The App Chap

Tichu

2010-08-25T14:49:00.001-07:00

The King-Daddy of Card Games

What's that you say? You've never heard of Tichu? For shame! For years now it has been the highest-rated card game on BoardGameGeek, and that is saying a lot. So either you already know the game and love it, or you soon will. Those are the only two alternatives.

Tichu is a trick-taking game played by two teams of two players each. It is considered a climbing game rather than a traditional trick-taking game because you don't just have to play a single card per trick (though that is an option), but rather you can play on a trick as many times as you have valid plays. You can also pass even if you have a valid play if you feel that the card(s) would be of better use later. Why the (s) on card just then? Well, a trick starter doesn't have to be a single card and can, in fact, be a pair, a triple, a straight, or even consecutive pairs. The other players must match the type of trick, as well as beat it in value, if they want to play on that trick. Then their are super-combos of cards called bombs that will automatically win a trick, despite its type, unless it is bested by an even higher bomb. Add into this that the normal deck of 52 cards is supplanted by 4 special cards that each have a different function as well as the option to bet on your ability to become void of cards first, and you begin to see the strategic depth afforded by the game.

But basing an app on a great game doesn't guarantee a great app. Luckily for us, the conversion was handled by Steve Blanding of House Full of Games, whose previous app experience includes the that other great trick-taking card game, Mü. Mr. Blanding has once again delivered a portable gaming experience that is not to be missed by card game fans. It includes a thorough tutorial and the opportunity to receive hints at will about what card(s) to play and why. I heartily recommend abusing this particular feature until you feel comfortable with the rules and strategy of Tichu. Although you can play alone with AI's taking the place of your opponents and teammate, you can also play with up to 3 other players on their iDevices via Bluetooth.

Why settle for boring old solitaire or yet another hearts app when you can experience the strategy and delight of playing the gaming community's favorite card game?

Reiner Knizia's High Society

2010-07-19T12:59:00.000-07:00

Highly Recommended

Although this beautiful strategy card game has the same game designer (Reiner Knizia), same developer (Skotos Tech), and uses the same game engine as Money, High Society is an enjoyable game experience unto itself. Using an open, progressive auction format, players bid on a series of paintings that are worth a varying amount of victory points. All players start on equal footing with the same complement of cash cards in different amounts, so the trick is knowing when and how much to bid. But it isn't enough that a person amasses the most victory points for, if doing so renders that player the poorest at game's end, he/she automatically comes in last place. Throw in some point-multiplier cards to bid for and some detrimental cards to bid against, and you have a game full of interesting choices to make.

It should be noted that the game features no way to play against other humans, and the in-game manual doesn't give you all the information that it should. But the different levels of AI mitigate the former complaint, and a play-through or two will render the latter complaint moot. Neither is a reason to neglect this gem and I can happily recommend to all.

Universal Orlando Guide

2010-06-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

Exceptionally useful

An exceptionally useful and detailed guide to the attractions at Universal Studios Orlando. Everything you need to plan your trip to the park and help you to get from ride A to show B. Need to find the closest restroom? You got it! Want to find the ride with the shortest line? It'll tell you! Want to know if little Timmy will be able to ride the coaster this year? Look it up! If you are visiting this park, this app is absolutely essential.

Sword of Fargoal

2010-04-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

A roguelike for us all

Sword of Fargoal has you hacking and slashing your way through many dungeon levels, finding key items, fighting monsters, and improving your stats, all on your journey to find a legendary sword and escape alive with it. Much easier said than done, though, in a roguelike. Fans of roguelikes know what they are getting into when they try a game like this, and they relish the challenge. For others, while they can appreciate the randomness that creates different dungeons every time and gives the game longevity, the insane difficulty that comes with having only one life and no fall-back game saves is severely off-putting. Fargoal combats this by including a "Squire" difficulty level that allows the player to continue after death. Sure, one loses the items in his/her inventory and all gold, but stats and experience points stick around to aid in the player's progression. This simple inclusion renders the game accessible to those who would be inclined to pass over this app as a rule of thumb.

Thrill Seeker

2010-03-26T15:16:00.001-07:00

Awesomely useful, for some

A fantastically detailed and useful app for those visiting theme parks, with a couple of caveats. First, and most importantly, Thrill Seeker currently only has information for 20 parks, limited to the United Kingdom and Florida, USA. This means, for instance, that it includes a wealth of information for those visiting Walt Disney World, but none at all for Disneyland. Thankfully, the developer was wise enough to enumerate which parks the app covers in its AppStore listing, so no one can complain of buying it needlessly. The second caveat is that the app will be much more useful to iPhone users than iPod Touch users because of the location-based service it provides. This is somewhat mitigated by the ability to manually tell the app where you are so that it can give you directions or tell you what is around you.

The bottom line is that if you are unfamiliar with the park you are intending to visit, and it is one of those included, this app is definitely worth its purchase price. Others can wait until their favorite park is included in a future update before they commit.

Wacky Circus Pinball

2010-03-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

Not wacky enough

There are several pinball games worth your money on iTunes, but this is not one of them. With a simple layout, simple graphics, no visible response from playfield objects, and a small trigger area for the flippers, this app is lacking in every important way for pinball fans. Skip it and look for your wackiness elsewhere.

Button Men

2010-03-19T12:39:00.000-07:00

Dice with Strategy

Been meaning to write this one up for a while. This is a fun dice battling game based on a real world counterpart. Oddly enough for a dice-based game, this one requires some strategy. That's because the dice you used for your last attack are re-rolled, which could make them stronger or leave them vulnerable. Always with the decisions, is this game. Though you can only play it alone vs. AI or with another player via Bluetooth, an update to take the game online is promised. With 24 characters to choose from (each with a unique configuration of dice) and more on the way, you won't hurt for variety. The professional sheen applied to the dice animation and sounds is a bonus.

Treasure Fleet

2010-03-04T12:51:00.001-08:00

Discover this treasure

What's this, another board/card game translated from the real world? In the past I've welcomed such anomalies, and Treasure Fleet is no exception. The object of the game is to amass a higher score than your opponents over a set number of rounds. To accomplish this, you are given a supply of cards of various attack values, from which you choose three each round. You play one card each turn, allocating it to one of the four treasure cards which have been randomly chosen for each round. As a point of fact, the random order of the treasures is the only randomness in the game, as each player is given an identical supply of attack cards from which to choose each round. It is through judicious play that a victor emerges.

The playing field and cards are simple but attractive, and the strategic gameplay is fun. My only real problem with this app is that the help section is both incomplete and hard to navigate. Incomplete in that it doesn't tell you how to make your selections for the round or how to play a card come your turn. It also doesn't tell you that the dots on each card in your supply represent additional cards of that rank, nor does it indicate that some treasure cards are more common than others. All of these things can be discovered by playing the game, but their omission from the help section is puzzling.

Still this is a relatively minor complaint and even with a complete lack of multiplayer (a shortcoming the game's website says will be addressed in an update), Treasure Fleet's current price of $0.99 makes it a must buy for board game fans.

Mini Golf Wacky Worlds

2010-02-24T10:03:00.000-08:00

Miniature golf done right

I'm not usually swayed much by eye-candy, but I have to admit that this is a visually impressive game. From the 3D animated courses, to the fluid flyover of each hole, to the customization options for each of the golfers, Mini Golf Wacky Worlds offers a lot of high quality content for a low price. But all of this would be beside the point if the game wasn't fun. Luckily, the gameplay shines as well, with a well thought out control scheme and and a good physics model.

Drawbacks to this app include relatively long loading times and multiplayer that is limited to pass-and-play. But there are achievements to unlock and, just by playing the game, you can earn points towards the purchase of in-game content like other golfers, upgraded equipment, and fashion accessories.

The bottom line is that those who are looking for a good game of minigolf for their iPhone have reached the end of their search.

War 3100

2010-02-23T10:17:00.001-08:00

War, huh, this is what it's good for

If you've hung around at the AppStore for some time, you've seen any number of turn-based strategy games float past your eyeballs. It's a growing genre and a welcome one for those of us who like some thinkin' with our playin'. War 3100 is neither the prettiest of these games nor the most ingenious, but it occupies a niche of unassuming competence that makes it a worthwhile addition to your iDevice.

On the plus side, there are a hefty 24 missions to play through and three AI levels to tune your challenge. There is also a map editor you can use to customize your playing experience. On the down side, the maps you make currently can't be shared with others. In fact, the only multiplayer available is via pass-and-play, though the developer has stated that he will be adding online abilities beyond leaderboards in a forthcoming upgrade.

The biggest head-scratcher in this app is the total lack of a manual or tutorial. You are dropped into the game without being told how to play, though the conventions are easy enough to pick up. You have to make do with a hint system that doles out information on gameplay elements one at a time, sometimes telling you how to do something a few turns after you've had to figure it out on your own. You can address this by reading a short manual on the game's web site.

While not really a standout, War 3100 is certainly a capable, enjoyable strategy game, and the upcoming multiplayer upgrade may render it an indispensable part of your game library.

1000: Find 'Em All!

2010-02-23T08:59:00.000-08:00

Gotta find 'em all, apparently

Just recently I had been wondering when someone would come along and release an iPhone game like Pokémon; the kind of game where one can spend countless hours searching for elusive collectibles while exploring a compelling game world. 1000: Find 'Em All! is the closest yet to creating such an experience but, alas, it is not close enough. It does a number of things right, but quite a few wrong, too.

One is presented with an enormous land to explore, rendered in appealingly colorful 16-bit graphics, a la The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. In point of fact, the world around you starts off in monochrome and only by moving through it does it acquire color. This is a fun mechanic, reminiscent of de Blob, and leads to several of the many badges that can be earned through the course of normal gameplay. But the eponymous 1,000 items themselves are found scattered randomly throughout the land in gift-wrapped boxes, and take little skill to find. Indeed, some are laying out in the open, while others are "hidden" in sparkling objects. Tapping on these objects may result in a gift box, and once a day you can go back and check them again.

The items you find have nothing to do with where you search; you are just as likely to find a bridge as a half-eaten donut. But when you find an object, you are treated to a short description that is either humorous or educational, and both types are appreciated. The biggest shortcoming of the game, though, is that the world you inhabit is a lonely place. You can open the doors to buildings but you can't actually enter them. NPC's are rare and the occasional animals you run across don't much care that you are traversing their domains. This lack of opposition results in a lack of challenge and, ultimately, a lack of lasting entertainment. It should be noted that there is a second way to collect items through the GPS function of the iPhone and that this more interesting mechanic isn't available to iPod Touch owners.

Though the desire to find 'em all can be compelling, depending on the severity of your OCD (j/k), the overall experience fails to satisfy.

Electrician's Gold Mine

2010-02-19T10:01:00.000-08:00

Uh, no thank you

I can't say I appreciate either the gameplay or graphics of this game. It just isn't fun and it looks like crap. Look elsewhere for entertainment.

Mü

2010-02-18T09:34:00.000-08:00

A trick-taking card game that's a real treat

If you enjoy trick-taking card games like Hearts, Spades, Bridge, or Wizard, you will be in heaven with Mü. With its slick, faithful, and feature-chocked adaptation of Frank Nestel's clever rule set, it is obvious that this game was a labor of love for developer Steve Blanding. Available in the physical world in the card game collections Mü & More and Mü & Lots More (both highly rated on BoardGameGeek), Mü offers a depth of strategy almost unheard of in card games. So much so that even with a thorough tutorial, I would highly recommend reading the in-game manual in its entirety.

One huge point in favor of this particular adaptation is the ability to play with up to five other local users through Bluetooth. Mr. Blanding has devised a way around the typical two-player limit to such wireless communication, one that I hope other developers will utilize in the future. Mü also saves automatically and transparently at every turn, a necessary feature for a longer game such as this. And I have to admit that another point in favor of this app is that the game plays in portrait orientation, though one can turn his/her device on its side to view the detailed scoring charts.

If you carry any fondness at all for card games, you owe it to yourself to give this app a try. It will provide you with countless hours of enjoyment for a mere pittance, whether you play it alone or with friends.

LetsTans

2010-02-16T10:11:00.001-08:00

Tangrams, classic and more

I have fond memories of doing tangrams as a child and LetsTans lets me relive those days in style, as it is a fantastically polished, well-made puzzler. There are 70 different shapes one will make using the 7 tans, in each of 3 different modes, for a total of 210 challenges. And each of the challenges remembers where you left off so you can feel free to jump around without losing your progress.

The modes are as follows: Classic is the activity I remember from my your where you move and rotate the individual tans to recreate the shape given to you. Replica is the mode that has you trying to find a completed shape within a sea of tans that fill the screen. Think of it as Where's Waldo kind of hunt. Arcade sends you on a similar, but more difficult, hunt. In this mode, you are given a shape outline that you must match to the correct part of the background, which may require you to turn the shape using tilt controls.

On the whole, this is an excellent package, but there are a few areas where it could stand some improvement. For example, in Classic, you can only rotate the tans 90 degrees at a time, instead of the 45 degrees that would be more natural. This is somewhat mitigated by the fact that each of the puzzles can be completed with the 90 degree turns, but it is still frustrating to not be able to orient the tans as desired. The developer tells me that they are considering changing this feature in the future, and at that time I would be willing to reconsider this criticism.

Another area for improvement is with the rotating controls for Arcade mode. Personally, I don't like to have to turn my device to solve the puzzles. If one could have the option to just tap the shape to rotate it, that would be ideal. And finally, the package could be improved overall with a simple sandbox mode that let you create your hearts desire and save it with a set of tangrams.

If these complaints and suggestions make you think that I don't really care for LetsTans, you couldn't be more mistaken. This is a wonderful app that I will be returning to time and again.

DragonEye

2010-02-16T09:50:00.000-08:00

Great looking, limited gameplay

This is one of hundreds of Simon-type games on the AppStore, albeit it with much better graphics and sounds than most. If you are looking for this type of simplistic memory game, DragonEye is the one to get. It includes online leaderboards for bragging rights.

Reiner Knizia's Money

2010-02-12T15:43:00.000-08:00

5 for the Money (Stars, that is)

Anyone who has been reading my reviews knows that I have a special appreciation for board/card games which have been skillfully translated to the iPhone. The games of Reiner Knizia (a rock-star in the world of game design) are a particular favorite. So it was with no small sense of anticipation that I approached this particular game. I had never played the physical version of the game and so didn't know what expect, but now I want to seek it out. It's rated in the top 10% of games on BoardGameGeek.com and, judging by this app, I can see why.

The mechanic of bidding on desired money with part of one's existing money is clever enough that it makes me wish there were a "lite" version of the app so that everyone could experience the fun of this game before purchasing it. And while I'm compiling a wish list list, the ability to compete against other humans would be most welcome. The several different levels of AI do guarantee that you'll always be able to find a challenge, but nothing beats playing against other people who enjoy playing as much as you do.

Finally, special mention needs to be made about the artwork in this game. Though naturally shrunk down from its original form, it is still quite beautiful, in addition to being functional. The UI and game mechanics have been well thought out and implemented. In short, this game is worthy of your attention and money.

GeoBlox

2010-02-12T14:21:00.000-08:00

Educational in a fun way, but lacking content

I like that there is actual content in this app that will teach you about places and animals, though I wish the number included could be increased by at least a factor of 5. As it stands, animals and places repeat much too often to present much of a challenge. Also, when you grab a block, the text at the top tells you exactly where it goes, so even that challenge is muted. If more content could be included with this app, and a less capable hint system, it would stand out both for eduction and fun. As it stands, the challenge only exists for the very young.

Hive

2010-02-12T14:11:00.000-08:00

A great game is now even better!

Currently ranked #85 on BoardGameGeek.com (among over 5800 ranked games), Hive is a strategy fan's strategy game. With an easy-to-understand rule set, the game is a fun replacement for more conventional games like chess. It includes the sold-separately-in-real-life expansion Mosquito which gives you that much more bang for your buck! The new tile sets are beautiful and make a lovely addition to the already great artwork. You can't go wrong with this game, whether you are playing against the various AI's or with a friend.

Rogueship

2010-02-12T12:02:00.000-08:00

A fun game in an underrepresented genre

Quite fun and perfectly suited to gaming on the go. The random star maps and semi-random events remind me of the 'Infinite Space' games on the the PC. That is a good thing. The decisions about which commodities to buy, whether to risk smuggling contraband, and whether to invest your money in an upgrade instead of cargo with your limited funds makes the game interesting and challenging.

Color Ball

2010-02-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

Do games come any more generic?

Generic gameplay, generic graphics, and even a generic name. Whee! This game plays just like countless free apps on the app store, but you get the privilege of paying for this one! Don't.

MyTown

2010-02-11T12:53:00.000-08:00

And then what?

Got this game a while back when it was v1.0 and played it for a few days. Quite fun I thought, and different enough from other check-in games to be worthwhile. However, by evening of the next day, I had achieved level 20 and this is where the fun died. Points are maxed out at level 20 and become completely moot. And once you've bought your maximum of 10 properties, what is there left to do? You can collect rent at the properties and upgrade them to earn even more rent, but there is literally nothing else to spend your money on. Once your properties are all at maximum level (they each level up 5 times) that's it; the game is essentially over.

I've now tried v2.0 and I can't say the game has changed much. Sure, it's got spiffy new graphics and higher limits on upgrades and levels. But when you hit the peak, which is still only a few days away, there is no reason to go back. There are leaderboards, but your scoring on them is almost entirely out of your control. And there are no restrictions on the number of people who can own the same property, so there is essentially no competition. Best to avoid this one for now.

Reiner Knizia's Topas

2010-02-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

A perfect fit for the iPhone

Many of the most mediocre and mundane of games on the AppStore bill themselves as "addicting", usually followed by a wholly unreasonable number of exclamation points. But here is an unassuming title which actually earns that distinction. Unassuming, that is, except for its pedigree. Reiner Knizia's Topas comes from the mind of that world-renowned game crafter and is just as clever as it is simple to learn. The only thing detracting from this otherwise flawless, polished game is the ability to play against others, like you could with the board game this is based upon. But to mitigate this oversight, three ways to play the game are included along with online leaderboards. A reasonable trade-off for such a welcome game.

Libra Balance

2010-02-09T09:03:00.000-08:00

Great looking, but ...

This is yet another in a long line of iPhone games that use the device's tilt sensors to have you roll balls into holes. It is quite a bit like one of the mini-games that comes with the original Wii-Fit. Because of its accurate physics and real-time 3D rendering, the frame rate suffers and detracts from the experience.

iFarm by PlayMesh

2010-02-08T14:37:00.001-08:00

Not as addictive as their other games

I've got to admit that I was hoping for something similar to FarmVille on Facebook. Ultimately, though, there is not much to do here. Couple that with an all-too-quick wilting time after full growth appears and you have yourself one frustrating farm. I would recommend one of the other free farming apps over this.

Strimko

2010-02-08T11:02:00.000-08:00

Beats Sudoku at its own game

With mostly the same gameplay as Sudoku, Strimko blazes little ground when it comes to logic puzzles. But this slight variation (in which a sequence of cells connected by lines cannot repeat a digit) makes for a more thought-provoking experience. Factor in the big, colorful graphics and you have a game that's as nice to look at as it is to play.

Travel Guide: Festivals and Celebrations

2010-02-08T10:56:00.000-08:00

Always with the suggested sell

The pics are fine and the text occasionally interesting, but what defines this app the most are the ubiquitous ads for other products by the same developer that pop up in place of the advertised content every few screens. Sorry, but I'd rather learn about festivals without being solicited to get an app for "College Boobs" and other, unrelated topics, frequently during my study.

Reiner Knizia's Monumental

2010-02-08T10:14:00.000-08:00

Finally, a puzzle game that requires thought!

If you are bored with iPhone puzzle games that are all the slightest of variations from the usual match-3 gameplay, then Monumental is the puzzle game you have been looking for. It requires strategy and planning, and comes off as wholly unique. I esspecially like the Mayan (or is it Aztec?) theme that gives the graphics character and life. This is one game you will come back to time and again. But what else would you expect from the mind of game designer Dr. Knizia?

Ice Hockey Girl

2010-02-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

Shallow gameplay

You tilt your device left/right and the girl follows along. At first I though it was a game of pong vs. the computer, but then I realized that the Santas (plural because later levels feature multiple) just go back and forth along a set path without any AI. Later levels do feature Santas that will wait for an anticipated puck, so the game has some variety to it.

Pinball Destruction

2010-02-08T09:59:00.000-08:00

Better and worse than other pinball games

On the downside, the physics are a bit floaty and the ball bounces like rubber, making it hard to do flipper catches. The graphics are extremely simple as are the table layouts, and the bumpers and kickers don't visibly react to the ball. Some mention should be made in an instruction screen how many tables there are and how to progress to them. Also, the pause button doesn't let you access the menu. On the upside, there are five different layouts and the destruction of the tables is unique and fun. The particle effects when hitting a drop-target are particularly nice, though the extra balls in multi-ball come out of nowhere when you knock them all down. Online leaderboards, such as here, are always welcome.

Andersen's Fairy Tales [Audiobook]

2010-02-08T09:40:00.000-08:00

You can get these stories for free!

These recordings were pulled from librivox.org without attribution and after stripping the LibriVox intro from them. According to the LibriVox FAQ, this is allowed, but I see no reason to pay good money for recordings which you can download for free. If the interface added to the value, this might partially mitigate the price but, alas, it is bare-bones and rudimentary.

Pinball Ride Unlimited

2010-02-08T09:19:00.000-08:00

This is how pinball is done!

Looking nearly as good as a PC pinball game, Pinball Ride features excellent physics and many bells and whistles. It may not run at 60 FPS, but it is certainly smooth enough to be playable. And fun; definitely fun. Facebook support? Icing. Welcome, welcome icing. Pinball enthusiasts need look no further for the definitive experience on the iPhone.