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Thursday, October 6, 2011

Dragon Portals HD Review

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Dragon Portals HD Review

By Jennifer Allen on October 6th, 2011
Our Rating:

:: ENJOYABLE
iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad

It’s a challenging Match Three title but one that offers an entertaining twist on the norm.

Developer: 10tons
Price: $4.99
Version Reviewed: 1.3.0
Device Reviewed On: iPad 2

Graphics / Sound Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Game Controls Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Replay Value Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

An exciting Match Three title that feels a cut above the rest? Surely not! That’s exactly the case with Dragon Portals HD. It might prove to be quite a challenge to many players but it’s certainly a far cry from so many stagnant and uninspiring Match Three games before it.

The premise of the game is a little outlandish. Saving the world is in there but in a fairly unconventional way. All players need to know is that they have to send dragons back from whence they came from. To do this, they must match orbs of various colors. Ah ha, there’s the Match Three side of the game. Don’t run away though. It works well. Four dragons are on screen, each with a number of orbs inside their bodies. Players can only match the orbs by dropping them down, never up. This adds the much needed level of strategy. Not needing to manoevre much also means that controls are limited to just one tap. Players only need to have one finger available at any time in order to tap an orb to make it go down. It’s as simple as that.

Special powers are provided which offer a mixture of passive bonuses and magical attacks. While one might highlight all relevant moves, another can unleash a lightning bolt from the sky. It keeps the action flowing quickly which is vital in a game with such a tight time limit. Dragon Portals HD is not for the faint hearted. It’s pretty tough in later stages, even for those used to the genre. It wasn’t long before I found myself in a race against time at the end of each level with dragons desperate to fall from the sky. It keeps things ticking along nicely, however. While Dragon Portals HD might ultimately be a fairly repetitive and formulaic game, the speed in which progression must be made makes it feel more exciting than other games of its type.

Besides the main story mode of the game, there’s also a survival mode which is pretty self explanatory – last as long as possible. There’s also a form of mini game in between levels which offers a photography task. Players must take photos of dragon faces. It’s an OK distraction but pretty dull after a while and easy to skip past.

Dragon Portals HD might be yet another Match Three title but it does so with a flourish. The style of the game is very appealing and the gameplay is fast and addictive. It’s an ideal combination.

Dragon Portals HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $4.99

Our Rating:

:: ENJOYABLE
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-09-07 :: Category: Games

Apps mentioned in this post: Dragon Portals HD

About: Dragon Portals HD Review is a post from 148Apps

Jennifer Allen 06 Oct, 2011

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Source: http://www.148apps.com/reviews/dragon-portals-hd-review/
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SRS Labs Takes Playlists To a New Height

at 7:32 AM

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If there is one thing that Apple has been known for since the launch of the iPod, it’s connecting the audience with their music. After all, this entire tech revolution from Apple hinged around the success of a certain media player, if we’re not mistaken. So, as can be imagined, music quality has been a key feature of all iOS based devices since day one.

The problem is that Apple’s specific suite of software has grown somewhat stale in the actual media player department, lacking many of the features that can be found in other devices. Fortunately SRS Labs saw this glaring discrepancy and stepped in with the release of their new playback tool, MyTunes.

Aside from the obvious feature of being able to play music, here are some things of note:

WOW HD – The heart of audio enhancement. Easily switch between tunings for all kinds of listening devices that includes headphones, speakers, car audio, and the internal device speakers.
Normalize – Never have to adjust the volume again. This tech puts all of your music to the same level when you play it.
EQ – Gain access to a 3-band and a 10 band EQ. For simplicity you can just choose a preset and we'll take care of the rest.
Driving Mode – Interface optimized for using the media player quickly.
DJ Transitions – Let the player DJ to you and change from one track to the next just like they do in dance clubs.
Player – Have full access to an enhanced player that offers streamlined search, scan, and play controls.
Custom album art – If a song is missing album art we'll provide art based on the genre.

The idea of a three and ten band mixer alone is enough to get many onboard, so be sure to give the app a look. There is a free preview available now, with a fully functional version of the tool unlockable for $4.99. Ears deserve to be pampered, and this is certainly a step in the right direction.

MyTunes

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2011-10-05 :: Category: Music

Apps mentioned in this post: MyTunes

About: SRS Labs Takes Playlists To a New Height is a post from 148Apps

Blake Grundman 06 Oct, 2011

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Source: http://www.148apps.com/news/srs-labs-takes-playlists-height/
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Black Magic Review

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Black Magic Review

By Chris Nitz on October 6th, 2011
Our Rating:

:: RETRO ADVENTURES
iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Black Magic is retro adventure game that will challenge players to the bitter end.

Developer: Elite Systems
Price: $0.99
Version: 2.0
App Reviewed on: iPhone

Graphics / Sound Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
User Interface Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Re-use / Replay Value Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Overall Rating: 3.25 out of 5 stars

Datasoft is one of those companies that continually produce games that challenge players from the moment they start, and never let up until the game is completed or the player rage-quit. Black Magic happens to be an 8-bit gem from 1987 that reminds us all of the joys that only come from beating a challenging game. Thanks to the Elite Collection, iPhone gamers will be able to take a stroll down memory lane – just be sure to have a box of tissue handy.

Black Magic is an adventure game where players will traverse through a fantasy world in hopes to save a great kingdom from the evil warlock Zahgrim. To accomplish this task, players will need to slay a variety of enemies and make their way through various obstacles and traps. This is not an easy voyage as the enemies are skilled at destroying would-be heroes. Seriously, this is a rough side-scrolling adventure.

The game comes with a few ways to control the hero, with a configurable d-pad and movable joystick being the mainstays. Portrait orientation will see the screen cut in half so the buttons are easily configurable and seen, while landscape will add in a touch of opacity so they do not block big portions of the screen. The controls are a bit sluggish, and sometimes response lag is an issue. What would have been nice is to adjust the size of the joystick, as it is a tad on the small side.

When it comes to how the game looks and sounds, this is a faithful port of the 1987 classic. That means pixelation, simple primary colors, and basic animation rule the day. The world is remarkably detailed even with this 8-Bit scheme, but don’t expect to be blown away by crazy polygon counts and immense textures. Likewise, the sound is an assortment of beeps at various pitch levels, and the sound effects are the fundamental bleep and bloops. If retro is high on the entertainment list, this will get the game juices flowing.

This is an extremely faithful port of the original game, all the way down to the input lag. The game is difficult, yet rewarding thanks to each success being well deserved. This is not a game that will appeal to everyone, but any fans of games gone by will find this makes a decent addition to the collection.

Black Magic

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: $0.99

Our Rating:

:: RETRO ADVENTURES
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2011-10-01 :: Category: Games

Apps mentioned in this post: Black Magic

About: Black Magic Review is a post from 148Apps

Chris Nitz 06 Oct, 2011

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Source: http://www.148apps.com/reviews/black-magic-review/
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Top 3 App Deals for 10-6-11

at 6:32 AM

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Another day, another top three apps that are a heck of a deal. Feel free to peruse the Latest iPhone and iPad App Price Drops page, but if that’s just way too much work, here’s what we have for you today:

Anomaly Warzone Earth HD – Was $3.99, Now $1.99
“Anomaly: Warzone Earth HD is a tower offense game, putting players in control of invading forces that must survive the defenses the enemy has laid out.”

Tiny Invaders – Was $1.99, Now FREE
“Tapping into the typical feel of single screen puzzle games, Tiny Invaders is all about saving the world. Players must direct germs around human veins in order to collect up glowing orbs in order to progress to the next level.”

SKTCH – Was $1.99, Now FREE
“SKTCH is a generative drawing application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Instead of adopting traditional “brush” based drawing, SKTCH is about presets, created by a number of digital artists around the globe.”

About: Top 3 App Deals for 10-6-11 is a post from 148Apps

Rob LeFebvre 06 Oct, 2011

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Source: http://www.148apps.com/news/top-3-app-deals-10611/
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Parodise Review

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Parodise Review

By Bobby Gooding on October 6th, 2011
Our Rating:

:: PARODY
Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

An action defense game that’s filled with parodies and was originally denied entry to the App Store for objectionable content.

Developer: Paro Games
Price: $0.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPhone 3GS

Graphics / Sound Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Game Controls Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Replay Value Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Overall Rating: 4.13 out of 5 stars

Parodise is the first game to hit the App Store from Paro Games. It was originally ‘banned’ from the App Store with the reason, “app concept objectionable.” So as with anything that’s been forbidden, I was instantly twice as tempted to play it now that it’s been approved.

The gameplay, labelled by the developers as ‘action-defense,’ sees players take on the role of a ghost. As far as I can tell from the often funny but rather abstract storyline, he’s living life up in the clouds where he’s been tasked with keeping the “parogate” clean. Another ghost (I assume), is trying to throw all sorts of stuff into it, from both sides of the screen. It’s DUMY-667′s (I think that’s the player character’s name) job to swipe his swords and slice the objects before they get there. As you may tell, the story’s a little odd and not perfectly written, leaving the player to decipher a lot. However, it’s definitely worth reading on the way through, there’s a quite a few comical moments in there.

The items are one of the most fun parts of the game. It’s also where Parodise get’s its name, as each item is a parody from something else — Star Wars is parodied with a character called Yody, and the items being thrown come from a range of sources and many other iOS games including Angry Birds, Doodle Jump and Fruit Ninja – each often poked fun at when introduced, such as the “birds that look like they have head trauma.” There’s even a Legend of Zelda reference in there, which made me smile, as it’s one of my favorite game franchises ever.

The absolute best part about Parodise for me, though, is its difficulty. It’s sure not easy to survive the full day towards the later levels. The extra unlockable game modes, such as Dojo and Survival, require a hefty amount of game time to be put in before they become available, which ultimately means a lot more time can be spent with this app before it feels ‘completed.’ But even when repeatedly failing, the level always feels doable.

The comedic, text-based storyline may not be for everyone. The parodies may not be understood by everyone. But the gameplay is a whole lot of fun, and rewards a player for learning the way in which different items react and for consequently reacting quickly to these items themselves. I will add that the written content may not be suited to the very youngest members of the family, but they probably wouldn’t take the time to read it anyway. Overall, I’m glad that Parodise eventually found it’s way to the App store. It would have been shame if we’d missed out on it.