App of My Eye » Fighting

Against The Fire!

Art — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:04:10 +0000

When I saw Meridian’s Against The Fire!, I was reminded of the first video game that I ever saw, which featured fire fighting as a theme. Granted, it was set in the future and the cast of characters were wearing body armor (a la Evangelion), but there is no denying that SEGA’s Burning Rangers, which was one of the last games released for the SEGA Saturn, made fire fighting more interesting than just a retelling of the movie, Backdraft. In comparison, this visually sharp top-down iPhone action game also accomplishes this feat by personifying the fires as little monsters creating havoc in your hometown of Waterfront. You play as a novice fightfighter, Andrew, who has zero experience, and therefore, is left behind by his team as these fire monsters run amok throughout the city. Suddenly, the alarm rings and there is a dispatch to rescue people at a nearby hotel. With only your wits in hand besides a hose, try to rescue as many people as possible, while extinguishing each and every enemy in sight. Overall, with approximately 50 levels to play, a variety of enemies, upgrade items, great controls, and awesome visuals, Against The Fire! is alot of gameplay for every level of gamer for the price. Recommended. Price: 99¢.

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Powerboat Challenge 3D

Art — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:04:23 +0000

A few years back, I saw a game called Galaxy on Fire 3D on a cellphone and I was speechless. Up to that point, I believed that the cutting edge of mobile games could only reach the height of retread arcade classics, slices to chunks of 16-bit turn-based games, and passable web games. Another homerun derby or soccer goal kick game anybody? Crickets. Obviously, I’m talking about the early days of J2ME and BREW when even a good game’s release required both a bended knee and puckered lips for the backends of carrier reps, who mysteriously got their houses renovated in the process. Business ethics anyone? Crickets again. Anyway, even though the version of Galaxy on Fire 3D that I tried out was on Symbian, I nevertheless realized that the times were a-changing and mobile games as we knew it were about to evolve. Fast forward to the present day and well, while technology has gotten way, way better, only a small percentage of games is living up to expectations. However, FISHLABS remains strong like bull bringing not only its classic Galaxy on Fire 3D to the iPhone, but also contenders like Powerboat Challenge 3D, a powerboat racing game filled with non-stop arcade fun and lots of personality. With four characters to choose from, four different venues to play in, and so many tuning options, you’ll see why this dev leads the pack, while everyone else just follows. Reminiscent of EA’s Burnout series and like racing titles, in which unlocking is a big part of gameplay, this release further solidifies FISHLABS’ reputation as one of the top quality gamemakers in the industry, who you can trust with each purchase. Always recommended. Price: $3.99.

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Launch

Art — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 08:42:01 +0000

While I’m not completely sure if Launch was created by a European-based developer, I’m positive that whoever created it was heavily influenced by European culture and style. Everything from the artwork to the game’s objective has more meaning that the initial impression that one would gather from first glance of their mind’s eye. From our understanding, the player is a live round in a rocket launcher making it’s way through the barrel toward invading aliens. Yet, even inside the barrel, what you would think is a linear existence is one that requires a quick yet steady hand to elude the clockwork in your path as you try to make your way out. If we had to compare it to any existing game, the original Star Wars Arcade with vector graphics, in which you elude towers on the surface of the Death Star in your X-Wing, would be the most ideal. With highly stylized graphics and solid controls, check out this wildly unique and literal take on a First Person Shooter, which feels like the product of an orgy between Stanley Kubrick, François Truffaut, and Guillermo del Toro. Price: 99¢.

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