Readers’ App Reviews – January 2013

This is a post by Reader’s Apps Reviewer Ryan Poolos, an iOS Developer and founder of Frozen Fire Studios. Check out his latest game, Cyborg Livestock.

Time to start the new year off right with a ton of awesome apps from readers like you! :]

To start off 2013, we’ve got:

• Some really unique puzzle games to keep your brain busy
• An incredible drawing app that will blow your mind
• Several games kids are going to love
• And much more!

Here we go again!

Science vs Magic HD

Science vs Magic is a great collection of two player minigames.

Each game is played on one device, splitscreen. They are all fast paced and very addictive. From Rock-Paper-Scissors, to drag and dodge, to platformers. This is app is packed full of fun games.

The animations are awesome. Kids would definitely love going head to head and this app will let you have fun with only one iPad!

• Author: Sonic Zhao
• Most useful tutorial: How to Submit Your App to Apple: From No Account to App Store, Part 2
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Sprinkfield

Tired of lame Farmville and looking to get your crop managing fix elsewhere? Look no further!

Sprinkfield is an awesome puzzle game where your main goal is to water crops. But you have limited water and can only water them in certain groups and directions. Obstacles from rocks to scarecrows get in the way whenever they can.

There are truly unique interactions in this game and it’s extremely addictive. There are tons of puzzles to keep you busy!

• Author: Peter Fenyvesi
• Most useful tutorial: How To Create and Optimize Sprite Sheets in Cocos2D with Texture Packer and Pixel Formats
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Team Penguin Dash

Have you ever been really hungry, but the fish you wanted to eat was out of reach? Gosh I hate that too.

Team Penguin Dash is a fun puzzle game focused on getting to your fish. But you’re on slippery ice and need the help of obstacles to stop you once you start sliding. Figure out the best way to get your fish in the least number of swipes.

There are over 150 levels of penguin sliding fun! :]

• Author: Keith Greaves @teampenguindash
• Most useful tutorial: How To Make a Tile Based Game with Cocos2D
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Mega Builder

It is time to get your construction on!

Mega Builder lets you control a giant crane right on your iPhone while you pick up and drop pieces of buildings into place. Each level has a new set of pieces and design you need to create. The more accurate you build the design, the more points you’ll get.

Building skyscrapers has never seemed so easy!

• Author: Savino Chieppa
• Most useful tutorial: Using Properties in Objective-C Tutorial
• App Store Link: Check it out!

FBI Workout

Looking to get buff? What about FBI Buff? Step aside, Jack Bauer! :]

FBI Workout is stuffed with incredible resources to get you in shape. It starts with a 7 week workout plan designed to prepare you for Police Academy. There are over 35 videos in the app showing you how to do each exercise. Exercise reminders, timers, PT scoring, nutrition information, and more.

IF you’re looking to get into law enforcement, this app is defintely well worth it. But if you’re just looking to get in shape, this app is still definitely going to help.

• Author: David Norcott @DavidNorcott
• Most useful tutorial: Beginning Storyboards in iOS 5 Part 1
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Hang Your Friends

Hang Your Friends is an awesome turn based Hangman game taking full advantage of GameCenter.

You and an opponent take turns choosing a word for eachother to guess. There are hilarious animations where a little man sets up his own demise as you fail to guess the word.

The most beautifully implemented hangman game I’ve seen on iOS.

• Author: Perry Posthoorn @hangyourfriends
• Most useful tutorial: Beginning Turn-Based Gaming with iOS 5 Part 2
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Connect & Pop

Connect & Pop is an excellent rendition of Connect Four.

It has a twist of course! While playing in Pop mode, instead of only being able to drop your pieces in from the top, you can also slide any of your pieces at the very bottom out. This makes for some interesting new strategies.

GameCenter multiplayer and a wide range of achievements round out this excellent game.

• Author: Attila Bencze @TatLabs
• Most useful tutorial: Beginning Turn-Based Gaming with iOS 5 Part 1
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Aadu-Puli Attam

What do tigers and goats have in common? Well besides the food chain, they’re also both part of an awesome strategy game!

Aadu-Puli Attam is new to me but I’m already addicted. One player controls 3 tigers, while the other player controls 15 goats. Tigers can jump over goats one at a time in a straight line. While goats can blockade tigers if they surround them with more then one goat on each side.

Its a race to victory. Either the tigers are all gridlocked or the goats become tiger food.

Head-to-Head GameCenter multiplayer and challenging single player round out this unique game.

• Author: Sathyavasu Arunachalam @mumukshuware
• Most useful tutorial: Beginning Turn-Based Gaming with iOS 5 Part 1
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Amaziograph

Amaziograph is an incredible drawing application with some truly unique features.

For starters it is capable of turning on symmetry templates that turn your simple drawings into complex works of art. With six different types you’ve got quite a few options. But even better, in the middle of drawing you can change out templates and continue layering on new drawings.

It has all the things you’d expect from brush sizes, to colors, to opacity, and more. You can change the center of symmetry and its intensity. This is certainly one of the coolest drawing apps I’ve seen. It should keep anyone busy for hours.

• Author: Hristo Staykov
• Most useful tutorial: How to Submit Your App to Apple: From No Account to App Store, Part 1
• App Store Link: Check it out!