2021

Final Fantasy 1 & 2 is out now.

Also,

According to the publisher Plants vs. Zombies sold more than 300,000 copies in the first nine days, setting a new record for App Store launches, and has already grossed more than $1 million at $2.99 a pop.

2022

Final Fantasy 1 & 2 is out now.

They look good just seem a little expensive at 8.99. I’m interested to see how they play.

2023

But but but people on Internet Forums told me developers can’t possibly make any money on the iPhone platform, and they’re all going to lose their shirts!

2024

Some people can, it’s just not the gold rush that apple fanboys like you want to think it is. Do some research.

2025

I can’t believe only one of you is playing Devil Invasion.

I haven’t drained an entire iPhone charge on one game before this one. Space Miner was close…

If you like Puzzle Quest, you’ll love it.

If you like Puzzle Quest + castle defense/tower defense, you’ll love it even more.

It has a line that says “EAT BURNING TASTE”!

It’s only 99 cents for the next few days.

Tom, play this. It’s like your iPhone dream game.

2026

I picked it up. It took me a while to beat a puzzle and I was getting very frustrated and not liking the game too much. But, I could not stop playing. It does not seem to have the depth of Puzzle Quest, or am I missing something? All in all, I guess I like it. I need to play some more.

2027

The game is hard. You definitely have to replay previous levels to get more money.

It’s much more focused than puzzle quest, as you have to specialize in a certain skill set and dump tons of money into it. It seems like getting one of the “expert” powers earlier may be beneficial. I’m about halfway through the map now, and I’m going through earlier levels to save up the 500 for the mana regen power.

Some tips to keep in mind: Always be clearing. You can move gems at all times, even when chains are occurring or you’re casting spells.

Keep an eye on how enemies are arrayed at the top of the screen. If you’re using fireball, let a few more bunch up against one of your towers before shooting it off as it’s area effect.

And most importantly, invest in complimentary skills. I personally use only fireball, so I have two griffins that convert the other colors to what I need.

I can’t wait to try out another build. There is a lot of variety in how you can approach it. I’d like to see how the “empower attack gems” build would work, as you’d be much more board-centric. Also, the exploding towers skill looks interesting as well…

2028

Why only three usable skills ? The way they synergize, you haven’t got that much choice, and when playing you kinda have to spam them… The basic premise of Puzzle Quest + Tower Defense light is appealing, but the game seems to lack a hook. At least for me. Well it’s pretty interesting for 1 $, but it hasn’t clicked yet.

Maybe because I started on easy to understand the basics ?

As for builds, I haven’t decided on one yet, but I sort of need one the powers which turn rocks into something useable, or they tend to clutter the screen.

2029

I think it’s only three to emphasize that you’re building a class. I’d definitely recommend playing on normal. It is incredibly easy on the easy setting, and you won’t really get the intense pressure that makes the game so unique by playing on that difficulty. I can’t imagine what hard is like.

If you don’t have go for a rock-clearing power, constantly remove rocks. If the first thing your eye rests on after doing a combo are rocks that line up, do them. Like I said before, there is no time you can’t be moving gems/rocks around, so always be clearing.

Personally, I find the hook to be the fact that there is constant pressure. Once you get about 5 chains going, your combo meter fills up and you start doing some major damage to enemies. The other aspect that I like is that the timer isn’t something arbitrary, it’s the actual advancement of the troops against your towers. This makes you constantly gauge whether or not you want to fire off an enemy damaging attack depending on how they are current arrayed.

2030

I picked it up, it’s not bad. Not really grabbing me super much like Space Miner and (more briefly) Defender Chronicles.

2031

I picked it up last night based on this thread and immediately liked it. Don’t know about love, but this and Sword & Poker are renewing my faith in iPhone games, which was hitting a low point there for awhile. Apparently I need to pick up Space Miner too.

I didn’t think I would like a frantic pace but this changed my mind. I hated having to wait in the PQ like games to be able to do something.

2032

Thank you for the tips. A few I have discovered after getting beaten many times in a row. Like constantly moving gems. I’m using a similar build as yours, fireball and I have one Griffin that converts one of the gems I need. I’ll get the other too. I’ll try getting one of the expert powers.

I just beat a puzzle fairly quickly, so I am getting the hang of it. I’m liking it more and more.

2033

On Tom’s recommendation, I’ve been enjoying Vanitas. Though it’s not really a game. Toy maybe? I don’t know what it is. It’s a randomized interactive still-life, I guess.

2034

I mentioned this before, but it’s so strange I’ll mention it again:

You can actually slide gems/rocks off the hex grid at the top and bottom of the screen to get matches as well. I’ve never seen this mechanic before, and it takes a bit to get used to when spotting combo chains.

2035

Much like Tom.

I guess castle defense is the current “everyone is making one of these” types in the Appstore. I’ve been enjoying Castle Conflict which I’m thinking is going to be the GeoDefense of this genre… it has interesting pixel art graphics and a fast paced style (you can lose some rounds within 20 seconds if you aren’t quick).

http://appshopper.com/games/castle-conflict

I’ve also been moderately entertained by Battle of Puppets which has a gorgeous art style and a neat hook of the entire game being a stage play. My main problem is that it’s crazy hard.

http://appshopper.com/games/battle-of-puppets

2036

Thanks, I saw you mention this before and have been using it. Very helpful.

2037

How creepy is the stuff you find in there exactly? This is the kind of thing my 3 year old would be really into, but I don’t want to freak her out.

Then again, she freaks me out plenty – an actual exchange from the other morning:
Her: Daddy, you were in my dream!
Me: Aw, really? What was I doing?
Her: You were talking and I didn’t understand and your tongue was black.
Me: …

So, anyway, appropriate stuff for a morbid 3 year old?

2038

Appropriate, probably, but I doubt she’d find it interesting. Last time I opened it, I found a bird skull, a feather, and a bell. I treat it like stress ball on my desk, I guess. I’m bored, I pick it up and fiddle with it, then put it down and go back to whatever I was doing.

2039

Flyinj, I grabbed your weird Engrish Devil Invasion game, but haven’t had a chance to try it yet. Thanks for the recommendation!

As for Veritas, I mean Vanitas, it’s creepy, but not violent or offensive. If you want an example of something cool that might give you insight into why I really like some of Tale of Tale’s strange stuff like Veritas – I mean Vanitas – here’s a spoiler:

SPOILER:
Among the things you can find are a broken watch. It’s always stopped at the same time. A little after 11, I think. Weird. Anyway, if you keep opening the box long enough, you’ll find that same broken watch, but with the time advancing wildly. Make of that what you will. I know I did. It’s genuinely trippy and it’s an example of how Tale of Tales does a great job insinuating memorable moments into their “games”. Also, Vanitas totally made me jump at one point, but that’s a story for another spoiler.

-Tom
2040

Did anyone end up getting one of the final fantasy games today?