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Sheepstacker iPhone Game Review

iPhone App Reviewer — Sat, 30 May 2009 21:43:22 +0000

Sheepstacker: I dare you to put this game away.

Version Reviewed: 1.1.1
Developer: Tiny Tim Games
Price as of Review: $1.99
Current iTunes Rating: 4/5

Ok, so this review’s tagline might be exaggerating a little, nonetheless Sheepstacker is a refreshing new game for the iPhone. Sheepstacker’s gameplay is exactly what the title depicts, you must stack digital sheep until the cows come home (I promise that will be the only corny barnyard joke). Sheepstacker comes with three different gameplay modes, achievements and a fully colourful user interface. Although all along the same theme, the unique gameplay modes each provide a refreshing twist to the game. Sheepstacker requires you to use precise timing to stack the sheep without them tipping over and/or falling off. The game forces you to use touch and tilt controls and precise thinking.

As you play bonus points and multiplyers can be awarded for stacking the sheep more accuratly. Not to mention, the farther you go the more achievements you receive! The game can be quite addicting if you find it fun, some people I’ve demoed the app to don’t like the whole barnyard theme although the gameplay is still fun.

The game almost never crashes or glitches and you can clearly tell the developer put time into making the application. Although the user interface is not quite modern, and the graphics look a little outdated, the navigation tactics are solid. The high score menu has a bunch of different categories which can motivate you to play “just that little bit longer,” to see how good at the game you really are.

Although technically a 2D game all the graphics are rendered in 3D and are little edgy but are pleasent on the eyes. This would be the perfect game for parents to entertain a small child, or even themselves! It really speaks out to the pick up and play audience. Plus the games very fitting sound effects do not interfere with your music. Sheepstacker has a lite version so try it out, you won’t regret it.

Final Ratings:

Gameplay: 8.6/10 – Many gameplay modes, one solid theme. Entertainment on the iPhone in an amazing form

Enjoyment: 8.6/10 – Pretty fun, almost everybody I demoed to thoroughly enjoyed it

Graphics: 7/10 – A little edgy but still good

Sound: 8.2/10 – Near perfect sound effects, does not interfere with iPod Music.

Technology: 8.5/10 – Uses almost everything, very stable game too

Replay Value: 7.5/10 – If you do get addicted, you’ll be hooked and cornered.

Overall Rating: 8.1/10

Recommended For:

Small children
Fans of Scoops, Sky Burger, and other tilt/stacking games (check out the master of stacking games, Ian Marsh)

Further Improvements: (Note to the developer)

Just a tiny graphics improvement
Online leaderboard
More settings

More screenshots here

Other Reviews on Sheepstacker for iPhone and iPod Touch:

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Math Mania iPhone Game Review

iPhone App Reviewer — Sat, 30 May 2009 04:11:51 +0000

Math Mania: A simple game of simple math…

Version Reviewed: 1.0
Developer: Pumpkin Pulse
Price as of Review: $1.99
Current iTunes Rating: 2/5

Math Mania is a truncated version of apps like Brain Toot or Brain Age (Nintendo DS). It requires you to think on your feet to answer very simple math problems repetitively. This game is definitely geared towards children as the math problems are extremely easy and don’t go beyond your basic operations (+-/*). Math Mania doesn’t hold much potential for future updates and the two dollar price tag seems a little steep.

In Math Mania your goal is to score as many points by choosing whether the equation presented to you is true or false. Although the user interface is dull the game does not lag, glitch or even crash! Unfortunately the equation generation is quite dumb, as you can continuously press the correct button and score a significant amount of points, clearly the generation is random and not dynamic. The statistics feature is nice and gives a wide variety of information. To make it a little more interesting the game has quite a few setting from game time to the different category operations.

All in all, this is quick app for parents wanting to entertain children in an educational fashion, as well as a quick study helper for a 10 year old’s math test! If you’re a fan of apps like Brain Toot and fast thinking brain exercises, enjoy!

Final Ratings:

Gameplay: 7.5/10 – The gameplay is quite simple, not much time was put into it though, that is quite clear.

Enjoyment: 5/10 – It can be quite a drone to play…

Graphics: 5/10 – A blue themed user interface that looks like it was drawn on an ancient computer

Sound: 6/10 – Some interesting sound effects, not annoying at all!

Technology: 6/10 – More could be implemented, good job on stability however

Replay Value: 4/10 – If you are using this to study it will probably only be for a few times, otherwise – not very addictive.

Overall Rating: 5.6/10

Further Improvements: (Note to the developer!)

Harder mathematic equations
New gameplay aspect to keep the user coming back
Better user interface

More screenshots here

Other Reviews on Math Mania for the iPhone and iPod Touch:

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Doodle Jump iPhone Game Review

iPhone App Reviewer — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:46:02 +0000

Doodle Jump: Addictive heart pounding jumping action.

Version Reviewed: 1.0.3
Developer: Lima Sky
Price as of Review: $0.99
Current iTunes Rating: 3.5/5

This is another one of those meant-for-mobile games that fit the iPhone’s casual gaming paradigm near perfectly. Doodle Jump is a colourful well-sketched vertical slide game in which you must control a four legged doodled creature to go as high as the sky! Along the way you’ll have to shoot and dodge your way past enemy monsters and obstacles. One fun little feature is a being able to see other users scores while in the game (they’re marked on the right side of the screen). Doodle Jump is challenging enough to have you yelling out when you miss that high score by a completely close proximity.

Although jumping and missing/hitting blocks along the way might seem a little boring eventually, the developer of Doodle Jump as added some extra stuff to make the game interesting. Most notably is the dozens of sketched monsters that you must dodge or tap to shoot at. A slight defect to the game is the lack of an ammo counter or limited amount of bullets, without this the user can continuously tap the screen shooting an endless stream of bullets. Luckily there’s not only multiple monsters, but different types of landing pads. Some are moving, some static, and some few even break under your feet (be prepared for swift movement!). You can also give yourself an extra propulsion by hitting one of the springs which are found on the landing pads.

There are some common annoyances with Doodle Jump, the developer is missing some key features. Fear not however as Doodle Jump is in it’s early versions just being added to the app store. Lack of instructions can be a huge defect as some people might not find out about some of the features until later in the game after a few hours of play. There aren’t any settings (i.e. accelerometer or touch control, currently just accelerometer) and although the game pauses if you put the iPod in sleep or get an incoming call, there’s no manual pause.

As for graphics, the name says it all, it’s basically like a student’s doodling placed into an animated game. An although it’s a sketch like graphics set, it looks fantastic and runs smooth as a whistle. There isn’t any background music and it will pause your iPod music on load (although you can double click home and play) yet it comes with some cool sound effects that in my surprised opinion, don’t get annoying.

Final Ratings:

Gameplay: 8/10 – Although not much to it, it follows the iPhone gaming paradigm

Enjoyment: 8/10 – The enjoyment level does start to teter once you’ve mastered the game or just can’t get into it.

Graphics: 8/10 – Simple but smooth and easy on the eyes, user interface is fantastic including an animated menu

Sound: 7/10 – Nothing to say here…

Technology: 7.8/10 – The game runs very smoothly and no glitching in the tilt controls. However some multi touch action to control your character with touch control as well as shooting by tapping would be nice.

Replay Value: 8.3/10 – If you’re a fan of the game, you’re hooked.

Overall Rating: 7.9/10

Recommended For:

Casual gaming fanatics
Parents who want to entertain their kids for a few minutes or even extended length of time in a family-friendly way
Fans of Scoops, Sky Burger, Papi Jump, Sheepstacker [iTunes Links]
Fans of accelerometer controlled stack em up or live jumping games
People who love paying a buck for a darn good game

Further Improvements: (note to the developer)

In-game pause feature
Touch control as well as tilt, use multi-touch
Local as well as online leaderboard/high score
Information/Instructions page
Settings

More screenshots here

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