App of My Eye » Racing

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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SPACE DEADBEEF

Art — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:01:50 +0000

Why would I recommend a game which basically offers only one level to play over and over again with increasing difficulty? For one, it feels just right for the iPhone/iPod Touch as it’s simple controls, such as touching the enemy to target/shoot it and pressing above/below your ship to maneuver it, make it easy and understandable to use. Another reason is that the creator of SPACE DEADBEEF is Yuji Yasuhara of Polyphony Digital, an internal Sony studio, which created the Gran Turismo franchise. However, besides being associated with the most successful racing game franchise ever, Yasuhara-san was also involved with making Omega Boost (PSX) and Panzer Dragoon II: Zwei (SEGA Saturn), both of which were fairly impressive rail shooters in their time. While this game will never be mistaken for Gran Turismo or either rail shooter, you do see the polish that you’d come to expect from an experienced Game Industry vet, especially with Yasuhara-san’s background. My point? While our adventures in the App Store up until now are akin to the Wild Wild West, i.e. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, there are apps like these, which serve as reminders of what should be the standard quality level. For that reason alone, download and keep handy. Price: Free.

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Cube Runner

Art — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:24:14 +0000

While looking for a Lode Runner clone (one of my all time faves) in the App Store, I ran into this little gem, which reminded me of Atari’s Night Driver and the original Star Wars coin-op arcade machines from the late 70’s and early 80’s respectively. Gosh, I’m dating myself. One of the first games available when the App Store launched, Cube Runner is a simple, yet addictive game of maneuvering your ship through a maze of cubes strewn about in your path. In a behind-the-ship 3rd person POV, tilting your device veers your ship to the left or right narrowly avoiding on-coming obstacles. Don’t let the graphics fool you: this is a fun game, which has an almost therapeutic quality the better you do. Definitely worth downloading. Price: Free.

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