A few people have been experiencing an unusual drain of their iPhone battery after unlocking with UltraSn0w. The problem doesn’t actually come from UltraSn0w itself, but from the hacktivation process, for those of you who have hacktivated instead of activating the phone with an official carrier.
According to BigBoss, the issue comes from iOS 4.1 and 4.2.1 which constantly look for valid push certificates, either via wifi or your data plan (Edge or 3G). If you’re not on an unlimited data plan, this can get pretty expensive, especially if you don’t keep an eye on it.
There are 3 potential solutions for this… Read More
Developer: Origin 8
Price: $3.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0.0
Graphics / Sound Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
Game Controls Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 4.65 out of 5 stars
Re-use / Replay Value Rating: 4.65 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 4.63 out of 5 stars
It goes without saying that the Sentinel series is one of, if not the most successful tower defense franchises in the App Store. Unlike other games in the genre, the Sentinel games actually feel like games that could withstand the test of time on any portable system. They all have excellent graphics, more detailed textures than any other game of their kind, have a wide array of towers and one shot weapons, and most importantly, are challenging.
The team at Origin 8 though had their work cut out for them when they decided to create the third game of the series, Sentinel 3: Homeworld. Not only did they have to match the high bar that they had already put in place, but they also had to exceed their standards enough to keep the tower defense crazies (like me) happy… and boy am I happy.
Before the additions though, newcomers to the game will find the same formula that have delighted the seasoned vets for a few years now. Sentinel 3 is a fixed path tower defense game that adds a few tidbits to the tried and true formula. Instead of just having an allotment of creeps that you can let through, Sentinel gives you a base and an assortment of barriers that you must protect. Protecting these barriers not only prevents the creeps from getting to the main base, but they also act as a great enemy hoarder for your big guns to shoot at. The other addition to the mix is interest, something that many Sentinel players use differently. As you pass wave after wave, the money that you don’t used gains interest, letting you accumulate towers faster than you normally would in a typical tower defense game. The trick is that while you aren’t spending, you aren’t building… and the creeps sure don’t get easier as the games progress. If you plan well enough, the interest system can really be a boon to your bank account.
Not to rest on their laurels, Sentinel 3 adds some major features to the already packed game. The first is a commander unit that can finally do away with the pesky enemy units that find their way into the tiny spots on your walls and wreck havoc. Not just a typical unit though, the commander adds moral to the towers around him and gains EXP in battle, allowing you to upgrade his abilities and add combat abilities between levels. The use of the commander doesn’t effect the game quite as much as, say, the heroes in Warcraft 3, but it definitely adds a welcome RPG element to the game. Also added is the weapon selection screen which makes you buy tower and one time weapon slots for use in levels. From there, you have to make the tough decisions as to what weapons and towers you go to battle with… and if my experience is any sort of indicator, the selection often comes down to trial and error.
If you want to bypass all the RPG elements and just get right into the game with all the weapons, you can play the classic mode which works much like the old Sentinel games. There is also the standard “endless” mode that lets you play with all of your RPG-esque stats from the campaign mode, but in an endless style for Game Center high score glory.
As expected, Sentinel 3: Homeworld is one of the most polished, well designed tower defense games in the App Store. Each of its 20 levels are extremely well crafted, and the additional units, weapons, and RPG elements all come together to create the best game the series has to offer. If you are a fan of the previous Sentinel games or just love the tower defense genre, be sure to pick up Sentinel 3 as soon as you can.
Carter reveals a shameful secret to this week’s co-host Brett Nolan: Carter has made the switch to Android. He discusses with Brett the big differences between iOS and Android, and just what he likes about his Galaxy S that the iPhone didn’t have.
Carter however hasn’t given up on iOS gaming at all, as him and Brett talk about recent iOS releases Astronut and Silverfish.
Who We Are:
Host: Carter Dotson
Co-Host: Brett Nolan – Editor in Chief, AppAddict.net
Music:
“Beatnes7 (Theme to The Portable Podcast)” by The Eternal – Download on iTunes here:
Developer: Lazy Peon Games
Price: $1.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPhone 4
Graphics / Sound Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Game Controls Rating: 3.25 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Replay Value Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 2.94 out of 5 stars
Roguelike games are fantastic for RPG fans. They might frequently lack the storyline of other RPGs but the addiction that stems from trying to collect as much loot as possible is like no other. League of Epic Heroes very nearly offers this but it misses a few crucial things that would have made it truly something special.
From the offset you’re able to pick from a range of character classes, each with their own pros and cons. Immediately I felt comfortable in the knowledge that this game had potential. It feels fun at first too, great fun in fact. You wander around a randomly created dungeon battling enemies and gradually levelling up via physical or magical attacks. You can acquire new spells/runes as you progress too which is nice. Just what you could ever want with a Roguelike really. The graphics are appealing and pleasant.
There are Game Center Leaderboards on hand throughout and you can play your own music in the background if you choose to. Boxes are being ticked all over the place when it comes to what you could want from a good iOS game.
Annoyingly though, it’s a little too shallow. The enemies are varied but ultimately, there’s nothing to make them stand out from each other. They just have randomly assigned levels attached to them and that’s it. They don’t even chase you in any way, let alone offer unique attacks. It’s fine at first and still quite enjoyable, it’s just that after a while you realise just how shallow the experience is.
The foundations are there certainly and you could do a lot worse than giving League of Epic Heroes a shot. Acquiring new loot is as compelling as ever. It’s just that there needs to be more to do here – more variety in your attacks and more intelligent enemy AI. Still, at least League of Epic Heroes looks delightfully charming and even World of Warcraftish in style. Just don’t expect any depth.
[ League of Epic Heroes Review is a post from 148Apps ]
American RPG gamers have a new option for their iOS devices today, as EA has officially released Heroes Lore III in the US. The game, which was originally titled Heroes Lore: Stigmata of Gaia, has been available to international markets for several months, but is just now arriving in North America. EA hasn’t given any reason for the delay.
The game features “hardcore RPG” action and promises over 30 hours of gameplay. The single player campaign is spread over 6 different areas and players can choose to equip a number of weapons including swords, shields, guns and blades. For those with a tilt towards multiplayer, the app allows for both one-on-one PVP combat and 2 v 2 battles.
The Heroes Lore franchise is a huge success in Asia, dominating the cell phone RPG market. While you may not even realize there is such a market, RPG games are huge in Asia, and mobile gaming is also a big deal. Put those together and you have a franchise which is highly venerated across the Pacific.
But will this success manage to spill over into the American market? At this point we’re unsure. The reactions of those who have played the international version have been decidedly mixed, so it’s not as though this is an absolute killer app which Americans have been waiting for night and day. Also, the extensive delay gives us pause, but if EA was using this time to fix gameplay issues and do more than merely translate text then it may make the game worth checking out. At any rate, fans who have been eagerly anticipating the game since it was announced in September can now finally dive in; we just hope it was worth the wait.
The team at Origin 8 though had their work cut out for them when they decided to create the third game of the series, Sentinel 3: Homeworld. Not only did they have to match the high bar that they had already put in place, but they also had to exceed their standards enough to keep the tower defense crazies (like me) happy… and boy am I happy. 
:: ASTRONOMICAL
From the offset you’re able to pick from a range of character classes, each with their own pros and cons. Immediately I felt comfortable in the knowledge that this game had potential. It feels fun at first too, great fun in fact. You wander around a randomly created dungeon battling enemies and gradually levelling up via physical or magical attacks. You can acquire new spells/runes as you progress too which is nice. Just what you could ever want with a Roguelike really. The graphics are appealing and pleasant.
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