking a more varied or casual experience.

Arcadelife rating

Presentation – 9/10
Visuals – 8/10
Controls – 9/10
Content – 6/10
Fun – 7.5/10
Final rating – 7/10

GOOD

Rating categories explained here.

Version reviewed by Arcadelife is 1.0 & 1.1

247 Missiles website link

Arcadelife played and reviewed this game on:
4th gen iPod Touch (iOS 6.0.1)
4th gen iPad (iOS 6.0.1)

Crazy Bill review (iOS / Universal)

10 word description: Auto-run ‘n’ gunner in a hotel full of (famous) zombies.

10 word review: Addictive, funny and almost fresh. Tons of one-more-go here.

You will like this if you enjoy: The basic premise of an auto-runner wrapped around a retro arcade style platform shoot-em-up.

The good news: The graphics are very good – plenty of variety in the enemies, some easily identifiable celebrity zombies and excellent weapon effects. Sound, also, is very good. Gameplay, though repetitive by design, draws you in and really keeps you hooked. Upgrades aren’t ridiculously overpriced. Controls are flawless for this type of game.

The bad news: Yes, there are IAPs. I doubt this comes as a surprise to anyone.

Arcadelife verdict: This is really a lot of fun. If you think you’ve had enough of auto-runners, this one is different enough to make it worth trying. Instead of running along an endless scrolling path, you run back and forth, climbing ladders and taking shortcuts to ascend as far as possible within the zombie-filled hotel. Weapons, health boosts and ascension assisting power-ups occur on almost every floor and the zombie slaughtering action is fast-paced and completely over the top. All in all, this is a 99% pure video game experience, marred slightly by the adverts and IAPs. Although, I have to be fair, the game is initially free and you can permanently remove the adverts and nagging with a single tier one (69p) IAP.

Arcadelife rating

Presentation – 8.5/10
Visuals – 9.5/10
Controls – 10/10
Content – 8.5/10
Fun – 9/10
Final rating – 8/10

VERY GOOD

Rating categories explained here.

Version reviewed by Arcadelife is 1.0

Crazy Bill website link

Arcadelife played and reviewed this game on:
4th gen iPod Touch (iOS 6.0.1)
4th gen iPad (iOS 6.0.1)

LetterSlider review (iOS / Universal)

10 word description: Tile-based single-player word search high-scoring challenge. Game Center.

10 word review: Addictive, polished blend of tile sliding and best word creation.

You will like this if you enjoy: Single player high-score chasing word games.

The good news: Great twist on making words from tiles without resorting to unnecessary gimmickry. Slick, fast interface. Surprisingly addictive – great risk/reward balance where going for a big word uses valuable time but can give you a great score.

The bad news: Initially it just doesn’t look like it’s going to be very good, or any better than hundreds of other word games – and this is where it is most likely to lose out. Because it is very good. Oh yes, and it’s iPhone / iPod Touch format, not Universal.

Arcadelife verdict: As I suspect most people would, I picked this up and thought oh great, another grid based word game. And, of course, I was wrong. It has layers of strategy and compelling gameplay that are not promoted by its formal, staid appearance. I’ve had a lot of fun with this one and it is very close behind Lexual as my favourite single player grid based word game on iOS.

Arcadelife rating

Presentation – 8/10
Visuals – 8/10
Controls – 9/10
Content – 9/10
Fun – 8/10
Final rating – 8/10

VERY GOOD

Rating categories explained here.

Version reviewed by Arcadelife is 3.1

LetterSlider.com website link

Arcadelife played and reviewed this game on:
4th gen iPod Touch (iOS 6.0.1)

After Burner Climax review (iOS / Universal)

10 word description: Arcade style follow-cam shooter. 20+ zones, 3 planes, Game Center.

Incoming!

10 word review: Beautiful, fast, mindless, quite exciting but also a bit silly.

You will like this if you enjoy: Very pretty games with simple gameplay and the feeling that you’re frequently not in control of what’s going on.

The good news: The graphics, fairly obviously, although the game moves so fast that you probably miss a lot of the pretty stuff. A nice variety of environments. Plenty of dazzling effects and explosions.

The bad news: Not that I really care, but it’s stupidly fast, the levels are too short – over in a blink, you hardly ever know exactly what hit your plane and the whole experience feels extremely shallow. Touch controls are not quite up to the task when it comes to targeting lots of enemies and dodging a screen full of incoming missiles. The position of the speed control (top right) is just stupid, although I only played this on iPad. It could be ok on a smaller screen.

… but it does look very nice

Arcadelife verdict: So say, for example, that someone edited all the flight combat scenes out of Top Gun, strung them together, sped the footage up by a factor of at least 3x and slapped some rousing arcade game music over it all. That would be fun, right? That would be coooool. For about 5 minutes, then you’d get a bit bored and probably also a headache or at least bleeding eyes. I probably don’t need to say much more.

But I will, because I have a few minutes to spare. After Burner Climax aims fairly low and ultimately falls short of even its own modest targets. Blame touch screen controls, blame the process of squashing an arcade cabinet game into a £2 iOS version, blame the government. It’s still fun, but not for long, and I’ll stand by my claim that it’s too fast, even if that makes me too old.

Arcadelife rating

Presentation – 9/10
Visuals – 9.5/10
Controls – 5/10
Content – 7/10
Fun – 6/10
Final rating – 6/10

QUITE GOOD

Rating categories explained here.

Version reviewed by Arcadelife is 1.0

Sega / After Burner Climax website link

Arcadelife played and reviewed this game on:
4th gen iPad (iOS 6.0.1)

Relic Rush review (iOS / Universal)

10 word description: One touch auto-runner platform adventure. 100 levels, 5 worlds.

10 word review: Very retro graphics and sounds, with a fairly tough challenge.

You will like this if you enjoy: Auto-runner platform games. Retro pixel-art.

The good news: Simple touch-to-stop control system – very reliable. Deceptively basic level designs that are a positive point in this game. It’s not easy – each set of 8 levels must be completed fairly flawlessly to get the top rating. yes, I see that as a positive thing.

The bad news: Yet more retro styling and extreme pixel art. Still, it’s a million times preferable to consumable IAPs. No Game Center.

Arcadelife verdict: Pretty good. It had me very addicted for a lot longer than I needed to formulate an opinion for this review. I really like the way that you have to complete a sequence of 8 levels for each of the 4 trophies in every world. It adds a load of tension as you clear the first 7 and then have to try the 8th knowing that it all depends on a perfect, fast run. Well done, you held my attention for a lot longer than most of the games I see.

Arcadelife rating

Presentation – 7/10
Visuals – 7/10
Controls – 9.5/10
Content – 8/10
Fun – 8/10
Final rating – 7/10

GOOD

Rating categories explained here.

Version reviewed by Arcadelife is 1.0 & 1.01

Arcadelife played and reviewed this game on:
4th gen iPod Touch (iOS 6.0.1)
4th gen iPad (iOS 6.0.1)

Evil Robot review (iPhone / iPod Touch)

10 word description: Falling blocks style platform game. Ascend 100 lines, match blocks.

10 word review: Simple, quite repetitive, with Gameboy graphics but not much fun.

You will like this if you enjoy: Similarly themed games such as The Blocks Cometh and The Incident but, in all honesty, you’d be better off playing those games.

The good news: The Gameboy graphical styling, while hardly original, is the best thing about this game. Controls are not bad, but then they’re not exactly being called upon to do very much.

The bad news: Too simple, too repetitive, not much fun.

Arcadelife verdict: It’s a passable attempt at the genre, but it sticks so rigidly to its minimalist concept that it ends up offering way too little.

Arcadelife rating

Presentation – 6/10
Visuals – 6/10
Controls – 6.5/10
Content – 3/10
Fun – 2/10
Final rating – 4/10

DISAPPOINTING

Rating categories explained here.

Version reviewed by Arcadelife is 1.0

Arcadelife played and reviewed this game on:
4th gen iPod Touch (iOS 6.0.1)

Matchmaker Millie review (iOS / Universal)

10 word description: Guide and match wandering singles. Solo and split screen multiplayer.

10 word review: Behind the cute, girlie exterior is a fun, addictive game.

You will like this if you enjoy: Flight Control. No, seriously, the gameplay is very similar despite the lack of line drawing and the inclusion of cute characters who seem to be just head, hands and feet.

The good news: It’s really cute and adorable. Controls are spot-on. Gameplay is simple with gradually increasing difficulty and challenging elements. Split screen multiplayer is good and adds an extra dimension to the game. No IAPs.

The bad news: It’s really cute and adorable.

Arcadelife verdict: So yes, it’s like Flight Control without the line drawing or planes. Hard to believe I’ve been running this site and reviewing iOS games for two years, isn’t it? Anyway, if you can cope with a game based around guiding boys and girls wearing the same colour clothes towards each other while avoiding other people and optionally picking flowers… it’s actually a decent game and has all the elements (including a split screen multiplayer mode) to make it a touch screen success. Personally, I’d have preferred guiding dinosaurs or killer robots around but I expect there’s a market for this kind of girlie cuteness too.

Arcadelife rating

Presentation – 8/10
Visuals – 7.5/10
Controls – 9/10
Content – 8/10
Fun – 7/10
Final rating – 7/10

GOOD

Rating categories explained here.

Version reviewed by Arcadelife is 1.0

Matchmaker Millie website link

Arcadelife played and reviewed this game on:
4th gen iPad (iOS 6.1)

Plague Inc. review (iOS / Universal)

10 word description: World annihilation strategy sim. Evolve the ultimate plague. Game Center.

10 word review: Compulsive, addictive, challenging and all sorts of terribly infectious fun.

You will like this if you enjoy: Strategy /conquest sims where you play the bad guy. World Destruction Fantasies. Games that reward (and occasionally punish) experimentation and lateral thinking.

The good news: Very nice interface. Surprisingly good graphics considering it’s primarily a game of statistics and number balancing. Very, very addictive. Plenty to unlock, including genetic modifications that can be tailored to suit your style of play and/or the current challenge. Some imaginative and tough achievements to earn. Great use of sound, with subtly ominous music and evocative spot effects and audio cues. Wonderfully dark sense of humour and some nice topical jokes in the newsreel. IAPs are completely unnecessary to enjoy playing. All unlockable content can be obtained through beating various stages of the game.

The bad news: The theme – destroying the world with very realistic plague symptoms – probably won’t appeal to everyone. You just have to adapt your sense of humour! There are a couple of minor issues tapping DNA bubbles near the edges of the screen on the smaller devices.

Arcadelife verdict: Yes, I know this review is late and the game has been out for ages. I’ve finally unlocked everything (without using a single IAP) and I think this is one of the best games I have ever played on iOS. It’s certainly one of the most addictive. The challenges presented by the different plague types are varied and you can’t keep repeating the exact same strategy over and over again. When you eventually unlock the first special plague – the Neurax Worm – several aspects of the game are significantly different.

I’ve had a huge amount of fun with this game, from inventing loads of stupid names for the plagues to enduring edge-of-the-seat tension during several end-game races to beat a quickly developing cure. And, yes, the cheat plagues that are available after beating Neurax Worm on Brutal difficulty are as much fun as they sound.

Zero % cure development on Brutal difficulty. Good old Elvis!

There’s an update coming that will add a zombie plague to the game – I can’t wait to try that one out!

Arcadelife rating

Presentation – 9.5/10
Visuals – 9.5/10
Controls – 9.5/10
Content – 10/10
Fun – 10/10
Final rating – 10/10

BEST GAME EVER

Rating categories explained here.

Version reviewed by Arcadelife is 1.4.2

Ndemic Creations website link

Arcadelife played and reviewed this game on:
4th gen iPod Touch (iOS 6.0.1)
4th gen iPad (iOS 6.0.1)

The unintentional jokes are often the funniest

Banana Kong review (iOS / Universal)

10 word description: Endless auto-runner. Collect bananas, swing from vines, dodge enemies.

10 word review: Fun and endearingly addictive. High quality for an endless runner.

You will like this if you enjoy: Let me have a wild guess here – endless runners?

The good news: Graphics, sounds, level design, power-up evolution, even the controls are getting close to  Excellent territory. If you even remotely like endless games or auto-runner platform style games it’s a fair bet that you will love this one. Runs well on 1st gen iPad and 4th gen Touch.

The bad news: I could live without the IAPs, but then I can play the game quite happily without even considering them so it’s hardly a negative point. No iCloud sync for progress and unlocks, not that I could see anyway.

Arcadelife verdict: Great game, even though it raises the same degree of speculation that I had with Rayman Jungle Run – they could have made a great old-school platform game with this engine and these assets, so why didn’t they? Judged on its own merits, Banana Kong is a fine addition to the endless genre on iOS and should more than satisfy the majority of runner fans.

Arcadelife rating

Presentation – 9/10
Visuals – 8.5/10
Controls – 9/10
Content – 8.5/10
Fun – 9/10
Final rating – 9/10

EXCELLENT

Rating categories explained here.

Version reviewed by Arcadelife is 1.0.4

FDG Entertainment website link

Arcadelife played and reviewed this game on:
4th gen iPod Touch (iOS 6.0.1)
4th gen iPad (iOS 6.0.1)
1st gen iPad (iOS 5.1.1)