Payback [2009 iPhone]



Payback [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Action | Screenshot
Grand Theft Auto for your iPhone (The original GTA, that is.)

February 3, 2009 - Lest you think the iPhone is just a place to match three jewels or erect defense towers, Apex Designs's Payback lets you know the iPhone is quite capable of delivering murder and mayhem. This top-down action game unspools like the original pair of Grand Theft Auto games, turning you loose in eleven cities to hijack anything with an engine. It's a slam-bang adventure with no shortage of secrets to uncover, but Payback is also not without its problems. Depending on your patience, you may eject from this exercise in light-hearted brutality much earlier than you'd hope from a $7 game.

The scope of Payback is its best feature. The amount of real estate you can zoom through is astounding -- and in so many different vehicles, from a city bus to a tank. There are tons of weapons to pick up and unleash on both terrorized innocents and dastardly criminal scum, such as shotguns, grenades, flamethrowers, and miniguns. And the game uses the same non-linear mission structure that made the GTA games so inventive. Just find a payphone and pick up a mission. Within seconds, you have marching orders to go steal something, race somewhere, or kill somebody.

There are three ways to play Payback. The main game is a story mode, where you accept your missions and try to work your way up the ranks of the underworld. Rampage mode is a kill'-em-all/steal-it-all mode with no story, just a running score. Challenge mode drops you into the different cities with score goals that must be met. This gives you multiple ways to interact with the same real estate and for dedicated players, it's a major bonus.

Payback employs an impressive amount of voice work that is exceptionally well done, too. While embarking on missions or answering phones, you'll be treated to dialog that far exceeds what you see even in so many games of this current generation. (There is something refreshing about listening to a voice actor that is obviously enjoying the gig and not just collecting a paycheck.) The music is also quite good, thanks to a handful of licensed tracks from artists I admit never hearing of before, such as Little Bitchard and Seeds of Labor.

Not that Payback is a game without problems. There are a handful of issues that seriously weigh the game down, none more so than the need to consistently replay missions due to snafus with the map, weapon select, and control. Quite honestly, I never warmed up to Payback's controls. You turn by tilting the iPhone left or right and while this works okay for scenarios where you are on foot or in a slow vehicle, it poses problems when trying to weave through traffic or make a sharp corner at top speed. Too often my wheels would slam into a wall or another car. I played with the sensitivity settings throughout the game and found it just too inconsistent. To move forward or back, you have virtual buttons on the right side of the screen that are responsive, but never intuitive. I found myself wishing for a d-pad, which is no good for a game on a device without one.

The minimap in the corner of the screen is much too small to offer any real guidance, particularly in high speed sequences. There is an arrow above you that always points to your designated destination or next goal, but without being able to clearly see available routes on the map, you lose precious time with backtracking or wrong turns. Perhaps if the map had not been 3D it would have helped matters, but it's still just too tiny.

Weapon select is another quibble. I don't have banana-hands or anything, but trying to choose weapons by tapping on itty-bitty icons in the upper left corner felt like an exercise in luck at inopportune times. Some sort of sliding menu on the edge of the screen would be much easier to use.

And finally, why can I just not restart a mission if I fail? Why do I need to spend so much time backtracking to payphones to restart a mission?

Visually, Payback is a mixed bag. There are some wonderful effects here, such as headlights and explosions. Payback employs some very nice lighting tricks. The game runs at a very solid clip with no real noticeable framerate issues. The color choices are good and Payback has some decent texture work. The models are showing their age, though. Payback is not native to the iPhone. This has appeared on the GBA, GP2X, Mac, and even the classic Amiga. The car and people models are too squared off. Recent games have shown that the iPhone is capable of more when it comes to model assembly.

Download Payback v1.02 (Size: 218 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277117881/Payback__2009_iPhone_.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/277117351/Payback__2009_iPhone_.part2.rar

Fieldrunners [2009 iPhone]



Fieldrunners [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Adventure | Screenshot

November 24, 2008 - Tower Defense in itself has become a casual game genre. Whether it's any number of clones on portals like Kongregation or Pixel Junk Monsters on the PlayStation 3, the basic formula is always the same: create a gauntlet that reduces enemies to hamburger. Fieldrunners for the iPhone does not stray from the essentials but dresses them up with great production values, such as attractive cartoon graphics. Plus, the game has been recently updated to include new content, such as an additional map and sound effects.

The concept is simple. Wave after wave of enemies streams into the screen via portals around the edges of the map. You must set up a system of towers to destroy these enemies before they infiltrate your base. You start the game with a small bank account that limits the number of towers you can purchase, but each kill drops some coins into your purse. With the extra cash, you can either buy more towers or upgrade your existing ones to increase their deadly potency. Each tower has a different function, though, so you must choose how to use them in tandem to best eliminate incoming threats.

The four towers in Fieldrunners are: Gatling, Goo, Missile, and Lightning. The Gatling Tower is your basic rapid-fire, short-range gun post that's effective at chewing up weaker enemies. The Missile Tower provides long-range offense, but with a slower fire rate. The Goo Tower blasts enemies with sludge that slows them down, making them easier targets for your offensive towers. Finally, the Lightning Tower is the deadliest of all weapons, able to kill weak enemies with a single zap. Each updates improves the towers' efficiency. For example, when you the Lightning Tower twice, it can turn medium-sized enemies to ask with a single bolt. Of course, the Lightning Tower and its upgrades are the most expensive, so you must consider whether or not it's best to build a field with cheaper towers and splurge only when you have a comfortable bank account.

There are many types of enemies in Fieldrunners. Little grunts gamely run to the base, but as easy pickings. Choppers swoop toward your base and are strong against Gatling towers, so you better have Missile towers to bring them down. Giant robots withstand a lot of punishment, but are slow. These are just a few examples of the foes that spread across the map. As you encounter each new enemy, you must figure out the best means of eliminating it. Slowing them down with a Goo Tower is universally a good idea. But just slowing an enemy does little good if you don't have the hardware to flatten it.

The enemies run along set courses like the lemmings from Disney's True-Life Adventures. If they bump into a tower, though, they will compensate and re-chart their paths to your base. You will not make it past level 40 just drawing up a straight line of towers to pummel the enemies. Instead, fashion a maze on the map by positioning towers in strategic spots. When you really bank a lot of money, you can create elaborate labyrinths can bring your enemies to a crawl. The entrance to your base seems like a mile away as they trudge through a winding path lined with Gatling Towers and Missile Towers. And should they get close enough to the base, maybe a Lightning Tower positioned at the door will finish them off.

There are an unlimited number of ways to approach the challenge. Some won't get you very far, but experimentation is what makes the game compelling and fun. Saving money early on only got me to stage 29. Investing in hardware early and keeping on top of upgrades took me to 48. But mixing these strategies with inventive tower placement (read: making a maze) pushed me up to 66. And with three difficulty levels, there are even more ways to approach the enemy infestations.

Even if you've gorged on the genre, Fieldrunners is still a great play. The enemies are varied enough that you're constantly kept on your toes. (And with the recent update, Subatomic added two new enemies. Apparently, one cannot be slowed by the Goo Tower.) The iPhone touch-screen is also a good control medium for the genre. It's easy to pinch the screen to zoom in and place a tower exactly where you want it. And just tapping a tower brings up an upgrade menu that's easy to read. It's always a pleasure to play an iPhone game without any sort of control-oriented learning curve.

Download Fieldrunners v1.2.3 (Size: 10 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277115963/Fieldrunners__2009_iPhone_.rar

Heavy Mach [2009 iPhone]



Heavy Mach [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Arcade | Screenshot

March 5, 2009 - Heavy Mach is a value-priced action game that looks great and gives you a lot of bang for your buck. There are no fewer than thirty stages in Heavy Mach, so it's going to take some time before you beat them all.

You control a giant tank equipped with missiles, lasers, bombs, a howitzer and more. The game is rather simple: just tilt the device to move the tank left or right and tap the lever in the lower left of the screen to jump. To fire, just hold your finger on the part of the screen you want your tank to shoot at. You have an unlimited ammo for your default machine gun, but there are a lot of ammo replenishment crates to pick up along the way for powered-up shots, so don't be afraid to use the good stuff. Use the jump button wisely (double-tap to jump higher) to launch over incoming enemy fire, all the while blasting back at the numerous helicopters, missile launchers, tanks, and enormous boss machines that await you.

You only have one life per stage, so don't try to plow right through the game. I do wish the enemies fired a bit more often than they do, though, because they're pretty easy to destroy. Boss battles are tougher, but you usually have the needed weaponry to deal with them. Shield and health icons are both plentiful and useful. The game also saves your progress after each stage. You also earn experience points that can be used to upgrade your tanks defense, mobility, or weapons.

The graphics look great, with a lot of detail in the levels and enemies. There are many different enemies which really keep the game looking and feeling fresh. Enemy fire is easy to see. There's no music, but the sound effects are fantastic and I had the game volume cranked the entire time.

Download Heavy Mach v1.13 (Size: 30 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277116065/Heavy_Mach__2009_iPhone_.rar

Iron Man: Aerial Assault [2008 iPhone]



Iron Man: Aerial Assault [2008] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Action | Screenshot

December 17, 2008 - Iron Man was one of my favorite movies of 2008. So I was pretty excited to learn there was an iPhone version that just hit the App Store. I couldn't wait to get in the gold and red armor and kick some butt with the latest in Stark technology. The battle with Iron Monger was going to be great... except, there is no Iron Monger. No Mandarin either. In fact, the only thing you fight in this game are airplanes and drones. What a bummer.

Played over twelve levels (including two training levels), Iron Man: Aerial Assault is a third-person shooter that takes place in the clouds. Your mission is to destroy the enemy aircraft that fly by you, and at the end of each level, you encounter the exact same boss ship. It gets rather repetitive after the first few levels since each level is practically the same with the exact same enemies.

You don't actually control Iron Man; you just control his crosshairs as he flies in a along his set path. Sweeping the target cursor over enemy missiles (highlighted in red) automatically launches your counter-measures. Repulsor rays are fired by tapping the button on the left once you've moved the cursor over an enemy and the crosshair flashes red. You don't need to stay locked on a target, just holding it long enough over the target until you get a lock is sufficient.

Later weapon upgrades include the chest Unibeam that can pretty much wipe out anything on screen. You can also acquire shields and extra health icons. Points are earned for everything you destroy, and level-end awards are given based on your performance. You start the game with the Mark III armor, but can win the Mark II armor and the option for a harder difficulty level once you've beaten the game.

The control is a bit flimsy. You move the target cursor by tilting the device. Despite the nice calibration options where you can play the game at almost any angle, I had to turn the sensitivity all the way down. The controls are just too floaty and it leads to many moments of frustration.

The graphics aren't bad. In fact, the Iron Man model is very well done. But it's so odd that there's no opening or closing sequence as you transition between stages. At the end of each level, Iron Man just flies back towards you and then you start the whole process all over again. The music is lacking in punch and I'm surprised there wasn't any speech in the game between Jarvis and Iron Man. Sound effects were pretty good though.

Download Iron Man v1.0 (Size: 34 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277116134/Iron_Man_Aerial_Assault__2008_iPhone_.rar

Terminator Salvation [2009 iPhone]



Terminator Salvation [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Action | Screenshot

May 8, 2009 - Gameloft's Terminator Salvation is a gorgeous action game for the iPhone that, like Assassin's Creed before, proves that few developers are ambitious when it comes to treating the device like a hardcore gaming rig. That said, this game needed more time in the studio. Perhaps rushed to get in front of the movie, which debuts later this month, Terminator Salvation seems incomplete in places due to missions that appear undercooked and story elements that make no sense.

Where Terminator Salvation really succeeds is in evoking the spirit and atmosphere of not just the upcoming movie, but previous films too. Several of Skynet's supposedly unstoppable robots are on the march, from the traditional T-600 skeletons to the massive Hunter-Killers that always struck me as terrifying because they don't necessarily have a future-aesthetic. They look like they were designed only for killing. All of these machines look great in the game -- even the Harvester, which figures heavily into the plot of the movie, which is mercifully not spoiled in Gameloft's game, but at the expense of a coherent story. The environments are exceptionally well done as well. Crumbling freeways, abandoned desert facilities, and coastal cities left in ruin -- all of the locations look both uniformly fantastic and appropriately dreadful.

You are John Connor in most of the game's missions, determined to strike a blow at the heart of Skynet. For a handful of moments, you also take the role of Marcus Wright, a new character for the movie that figures into what I am suspecting is one of the main plot twists. Each character has access to different weapons. Wright has a deadly shotgun that is great for blowing the heads off terminators at close range as well as hunting these little spider-like robots. Connor has a machine gun but can also pick up a grenade launcher and an electric pulse rifle. You use these weapons to target incoming machines.

A solid headshot is an instant kill, which results in a pleasing explosion of sparks. Some terminators are carved in half with body shots. These crawl along the ground, determined to carry out their prime directive: kill humans. You can then rush up and smash metal skulls under your boots with a satisfying crunch. Moments like these are when the game really comes to life.

There are multiple control options. The on-foot controls that worked best for me were the default settings. A virtual stick on the left moves your hero and a gun button on the right fires. To aim, you move your cursor around the screen with your finger. In most areas of the game, this was completely serviceable. Where the game stumbles is in the auto-cover mechanic. When you slide up to a barricade or a wall, you are supposed to automatically go into a cover position so you can aim while avoiding incoming fire. I'd put the success rate of auto-cover at about 80-percent; that remaining 20 elicited some real colorful language from me. Still, there are some very exciting shooting scenes with terminators coming from all angles and engaging in gun play with these killing machines is a bit of a thrill.

The driving controls are a touch troubling, too. Again, there are multiple options, but the default setting worked the best. Steering a truck through a broken city requires using a lever on the left to accelerate and brake. You steer by moving your finger around the screen, which doubles as aiming. Having to reach for a fire button while racing next to some tanks is clunky. Far worse is a motorcycle scene on a long bridge. This sequence should not even be in the game; it feels absolutely unfinished. You must race other motorcycles while avoiding mines and returning fire. The timing feels off. And here is also where the game seemed to seize up a little, even with visuals that are decidedly less detailed than other stages.

Occasionally, you must play a minigame to hack terminals. You must roll a marble through green gates to open the goal while avoiding red gates when they are illuminated. It's a fine little game -- except that it needs to be played with you looking straight down at the iPhone. There is no way to calibrate the controls, so if you're playing in bed at 1AM (ahem), this minigame is difficult to manipulate.

The length of the game is unfortunate. I beat Terminator Salvation in just 82 minutes. That is entirely too short for a $9.99 price tag. Yes, this unlocks a special extreme mode where you can play as a terminator. At first, it seems cool. You have a powerful weapon and cannot take cover against juiced up enemies. But the territory is exactly the same and even the dialog keeps calling you John Connor.

You can also unlock art by spending microchips collected from fallen robots during the course of the game. I do like little stuff like this -- I think it's a nice addition for hardcore fans.

Download Terminator Salvation v1.0.4 (Size: 128 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277118083/Terminator_Salvation__2009_iPhone_.rar

Assassin's Creed [2009 iPhone]



Assassin's Creed [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Action | Screenshot

April 23, 2009 - If Assassin's Creed on the iPhone looks somewhat familiar to you, that's because it was released in 2008 on the Nintendo DS. However, the year that divides the two versions has been very kind to Altair. For a fraction of the original price of the DS game, iPhone gamers are getting a full-length adventure with significant visual and audio upgrades. So, yes, this is a port -- but this is the kind of port I could really get used to seeing.

If you were a fan of Ubisoft's ambitious Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 production, you know the set-up. An assassin named Altair is scouring the Holy Land for the means to bring down the Templar knights, an organization with sinister designs on the world in this narrative. The iPhone game serves as a prequel to the console game. Altair is in search of a specific artifact called "The Chalice," which possibly has the power to bring the ugly Crusades to an early, merciful end. But seeking this relic raises more questions than it answers, setting up the console game, which I consider to have one of the best fictions in videogames in quite some time despite its uneven game mechanics.

As Altair, you must use your stealth abilities to seek the Chalice. The rooftops, awning, and beams that stretch across the grand cities of the medieval Holy Land are your playground. Careful movement above the sandy streets will keep you out of harm's way for the most part, although occasionally you must descend to the avenues below and draw blood. Altair has a sword that can be upgraded, but there are other devices and items he uses in his quest, such as a grappling hook and bombs. Altair's signature weapon, though, is his hidden dagger that is used to silently execute enemies and not raise the alarm of dozens of guards and Templar reinforcements.

As you explore the Holy Land, you will pick up hundreds of blue orbs that can be traded in for upgrades, such as expanding Altair's health bar or the aforementioned sword. Personally, I tended to lean on sword upgrades because I wanted to make sure I could overpower enemies in any combat situation. I would accidentally blow a stealth situation by walking through a crowd too fast or stumble off a rooftop and land on the street below, just within striking distance of a Templar.

Naturally, this raises the issue of control. Surprise, the iPhone doesn't have any physical sticks or buttons like the DS. All of the controls are virtual, on-screen inputs. Because I've been playing iPhone games since Day One, this does not bother me in the least because I'm used to them by now, especially since I played (and loved) Gameloft's Hero of Sparta, which uses a very similar scheme to Assassin's Creed. I think the control stick here is a little looser which does prevent absolute precision and will cause occasional mishaps, but for the most part, I really do not have any major problems with how the game handles. The combat buttons work great, although the shield button placement over by the control stick is awkward. I wish that it was on the other side of the screen by the sword buttons. While there are some automated actions, like scrambling up a wall, I do wish that some small jumps were also self-propelled. The jump button works without a problem, but an auto-jump would help casual gamers by taking one less button out of the mix.

One feature in Assassin's Creed I do not care for, though, are the minigames. I think they are pointless holdovers from the DS version. They felt tacked-on back then, like Gameloft was trying to integrate the DS touchscreen some way... any way. They don't fare much better here. They function, but add nothing to the overall game. They feel gimmicky in a game that needs no gimmicks.

As mentioned earlier in the review, Assassin's Creed looks fantastic. Everything -- from the textures on Altair's robes to the crackling fore effects -- is brighter, crisper, and more detailed in the iPhone edition of the game. While it was never up for debate, Assassin's Creed serves as more concrete proof that the iPhone/iPod Touch is truly a more powerful machine than the DS -- and it creeps around the PSP's fence like an unwanted neighbor. Watch our video footage of the game to really see how smooth the game.

Assassin's Creed was also upgraded with better music samples and additional voice work. The voice work is pretty good, although you get the feeling that the actor voicing Altair was occasionally looking at the clock, not the script.

Download Assassin's Creed v1.1.1 (Size: 133 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277115574/Assassin_s_Creed__2009_iPhone_.rar

Metal Gear Solid Touch [2009 iPhone]



Metal Gear Solid Touch [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Action | Screenshot

February 22, 2009 - Dying to know more about the iPhone entry in the Metal Gear canon? Thanks to Konami's brand new Metal Gear Solid Touch website, details about the anticipated next chapter in Snake's career are coming to the surface. Billed as a part of the Metal Gear Sold 4: Guns of the Patriots story arc, Metal Gear Solid Touch will feature faces familiar to players of the PlayStation 3 bestseller.

The game is indeed a touch-based shooter, so shelve those hopes of a blowout stealth adventure for now. You open fire on enemies by tapping the screen. If you know how to zoom in on websites through Safari on your iPhone, then you are that much closer to being an accomplished sniper in Metal Gear Solid Touch. Pinching the screen over targets zooms in for precision shots. Clearing stages results in the acquisition of Drebin points that can be spent at the arms dealer's shop in exchange for special Metal Gear Solid Touch wallpapers for your iPhone or iPod Touch.

It looks like the game will be released in two editions. The site refers to a "special advance release edition" and says it is the first half of the Metal Gear Solid Touch story. Later, the final release edition will feature the entire story. Players of the advance release can port their save data into the full release edition.

Download Metal Gear Solid Touch v2.0.0 (Size: 142 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277116844/Metal_Gear_Solid_Touch__2009_iPhone_.rar

Myst [2009 iPhone]



Myst [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Adventure | Screenshot

May 11, 2009 - Achingly beautiful and maddeningly obtuse, the original Myst is a hallmark game. Launched at the beginning of the CD-ROM drive revolution that changed PC gaming forever thanks to the increase in storage space, Cyan Worlds' point-and-click adventure game also helped define an entire genre. Sadly, it's a genre that went through a sad withering before its recent revival due to the explosion of casual and episodic games.

The classic is now available for the iPhone, coming though the App Store at a very healthy 722MB. All that space is given over to hundreds of high-res screens and video that revitalizes Myst for a new platform and potentially a new audience. Although, I have my suspicions that a lot of the folks that download the game will be thirtysomethings that begged their parents for a CD-ROM drive back in the nineties.

If you love the original Myst like I do, you will indeed enjoy this iPhone port. It is completely faithful. In fact, it's even better thanks to the visual improvements, easy-to-use controls, and the simple fact you can now play it anywhere. (I think you know which anywhere I'm talking about.) The graphics themselves have not been changed -- they are just sharper thanks to the excellent resolution of the iPhone screen. The music is still fantastic, too. I highly recommend playing the game with headphones so you can truly appreciate the layers of audio.

Dare you enter the rocket?

However, if you aren't familiar with Myst, here's the rub. Having activated a magical portal in a book, you arrive on a mysterious island with absolutely nothing to guide you. You advance through screens by "clicking" forward on the frame. You interact with objects by tapping them. This activates levers and knobs, opens doors, and picks up items for closer inspection. As you move around the island and eventually step into some pretty astounding worlds, the story of the game falls into place. The solutions for the puzzles, however, do not.

This is an incredibly cerebral game that occasionally uses guesswork as a crutch, but is also filled with some very satisfying "aha" moments, too. You must tap on almost everything to see if it can be used or picked up. I am purposefully being obtuse here because I don't want to spoil a single puzzle that you encounter as you move from the island to other world via a series of books in the effort to free two trapped brothers from the pages of their prisons. Of course, there are twists along the way, uncovered by finishing up puzzles.

(If the puzzles truly stump you, though, there is an in-game link to a hint database. The only catch is that it takes you out of the game and into a browser window. I wish there was a more elegant solution than this. Perhaps an in-game hint system that lets you "earn" credits to unlock tips?)

The iDevice port of Myst includes a great save system that lets you drag your current position into a series of save slots. It is easy to jump in and out of the adventure and the game and employs an instant-save measure in the event you get a call. The controls are easy to understand within moments of play. To turn, you simply swipe the screen in the direction you want to look. Interacting with objects is very precise, too. That was the only thing I went into Myst really concerned about and was pleased to see that tapping even the smallest button worked right away.

Download Myst v1.0.1 (Size: 700 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277117129/Myst__2009_iPhone_.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/277117194/Myst__2009_iPhone_.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/277117668/Myst__2009_iPhone_.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/277117336/Myst__2009_iPhone_.part4.rar

Need for Speed Undercover [2009 iPhone]



Need for Speed Undercover [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Racing

May 6, 2009 - Need for Speed Undercover roars into the App Store much later than Electronic Arts originally hoped, and does so in the wake of I-play's flashy Fast & Furious game. Based on the console game of the same name -- and part of an epic franchise -- Need for Speed Undercover is easily one of the best-looking racers on the iPhone and comes factory standard with some very exciting race events. But the game is held back by some truly awful, over-the-top elements like the grating soundtrack, cheesy to the point of painful cinema scenes, and a strange lack of control calibration.

You are an undercover cop that must slip into the underground racing scene of the Tri-City Bay Area and break up a smuggling ring. The story is told through a series of full-motion video cinema scenes full of ridiculous acting -- and not the fun kind of over-acting, like the scenes from Need for Speed Most Wanted. In order to advance up the ranks of the underworld, you must win a series of events across the three neighborhoods. The events span straight-up races, cop chases, escape runs, and vehicle deliveries. The variety of events, each with different metrics for winning that truly affect how you race, are a very welcome touch. Although the events repeat themselves across the 24 stages, they are nicely spaced so you never do the same thing over and over again unless you purposefully replay prior events.

Need for Speed Undercover controls fairly well with its combination of tilt and touch. As your car auto-accelerates, you steer with tilt. You need a few practice runs to get the sensitivities of the game down because there is no way to recalibrate the controls to your liking. This is an unfortunate thing to overlook, especially in the context of drift. To start a drift, you must "twitch" your iPhone one way or the other to start the slide. Very often, this would just not register. You really have to jerk your iPhone to make it work sometimes, and if it does not, you end up steering into a wall or oncoming traffic. Eventually, I tried to just drift as little as possible, which is too bad because drifting during a race event helps you bank extra cash.

To brake, you just tap the screen with a finger. To hit the nitrous, you swipe one finger up. I liked this more than an on-screen button, as it reduces the on-screen clutter. To engage the speedbreaker, you pull your finger down the screen. This slows the game into bullet time, giving you a few seconds to think fast while the world around you slows down. I didn't use this feature very much, really. It's not well-integrated into the game.

As you win races, you earn cash for upgrading your cars in categories like top speed and handling -- or for buying entirely new ones. Adding upgrades to your cars really makes a difference, which is good to see. Too often, upgrades are so marginalized that you wonder, what's the point? The new cars you buy are based on real world rides and look remarkably like their steel-and-glass counterparts. None of them take any actual damage, though. You can ram an oncoming truck at 100MPH and just bounce off it, losing only speed. Not even a little bit of crumpled hood.

The AI of the other racers, particularly the cops, is pretty unforgiving. I appreciated the challenge, but must admit that at points it can get a touch frustrating when you realize that cops cars are made out of adamantium and can smash into anything without any worry of damage. This is one area where Need for Speed Undercover does not compare well to Fast & Furious.

As mentioned, Need for Speed Undercover is a gorgeous game. The backdrops are very well done, as are the car models. The use of effects for speed, like such blur and motion lines are very cool. There are moments in the game that are astounding to look at -- I really do think that Need for Speed Undercover looks (and plays) better on the iPhone than on the PSP. That's a pleasing achievement.

But, as I alluded to at the beginning of the review, the soundtrack is dreadful. The rock music is loud, crunchy, goofy, and ultimately annoying. I wish there was a way to use other music, but I could not find any choice but turn it off and just listen to my own tunes (Boards of Canada, thanks) while playing the game.

Download Need for Speed Undercover 1.1.28 (Size: 95 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277117370/Need_for_Speed_Undercover__2009_iPhone_.rar

Hysteria Project [2009 iPhone]



Hysteria Project [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Horror | Screenshot

In "HYSTERIA PROJECT", YOU are the hero!
Step into the shoes of the main character and take part in an unforgettable adventure! Will you take the right decisions and make it out in one piece?

Hysteria Project is a groundbreaking gaming experience, where you are the hero of an entirely filmed adventure. Go along with the video clips, keep a sharp eye on what's going on around you and most importantly of all - make the right choices at the right time.

Download Hysteria Project v1.2 (Size: 125 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277116365/Hysteria_Project__2009_iPhone_.rar

DOOM Resurrection [2009 iPhone]



DOOM Resurrection [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Action | Screenshot

Immerse yourself in the first person experience that takes your iPhone or iPod Touch beyond previously imagined limits. Introducing DOOM Resurrection, a brand new, technologically advanced, heart-pounding chapter in the legendary DOOM Saga!

Scientists on a remote research facility on Mars have lost control of their experiment and all Hell has broken loose. As the last surviving Marine in your unit, you must defeat Hell’s minions and unravel the mystery of what has happened on Mars. Earth’s future depends on you!

Download DOOM Resurrection (Size: 78 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277115448/DOOM_Resurrection__2009_iPhone_.rar

Resident Evil [2009 iPhone]



Resident Evil [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Action | Screenshot

Based on the recently released CG-animated movie of the same name, Resident Evil: Degeneration uses a true 3D engine to immerse players into this 3rd-person survival horror shooter.

Explore Harvardville Airport, rescue survivors, unlock puzzles and battle an army of undead.
Use your in-game PDA to collect intel, manage inventory and access maps.
“Laser targeting” allows the players to make aimed accurate shots.
Backgrounds, character models and objects are all rendered in full 3D.
Intuitive context sensitive control scheme.
- Action icons pop up as needed.

Accelerometer features:
- Shake iPhone/iPod Touch to “Shake off Zombie” melee attacks.
- Tilt back device to reload.

Download Resident Evil v1.01 (Size: 13 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277117502/Resident_Evil__2009_iPhone_.rar

The Oregon Trail [2009 iPhone]



The Oregon Trail [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Action | Screenshot

Westward, Ho! Your favorite pioneering adventure game is back and takes you to an exciting, historical side-scrolling adventure entirely rethought to fit the Touch experience of your iPhone / iPod touch.

- All of the decision-making and problem-solving fun of the original game, plus additional parameters to take the Oregon Trail experience even further than you've played before.
- 8 skill-based mini-games, including 2 accelerometer-based challenges: hunting, fishing, river crossing, rafting, wagon repairing, telegraph, berry picking, and gold panning.
- Random events (disease, bandits, hitchhikers, etc.) faced by real pioneers increases the challenge.
- Side-missions add more excitement to your journey, affecting your westward trek.
- Prepare for your departure: Select the members of your party, choose your departure date and purchase supplies.
Highly recommended for fans of retro gaming, edutainment, educational games, and strategy.

Download The Oregon Trail v1.0 (Size: 106 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277118080/The_Oregon_Trail__2009_iPhone_.rar

Defender Chronicles - Legend of The Desert King [2009 iPhone]



Defender Chronicles - Legend of The Desert King [2009]
Platform: iPhone | Genre: Adventure | Screenshot

THE WAIT IS OVER! Combining the addictive and easy-to-learn gameplay of a tower defense game with story, RPG elements, and immersive game world, Defender Chronicles delivers a brand new gaming experience like nothing you have played before.

Return to the glory days of epic battles, desperate princesses, artifacts hunting, and marvelous fantasy beasts. Travel the path of a warlord as you lead an army through the beautiful land of Athelia to defend the Empire from the invasion of the Orc Hordes and the rising Undead.

Features:
- The first and only 2D platform tower defense with a unique blend of role-playing adventure.
- Choose from the 5 game modes – story, freestyle (random), extended, classic and classic extended. Freestyle mode provides random enemy waves.
- Take on the 4 difficulty levels – casual, veteran, master, heroic. Each difficulty level is designed carefully for a specific audience and each can be won with perfect score.
- Fight a variety of enemy bosses – from Gnoll Captain, Orc Chieftain, and Queen Goblin to the fearsome Wyrm Rider Duo, Awe Inspiring Giant Golem and Meat Chomping Slimeballs.
- High production value – fun storyline, 7 original music soundtracks, spatial sound effects, voice-actings, hand-drawn graphics, intuitive controls, auto-save, auto-flip, fast-forward.

Download Defender Chronicles - Legend of The Desert King (Size: 30 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277115234/Defender_Chronicles_-_Legend_of_The_Desert_King__2009_iPhone_.rar

Mass Effect Galaxy [2009 iPhone]



Mass Effect Galaxy [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Shooter | Screenshot

June 23, 2009 - Tonight, Electronic Arts launched Mass Effect Galaxy for the iPhone. Mass Effect Galaxy is much more action-oriented than the bestselling Xbox 360/PC RPG. You star as Jacob Taylor, a soldier on the Citadel. Taylor is a character from the upcoming Mass Effect 2, so this iPhone serves as something of a bridge between the two console titles. As Taylor, you must push back aliens with a variety of weapons, including biotic attacks. Between combat scenes, you engage in dialog with Citadel denizens to advance the story and fill in the details of Taylor's life.

Information
Release Date: 2009-06-22
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: BioWare

Download Mass Effect Galaxy v1.0 (Size: 127 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277116678/Mass_Effect_Galaxy__2009_iPhone_.rar

Sprill: The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle [2009 iPhone]



Sprill: The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Adventure

Sprill: The Mystery of Bermuda Triangle is a super-beautiful version of the popular hidden object game for the PC. To save Sprill, a brave fox cub, from evil ETs, you must search the Bermuda Triangle for the legendary Pearl of Poseidon. While you'll find virtually anything in the cabins and cargo bays of the many sunken ships you'll have to search, your goal is to find the items that point the way to the Pearl. Features gameplay optimized to take advantage of your iPhone's capabilities!

Features:
• 10 sunken ships
• 32 game episodes
• 36 game locations
• Levels on an alien ship!
• Hundreds of objects to find!
• Multi-touch resize and orientation-switching

Download Sprill: The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle (Size: 50 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277117650/Sprill_The_Mystery_of_the_Bermuda_Triangle__2009_iPhone_.rar

Worms [2009 iPhone]



Worms [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Strategy

Run for cover as the original, award-winning turn-based strategy game WORMS hits the App Store!

With a selection of single player battles, up to 4 player multiplayer mode and plenty of ways to customise your team, Worms is high on entertainment and replay value!

• Authentic Worms gameplay.
• Honed iPhone control system.
• Cartoon-style visuals and comical audio.
• Plan your attacks with the Sheep, Holy Hand Grenade and the Banana Bomb!
• 50 challenges, with items to unlock.
• 6 environments, each one with random battlefields, no two games are the same!
• Personalise your team with names, voices and gravestones.
• Custom music support.
• Auto-saves game state on exit.
• 3.0 features coming soon!

Download Worms v1.0 (Size: 75,2 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277118226/Worms__2009_iPhone_.rar

Surrounded [2009 iPhone]



Surrounded [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Adventure

Play as Nick who is captured in a house with some reason. What kind of purpose does Nickcaptured for and who has did this? Now find out a challenging puzzle advanture in Surrounded.

* Every mysterious puzzle will suprise you time after time.
* Never think never you’ll have to think to get out of the house.
* Different types of puzzle will make you keep on going.
* Challenge how fast you can get out from the captured house.
* Find out orders of Challenging puzzle.
* firstperson view will make you fills like you are in the game.
* heavy storyline as if watching a movie.
* Situations of the game will stimulate your brain.
* understanding the hints is another source of fun in this game.

Download Surrounded v1.1 (Size: 117 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277117915/Surrounded__2009_iPhone_.rar.html

Jules Verne's Return To Mysterious Island [2009 iPhone]



Jules Verne's Return To Mysterious Island [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Adventure

Jules Verne's Return to Mysterious Island, inspired by the great Jules Verne’s novel, puts you in the shoes of Mina, a sailor who finds herself stranded on an island somewhere in the south Pacific.

Though the island looks deserted at first, it is dotted with traces of human habitation.
While Mina fights for survival and rescue, she’ll try to figure out who or what originally lived there, hoping to find what has been left behind...

True to the novel that inspired it, the game will have you exploring the island, in search for food or tools, while solving the many mysteries that hide from its cloudy heights down to its deepest caves...

This extremely rich 3D graphic adventure is for all audience with up to15 hours of exciting gameplay.
It is perfect for experienced adventure gamers as well as for Jules Verne’s novels reader or even very casual players.

Jules Verne’s Return to Mysterious Island contains stunning 3D graphics, many ambient sounds, music designed to enhance the mysterious atmosphere and feel, a full 3D environment with numerous tricky mini-games and intriguing puzzles, mysteries and an advanced item combination inventory.

A very intuitive in-game tutorial will guide you in your first steps on the island.
Return To Mysterious Island is developed by Tetraedge Inc and published by Chillingo Ltd

Download Jules Verne's Return To Mysterious Island v1.3 (Size: 263 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277116801/Jules_Verne_s_Return_To_Mysterious_Island__2009_iPhone_.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/277116393/Jules_Verne_s_Return_To_Mysterious_Island__2009_iPhone_.part2.rar

LEGO Batman [2009 iPhone]



LEGO Batman [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Adventure

LEGO Batman: Gotham City Games is a companion game to LEGO Batman designed exclusively for the iPhone and iPod Touch.


Take on a variety of challenges thrown at you by the Heroes and Villains of Gotham. Throughout Gotham City you will find 16 classic stylized minigames that take you from deep within the heart of Wayne Manor, through the night’s sky piloting the swift LEGO Batwing, and even solve some of The Riddler’s most mind bending puzzles. Each challenge is linked together by a brand new story, shown through beautiful hand rendered cut scenes, backed by a full orchestral soundtrack.

After completing the story mode you’ll realize that a Hero’s work is never done. Free play throws a new set of adventures your way. In this mode the games are longer and more challenging than in story mode giving you a more extended game experience. You will unlock new games, and challenge yourself by setting top scores on the leader boards.

Master each game to become a True Hero or True Villain to unlock bonus content including never-before-seen artwork, trailers and wallpapers. Wallpapers can be saved onto your pictures library and can be accessed via the settings menu on your iPhone or iPod Touch to brighten up your handset.

Download LEGO Batman v1.0.1 (Size: 90 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277116515/LEGO_Batman__2009_iPhone_.rar

G-Force [2009 iPhone]



G-Force [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Action

Do you have what it takes to join the G-Force? Play as martial arts expert Agent Juarez; demolitions specialist Agent Blaster; and Agent Darwin the team leader in a series of 3D training missions. Teamwork is critical. You'll need to use each character’s specialized skill to become a full-fledged field agent.

Features:
• Dozens of hi-tech gadgets and cool tools to help you destroy targets and hack security systems
• Switch between different agents to complete missions
• Innovative combination of puzzle, action and strategy gameplay
• Awesome 3D graphics!

Download G-Force (Walt Disney) v1.0.0 (Size: 73,7 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277116161/G-Force__2009_iPhone_.rar

Brothers In Arms Hour of Heroes [2009 iPhone]



Brothers In Arms Hour of Heroes [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Action

The most explosive shooting experience on iPhone! Described by the press as "incredible"; "an achievement", "it looks and sounds absolutely fantastic".

Play as a soldier of the 101st Airborne in the most intense WWII battles:
- The iPhone version of the world-famous Brothers In Arms franchise.
- 13 missions in 3 campaigns: Normandy, Ardennes & Tunisia.
- Unbelievable 3D graphics recreating the atmosphere of a real Hollywood WWII blockbuster.
- Drive a 4x4 vehicle or a Sherman tank and use a wide range of weapons (bazooka, sniper rifle, machine guns, etc.)
- Use the accelerometer function to launch grenades & the touch screen to shoot at enemies.

Download Brothers In Arms Hour of Heroes (Size: 86,4 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277115377/Brothers_In_Arms_Hour_of_Heroes__2009_iPhone_.rar

Watchmen [2009 iPhone]



Watchmen [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Action

Aurora Feint II: The Beginning [2009 iPhone]



Aurora Feint II: The Beginning [2009] | Platform: iPhone | Genre: Puzzle

Introducing Aurora Feint II: The Beginning! A console quality, single player RPG version of Bejeweled, Tetris Attack or Trism. With Real Time Chat! Winner of numerous awards including iPGN's Game of the Year 2008!!

Progress your character through over 60 levels of single player puzzle challenges while engaging in a thriving online world!

Aurora Feint II: The Beginning Features
- Real time chat, news feed, profile and wall
- Hours upon hours of game play
- Six revamped beautiful and fun classes
- Amazing graphics, music, and sound
- Easy Transfer of your character to The Arena when you're ready to go multiplayer

Download Aurora Feint II: The Beginning v1.1 (Size: 40,7 MB - English)
http://rapidshare.com/files/277115258/Aurora_Feint_II_The_Beginning__2009_iPhone_.rar