Readers’ App Reviews – April 2013
Just because Apple didn’t announce anything this month, that didn’t stop you guys! There were a ton of apps submitted this month. Keep reading for some app reviews for awesome apps made by your fellow readers! By Ryan Poolos.
Splash Math Kindergarten
Splash Match Kindergarten is a cute app for younger kids getting into early counting, addition, subtraction, etc.
This app is very cute and allows kids to collect jungle animals as they work through problem sets. The animals live on a small jungle world where they can be dragged around and tapped for different interactions.
The app also has nifty parent features allowing you to receive weekly progress reports and track how your kid has been doing while playing on their own.
- Author: Mithun Jhawar @studypadinc
- Most useful tutorial: Objective-C Cheat Sheet and Quick Reference
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Tower Zoo
Stacking animals has never been so fun!
Tower Zoo is a sort of 3D board game that pits you against the computer or other players. Players take turns placing animal blocks on the board. Special placement causes them to automatically stack allowing you to make the most of the limit board space.
You’ll need some strategy to get the upper hand. Games go quick in this tic-tac-toe style game. I loved see the little animals come to life as blocks!
- Author: Rick Skinner @ricskinner
- Most useful tutorial: How to Submit Your App to Apple: From No Account to App Store, Part 1
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Dream Tim
When skeletons and giant rats invade your dreams you’ve got your work cut out for you.
Dream Tim is a side scrolling platformer that will keep your fingers moving. From swiping away skeletons to tapping to fly, this game has it all. Killer powerups, lots of coins, unlocks, and more.
This game has taken the best of all side scrollers and packed it into one cool game that I couldn’t put down.
- Author: Iancu Tudor @iancu_tudor
- Most useful tutorial: Intermediate Box2D: Physics, Forces, Ray Casts, and Sensors
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Hit The Lights
Hit the Lights is an easy to learn, hard to master puzzle game built around reflecting lasers with mirrors.
Laser emitters are scattered about the board along with receivers. Your job is to position mirrors just right to refect the light where it needs to go. I loved the graphics in this game. Its also one of the few I know that support diagonal lasers which left me retrying levels looking for extra solutions.
There are tons of levels to keep you busy, while GameCenter highscores and achievements round out this awesome game.
- Author: Bartek Wilczynski @bwilczyn
- Most useful tutorial: How To Market and Promote Your Games and Apps Part 2/4
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Forest Ride
“OMG theres a lion attacking me!” – Me, 2 minutes into the game.
Forest Ride is a classic side scrolling physics driving game with a twist. Animals sometimes block your path and they have the super… er, human?… strength to toss you around like a ragdoll.
Somehow the animals always catch me off guard leaving me frantically driving for my life. Addicting to say the least. ;]
Unlock more vehicles and terrains if you can!
- Author: Kashif Tasneem
- Most useful tutorial: How to Submit Your App to Apple: From No Account to App Store, Part 2
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Asteroid Jumper
“I always wanted to be an astronaut.” – Theres an app for that!
Asteroid Jumper puts you in command of the Apollo Lander as you jump from asteroid to asteroid. Simple tilt your device to aim your ship through space, then tap the screen to jump.
Its all about landing successfully on as many asteroids as you can in a row. Highscore: 15! Beat that!
- Author: Taylor Triggs
- Most useful tutorial: Beginning OpenGL ES 2.0 with GLKit Part 1
- App Store Link: Check it out!
Honorable Mentions
Here are the apps that didn’t get reviewed. Remember it wasn’t a popularity contest or even a rating contest. Forum members got priority among other factors. Your apps were great and I’m sorry we didn’t have time to review them all!
Where To Go From Here?
As always, I really enjoyed your apps! Keep up the awesome work everyone. And if you’re reading this thinking, “I wish I could build a great app/game”. You’re in luck! Check out our free tutorials! What are you waiting for, I want to see your app or game next month!
If you’ve already used our tutorials in an awesome app or game, I want to know! Submit here!