iOS Gaming Gems: Volume 1

The best iOS games money can buy!

Marshall

When I got my first cell phone in 2002, I was just thrilled I could talk to my friends from anywhere. It didn’t have a camera, texting was not an option and connecting to the internet or email was something out of a sci-fi novel (in my world anyway). Jump ahead 9 years and it’s hard to imagine my life without my iPhone. While talking on it and checking emails is nice, it’s the games that really changed up the formula. So as an iOS consumer and an avid gamer, here are a few titles that should not be missed.

Plants Vs. Zombies ($2.99)

I remember hearing about this game when it first came out for the PC thinking, “A game about plants? No thanks.” Boy was I wrong. After playing this tower defense gem on my computer, I knew I had to have it the day it came out on iOS. For those unaware, the whole game is about setting out plants in your backyard to prevent the zombies from getting into your house and eating your brains! The stages get progressively harder with new environment settings and new zombies. But fear not, by the end you’ll unlock plants that can bomb the zombies, shoot fireballs, ice balls, zombie eating seaweed and much much more. If you haven’t downloaded this on your iOS device or any other platform, stop reading and get it… NOW!

 

Infinity Blade ($5.99)

Trying to figure out what to do while you wait for Skyrim to come out? Fear not, this sword-wielding, action RPG will keep you busy for quite some time. With graphics that put some console games to shame, you are never more than a finger swipe away from battling another giant enemy looking to tear you limb from limb. Swing in any direction, dodge, block or do whatever it takes to take down your next foe. You will unlock new armor and weaponry as you go. This may be the most expensive title on the list, but it is worth every single penny.

Rage HD ($1.99)

Wanting to get your head shot fix but aren’t at home to boot up Halo, Killzone or Call of Duty? Rage takes you on a journey with enemies of all types trying to stop you dead in your (on rails) tracks. But don’t let that stop you from this high-def masterpiece.  The game is a sliver of what to expect from the highly anticipated title, Rage,  being released for consoles this fall. The controls feel great, the guns feel powerful and the game, as a whole, is a steal for the price.

 

Peggle($2.99)

Another gem from the guys at PopCap, Peggle made its first debut on PC and has found its way onto iOS devices since. When I first downloaded this game, I spent days trying to clear levels. While it is not nearly as complex as some of the other titles on this list, Peggle is, without a doubt, one of the most addicting. One part Plinko, one part block breaker (reversed), Peggle has you shooting bouncy marbles into a grid or design of pegs trying to destroy all the highlighted pegs before you run out of marbles (10 per level). With iOS 4, this game can be a great  spur of the moment play for a few seconds or a long term time sink. Either way, you can’t go wrong with Peggle.

 

Tilt to Live ($2.99)

The first iOS game I ever got addicted to was this simple survival game. At its heart, it’s as simple as tilting your phone to get your ship/arrow away from the evil red dots coming after you. However, you add to that bombs, black holes, electricity power ups, or fire streaks, and you’ve got one of the best iOS games out there. There are 5 different game modes that twist the formula in various ways to keep you always coming back for more and trying to beat your high score.

 

Ryan

Millions of people all over the world have pounced on the first and second generations of Apple’s iPad like a fat guy mounting a box of donuts. And with over 65,000 different apps to choose from in the App Store, those millions of people are gonna want to know which apps stand out from the pack, which ones deserve their hard earned impulse money.

While I can’t  find the best app to help  you lose 10 pounds or the perfect app to budget your money, I can tell you which games deserve your undivided attention. So without further ado, here are 6 iPad games you simply should not miss.

Mirror’s Edge, by EA Games ($9.99)

Mirror’s Edge for HD consoles came out to mixed reviews. On the one hand, the game was beautiful, original and very entertaining. On the other, it was short, slightly flawed and ultimately ended up flying under the radar.

The same can be said about Mirror’s Edge for the iPad. While enjoyable, the game does suffer a short campaign. But while you’re playing, getting into the rhythm of jumping, sliding, rolling and zip-lining evokes a very unique feeling. When you’re in the zone, you feel like a total badass, unstoppable, untouchable. The controls are responsive, the music is driving and the stylized graphics look great on the iPad’s big screen.

However, do not buy this game at full price. It is entirely too short to do so. Instead, wait for one of EA’s inevitable 99 cent sales. They’re frequent, well advertised and well worth the wait. At the time of this writing, the most recent EA sale is over, and the price of Mirror’s Edge has risen back to $9.99. And while I thoroughly enjoyed it, it is by no means worth $10…

 

Aurora Feint 3, by Daniel Cassley (FREE)

 

I’ve been following the Aurora Feint series since the it first came into being back in 2008. Its unique take on tile swapping and brick matching got me instantly hooked. Now, three years later, the formula has been refined and, with much higher production values, the same game I became attached to 3 years ago has a bright new polish and sheen to it.

Aurora Feint 3′s tile swapping is limited strictly to horizontal movement. Match three or more tiles and the resulting explosion results in HP recovery, special move power-ups and even attacks on anthropomorphically animalistic enemies. With the new social addition of “Call to Arms,” players can rely on their friends who also play AF3 to come in and help them when a battle is looking grim. The new RPG elements added to AF3 bring a deeper level of play and character building than the previous entries. And because it’s free, you really can’t get a better deal out there.

 

Worms 2 Armageddon, by Team 17 ($4.99)

 

I spent most of my teenage life playing the strategic Worms games on PC with my little brother. I don’t know how, but he always managed to kick my butt, every…single…time. Maybe it was his masterful use of the Ninja Rope, or perhaps it was his unmatched skill with the Super Sheep. Either way, despite my constant losses, Worms was a fantastically deep strategy game that drained hours of me and my brother’s lives away.

Armageddon was, arguably, the best entry in the series, and now, it’s on your iPad. Blast your enemies in the face with a bazooka, launch a Holy Hand Grenade into an unsuspecting group of worms, smite your opponent with a giant donkey that drops from the heavens. Yeah, you read that right.

Worms 2 Armageddon’s pass-and-play and online multiplayer modes provide countless hours of ridiculous fun for up to 4 players. The touch screen controls take a little getting used to, but take a little time to get the feel of it down and you’ll be banana bombing your buddies into oblivion in no time flat.

 

Secret of Mana, by Square-Enix ($8.99)

Yes, I know this is an iPhone game, and yes, it looks and runs fantastically on the iPhone 4. But trust me, this game was meant to be played on the iPad. Why, you ask? Lemme give you a little backstory here.

Secret of Mana is my favorite game of all time. I’ve beaten it 11 times, I owned it on Super Nintendo, Emulator, Wii Virtual Console and now, on both my iOS devices. But between the two, my iPad is my “console” of choice. By enlarging the screen to two times on one’s iPad, the sprites look amazing, the controls are perfectly placed for a dude with hands my size and the picture gets all dated and pixelated. Which is AWESOME! Nostalgia is a major plus while playing this game, but that shouldn’t keep newcomers from trying it out. And furthermore, use of the Fling joystick is absolutely recommended while playing this game.

Secret of Mana is the tale of a young boy who inexplicably removes a legendary sword from a stone at the base of a waterfall and unleashes hell on his world. Monsters attack villages, an Empire rises to evil power and a giant Mana Beast begins destroying the planet. It’s up to Randi, Purim and Popoi to destroy these monsters, return the sword to its stone pedestal and return the world to the way it was. Legendary weapons, awesome magic powers and countless temples await the heroes on their journey to restore balance to the world.

 

Dead Space, by EA Games ($9.99)

When Dead Space hit PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 back in 2008, it instantly replaced Resident Evil as my go-to fix for scaring myself shitless. Survival horror and sci-fi go together like cookies and milk, gamers and Cheetos, otters and boxes. So when I heard that a new entry to the Dead Space franchise was hitting the App Store for iPad, it was all I could do to contain my excitement. New game mechanics, an all new exclusive story arch and new weapons to use, and all on the go??? W00t!

The story revolves around new Unitology recruit, Vandal, as he begins his journey into hell by sabotaging some mining stations on the moon of Titan. After accomplishing his mission, he is betrayed and left for dead at the hands, err, claws of the horrific necromorphs. Players will blast, chop, explode and swipe their way through hordes of necromorphs on their way to uncover the truth behind Vandal’s betrayal and attempt to make it out of this ordeal alive.

While EA’s Mirror’s Edge might not be worth a whopping $10, I’d have no problem paying that price for Dead Space on the iPad. There are multiple modes included, countless nodes to locate and use for upgrades, and even pay-as-you-go DLC to give yourself an edge over the endless enemy hordes. The entire package is expertly assembled, its slick presentation never dips in frame rate, even on my iPad 1, and the atmosphere and sound assembly will actually creep you out if you’re wearing a decent set of headphones. I reiterate: play the game with headphones. Otherwise, you’re not getting the full experience.

 

Order and Chaos, by Gameloft ($6.99; 99 cents/month subscription)

I’m gonna be honest here: The fact that I included this game, not to mention that I even own it, is incredibly surprising. If you ever asked me to play an MMO with you at any point in my life, I’d probably laugh and walk away. I might even make fun of you. Because I’m a dick.

But when some of my friends and coworkers began pushing this game on me, I decided I would cave, just this once, and see what all the fuss was about. And to my surprise, the fuss is actually pretty damn cool.

Order and Chaos Online, I can only assume, is you’re typical fantasy MMORPG, including elves, orcs, magic and sharp weapons. But Gameloft had some lofty (get it?) ambitions and decided to bring a robust MMO experience to both the iPhone and the iPad. That’s right, you can run a fully fleshed MMO on your iPhone.

Players are able to run around their virtual worlds, completing virtual quests for virtual experience with a bunch of other literal nerds. A surprisingly full chat feature, a basic character customization screen and 4 starting classes will keep players unique and interesting, and teaming up with other players is as easy as tapping on their avatar and asking them to join you.

Battles play out in real time. Simply tap an enemy and you’ll attack until he’s either dead or you decide to retreat. Team up with your buddies to take down larger enemies and bosses and run around your world completing tasks for NPC’s (non-player characters).

Of the six games on this list, Order and Chaos Online gets you the absolute most bang for your buck. There is a 99 cent monthly subscription fee, but be honest, is that really so bad? Consider the $15 monthly fee for World of Warcraft, and you’ll begin to see the value here. Gameloft is constantly releasing updates with new missions and content, so you know you’re 99 cents a month is going to good use. As an avid HATER of MMO’s, I can’t recommend this game enough. It’s surprising, it’s fun, and it’s social, something more and more games are becoming. If you want to play online with me, my character’s name is CooterPeen (yes, really) and you can usually find me roaming around the Whispering Islands on the America servers.

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And there you have it. The best iOS games you can get for your iPhone or iPad. Did we miss one? What would you add to the list? Be sure to sound off in the comments below!