It’s hard not to take iOS (including iPods, iPhones and iPads) seriously as a gaming platform these days. Thousands of games exist or are being made. They are getting increasingly more impressive and complex, and millions of dollars is being made. The iPad2 surpasses the PS2 in performance, and I believe it’s only a matter of time before iOS will surpass (in revenue) one of the ‘big three’ console platforms (Wii, PS3 and XBox) – unless it already has?
All that said here are a few comments on the iOS games I have found myself playing the most. All screenshots are full-resolution and taken directly from my iPad.
Infinity Blade ($5.99)
If you are into gaming at all, you have likely heard of this game. Using the Unreal 3D engine, it’s leagues beyond almost everything else on the device in terms of graphics., and the gameplay is damn good as well. Basically it is a rip-off of my own game franchise Mercenary King, which means you fight baddies one at a time to get loot and power up your character. It all culminates in a face-off with the God-King that (spoiler!) always ends in defeat (even if you beat him!). The game then continues with your progeny starting his own fight through the castle. In this way you can play forever, becoming increasingly stronger and fighting bigger and badder enemies whilst collecting more and powerful gear.
Combat consists of dodging, parrying, attacking or using special abilities or magic – all controlled by very intuitive and clever touch controls. This is a top tier game, well designed and executed, and a no-brainer for anyone with a device that can play it.
Angry Birds ($2.99)
Since everyone on Earth including the US president and the British prime-minister has played this game what could I say you don’t know? Basically this is a one-two punch: a very clever and addicting game design coupled with near perfect implementation. The ultimate game I suppose, and less than three dollars! Another no-brainer purchase. (Screenshots from the HD ‘Seasons’ version)
Battleheart ($2.99)
This charming game is an RTS with great graphics, nifty controls and a good amount of customization. Assemble your team of four characters (from many different classes) and fight off waves of enemies as best you can. Each character feels quite different and the game even has synergies to consider when creating your team. It’s quite tricky, and with many levels to play through (and a lot of equipment to collect and use) there is a great deal of game here for the small price. This very professional product is highly recommended to anyone that likes RPGs or strategy games of any kind.
Cave Bullet Hell Shooters
Read that again if you’re in shock: I speak the truth. Cave – makers of the best arcade shooters of all time – have already ported two of their greats to the iPhone. Those would be Espgaluda II (left screen) and Dodonpachi Resurrection (right screen). They are incredibly good – far, far better than one would expect with touch controls. The action is fast and furious and the graphics and sound are great. However there is a problem: they are each pricey ($9) and iPhone only, which is why the screens are pixellated (the graphics are blown up for the iPad screen). The screens are from the free demos: I haven’t yet purchased the games because I think high-res iPad versions are a matter of time.
Minotron 2112 ($1.99)
Ignore anything else I say and just go and buy it. (If you insist for a review, I trust these three words are sufficient: “Better than Llamatron.“)
Two last points:
1) Note how low those prices are? I’m torn about this. Yes it means cheap games for everyone, and as I have hopefully shown here cheap does not necessarily mean bad (or short, or simplistic). On the other hand one wonders what effect such pricing will have on the game industry as a whole? I certainly think the days of $40+ niche or experimental games may already be behind us, which saddens me a little.
2) I don’t yet have an iPad2. This is for lack of trying, since I’ve made no real effort to go to the store after launch day to get one. Rest assured the day I walk past an Apple store and they are in stock one will instantly be mine. And not just for gaming: I consider my iPad an indispensable tool and the improvements in the upgraded model make it a no-brainer purchase for me.
One more final last point, specifically directed at B Francis S:
3) The graphic effects in the two Minter games (Minotron and Minotaur Rescue) will make you cry with delight. The particles in the Minotaur Rescue menu screen! The phosphor trails in Minotron (viewable in the upper right screen)! Once you see these in action you’ll want to get an iPad just to buy the dev kit and start porting over your flame demos to make them interactive 🙂