iPhone/iPod Touch Games Thread

flyinj · 2011-03-24T10:53:18.000Z

malkav11:

The Quest is the standout for me. Almost the only western RPG on the system and it’s a damn good one.

Undercroft is a damn good Eye of the Beholder meets Might and Magic WRPG. Prettier too. And free.

Bahimiron · 2011-03-24T10:58:26.000Z

Space Miner probably has the most consistently funny writing in a game since LucasArts was still making adventure games.

Ross_Macpherson · 2011-03-24T11:18:01.000Z

My favourite game on the system is probably DoDonPachi Resurrection, a Cave shooter. It controls brilliantly on the iPod, to the extent that even though I only just bought Deathsmiles for the 360, I’ll be buying it again immediately when it comes out on iOS. I like Espgaluda II as well, and it’s probably easier to finish, but I still don’t understand the scoring.

Gus_Smedstad1 · 2011-03-24T13:52:23.000Z

Editer:

Uniwar!

Unless you, like, hate fun.

I hate fun.

Tyjenks · 2011-03-24T14:07:39.000Z

For anime-y sports/ lite rpg goodness, the Baseball Superstars series is good.

Agree on 100 Rogues

Also, Sword of Fargoal as far as roguelikes go. I think I amy like it more than 100 rogues.

For a simple little time waster, I played a lot of Roll Through the Ages.

Dungeon Raid - as much as I loather match 3 games and Bejeweled (heresy, I know) I love this to death. Like it more than Puzzlequest, which is about the only thing I can liken it to. It is just so original in its take on a tired, tired genre (Kinda like Tower Defense games).

Gus_Smedstad1 · 2011-03-24T16:52:18.000Z

Tyjenks:

Dungeon Raid - as much as I loather match 3 games and Bejeweled (heresy, I know) I love this to death. Like it more than Puzzlequest, which is about the only thing I can liken it to. It is just so original in its take on a tired, tired genre (Kinda like Tower Defense games).

I loathe match 3 games as well, and I’ve been really puzzled by the popularity of Dungeon Raid as a result. Neither the reviews nor its popularity here have really clued me in to what you’re doing beyond tracing a line through matching sets, which is a mindless activity.

Kurdel · 2011-03-24T16:57:11.000Z

I just finished Sword and Sworcery. I can’t wait to buy the soundtrack, because the music was so good. I would like them to update the game so I can just jump in and listen to the best bits.

As I said previously, this game was an amazing experience. As a game there are some technical issues with checkpointing and momentum, but I can’t recommend it enough for people who want to play a high concept game that manages to not feel pretentious.

iPhone and iPod release is next month, so avoid reading reviews or spoilers if you want to fully enjoy the awesomesauce.

Gus_Smedstad1 · 2011-03-24T16:59:48.000Z

Kurdel:

iPhone and iPod release is next month, so avoid reading reviews or spoilers if you want to fully enjoy the awesomesauce.

Were you playing a beta, or playing it on some other platform?

nlanza · 2011-03-24T17:09:12.000Z

Gus_Smedstad:

Were you playing a beta, or playing it on some other platform?

It’s out for the iPad now.

roBurky · 2011-03-24T18:14:00.000Z

Creole Ned:

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. Plenty to have a look at here. :)

roBurky and intruder make good points in that tastes vary. I’m pretty willing to have a go at most game types on iOS, leaning more toward puzzle games and ones that can be jumped into and out of quickly. Having said that, turn-based RPGs get me hot and bothered. I am probably less inclined to go for action games because my fingers refuse to be as dextrous as they need to be on the touchscreen. I may just need more practice, though.

As no-one else is supporting my favourites, I’m going to give them a stronger plug.

Trainyard is a very slick puzzle game. It had me occupied in every spare moment until it ran out of puzzles. The free ‘express’ version is actually a whole second set of puzzles, I think as large as the main game. It might start off as a game about arranging tracks to keep trains from colliding, but it quickly leaves the train theme behind to introduce some clever color mixing mechanics.

Tiny wings is a fairly recent and unique one-button game, and is very, very good. It’s what I’m currently playing to the exclusion of everything else. There’s skill in diving down at the right time, but it’s not really about quick reactions. When I fail to catch a hill, I’m usually cursing myself for not going for the previous jump, rather than for being slow at tapping the screen.

Stuff other people have mentioned that I also endorse: Orbital, Carcassone, Helsing’s Fire, Tilt to Live.

Space Miner just seemed to be repetitive grind to me.

tomchick · 2011-03-24T18:15:24.000Z

roBurky:

Trainyard is a very slick puzzle game. It had me occupied in every spare moment until it ran out of puzzles. The free ‘express’ version is actually a whole second set of puzzles, I think as large as the main game. It might start off as a game about arranging tracks to keep trains from colliding, but it quickly leaves the train theme behind to introduce some clever color mixing mechanics.

What the…?

That looks awesome. Why wasn’t I alerted??!!??

 -Tom

peterb · 2011-03-24T18:49:35.000Z

Trainyard is awesome. It’s a lot like Chromatron, if you’ve ever played that, but feels a bit more involving.

bandidoquest · 2011-03-24T18:57:30.000Z

Another vote for Trainyard. Really brilliant and clever game.

Marcus · 2011-03-24T19:27:58.000Z

Wow I had never heard of Trainyard either. I picked that up as it looks pretty damn good.

bandidoquest · 2011-03-24T20:22:27.000Z

I especially like the story of how Trainyard became a success months after its release. Quite inspiring,

Mrenda · 2011-03-24T20:50:28.000Z

bandidoquest:

I specially like the story of how Trainyard became a success months after its release. Quite inspiring,

That’s a really good story, as are his other posts. And he’s quite a good writer.

I got a learning programming book two days ago. And I’m determined to eventually get an app out there (Android first, then maybe for IOS.) Stories like that are what I dream about before falling asleep. I have a couple of programmer friends, and one writer/sociologist friend. The idea that eventually we could make games together sounds awesome.

For the people who learned programming on extremely basic computers of the 80’s, typing in code from magazines, I think the mobile systems are going to be the same thing for their kids. (And older people who didn’t have computers until Windows 98.)

habibi · 2011-03-24T20:54:20.000Z

Creole Ned:

I hate to be that guy but given that this thread goes back several years, is anyone willing to offer a ‘must-have’ list of games for the Touch/iPhone?

Battleheart, my man! Best Diablo-like grind fest with cute graphics!

bandidoquest · 2011-03-24T21:06:55.000Z

I love Battleheart as much as anyone but I only recommend it if you have an iPad. The controls are horrible on the iPhone.

LMN8R · 2011-03-24T22:39:20.000Z

Trainyard is not just an awesome game in its on right, but it has quite possibly the best social sharing features I’ve ever seen in an iPhone game.

Every single solution is posted to the Trainyard web site by default, so you can go and browse alternate solutions to your heart’s content. Or if you’re having trouble solving one, it’ll help you with that too. You can one-click post a solution you might be particularly proud of to Twitter too, which is cool.

But the web site and shared solutions aren’t just pictures of solutions, it has an entire Flash implementation of the entirety of the game’s logic, so you can actually see all of those user solutions in motion too. Absolutely brilliant.

Tyjenks · 2011-03-25T06:53:03.000Z

Tyjenks:

Dungeon Raid - as much as I loather match 3 games and Bejeweled (heresy, I know) I love this to death. Like it more than Puzzlequest, which is about the only thing I can liken it to. It is just so original in its take on a tired, tired genre (Kinda like Tower Defense games).

Gus_Smedstad:

I loathe match 3 games as well, and I’ve been really puzzled by the popularity of Dungeon Raid as a result. Neither the reviews nor its popularity here have really clued me in to what you’re doing beyond tracing a line through matching sets, which is a mindless activity.

I thought the same and then it went on sale for $.99 and I took a shot.

You could argue that it is still pretty mindless, but the RPG features make it a cut above IMO. You have to match the sword with skulls to get rid of the skulls. The more swords the more damage. The skulls get increasing amounts of armor and HPs. The matching of gold accumulates and then you can buy an upgrade. The experience for killing skulls allows you two level up and gain two abilities. Matching shields gives you armor and any shields over and above your max fills up another “XP” bar that, when filled, gives you another upgrade. Matching healing potions gives HP.

The upgrades are varied too. More HP. More armor. Regeneration. More damage. Damage to Skulls when they attack. Improvement for matching potions so that they can give you 2, 3, 4 HP. And many, many more.

Levelling up can also add various special abilities of which you can have four. Clear the board and replenish sans skulls. Collect all shields/coins/potions. Turn skulls to shields/swords.

There are a ton more and the new upgrade to 1.3 adds classes and achievements and other fancy doo dads and knick knacks. Read Jason Cross here.

I don’t really do it justice and I think the only thing that does for match three haters is to just buy it and try it . I don’t think it is any more or less of a time waster than most iPhone games, but does not have the tedium that I feel when playing other Match 3 games. Jason sums it up in his last paragraph.