OnLive, the streaming game service that plans to take the world by storm, has announced today as the launch day for its official OnLive iPad viewer. The free service allows users to watch any game being played by any member of the OnLive community at any time. So if you’re feeling like a video game voyeur then this may just be the perfect app for you.
The app comes with a few strings attached, so make sure you know what you’re getting into before you install. First off, this is a viewer only, so you won’t be able to actually play any games, but rather instead only watch them. If you want to interact with the titles available on OnLive first you’ll need to set up an account and then stream the games to either a PC or the newly released MicroConsole. Also, keep in mind that OnLive requires a rather large chunk of bandwidth, even to simply watch games, so make sure you’re running an Internet connection that can keep up with the requirements. In our quick tests, the quality was not so great on 802.11g, but very good on 802.11n. But it’s free and your mileage may vary.
Some might scoff at merely releasing a viewer rather than a full-on OnLive client, but OnLive representatives have explained to us that the games on the service have been tuned for consoles and PCs and aren’t yet ready to run on the iPad. The conversion of PC video games that are used to a full keyboard and mouse to a touch only device, just isn’t that easy. Does that mean we might see a true iPad client down the line? Absolutely, it’s just a matter of letting the OnLive crew continue to tweak and hone the service until it’s ready to support actual gameplay. Basically, users should think of this as an important first step and a sort of proof of concept for what will be available on down the line.
One of the biggest goldmines of the modern era is mobile applications. Not only have developers like Rovio been dominating the smartphone airwaves with games like Angry Birds but the tablet install base is getting big enough that fledging developers will have a chance to rise to the top. Of course, Android and iOS developers are already capable of saturating the tablet market but what about unreleased devices like the BlackBerry PlayBook?
Well, seeing how the device’s release is growing ever nearer, RIM has today announced that they are now accepting applications for the PlayBook. This is great news as it means that developers will get a jump start on producing top notch applications for the platform. The PlayBook itself is an impressive piece of hardware so if it has the software backing it may have a chance at breaking through the surface.
If you’re a developer looking for more information on this matter, head here.
Developer: Spokko
Price: $0.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPod Touch
Graphics / Sound Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Game Controls Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Replay Value Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
The original Tiki Totems has been a huge hit on the App Store, and at 2.5 million downloads and counting it stands as one of those games that practically everyone has played or at least knows about. Now developer Spokko has seen fit to provide us with a sequel, and not only does Tiki Totems 2 continue to perfect the formula set out in the first game, but the addition of a level editor and two new modes make this an absolute must-have app.
At it’s heart, Tiki Totems 2 is a physics-based puzzler which challenges players to remove all the wood blocks from a stage without letting their totem touch the ground. It’s a bit like Boom Blox spiced with a Japanese Daruma feel all set to an island rhythm. Classic mode sees players trying to balance both rectangular and round tikis, finding a safe landing place for their idols while getting rid of the oddly-shaped wood blocks. It’s a fairly traditional game type, but it’s still a ton of fun.
Altar mode puts a bit of a different spin on Classic by requiring players not to get rid of a certain number of blocks but rather demanding they land their tiki in a specific spot on the map. This greatly changes the approach to many of the puzzles and creates a refreshingly new way to play. Love mode is an even more substantial departure, as each level features two tikis which player must make touch each other before they hit the ground. Suddenly the chain-reaction of the blocks becomes the most important aspect of all and very careful thought is required in order to succeed.
Those with a creative streak will also get a kick out of the game’s included WYSIWYG editor, which can be used to create whole levels from scratch. When you think you’ve crafted a true work of art you can submit your creations to the developers, who will be choosing the most impressive levels to include in future updates of the game. While you can’t share directly with other players, at least with the devs acting as intermediaries there will be fewer penis-shaped levels. We’re not naive enough to believe there won’t be any such levels, just less of them.
Tiki Totems 2 expands on an already solid formula to offer an incredibly fun and thorough experience. I can’t think of any reason to not wholeheartedly recommend this app, so make sure to go pick it up ASAP and enjoy the hours upon hours of entertainment it will provide.
Developer: CAVE
Price: $4.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0.0
Device Reviewed On: iPhone 4
Graphics / Sound Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Game Controls Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Replay Value Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Mushihimesama Bug Panic, much like CAVE’s previous titles Dodonpachi Resurrection and Espgaluda II, is not a title that I have any hope of being able to pronounce correctly. Also much like CAVE’s previous titles, Mushihimesama Bug Panic is fantastically frantic fun.
It’s a twin-stick shooter with more than a healthy dose of bullet hell again. The difference lies in the hint of strategy and tactical thinking that’s required in order to succeed. Predictably the left hand virtual d-pad controls movements, while the right hand stick controls shooting. It’s the way in which the shooting mechanics work that makes for a more careful shooter.
Flicking your finger across the right hand pad makes your character hurl a single seed in the appropriate direction. Holding down your finger however provides a crosshair which can then lock onto enemies. You can lock onto up to three enemies at once. Holding your finger down for longer charges up the attack, unleashing a ‘Cluster’ attack which causes a large explosion taking out all the enemies around it. This can then be used to hit a row of enemies in one go thus gaining a huge combo score. Chain reactions are very possible through this making for some very satisfyin attacks.
This concept makes for a much more involved combat system than other twin-stick shooters. You can’t just spray and pray like usual. Instead you have to take into account the downtime that occurs between attacks and ensure that you can evade retaliation in time. There’s no checkpoints in the levels and you only have so many lives at your disposal making for a fraught experience. While the first world eases you in relatively gently, later worlds are intense to say the least with the screen regularly flooded with enemies and impressive boss battles aplenty.
Mushihimesama Bug Panic is an immensely enjoyable twin-stick shooter. Offering a nice twist on the usual bullet hell formula. Besides the main adventure mode, there’s also a time attack mode and an endless mode to ensure you’ve well and truly got your money’s worth. It’s fast, it’s frantic, it’s gorgeous to look at and it’s unmissable for shooter fans.
Developer: EA
Price: $4.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0.0
Device Reviewed On: iPod Touch
Graphics / Sound Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Game Controls Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Gameplay Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Replay Value Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 3.69 out of 5 stars
At this point in its life-cycle it’s hard to pin down exactly how relevant Rock Band is to the gaming world. Though Rock Band 3 came out to stellar reviews and strong sales, it hasn’t been the powerhouse in living rooms and at parties that it was a few years ago. Now EA is taking another stab at the mobile market with Rock Band Reloaded, and it feels very much like the same situation. While the new game is well-made and fun, it’s also hard to know if it’s even still necessary.
Reloaded takes the traditional rhythm game formula and keeps it going, tasking players to play along with guitar, bass or drums by tapping out the pattern of falling gems. If you’ve ever played a Rock Band or Guitar Hero title before then you know the drill, and nothing’s really changed. The game’s major new addition for this addition is the inclusion of vocal tracks, which can be played in the same manner as the other instruments or actually sung, using the built-in microphone or plugging in a headset. The ability to sing along with the game is kind of cool, but there are a few caveats. First off, the pitch detection isn’t all that great and lyric recognition is nonexistent, so if you’re making sounds even remotely similar to those of the song then you get credit. Also, how many people are going to sing into their iPhone? If you’re in a place where belting out rock tunes at the top of your lungs is appropriate then you’re likely at home, so why not play the console version instead?
Those who own both an iPhone and iPad may be torn on which version of the game to get, but the differences are so slight as to be inconsequential. The iPad edition features a different way to deploy Overdrive (tapping the screen rather than tilting the device), and some simple animation of the band while playing the song. Beyond that the set list, career progression and general gameplay are all identical, and this is really one of those games that could have worked as a universal app rather than creating two separate entities. The HD tag and extra cost really aren’t worth the added benefit.
Reloaded also tries to impress with its set list, and though it’s expansive for a mobile game with 29 songs, they’re mostly retreads of old console tracks. If you’re a Rock Band fan do you really want to play Beastie Boys “So What’cha Want” or “White Wedding” by Billy Idol again? If so then have at it, but anyone hoping for some exclusive tracks or a unique set of songs will be disappointed.
From a purely technical standpoint there’s very little to complain about with Rock Band Reloaded and if you’re such a big fan of the franchise you need a new mobile version then you’ll be quite pleased. Still, in a world already flooded with music games there seems to be little reason for this game to exist, as it doesn’t try very hard to stand out. While our rating may seem high for a game that we see as fairly tired, we also need to account for the fact that it IS a quality game, with good controls and a fairly deep setlist. For those folks new to the franchise on an iOS device, this is a solid pick.
The app comes with a few strings attached, so make sure you know what you’re getting into before you install. First off, this is a viewer only, so you won’t be able to actually play any games, but rather instead only watch them. If you want to interact with the titles available on OnLive first you’ll need to set up an account and then stream the games to either a PC or the newly released MicroConsole. Also, keep in mind that OnLive requires a rather large chunk of bandwidth, even to simply watch games, so make sure you’re running an Internet connection that can keep up with the requirements. In our quick tests, the quality was not so great on 802.11g, but very good on 802.11n. But it’s free and your mileage may vary.
It’s a twin-stick shooter with more than a healthy dose of bullet hell again. The difference lies in the hint of strategy and tactical thinking that’s required in order to succeed. Predictably the left hand virtual d-pad controls movements, while the right hand stick controls shooting. It’s the way in which the shooting mechanics work that makes for a more careful shooter.
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