Cuorbs: Ninja speed colour matching

Cuorbs is another rendering intense game from indie developers Prixeon.  The game is amazingly simple and is similar to the popular free app Dactyl.  In Cuorbs you must quickly slide different coloured squares into their corresponding colour (two colours at one time, each one on a side).  The squares will continue to pop up at faster rates.  Eventually, they’ll turn red, if that happens, the game is over.  The only other way to end the game is to slide the square into the wrong colour.  Like I said, amazingly simple.

Although this game is difficult enough, difficulty levels would be a nice touch.  Since all the colours are changing and the sides swap this game will trick your mind and you need to think fast!  There’s so many features that could be implemented to make this game great.  Right now it’s pretty basic and definitely needs an update to attract users.  As for the user interface, it could use some elbow grease.  There’s no menu link to the high scores and it overall just looks hastily done.  In the game however, things look fantastic!  Touch controls are smooth and responsive.  There’s no glitches whatsoever in there.

So if you like modernized arcade games or fast paced thrillers like Dactyl or Frenzic, this game is for you.  Plus it’s priced at $0.99 which is fantastic.  Although until this game gets some more features we have to knock off a few points.

Final Ratings:

Gameplay: 6.5/10

Enjoyment: 8/10

Graphics: 8/10

Sound: 5/10

Technology: 6/10

Replay Value: 6/10

Overall Rating: 6.5/10

Further Improvements: (note to the developer *implementing some of these suggestions would rapidly increase rating)

• Access to high scores from main menu
• In game pause feature, with access to high scores, help, and main menu
• Colour blind support, add patterns
• Power-ups
• New concept (i.e. squares can move themselves into the edges, to avoid opposite colours touching, use tilt accelerometer controls)
• User interface touch up
• Global high scores
• Difficulty levels

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Engio War is an addictive tilt controlled 2D shooter with vibrant appealing colours. This app makes you feel like you’re in a huge particle demo simulation but it’s really entrancing. You take the role of an Arc Shooter fighting off various enemies with your constant stream of dark-matter bullets. Moving your Arc around with the accelerometer tilting controls, and braking by holding down on the screen. For an extra graphical effect, you can tap the screen to unleash a frenzy of particles (which do nothing but are well, cool!). Once you get far enough, whirlwinds of particles will appear and try to pull your bullets into it.

Simple, yes, but nonetheless challenging. The accelerometer controls are fairly good but could be smoothed out a bit. It would be nice to add a small touch controlled orientation change.  Engio War is a diamond in the rough, a great start to something that with more features could be an amazing arcade game.  Once you progress into the game whirlwinds will suck in particles and dark matter bullets, and new enemies will appear.  Unfortunately there aren’t many enemies in the game and the enemies do not do anything except swarm you (why not have abilities and weapons).  Nonetheless Prixeon (the developer of Engio War) claims the enemies have “Advanced AI.”  They’re not kidding, the artificial intelligence is excellently done.

The app mostly lacks a user interface, a very bare-bones menu which is missing a menu link for high scores.  In game pause screen won’t allow you to go back to the main menu, instructions, or high scores.  If the app is interrupted by a phone call or exiting the app, the game doesn’t save so it won’t be there for you when you come back.  If you press the top button on your iPhone to lock it, the game keeps playing.  The graphics are decent, the particles and background really attract you into the game.  Although, the game objects like your Arc Shooter and enemies graphics are mediocre.

To wrap up, if you’re into retro style arcade gaming this game is for you.  Especially if Prixeon adds more features in their next update.  If you like a casual game that wastes time in any length then this is also perfect.  The game can be a challenge at the start but eventually you get pretty good so the game does lose some replay value.  $3.99 is a bit steep for this app, unless they add some for features.  $1.99 would better suit it.  If you’re into this sort of game though, don’t let the price scare you away.

Overall Ratings:

Gameplay: 7.5/10

Enjoyment: 8.5/10

Graphics: 7.5/10

Sound: 5/10

Technology: 8.5/10

Replay Value: 8/10

Overall Rating: (note, for an accurate rating we have taken sound out of the average rating), 8/10

Further Improvements: (note to the developer!)

• Power-ups
• More enemies
• Graphics update on Arc Shooter and enemies
• Better user interface navigation
• Sound effects and/or background music
• Worldwide high scores
• Wi-fi two player

More screenshots here

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