Monday 30 July 2012

Ski Safari, Jump, Flip and Ride away from the avalanche!



  Ski Safari, a great, popular game available on the app store for 99c. Like many other popular games it is extremely addicting and is a good game to twiddle your thumbs on. Defiant Development's amazing graphics and enjoyable playstyle create a great  experience that allows you to compete with your friends for bragging rights. There are many options to choose from to personalize your experience with different clothes and gadgets. The basics of the game is like any other downhill skier, touch the screen to jump and hold to backflip, points are awarded for completing backflips and interacting with the various parts of the Ski Safari environment. The further you go the faster the avalanche gets and eventually the game becomes very tedious.
iPhone Screenshot 5
A man riding a penguin chasing a yeti. Totally normal.
Our deep sleeping hero has to stay ahead of a relentless avalanche that threatens the local mountainsides. Sven, as we like to call him, can use animals to aid his escape from an icey end. Each of the hillside animals have different attributes to make a speedier escape. Penguins glide further, Yetis are tougher, Eagles soar to great heights, each of these can provide useful advantage for Sven. Sometimes on the slopes Sven can find fast Snowmobiles which can ferry multiple animals a maintain a very high top speed.

As stated, each different animal has different attributes which are crucial to gameplay, but in the end snowmobiles are the only thing that can maintain a speed faster than the avalanche and must be used.
Wolves can also be taken advantage of on the slope howling hills, they are replacements for the snowmobile in an attempt to add more content. The ability to ride animals and vehicles has created something new and a little different from you average downhill skier.

Top iPad game apps:  Ski Safari  topples  Angry Birds Space
Tri - Penguin force!
Another feature of the game is the achievement system, it involves many different missions that actually have half-decent awards. These missions might involve completing several backflips on a yeti or smashing through a cabin. These missions add up to unlock new slopes, allow for bigger combos (and bigger boosts), new starting animals and some extra cash. The coins you collect can be put towards purchasing gadgets and clothing. Like many other games there is the option to connect and compare scores with others using the game.

It's really not that hard.
There are several costumes and upgrades within the game, here's a rundown of them and how to use them -
Second Chance Jetpack-
Helps to get you back on your feet if you fall victim to the avalanche.
Coin magnet-
Useful to get those few extra coins to buy a new item, but be careful as it removes coin boosts.
Rockets-
Upgrades launchpads with rockets that can propel you far down the slope. (Only use this on howling hills!)
Cabins Boosters-
Gives a general pick me up and boost when you pass through a glowing cabin.



Costumes are only really useful for some extra missions to help you level up, but the 3 different costumes can give you some variety to the game.

Thanks Defiant Dev!
Ski Safari is readily available on the app store for only 99c,
make sure to check it out =D

Rating: 36/40
Graphics-9

Enjoyment-9
Content-8
Controls-10



Sunday 29 July 2012

Save The Titanic, can you escape the iceberg in time?




Screenshot
(Sorry that everything is white highlighted, bit of a glitch)


 Save The Titanic, a game createdby Dustin Adair and voiced by Ed Mace, (Who work under the name Scary Robot Productions) is a simple but challenging game on the app store that shows many great qualitys of these sorts of simulation games. Its play dough like graphics and fitting sound and voice effects all add to the great nature of the game. Be warned, don't expect a fully fledged action game with sfx and amazing features. This is a simple game and nothing more. 
Previously, it was almost impossible to "save the titanic" as it was exceedingly hard, after a recent update it is now possible to win the game and get your score on the leader boards. (Through game centre.)


Screenshot-1
Much of the game is explained through its official description so I'll paste it here -
If you could go back in time to that fateful night and change history, would you? Well, here's your chance to "Save the Titanic!" Take command and rewrite history. Climb aboard! Step onto the bridge and take destiny by the... wheel. This is your moment to become the hero that saves them all. Or maybe you just feel like aiming for that overgrown ice cube. Go ahead!

The creator obviously has a great sense of humour and sarcasm that adds to the feeling of the game. It would be great if the game had more of these side pieces as shown here-

Screenshot-2
Shown: The game at its greatest.
Seriously, sharks with freakin' laser beams.
Only a few of these are found within the game which is saddening as things like this can bring the game to its full potential. 

The game is also connected with game centres achievement system (More info on Apples game centre.) and allows for 14 fun achievements like aiming directly for the centre of the iceberg, saving all but one person and waiting before turning the wheel and succeeding. These add more content and was a smart move on the creators behalf.

Screenshot-3
Thanks lots.


The few reviews for the game have been half decent, but popular view is that the game bores people fast, but is fine for the occasional bit of fun.

"For some reason I quickly fell in love with this game I beat easy medium and hard and I still love it!"
"At first I was kinda fun but after the fourth time it got really boring."

Being a small game there is little else to talk about, but Save The Titanic is a must try game. ( Especially as its free on the app store!)


Rating: 24/40
Graphics-8
Enjoyment-5
Content-3
Controls-8