Readers’ App Reviews – May 2012

Missing Melody

Do you more the death of CD’s? Vinyls even? Do you love and miss the good old days of 8bit soundtracks? Then this game is for you!

In this game, your goal is to save the dying record industry. To do this, you transform into one of three characters and embark on a quest to retrieve all the lost CDs and records. But watch out for brick walls, snowcats, and giant pits in the ground!

Missing Melody has some awesome music. And a very cool controller system allowing you to pick between good old buttons, hidden touch zones, or simple swipe based controls.

Don’t let the record music industry down!

• Author: Apikrit Panichevaluk @myice92ios
• Most useful tutorial: How To Make A Simple iPhone Game with Cocos2D Tutorial
  
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Gemstone Challenge

Gemstone challenge is a super addicting puzzle game based on matching gem blocks by color and shape. It has single player classic, timed modes, and online multiplayer through GameCenter.

If you’re like me, then it won’t take long to find the gems closing in on you. Thats where the multicolor super bombs come in to save the day and blast away entire rows at a time!

Brag about your high scores in the comments all you want (but don’t expect to beat my 98,300)!

Good news: Julien was nice enough to give me an extra copy to pass along to you guys. Grab it quick! YLW76JNFEN44

• Author: Julien Wyart
• Most useful tutorial: How To Make A Simple Multiplayer Game with Game Center
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Flip the Bird

Flip the bird is a very special bird. His hunger knows no bounds. So much so that he devoured his own siblings!

Understandably, that made his parents kinda mad so the kicked him out of the nest. Your goal is to help him survive in the scary world outside, by dodging deadly bees and rocks.

Try to hitch a ride on a runaway crow or high strung squirrel. Use unsuspecting birds and mushrooms as boosts while you bounce and flap along.

You’ve never met a bird quite like Flip!

• Author: Hunter Mayer @FlipTheBirdGame
• Most useful tutorial: How to Create and Optimize Sprite Sheets in Cocos2d with Texture Packer and Pixel Formats
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Quadrobounce

Quadrobounce is single player pong on steroids, where you control four separate paddles using your iPhones accelerometer.

Did I mention there were four paddles? How about that they move around simultaneously exactly based on your tilt? Ok cool. ;]

This game is super simple to pick up and play but it definitely takes practice to master. GameCenter integration brings it all together. Quadrobounce!

• Author: Jonathan Hirz @jonnysuave
• Most useful tutorial: How To Make A Simple iPhone Game with Cocos2D
• App Store Link: Check it out!

RPS Mutants

RPS Mutants is fresh take on a good old favorite. Its rock, paper, scissors like you’ve never seen it before. In fact, its the cutest, most addicting rock, paper, scissors variation I’ve ever seen!

Rocks, pieces of paper, and you guessed it, pairs of scissors rain from the sky for some strange reason. You’re randomly assigned an item and you’ve got to stay clear of enemies that can hurt you and copies while trying to snag as many victories against the weak enemies as you can.

But beware or dangerous, shape-shifting, lightning that will mutate you into another RPS artifact and throw you off your game. Keep an eye out for powerups too like invincible shields and turboboosts.

• Author: Ken Toh @ken_toh
• Most useful tutorial: How to make a simple iPhone game with Cocos2d
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Pool Chalkboard

Pool Chalkboard will help you take your Pool to the next level.

You can use it to plan out your next shot with painstaking precision. Or you can show off that really cool trick shot you did down at the pub. Or if you’re like me and can’t play pool to save your life, you can show everyone what you were actually aiming for. :p

However you use it, Pool Chalkboard will make a great addition to any complex pool master conversation.

• Author: Robert Orich
• Most useful tutorial: How to submit your app to Apple from no account to App Store Part 1
• App Store Link: Check it out!

WordJams

Word Jams is a fresh take on word games.

After picking your difficulty (Hard Crust if you’re a man!) you’re given a fresh batch of toast to jam. One at a time you are given letters to place on your toast board. The goal is to try and lay them out to create as many words as possible.

After you’ve laid all your jam it will score your toast and determine how many words you made. Swiping will show you words made and tapping the words will show you their definition. Definitely original, definitely fun!

• Author: Patrick Smith
• Most useful tutorial: How to Save Your App Data with NSCoding and NSFileManager
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Picross HD

Picross is a fun puzzle game that give you numerical clues to help solve a pixel grid design.

It’s a very addicting game, with tons of puzzles to keep you going. If you manage to run out, there are several puzzle packs to buy in the app – including an Unlimited Daily puzzle upgrade for you hardcore Picrossers!

Good news: Tod was nice enough to give me some extra promo codes for you guys! Get them while they’re hot! Y3PRN9FRYW3T, JWNF39Y6W7AP, NXW737MWJ336

• Author: Tod Cunningham @fivelakesstudio
• Most useful tutorial: How To Localize an iPhone App Tutorial
• App Store Link: Check it out!

Zip Zap

Zip Zap is a killer 3D space game. Asteroids are all over the place crashing into your ship. Its up to you to blow them up with your power shield.

Tap where you want to go and blow up all the asteroids along your path. As you beat back the asteroids more will come. If you’re really good you’ll get more ground to cover. Powerups will help you along the way. Its super addicting once you get started.

Defend your ship at all costs! Oh, by the way, I made it to 338,807! Beat that!

• Author: Rani Lian
• Most useful tutorial: How to Integrate iAd into your iPhone App
• App Store Link: Check it out!