Archive for '$4'
Match 3D Flick Puzzle iPhone Game App Review
Posted on 07. Sep, 2009 by iPhone App Reviewer.
Match 3D Flick Puzzle: Adding dimensions to the classic match ‘em up game.
| Our Rating: 8.3/10 |  |
[Screenshots] |
Version Reviewed: 1.05.14
Developer: PlayScreen [iTunes Link]
Price as of Review: $3.99
Current iTunes Rating: 4.5/5
Size: 9.6MB
Lite Version: [iTunes Link]
Match 3D Flick Puzzle is a creative pick up and play game which adds a few new concepts to classics like Bejeweled [iTunes Link]. The objective remains the same, score as many points as possible by matching three of the same objects or more. To do this simply tap the first object and then an adjacent object, the two will swap and (hopefully) form a pair. Like word search puzzles you need a good eye and in the case of Match 3D, you need fast timing.
The quicker you scout for matches the longer you’ll last in the game, once the timer reaches the end in either Classic or Survival mode, the game is over. By racking higher combination’s and more matches at the same time, you’ll receive time bonuses. The unique and spectacular concept for Match 3D Flick Puzzle is the completely 3D gameplay. Rather then matching objects on a 2D surface, you have to match them on six faces of a cube. You can even select a specific part inside the cube and look for matches internally.
The entire interface uses full multi-touch controls that allow you to pinch to zoom, rotate, and swipe around the cube to manipulate your perspective view. Combination’s can be created from multiple planes making this a very intriguing game. The graphics are excellently rendered and don’t become pixelated when you zoom in all the way on the cube. The sound effects match the theme perfectly however a lot of people will find the background music annoying, you can easily play your own iPod music without stability problems. The only glitches I’ve been able to find are a few touch interface glitches (unresponsiveness, etc), all of which are pretty rare and shouldn’t affect gameplay.
All in all Match 3D Flick Puzzle is an amazing new perspective on the classic match ‘em up gameplay concept. For four dollars Match 3D can provide you with hours of fun – definitely check this one out. This app will not be deleted off my iPod for a long while.
Final Ratings:
Gameplay: 9.2/10 – A whole new gameplay concept.
Enjoyment: 7.8/10 – My judgement is a little biased here as I’ve played so many match ‘em up games, however Match 3D has trapped my attention.
Graphics: 8.5/10 – Excellently rendered and friendly on the eyes.
Sound: 6.4/10 – Not the greatest.
Technology: 9/10 – Excellent multi-touch interface.
Replay Value: 8.7/10 – Can be very addicting.
Overall Rating: 8.3/10
Further Improvements: (Note to the developer!)
- Tilt controls to manipulate cube
- Multiple background music tracks
Screenshots of Match 3D Flick Puzzle on the iPhone App Reviewer Flickr Page.
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iBattleshi*s – An iPhone Game App ‘Review’
Posted on 22. Aug, 2009 by thetraynor.
This App Sucks. [iTunes Link]
| Our Rating: 4/10 |  |
[Screenshots] |
So, iBattleships… I don’t know what to say about this app, theres nothing about it I like. You know you first hear “Battleship is coming to the iPhone” and you get a little excited because you haven’t played it in years… then after the wait you finally get it and you realize it would have been more fun watching paint dry…
Lets just get to the point, down and dirty, this app sucks. End of story. Why does it suck you might ask? Lets see:
- Control system. So you launch the app all excited to relive your childhood and you see the menu screen pop up, you anxiously press “play” and the game begins. Once loaded you see your game board and ships just like the original board game. What you also see is the appearance of the top of a joystick on the right hand side of screen. A little confusing? I think so… so once you figure out that you need to use the joy stick to place your ships, you realize that wait, the game board is on an angle so if I press up on this stupid joystick, it doesn’t always go up. But if I go on angle it goes to the right, so you start hitting yourself in the head because its more fun than the game.
Secondly once you get your ships places you have to continue using the joy stick to fire on your enemies… Is it just me or does this defeat the entire point of a TOUCH SCREEN phone? Did the dev team say “how can we effectively use the touch screen .. LETS NOT AND CREATE A MOTIONLESS TOUCH JOYSTICK TO ANNOY ALL OUR POSSIBLE USERS??? DURHHHHH.
- Okay I think I’ve ripped the controls enough now lets talk about how it looks. Your game finally loads and all your game boards are on an angle which is kinda weird but alright, lets give this a shot. So you place ALLLLLLLL 5 of your ships, and then the enemies board (blank for you to fire at) comes into view. Now you have 2 boards in view, both on that annoying angle that just screws with your head and the motionless POS joy stick that doesn’t work properly. Now both boards are small and annoying to navigate with the crap control system, why isn’t there an option to see them one at a time… Don’t ask me, but there should be.
Now I think I’ve ripped on this app pretty good, so lets talk about the dev teams options for fixing this. Wait, did I say options, I mean option. As in theres only one solution.
TRASH IT AND START OVER.
Now I know someone’s going to say ‘but they got through Apple’s screening process’ well fyi an app where you can shake a baby to death got through the process, so this is nothing.
Now I know normally here at iPhoneappreviewer.com we do a whole rating scale and offer improvement suggestions, but I’m only going to give one.
If you want a high scoring review, submit this app to a site more along the lines of iPhoneCRAPreviewer.com …
thetraynor out.
Like this rant? Follow me on twitter @thetraynor for more rants and stupid stuffs.
Final Rating: 4/10
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Find It! iPhone Game Review
Posted on 31. Jan, 2009 by iPhone App Reviewer.
Find It!: A different style of app for your iPhone.
Find it! is a “find the differences in the pictures” app. 
Yes it’s a classic puzzle game but nonetheless the developer (incognitek) has done an excellent job on Find It! Find It has tons of different puzzles, I have never done the same one twice. Difficulties range, some are extremely difficult while others you’ll figure out in a few seconds. It would be nice to be able to set your own difficulty level though. At first look, Find It! is an addictive eagle eye app.
However they made the differences (photoshop, different shots) everything turned out perfect. Everything looks like the original photo and doesn’t have huge chunks or differences. You really have to use your eagle eye to pinpoint the differences. The interface is fantastic, no complaints. The scoring system is pretty good, based on how fast you find the differences. Unfortunately the game lacks much settings, and this can be a killer for some people wanting to buy this app. No difficulty levels, no tweaking with the gameplay, etc… A nice addition would be to choose between hints costing points from your score or only having so many hints. In my humble opinion, 
the background music is awful but on that note, sound effects for finding differences and changing photos aren’t too bad.
As for user interface, it’s perfect and the beach styled theme fits the app with flying colours. The few options they have (just sound settings) are located in the app rather then in the iPod’s setting apps (amen developer). Instructions are clear in describing the interface and nobody should have trouble.
All in all, if you’re a fan of this type of puzzle game, hidden object games (i.e. The Stone of Destiny) or enjoy flicking through cute and funny photos, this app is for you. Great casual play, at an…ok price. Would be better priced at $2.99.
Pick this app up though, you won’t be disappointed.
Final Ratings:
Gameplay: 7.5/10 – Not many aspects of the game but the developer executes the concept amazingly
Enjoyment: 8/10 – Once I got into this app I was surprised at the enjoyment level. I’ve never been a huge fan of these games but this one turned the table.
Graphics: 9/10 – The photos are all top-notch quality, and the interface beautiful
Sound: 5/10 – Unfortuantely didn’t like the sound much… We’re excluding Sound from the overall rating
Technology: 7/10 – Great demonstration of the touch screen, unfortunately no multi-touch or accelerometer (tilt) controls
Replay Value: 8.5/10 – Surprisingly addictive and I’ve never played the same puzzle
Overall Rating: 8/10
Further Improvements: (note to the developer!)
- Gallery of all pictures and which you’ve completed. Watermark the ones you haven’t.
- Statistics
- Zoom-in and pan (pinch fingers)
- Fix glitch where you press multiple differences at once (narrow tap area)
- Save game when you exit the app, but change photo so you can’t cheat!
- Make and upload your own photo puzzles
- Lower Price to $2-3 dollars
My high score is 20632, post yours in the comments!
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