iPod Touch & iPhone Games Roundup
- November 25, 2008 12:49 PM PST
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There are over 170 million iProducts in the hands of Apple customers these days. Let's talk about the gaming possibilities these innovative products bring to the handheld market.
PSP vs. DS. vs. iPod Touch/iPhone
Nintendo has been in the handheld market since the original Game Boy released in 1989. So it's no surprise the company has nearly mastered and clearly dominates the handheld market. Currently the Nintendo DS, with its touch functionality and dual screens, has sold more than 83 million units worldwide.
Sony first stepped into the handheld gaming market in late 2004 with the PlayStation Portable. The widescreen PSP has seen two revisions since then, making improvements to its form factor, built-in sound and microphone, high-resolution LCD screen, and video-out functionality. To date, the PSP has sold almost 40 million units worldwide.
With over 170 million iPods sold since launch, of which the iPod Nano being the most popular, the iPod Touch and iPhone are huge candidates to compete in the handheld gaming market. The high-resolution widescreens on both products are larger than the Nintendo DS screens, but smaller than the PSP's, and have touch functionality. The biggest advantage in the iPod's corner is the wirelessly accessible App Store, which has seen over 200 million downloads and has over 1,500 games available at the click of a few buttons. Finally, the iPod Touch and iPhone feature multi-touch functionality, which allows the product to register two fingers at once, and an accelerometer that detects physical movement and gestures.
The Mobile Games Roundup
Now that we've gone over what the iPod Touch and iPhone can do in terms of gaming functionality, let's get into the games. Here is a small roundup of mobile games that have caught my attention on the iPod Touch and iPhone. If I missed one of your favorite games, let me know what it is in the comments below, and give a brief description of the game.
Fieldrunners
Subatomic Studios
PRICE: $4.99
Fieldrunners
Tower Defense receives the magic touch in Fieldrunners for the iPhone and iPod Touch. In Fieldrunners, use your finger to strategically position a variety of turrets to stop increasingly difficult waves of enemy soldiers, motorcyclists, and helicopters from entering your base. The four different turrets include standard machine guns, missile launchers, electric Tesla coils, and sticky green ooze-turrets that slow enemies. Each turret can be upgraded to deal more damage and increase the rate of fire. Fieldrunners is my personal favorite because it reminds me of Pixeljunk Monsters on the PlayStation 3. It's easy to pick up and the touch sensitivity is perfect for selecting and upgrading turrets.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
THQ Wireless Inc.
PRICE: $7.99
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed for iPhone and iPod Touch is especially impressive because of the graphics and touch functionality. In Star Wars: TFU, you are not in direct control of moving your character, but rather use touch-based gestures to perform Force powers, such as lifting enemies in the air, deflecting lasers with your Lightsaber, and pushing over Storm Troopers. Oh yeah, and did I mention the graphics are pretty impressive for a handheld device?
Tap Tap Revenge
Tapulous
PRICE: Free
Tap Tap Revenge was one of the first iPhone and iPod Touch games I downloaded from the App Store, and I still play it. It's a lot like Guitar Hero and Rock Band in that prompts scroll down the screen on an electric highway and you press the prompts in rhythm to play music. Tap Tap Revenge also incorporates gestures using the accelerometer where you must shake the iPhone and iPod Touch instead of touching the screen. Now get to Tappin'.
Kroll
Digital Legends Entertainment
PRICE: $4.99
Kroll
Kroll is a hack-n-slash action game that's played with only three buttons - move, light attack, and strong attack - which are located on the left and right sides of the iPhone and iPod Touch screen. Kroll is limited to move and attack in only two directions, but that's what makes it so fun and easy to play. As you move Kroll forward or backwards throughout the game's three chapters, you will encounter small scorpion-like bugs that can be defeated with quick, light attacks and larger humanoid golems that are best defeated with heavy attacks. Kroll is another of my top favs because Kroll kicks ass like Conan the Barbarian.
Real Soccer 09
Handheld Games Corp.
PRICE: $4.99
Real Soccer 09
Real Soccer 09 completely blew me away because of the sheer complexity of what's happening onscreen. First, it's a soccer game with multiple characters onscreen at once. Second, a directional pad and face buttons are overlayed on the iPhone and iPod Touch screen. And finally, you can perform special moves, such as a spin, by using touch-based gestures. If you can get a hat trick in Real Soccer 09, then consider yourself a real GamePro.
Hidden Expedition: Everest
Big Fish Games, Inc.
PRICE: $0.99
Hidden Expedition: Everest
Hidden Expedition: Everest is totally different than any other game in this list. It's a super casual, hidden-object style game where the goal is to find hidden objects in a scene and be the first team to reach the peak of Everest. I wanted to highlight this game because it's extremely casual, easy to play for all ages, and addicting. Not to mention that this is one trip to Everest where you don't need to bring a jacket and oxygen tank.
MazeFinger
ngmoco, inc.
PRICE: Free
Mazefinger
Mazefinger is an awesome puzzle game because it's really easy to pick up and play, but the later puzzles will test your finger dexterity to the max. In Mazefinger, you use your finger to guide a glowing orb through a variety of mazes that get increasingly complicated. Later puzzles introduce obstacles such as tight bottleneck corners and laser-type gates. Mazefinger is extremely satisfying to play thanks to some awesome Tesla coil-like sound effects, casual gameplay, and there are even achievements. Touch to go!
Crash Bandicoot: Nitro Kart 3D
Vivendi Games Mobile
PRICE: $5.99
Crash Kart is a Crash Bandicoot racing game that's identical to the Mario Kart series. It's really simple and easy to play. You race around in a go-kart using the accelerometer to steer left and right and pick up items that give you speed boosts, missiles to knock out other racers, and TNT to blow up people behind you. Tapping the screen will jump your racer in the air, which helps avoid incoming obstacles such as those pesky boxes of dynamite I mentioned before.
Topple
ngmoco, inc.
PRICE: $0.99
Topple
Topple is the new Tetris for the iPhone and iPod Touch. In Topple, you stack different shaped blocks on top of one another to build the highest tower possible ... without it toppling. Use your finger to guide blocks, two fingers to rotate them, and see how high you can stack them. But be careful how you hold iPhone and iPod touch, because you're the tower foundation and any leaning left or right will cause the tower to topple. My favorite thing about Topple is that all the blocks have expressive eyes and mouths that make funny faces when you move them around.
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- Nov 21 2008 at 12:15:10:PM PST
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thanx for the review I've been wondering about a couple of these games and never got em now I still won't get em buy thanx for the reviews
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Super Ball 2.
It's $1.99 (I think).
If you ever played the classic 'Pong' or 'Bricks' game, then you'll love this one. Graphics are very good as well as sound effects. The one small flaw that there is that can easily be fixed is collision detection; sometimes the ball doesn't seem to hit the paddle but it still bounces off.
The developers have continued supporting it in the last few weeks since I bought it as well. It has well over 350 levels that are usually pretty random, and never seem to be repetitive. You can control the paddle using a) accelerometer and, b) multi-touch.
A very good game, definitely try it if you have the chance.
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