Tag Archives: action

Feb 27 2014

Now Playing: Bug Heroes 2 for iPhone and iPad

Did you play the original Bug Heroes game? I did. Years later, Bug Heroes 2 ($0.99/Universal) is Foursaken media’s latest addition to their lineup, following Bug Heroes Quest.

I must admit that while I played the first game extensively, the unlockable characters via in-app purchase threw me off. It didn’t help that I sucked at the game and it seemed that no matter how hard I tried, I just didn’t have powerful enough characters to use.

As for Bug Heroes 2, there are significant improvements and more problems compared to the original. It’s still the same game as the original – you control an arsenal of fighting bugs (spiders, ants, etc.) and use them to fend of waves of aggressive enemies who are out to steal your food stash (a.k.a. your base). This time, however, you have two (2) heroes to control. These heroes are obtained randomly (slot machine style), and more heroes require a certain number of stars to unlock further.

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Jan 28 2014

Now Playing: Bardbarian for iPad and iPhone

appsized bardbarian review

conga line … charge!

In any fantasy adventure, the bard usually plays a supporting role, providing inspiration and support to the rest of the party with his songs about war and heroism.

In my current game of choice, and one I highly recommend, Bardbarian for iPhone and iPad (by Bulky Pix and Tree Fortress), it’s Brad the Bard who takes centerstage in fighting off nasty baddies invading his village. However, Brad can’t directly attack them, but his battle axe turned magical musical instrument generates notes which lets him summon allies who do the fighting for him. What Brad can do is to activate special powers to boost his units, such as increased damage, speed or protection.

appsized bardbarian

channel your inner slash

It’s not easy to classify Bardbarian as one type of game but not another – the best way to put it is that it’s a crazy mishmash of different genres such as castle defense and a bit of RPG – crazy in a good way, of course.

If you still know the likes of Slash (Guns N Roses) and Kirk Hammet (Metallica), you’ll know that this Bard plays a mean guitar solo. So on top of a crazy, frantic game you get a pretty awesome soundtrack.

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Feb 16 2013

Karateka In Review: Is the Romance Gone?

Back in the 80s, Karateka was one of those seminal games (not very many were available then) that offered drama, romance and nail biting fight scenes.  Because personal computers then were just taking off, graphics were primitive and much of the excitement of the game depended on your imagination. If you grew up in that bygone era of early personal computing, then the dramatic background music and the boss fight, would be replaying in your mind right now.

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Dec 15 2012

iOS App Review: Ghostbusters Paranormal Blast


ghostbusters_paranormalblast_appSIZED2
For kids of my generation, Ghostbusters is an important part of growing up. You have these four funny guys (Egon, Peter, Winston and Ray) banding together to rid the city of ghosts, the scientific way. I learned about ectoplasm and the ways of Slimer, and my sisters and I named our very first hamsters after Egon and Jeanine (the wisecracking secretary).

To give you an idea of what Ghostbusters is about, check out the movie trailer below:

A cartoon series and several movies and later, Ghostbusters is all but forgotten. Not to us who grew up watching them, and not to XMG Studio whose developers have come up with a way to keep the Ghostbusters alive through Ghostbusters Paranormal Blast.

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Sep 3 2012

Of Bots and Blocks: Shatter Crash for iPad

Puzzle games for the iPhone and iPad have taken on a whole new meaning for me – we have physics based puzzlers like Angry Birds, platform puzzle type games a la Lost Winds, and marble shooter/puzzle games like Zuma HD. Many prominently featured games on the App Store are categorized as puzzle games one way or another. Lately, I’ve been missing the regular types of puzzle games, the ones with pieces that are supposed to fit together and have a defined answer.

Shatter Crash is one such example. It’s a game that is unmistakably a puzzle game, but it’s so much more than that.

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Feb 19 2012

iOS App Review: Powder Monkeys for iPhone and iPad

Sail high on the perilous seas with Powder Monkeys a light and casual role playing game (RPG) with loads of that puts you at the helm of the Monkey Navy, sworn to take back the islands from your Bug foes.

 

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Jan 8 2012

iOS App Review: Defenders of Ardania

Defenders of Ardania on appSIZED

Defenders of Ardania proclaims that it is the future of tower defense (TD) games and it’s not an empty boast. Defenders of Ardania blends tower defense and offense, resource management, and action into a unique, complex and addictive strategy game perfect for the jaded TD gamer.

Defenders of Ardaniapackages itself into a tower defense game but it is much more than that. Drawing from the quirky and magical world of Ardania first seen in Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim (lone purveyor of the indirect real time strategy game), this game offers a unique challenge: can you defend and attack at the same time?

Jan 2 2012

iOS App Review: Luxor 2 HD

Luxor 2 HD on appSIZED

There aren’t enough marble shooter games for the iPhone and iPad, but fortunately we have Luxor 2 HD to make up for the quality, if not the quantity. Amid the proliferation of Zuma wannabes, this classic PC port stands on its own shiny merits.

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Dec 31 2011

appSIZED: Top 10 iPhone and iPad Games of 2011

Quirky jellies. Adorable warriors. Reformist prison guard. Giant dancing unicorn. Funny army troops. FBI’s oddball puzzle agent. Elegant hand-to-hand combat. Cheerleader vs zombies. Ardanian wit meets tough strategy. These are appSIZED’s Top 10 iOS Original Games for 2011.

It was not easy coming up with appSIZED’s Top 10 games for 2011. This year, I wanted to give credit to iOS original titles – that is, fun, compelling and high quality games that first appeared on the iOS platform. The following games were chosen for the following reasons: they make use of the touch screen and multitouch well, they have excellent graphics and sounds, and they bring something new and/or great to their respective genres. I highly recommend that you put them on your app shopping list.

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Dec 10 2011

iOS Sale Alert! Pacquiao’s Pound for Pound, 2 EA Games Gone Free, and EPOCH On Sale!

Pacquiao pound for pound flight control mirrors edge epoch

Because it’s the season to be jolly, some great games have gone on sale early into the Yuletide season! 
 
1) Pound for Pound (Universal/FREE) – Manny Pacquiao fans might want to check out this boxing game with an RPG flavor, to throw some fancy punches, rescue a damsel in distress and be Pacquiao for a few hours. The game needs some work in the controls department, but as far as likeness goes, this freebie for a limited time is a must for Pacquiao fans. 
 
2) EPOCH (Universal/$2.99) – Apple’s former Game of the Week for iPad is a futuristic, cover shooting action game boasting of some pretty gorgeous graphics courtesy of UnrealEngine, the guys behind Infinity Blade. Now that it’s on sale for a limited time, make sure you don’t miss it! 
 
3) Mirror’s Edge for iPad (iPad/FREE) – You gotta love EA for their daily freebies! Mirror’s Edge is a platform game where the Runners (such as Faith, the character you’ll be playing) are the last bastion of freedom in a dystopian future. You can do some pretty fancy running and jumping tricks while admiring the city scenery. The iPhone version is also FREE! 
 
4) Flight Control HD (iPad/FREE) – This is the game that launched a thousand line drawing games. As part of EA’s freebie deals, this retro-inspired iOS classic is one for the books. The iPhone version is also FREE. 
 
EA’s other games are also on sale, including Dead Space, Apple’s iPad Game of the Year pick, so don’t forget to visit the EA page in the App Store. 
 
 
H(app)y shopping!