App Review: Tilt To Live

Overview: Tilt To Live is an original game that tests the user in his tilting skills. Assume the role of a cursor like figure that needs to survive for as long as possible amongst relentless red enemies. Now of course you won’t just be running the whole time, you are equipped with an armory of weapons ready for you to attack and fend off the invaders. Now the thing that makes this game unique is that the weapons you cannot use at any time, you must dodge the red enemies to pick up the weapons and then have a quick reaction time to use them appropriately. The enemies are also smart and adaptive even though they don’t have weapons. They often clump together and form a much bigger opponent such as an arrow or line to prevent your survival.

Features: There are four different gameplay modes in Tilt To Live. The first is Classic for people who just start out that will have a slow start to get you into the feel of the gameplay. Next is Code Red which starts you off at a very intense part of classic mode and the red enemies tend to spawn a lot quicker which will require your quick reflexes to survive. The next one is Gauntlet which has you simply avoiding large formations of red dots, and collecting orbs that will extend your survival time. Last is Frostbite, you start the game by simply smashing frozen enemies, but if the enemies hit the bottom of the screen they turn into their regular deadly form and come at you. This mode can become extremely overwhelming as while you take out the defrosted enemies more become defrosted. At your side are an arsenal of weapons, these include nuclear blast, homing missiles, ice bomb, purple laser, bubble shield, vortex, spiky ball, and lighting. Each of these weapons have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Pros: The game is fun an intuitive and is simply a joy to play. The developers consistently create new updates packed with new features that keep the game fun. It’s a fun game when you just want to pass the time, and the vivid graphic and animations only add to the fun. The red dots are smart enemies too because they run on an intelligence device, where as when you have a powerful weapon they run away or they find new method of attacking you.

Cons: A first time user would need a good amount of time to experiment with the games controls to finally get into the game. Another issue for some is that once a red dot hits you, the game is over and you have to restart with taking out one or two dots in a new game.

Conclusion: Tilt to live is definitely a winner on the App Store and deserves far more credit. It is a unique, intuitive, and fun game that has amazing work put into it. You have bright graphics, intelligent gameplay controls, and an enemies AI that really makes the game fun and not mindless. Here’s a tip try using Tilt To Live on your iPad.

Our Rating:

We Apologize

We here at The App Data apologize for the recent lack in new posts, and plan on creating more reviews and such… eventually. It’s summer, and as a result we tend to be very busy. But don’t worry, we will return with more posts soon enough!

App Review: Doodle Jump

Overview: We all have had the experience at one point in our lives, when we were so bored with what we were doing that we drew some of the most ridiculous creations on our paper. Doodle Jump is a hand-drawn fantasy game that takes place on a simple piece of graph paper that has the star, “doodler” desperately trying to jump as high as possible  before plummeting to its inevitable doom. All the characters, both enemies and hero have, the quality and poise of a classic boredom doodle. It’s definitely one of those games that once you pick up you can’t put it down, and even after failing time after time you still have the will to continue trying. A common question people ask is, “Is PapiJump just as good but for free?”. The answer to that question is no the quality and effort in this app shows even before the purchase in the icon. The game also has evolved, upon its release date it had simple features with no enemies and was pretty much the same as PapiJump. As it started growing its popularity did as well with the use of its accelerometer function to move left and right The controls are relatively simple, effortlessly tilt your idevice from left to right and the doodler follows your motion, as an enemy springs up simply tap toward the trajectory of the enemy and watch your doodler shoot a small projectile at it to clear your designated path.

Features: The use of the accelerometer is unlike any other game of its kind, its smoother and grants the doodler a quicker escape if needed with the ability to wrap around the screen. You will also notice that the character has to overcome several obstacles. Some come in the form of the blocks it must jump to. There are blocks that slowly explode right under you, some that have major dents that break, blue blocks slide around, white blocks that disappear after your initial jump, and movable blocks that must be moved while jumping to form a correct path for the doodler to travel on. In addition to all the struggle the doodler must face is a variety of enemies, most are motionless and can be taken down with a simple shot or by bouncing off the top of their heads, but there are bosses as well that move and follow you that you must shoot several times to take down. Some other minor threats to you and your character are holes in pages that the doodle can simply fall through or UFOs which can suck you up even if you don’t touch them using a beam of light. The game updates frequently, and the updates have a lot of substance bringing holiday themed doodlers and enemies as seen in the Halloween and Christmas version. The most amazing thing about doodle jump is that it incorporates so many other games into its arsenal. You can transform your enemies into “Ooga” from Pocket god by putting Ooga as your name. You can also transform your enemies into “The Creeps!” characters by imputing “creeps” as your name. The game also keeps track of statistics such as high scores, total games played, average score, total play time, and ways you died. The game also features high-scores globally, locally, and with friends. Surprisingly Lima Sky has created their own friend system(rather than using Openfeint or Plus+) using Facebook so people can add their friends and publish their scores.

Pros: The developer’s consistently update the game in various ways, and are constantly adding new material which makes the game a great value. It has a fantastic leaderboard system, and remarkable use of all of the iPhone’s features and capabilities. Some updates I can see myself purchasing as “in-app purchases” so that is why this game is such a great deal at the affordable asking price of $0.99.

Cons: Unfortunately for the genre the game is in, there is currently no advances in multiplayer. There are no ways to compete against friends head-to-head or any multiplayer whatsoever. This would add a great deal to game, I feel if the developers thought more about this, they could come up with a fantastic solution to the common problem.

Conclusion: The game is a fantastic game that is fun to kill some times, that is loaded with features and is constantly being updated. With all the ways to play and all the features to explore it is a fantastic deal at the asking price of $0.99 and is less then the price of a cup of coffee. I would recommend purchasing this app for the pure pleasure of the gaming experience. It’s really a fantastic deal, check it out.

Our Rating:

Suggestions?

We need more suggestions for apps to review, so please feel free to request any reviews!

The New New Facebook

For those of you who may have already seen our Facebook page, well we went through some “technical difficulties” (not really but the truth is much more complicated) and now have a “new” Facebook page. Here is the link: tell your friends! (It would would make us very happy)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-App-Data/135475653149394?ref=ts

App Review: Archetype

Overview: Archetype is a first-person shooter which has recently hit the App Store. It hosts online multiplayer, but doesn’t have a campaign or single player mode (aside from a basic target practice style gameplay option). It contains many qualities that make it similar to the popular and renowned game N.O.V.A. which also is on the App Store. The game takes place in an environment with a futuristic sci-fi theme, and there may or may not be a plot to the game (it isn’t clearly explain), but it includes some sort of conflict between a generically created Orange army and  Blue army.

Features: Archetype uses an online multiplayer system, currently consisting of only Team Deathmatches. It uses the basic dual-stick control configuration and is very similar to most iTouch/iPhone first person shooters in that sense. But one major concept helps this game stick out, and that is the auto-fire ability. In Archetype, once the aim marker appears over a target, it will turn red and the gun will automatically fire giving the player the ability to roam more freely than if he or she had been concentrating on pressing a fire button. Each user can create a profile, add friends, and challenge friends to private matches.

Pros: The graphics in Archetype are fantastic, and really are another step up in the look of 3-D applications. The online multiplayer, although limited, is a blast, and can occupy a lot of fun-filled time. Another great feature as previously mentioned is the auto-fire ability. In most first person shooter apps, use of a fire button can mainly be a pain and annoyance more than anything else. Although it’s possible to turn off auto-fire and manually shoot at enemies, it isn’t recommended. This game also has a nice variety of weapons, and although some are better than others they are balanced for the most part.

Cons: The biggest flaw in this game is the lack of a major single-player mode or a campaign. Such a mode is essential to most games, and this one could definitely benefit from one. Speaking of things this game is lacking, it also lacks a variety in modes while playing online. At the moment, all that is available is the Team Deathmatch mode, and it has a timer of 2:30 resulting in shorter games which rarely get completely finished. Many of the maps also have an unsightly look to them, and consist of a beautiful pallet of the colors gray, brown, and dark green. The two factions involved could also use some more work. Almost nothing is known about the plot, other than that some “orange” guys want to kill some “blue” guys. Both factions appear the same race, and have the same weapons and general appearance aside from different colors. It isn’t too big a deal, but definitely a hole in story (if there is one).

Conclusion: Archetype is a good start and has a great amount of potential, but is lacking in many things and has much room for improvement. A game generally can’t live on multiplayer alone, and this one is no exception. The plot is very vague, and leaves the player to be left wondering if there even is one. But nonetheless it hosts some great multiplayer action and is guaranteed to be entertaining at the least. All in all a bit pricey for what it actually is but worth the price if you can afford it.

Our Rating:

App Review: Doodle God

Overview: Brought to you by JoyBits is Doodle God (not to be confused with Pocket God or Doodle Jump), a puzzle game in which the user is the god of a doodle-themed realm and must mix the basic elements of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air to create new elements and begin to populate this newly created world. The main goal of the game is to be able to create a total of 140 different elements – while only starting from four. But as you mix these elements, new ones are created and these can also be mixed with other elements. Although at first this may seem easy, as the player progresses through the game creating more and more elements  it becomes increasingly challenging.

Features: Doodle God is a fairly simple one player game, and as a result doesn’t really have too many features. However, there are definitely some nice details in the game that are worth pointing out. All of the 140 elements each have their own unique symbol, while each of the total 15 element groups also have their own symbols. And whenever an element is created, usually an insightful or often humorous quote follows its creation.

Pros: This app can prove to be quite a challenge, and is also very time consuming. Fortunately, it is also a very casual game and doesn’t require too much thinking and can be played within any time frame, whether from a minute or two to even an hour if you feel the urge. A nice touch, as previously stated, are the quotes following each element creation which are sometimes worth a hearty chuckle or a little bit of pondering. The graphics are simple looking (as they are doodle-themed) and have a crisp and clean look to them. The element icons as well are also very nice looking, but some have a more sophisticated artsy look to them, rather than the common doodle style.

Cons: The game lacks in variety, albeit yes, it is just one game and one mode. It can become boring easily, especially when in a rut of being unable to discover new elements. Considering what the game itself is, this is more of an intentional issue but still can result in some serious head-to-desk pain. Some of the element combinations are a bit… interesting as well (such as Fire and Water creating Alcohol) and tedious to predict.

Conclusion: Doodle God is a fun and interesting game to play, but is also very challenging and easy to get stuck in. As a result, it can become boring fast and easily. Nonetheless though, entertaining and will definitely occupy a long amount of time. And for only $0.99 it is definitely worth the price.

Our Rating:

App Review: Cartoon Wars – Gunner

Overview: Cartoon Wars – Gunner is an app by BLUE G&C that’s been out for quite a long time, but is definitely worth mentioning. The dual-stick control based shooter sequel for the popular game, Cartoon Wars, is a cartoon-style shooter featuring an array of enemies, weapons, and upgrades. It’s presented in a way that makes it look like a cartoon with the protagonist being a stick figure and all the enemies appearing hand drawn as well. Originally $1.99 on the app store, there is now a free version.

Features: This game is a dual-stick style shooter, and as a result uses fairly simple controls. It uses a currency based upgrade system, and money is received by killing enemies. There are many upgrades to choose from, and other weapons can also be purchased ranging from a sword to a flamethrower. Three backgrounds for stages are presented, each with its own individual catchy techno music. This game also hosts a Survival Mode along with the regular gameplay.

Pros: Cartoon Wars – Gunner is an addicting game, and will occupy the user for a long, long time. Along with the addicting gameplay there are dozens of upgrades to choose from, whether being a basic player affecting upgrade or maybe just making a gun stronger. Many weapons are available for purchase and unlocking all of them is itself a challenge. The graphics also have a very fun and high quality cartoon-style look, and at times you might just find yourself gawking at how badass the protagonist looks throwing ninja stars at foes. The enemies as well have a variety in looks as well as a  varying difficulty in defeating them. And it’s hard to deny that the background music is definitely catchy and will have you tapping your foot as you slaughter all your enemies in a trigger happy succession!

Cons: Although many upgrades exist, eventually you will run out of them as well as new weapons to purchase. At this point, the game can get old – fast. Because honestly, after awhile destroying the same spawns of enemies over and over and over again with no real goals in mind can become awful boring.

Conclusion: Cartoon Wars – Gunner is fast-paced, addicting, and a great sequel. Sporting a huge array of upgrades and weapons, this game will occupy you for a very long time. With great graphics, great music, and great gameplay, you’d have to be a fool not to download this app (especially since currently it’s free). Although once completed, it can become boring, that is no reason as to not get this. It’s the ultimate doodle-based warfare shooter!

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Why Just Watch the World Cup? Be a Part of It!

FIFA ’10, by EA Sports is now on the App Store! Pick your favorite team, and represent your country!

What are you waiting for? Go get it today!

White iPhone 4 Now Available at Walmart

We have all seen the black iPhone 4 but this is the very first time we’ve seen the white iPhone 4. You are able to pre-order it from wal-mart. It is very stylish and is ready to sell.