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iPhone Quick Review Series 3: Killer Pool, Photo Spot, ATC 4.0, Escape 1

Posted on 02. May, 2009 by iPhone App Reviewer.

Today’s line up of apps:

Killer Pool
Photo Spot
ATC 4.0
Escape 1

Killer Pool [iTunes Link] – [Screenshots]

Current Price: $2.99
Category: Games
Developer: Sauce Digital
Current iTunes Rating: 3/5
Version Reviewed: 1.1

Synopsis: A unique pool game with excellent graphics and user interface. Probably one of the best pool applications I’ve seen for the iPhone. Check it out if you’re a fan of pool, it even comes with several different gameplay modes.

The Good:

Lots of different gameplay modes
Realistic feel
Doesn’t lag or crash (at least it hasn’t happened to me in my reviewing session)
One of the best pool experiences for the iPhone

The Bad:

Lots of glitches
The occasional “What the heck?” when regarding the physics of the game

Conclusion: I still don’t think we’re at a point where a game like pool can be mobile. If you’re a die hard fan or are looking for a casual experience then go for it. Otherwise, stay away.

Final Rating: 7.5/10

Photo Spot [iTunes Link] – [Screenshots]

Current Price: $0.99
Category: Games
Developer: Nexx Studio
Current iTunes Profile: 3.5/5
Version Reviewed: 1.1

Synopsis: Another spot the difference game for the iPhone, this one is quite good however! Tons of photos and endless fun.

The Good:

Tons of different images
Beautiful user interface
Online and local leaderboard
Very challenging
Able to continue game
Photos are rendered for differences perfectly

The Bad:

Very hard, no difficulty settings
You’re able to continue game, but nothing is stopping you from cheating (taking screenshot, closing app, look at photos, opening app, winning)

Conclusion: We previously reviewed Find It! which is very similar, another spot-the-differences game. If you’re a fan of these types of games and are looking for a huge challenge, I’d go with Photo Spot. We at iPhone App Reviewer are fans of both these games, pretty much in equality too. After a careful analysis we’ve decided Photo Spot is the better choice.

Final Rating: 8.5/10

ATC 4.0 [iTunes Link] – [Screenshots]

Current Price: $0.99 [Sale]
Category: Games
Developer: C3 Software
Current iTunes Rating: 2/5
Version Reviewed: 1.3

Synopsis: ATC 4.0 is a flight control app in which you must guide planes to their destination using a waypoint system. The game can be very challenging and yet addictive. If you’re a fan of survival games with quick thinking paradigm’s go for it.

The Good:

Great tutorial with tons of gameplay modes
Local and online high score board
Developed quite well

The Bad:

Gets boring fast
Repetitive
No new game concepts as you progress through

Conclusion: If you like guiding airplanes across a 3.5″ screen in repetitive tapping, go for it. If not, well, you know.

Final Rating: 5/10

Escape 1 [iTunes Link] – [Screenshots]

Current Price: $0.99
Category: Entertainment
Developer: Thumb Country
Current iTunes Rating: 5/5
Version Reviewed: 1.4

Synopsis: You must control an escaping character which has to make his way down levels before the spikes at the top reach him. You cannot miss the platforms or it’s gameover!

The Good:

Online leaderboard
Use of accelerometer

The Bad:

Very small usage, not many people on the leaderboards
Graphics are poor
Controls are laggy, and lack functionality (i.e. no jump)
No new game concepts as you progress

Conclusion: For fans of Papi Jump and similar games who are looking for a literally upside down alternative, $0.99 is a roughly fitting price.

Final Rating: 3/10

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iPhone Quick Review Series 2: Bonsai Blast, Bubble Shuffle, and Ballsy

Posted on 22. Apr, 2009 by iPhone App Reviewer.

Today’s lineup: Bonsai Blast, Bubble Shuffle, and Ballsy

Bonsai Blast [iTunes Link] – [Screenshots]

Current Price: $1.99 [Sale]
Category: Games
Developer: Glu
Current iTunes Rating: 3.5/5
Version Reviewed: 1.1

Synopsis: A simple game similar to popular online flash games in which you control a gun that shoots coloured bubbles at a stream of other coloured bubbles. The goal is to break up the stream by matching the bubbles. You have to do this before the stream reaches the end of the path.

The Good:

A very casual game that’s easy to pick up and play
Excellently developed
Concept is executed quite well
Somewhat addicting if you’re into this sort of game
Adventure and Survival Mode
Award Winning

The Bad:

Awful for colour blind users – unplayable
Gets boring quick

Conclusion: For the fast paced puzzle seeker, look no further. Also for fans of tower defense games like Fieldrunners, the gameplay is similar. As said before, it’s excellently developed so if you’re a fan of this type of game, you should absolutely love it.

Final Rating: 6.8/10

Bubble Shuffle [iTunes Link] – [Screenshots]

Current Price: $4.99
Category: Games
Developer: Handmark
Current iTunes Rating: 3/5
Version Reviewed: 1.0

Synopsis: A multi-mode word puzzle game in an aquarium themed environment.

The Good:

Four different gameplay modes
Very stable
Kid-friendly
Four difficulty levels
User-friendly user interface
Great learning tool for kids

The Bad:

Although user friendly, the user interface is sort of ugly
Targeted more towards kids (only)

Conclusion: A parent looking to entertain their kid for a good twenty minutes in a fun and eductional matter then here you go. For fans of word game fanatics, fans of games like wurdle, WordsWorth, and WordSmith.

Final Rating: 6/10

Ballsy [iTunes Link] – [Screenshots]

Current Price: $1.99
Category: Games
Developer: Spigot Games
Current iTunes Rating: 4.5/5
Version Reviewed: 1.0

Synopsis: An interesting breakout like game, the concept is very unique but the execution is questionable.

The Good:

Nostalgic feel
Fits the iPhone gaming paradigm (but still poorly executed)
Interesting and very unique gameplay

The Bad:

Poor graphics
Poorly implemented control scheme
Huge lack of use of easily available technology at hand
Feels dull when playing

Conclusion: A very unique gameplay that might be fantastic to some people, although it feels like a drag to play. Can be addicting if you’re into it.

Rating: 6/10

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iPhone Quick Review Series 1

Posted on 21. Apr, 2009 by iPhone App Reviewer.

Welcome to the first post of many in our iPhone Quick Review series. Quite frequently we’ll publish a post which includes a short review of several apps, weighing the pros and cons of the app, and giving it a generic numeral rating. And so we begin…

Super Monkey Ball [iTunes Link] – [Screenshots]

Current Price: $5.99
Category: Games
Developer: SEGA
Current iTunes Rating: 3.5/10
Version Reviewed: 1.0.2

Synopsis: A mobile version of the popular multi-platform 3D Super Monkey Ball series. SMB has you controlling a tiny monkey which must tilt and balance it’s way to the goal.

The Plus:

Fans of the full platform version will love this mobile SMB
Five worlds containing 20 levels each
Four different characters
Amazingly fun and addicting
Presents a unique challenge to iPhone users

The Negative:

Can be very challenging and frustrating
Very prone to crashing
$6 Dollars is a little steep, no lite version

Final Rating: 8.5/10

Pocket God [iTunes Link] – [Screenshots]

Current Price: $0.99
Category: Entertainment
Developer: Bolt Creative
Current iTunes Rating: 4.5/5
Version Reviewed: 1.13

Synopsis: You are in control of a mobile island of tribesman, you are capable of striking them down with lightning, feeding them to sharks, knocking them into a vocanoe and so much more. It can honestly entertain you for hours.

The Pros:

A very entertaining soon-to-be classic
Perfects the iPhone entertainment paradigm
Fully displays the capabilities of the iPhone – Accelerometer, multi-touch, hardware speed
Constantly updates making the app always entertaining (see their blog)
Perfect price – 99 cents.

The Negatives: