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iPhone apps I have known: third page

These are games. Titles link to the app store; images link to the Flickr photoset. Apps which my three-year-old son has enjoyed will get an extra evaluation from that perspective.

(See the other iPhone app reviews in the series.)

Aurora Feint II: The Beginning

<img src=“http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/3143663298_26382ec3a0_t_d.jpg” style=“float: left; margin: 0.5em” width=67 height=100 class=“thumbnail” alt=“Aurora Feint II: The Beginning” />

38.6 MB, $1

A very polished match-three game, which responds appropriately to rotating the phone, etc., and which also has RPG elements (building up your “character” with various powers). An obvious time-suck for those who are vulnerable to match-three time-sucks. I haven’t played enough to find it, but there’s apparently a plot in it, too. (But that title — it’s the kind of thing I’m half embarrassed to say out loud.)

BridgesManiack

<img src=“http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/3142833885_36fbeb4a3b_t_d.jpg” style=“float: right; margin: 0.5em” width=67 height=100 class=“thumbnail” alt=“BridgesManiack” />

0.6 MB, $1

A simple game with an easily-ignored timer. Each node needs a certain number of connections; knowing that and a couple of easily-remembered rules, you draw the connections. Somewhat challenging, but it’s fairly mechanical and thus easy to zone out to. The UI seems to have trouble identifying touches, which can make it a little frustrating. (And what is it with badly-titled games?)

Galcon

<img src=“http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/3142834111_6ec63364b9_t_d.jpg” style=“float: left; margin: 0.5em” width=67 height=100 class=“thumbnail” alt=“Galcon” />

5.5 MB, $5 (also Galcon Lite, free)

Conquer the galaxy in one to two minutes, with a compellingly simple interface (drag from one planet to another; half of the first planet’s ships will attack the second planet, eliminating its defenses on a one-for-one basis). The graphics are simple, but it’s still fun to see massive fleets plummeting across the galaxy. I haven’t explored the online play, but have been told that it’s very competitive, i.e. you will get destroyed.

Three-year-old evaluation

He recently discovered this, and seems to like watching the computer’s ships moving back and forth across the screen, and knows how to move his own fleets around (though not why, nor do his seem to be as interesting as the computer’s).

Ivory Tiles

<img src=“http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/3143663132_38bc76b406_t_d.jpg” style=“float: right; margin: 0.5em” width=67 height=100 class=“thumbnail” alt=“Ivory Tiles, five moves to completion” />

30.1 MB, $2

This is a great little puzzle game, which entertains both me and my three-year-old. Tilt the phone to slide one or more tiles around a board, with the goal of getting them to stop on one or more targets. The first levels are designed to familiarize you with the possibilities (including pits and elevated sections), while later levels (80 in all) can get pretty challenging. Sounds and graphics are top-notch.

Three-year-old evaluation

This one is awesome: I can watch him figuring out how to solve each of the simpler levels, one at a time. Highly recommended for kids with developing spatial relations skills.

Labyrinth Lite Edition

<img src=“http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/3143663776_3dee925eb2_t_d.jpg” style=“float: left; margin: 0.5em” width=67 height=100 class=“thumbnail” alt=“Labyrinth Lite Edition” />

0.9 MB, free (also Labyrinth, $6)

This was destined for the “not for me” list until the dude discovered it. The full version claims to have “over 500 levels”, and I’m now considering purchasing it.

Three-year-old evaluation

He liked it, but was easily frustrated by the levels. (Trust me, dude, I know. Try one of the 100-hole physical games sometime, if you don’t mind your blood pressure spiking.) However, even with the lite edition, you can create your own levels via a web app and download them to your phone. This has now moved up to second place (behind Ivory Tiles.

Lumen Lite

<img src=“http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/3143663954_0ae69ae910_t_d.jpg” style=“float: right; margin: 0.5em” width=67 height=100 class=“thumbnail” alt=“Lumen Lite, with a ridiculous number of mirrors and jewels” />

6.8 MB, free (also Lumen, $2)

A non-timed game: Pass a single laser beam through mutliple mirrors and color-changing jewels to light up one or more challengingly-placed targets. Fun, but I haven’t played it recently, and have other things to occupy my time rather than getting the full version.

Three-year-old evaluation

Kind of entertaining — he likes to add jewels and the laser, and add and rotate mirrors, but doesn’t yet know what they really do. (I haven’t really tried to explain it to him.)

Paradox Lite

<img src=“http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/3143664122_f6da15c319_t_d.jpg” style=“float: left; margin: 0.5em” width=67 height=100 class=“thumbnail” alt=“Paradox Lite, most of the left side complete” />

7.9 MB, free (also Paradox 3000, $2)

Another non-timed game, this of the Pipe Dream school. Also another where I probably won’t shell out for the full version.

Rogue

<img src=“http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/3143664146_9fcdf6eac3_t_d.jpg” style=“float: left; margin: 0.5em” width=67 height=100 class=“thumbnail” alt=“Rogue, in full old-school glory” /> <img src=“http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/3142834699_fcd5ec905e_t_d.jpg” style=“float: right; margin: 0.5em” width=67 height=100 class=“thumbnail” alt=“Rogue, with newfangled modern-style graphics” />

0.3 MB, free

Either exactly as you remember it, or with updated graphics. Except it’s buggy, and may not be as fun as you thought it would be. Which reminds me that it’s time to delete this from my phone: Nice idea, but I have more enjoyable things to do with my time.

SimCity

<img src=“http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/3142834879_2d68e06194_t_d.jpg” style=“float: right; margin: 0.5em” width=67 height=100 class=“thumbnail” alt=“SimCity, newly-founded settlement” />

30.9 MB, $10

This is essentially SimCity 2000, the real thing. I expect to start playing this once vacation is over in a week or so, but I haven’t spent enough time with it to say if it’ll be as addictive as its predecessors on the desktop. I can say that the touch UI is pretty good. (Rebooting solved the crashing problem I and many others were having.)


(See the other iPhone app reviews in the series.)