Stay ConnectedThe Touch of Gaming podcast is your source for iPad and iPhone gaming news, reviews and interviews! In each episode your hosts Lloyd Hannesson and Jared Schulz will bring you the latest in gaming on iOS.
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This episode is focused on a ton of news that came out this week in the mobile gaming world.
We also played a few new games:
Todd played
Pac-Man 256 (Free, iOS & Android, Bandai Namco – Hipster Whale and 3 Sprockets). He loves the game so far and thinks it is a really well done, retro inspired endless runner. Great controls, visuals, audio, and game play all come together for brilliant gaming goodness. Everyone should grab this to try it. Fans of Pac-man will dig it but non-fans should also appreciate it. And its monetization scheme is very fair and non-intrusive.
Jared played
Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 ($4.99, Frontier Developments Ltd., iOS). This port of the PC classic stands the test of time (mostly) and offers some really fun sim/management gaming to the iOS world. Jared wants to spend more time with it before offering a full review, but he really enjoys what he is playing so far. If you liked it before, you will like it now.
Todd played:
Horizon Chase ($2.99, iOS, Aquiris Games). Wow, what a great modern take on the classic arcade racer (think Outrun) genre. Great visuals, wonderful music and audio, and a plethora of challenging tracks keep Todd coming back for more of this game. He recommends it for fans of the genre but he will play it more in the coming week to the offer a full review for those who might be on the fence.
Jared gave an update on:
Loot and Legends (Free, iOS, DropForge). – Jared has been playing this a lot and he is really digging it. The artstyle, fun story, and gameplay all make for a highly entertaining RPG. He recommends it highly.
Thanks and enjoy.
CARDS AND CASTLES EXTRAVAGANZA!!!!
This is (yet another) very Special Episode of ToG in which we have a very special guest on for the entire show…
Matt Siegel of Bit Mass, LLC
Creator of Cards and Castles (version 2.0 release this week)
First, the 3 of us talk games
Jared:
Monsters Ate My Metropolis (Free, iOS and Android, Adult Swim Games) – Jared digs the game but does not like it as much as Monsters Ate My Condo. It is a much different sort of but but he feels there might not be enough depth to it. He goes encourage folks to take a quick look for themselves.
Matt:
Splatoon. Yes, taking a cue from Nintendo Pulse, we talk a bit about Splatoon and Todd decides he needs to finally take the inky plunge and buy this game.
Jared (again):
Tactile Wars (Free, iOS and Android, Ankama Games) – Jared really digs this touch-centric strategy game. Recommended!
Todd:
focused on Cards and Castles and played nothing else new this week.
We then go into a fairly deep delve with Matt regarding all things Cards and Castles. Version 2.0 of the game released this week and it was a really huge change to the overall game. We ask hard hitting questions like “Why are the towers gone?” and “Why did you nerf my Barbarian?”…and he has some great answers. Honestly.
We wrap things up with a few news items.
Thanks and enjoy.
ToG #209 for the week of August 10, 2015 has arrived.
In it, Jared and Todd start off with a new feature…Game of the Month…in which they pick the favorite game that they have played in the past month. They also pick some Honorable Mentions. With these 6 games alone, you could have a full month or 2 of gaming goodness.
Then it was on to news/upcoming games, etc.
Finally it was time for some new game talk:
Loot and Legends (DropForge Games, Free, iOS) – Jared is really enjoying this game. He needs more time with it and it might need an update or 2, but this is another early contender for game of the year if they keep working on the game. Grab it today!
Decluster Zero: Bullet Nocturne ($1.99, iOS, Masayuki Ito) – Todd played the first game and really enjoyed it. The sequel ramps things up and adds some new features. Well worth it if you enjoy the bullet hell / schmup genre. Oh, and there’s a free version if you want to try before you buy.
Spider: Rite of the Shrouded Moon ($4.99, Tiger Style, iOS) – a long awaited sequel to an early iOS classic, Jared has begun his quest and is enjoying it immensely. He has not played enough for a full review, but if you have fond memories of the first game, you should probably just go ahead and grab this one now.
Doom & Destiny Advanced ($1.99, iOS & Android, Matteo Nicolotti) – Todd liked the first version of this dungeon crawler/rpg/zelda-esque/parody game but was put off by the controls. This updated, improved version does handle better but the controls are still not very intuitive and they really should be optimized for modern touch screen devices. This might be a “Todd thing”, so he will keep playing and report back later.
Xenoshyft Onslaught (CMON, $1.99, iOS) – a nice like take on the strategy board/card game. Jared likes it but the physical game relies on a fairly important co-player mechanic…something that computer AI just cannot replicate. He will try multiplayer with some suckers…I mean…friends and report back soon.
And that is all for now.
We talked a lot of news/upcoming games
We gave some updates on games we talked about in the past few weeks.
We talked about some new games too:
Battle Orbs (Free, iOS, Armor Games) – Jared and Todd are both digging this Free to Play Match 3 RPG game. Neither of them are far into it, but it seems pretty cool based on what they have played.
Angry Birds 2 (FREE, iOS, Rovio) – Jared likes this new entry into the Angry Birds family; although it does not bring very many new hooks into the genre. It looks a treat but there are some pretty heavy Free to Play elements in the game. That’s probably ok, though, because this game is sort of meant to be played in short bursts.
World of Warriors: Quest (Free, iOS & Android, Mind Candy Games) – Todd likes this odd little turn based strategy game. It offers some twists to the genre and it really streamlines and speeds up the genre. Controls could be cleaner, but that may come with an update. One odd thing…there is no sign of any free to play elements at all (as of yet.). Certainly worth trying if you like the genre.
Cosmonautica ($6.99, iOS/Android, Chasing Carrots) – even though this is technically still in Beta, Jared sees a truly wonderful game building here. It is part space trading game and part “The Sims”, all wrapped up in a very impressive looking package. He will keep playing and give us all a full review soon, but this one might be worth diving into even before that day comes.
Impulse GP ($2.99, iOS, EcoTorque) – Todd is enjoying this futuristic moto bike racer…but not as much as he had hoped. It looks great, handles well, and has some interesting game elements…but somehow those great parts do not add up to a great game. He will keep playing it, though, to see how it all pans out.
Magic Duels (Free, iOS, Wizards of the Coast) – Jared likes this take on the classic card game, but even a fancy new digital app cannot speed up the gameplay…and that can be a bit of a problem for him. Todd still cannot play it on his older iPad 4. Overall, it is worth a try if you are into CCGs, but Hearthstone, Sol Forge, and its ilk may have surpassed Magic – at least in the mobile gaming world.
Here is the rundown of the games we talked about:
Prune, ($3.99, iOS, Joel McDonald) – Todd is really enjoying this moody, uplifting, esoteric, arty puzzle game. Who would have thought growing a tree could be so much fun? This is the full package…graphics, sound, music, and gameplay. Nicely done. Buy it if it looks at all interesting to you.
Warhammer 40,000 Deathwatch ($4.99, iOS, Rodeo Games) – We all knew it would happen…Jared purchased this game and he is really loving its turn-based strategy goodness. He will give a full review later, but he already thinks it is worth the money.
Guardian Sword (was Free not it is $2.99, iOS, Picsoft Studio) – Todd likes this Dungeon Raid meets Hero Emblems matching RPG game. It has some depth (and gains more the more you play) and it is fun although the graphic style, lack of an easily accessible map, and grinding can get in the way a bit. Still, it is fun and worth the money. A full review will follow soon.
Long Siege ($1.99, iOS and Android, Anomaly Studios) – another Match 3 type of game, Jared is enjoying this so far but he needs more time with it. He will revisit it in an upcoming show. It does seem promising from what he has played.
Card King: Dragon Wars (Free, iOS, Kung Fu Factory) – Todd has put an hour or 2 into this so far. It is a very interesting take on a card battler with some new ideas and plenty of graphical flair. There is a lot of depth here…maybe too much at times…and the games can go on for too long, but this one is definitely worth a look if you are interested in the genre.
Callys Caves 3 (Free, iOS, Jordan Pearson) – a nice little platformer. Jared is enjoying the game a lot but he needs more time with it to render a verdict. Since it is free to play, he recommends people at least give it a shot.
Qbert Rebooted (Free, iOS, Sideline Amusements) – Todd grabbed this to go along with the Down the Mountain and Mountain Goat Mountain games of the past 2 weeks. 3 weeks, 3 Qbert-esque games. Weird. This game is the weakest of the bunch. There is just not a ton here to keep it interesting and there is a fair bit of grinding (and pop up ads). Nevertheless, if you are craving some old school gaming, give this one a shot…play for a few minutes and call it a day. Video gaming memories can be special…recreating them today – not so much.
And that does it.
See you all on the flip side.
Todd
We talked news and some new games we did not play.
We talked about some games we were still playing this week.
We talked about new games we did play:
Mountain Goat Mountain (Free, iOS, Zynga) – Todd is really enjoying this Crossyroad/Upside down Q-Bert score chase game.
Forest Home (Free, Binary Mill, Android and iOS) – Jared is digging this interesting puzzle game. Even with its free to play energy system, something Jared usually cannot tolerate, he highly recommends this for some fun puzzle game entertainment.
Super Awesome Quest (Free, iOS and Android, Boomzap) – despite being fairly light on strategy, this game somehow works for Todd and he is enjoying it…maybe more than he should. Try it and see for yourself. The free to play elements are fairly non-intrusive.
Tales from Deep Space (Amazon Game Studios, $3.99 regularly $6.99, iOS and Amazon) – Jared is really enjoying this whimsical, interesting game. He recommends grabbing it while it is on sale.
Barcode Knight (Magic Cube, $.99, iOS) – Jared likes, but does not love, this odd little game. He will spend a bit more time with it this week to give a more full fledged opinion to the listeners.
Nono Islands (Illusion Labs, Free, iOS) – Jared advises everyone to not bother with this game. Bad control mechanics coupled with heavy free to play elements drag it down.
In this episode, Jared and Todd talk a bunch of news and some upcoming games they are excited for and some current things they are not so excited about.
They also talk about a lot of games:
Let’s start with Jared’s list of games:
Magic The Gathering Duels (Free, iOS, Wizards of the Coast) – Jared is enjoying the game and liking the flexibility of deck construction. Todd cannot play it – not compatible with iPad 4. Bummer.
Adventures of Pip (Tic Toc Games, $14.99, iOS) – Jared really likes this innovative platformer and MFI support is the sweet, sweet icing on this lovely gaming cake. Todd is again bummed out…not compatible with iPad 4. We also talked about its price point.
Alphabear (Free, Spry Fox iOS and Android) – a neat and charming little word puzzle game that Jared recommends folks check out.
Don’t Starve ($4.99, Klei Entertainment, iOS) – a Steam darling comes to iOS and gets a really nice port. Jared loved a lot about this challenging rogue-like but he wishes it offered save points or some carry-over stat boosts because playing for 2++ hours, dying, and having to start over from scratch is not always that fun.
Story Warriors: Fairy Tales ($2.99, Thumbstar Games, iOS) – Jared likes this very innovative interactive story book and it could be a fun way to teach your kids to read…or to keep them interested in reading.
Rumble City (Avalanche Studios, Free, iOS and Android) – an interesting strategy game. Jared needs more time with it before handing out a review.
Todd’s new games:
Todd mostly gave updates on games from the last few weeks.
He only played 2 new games; although that would have been 4 if he had a newer iOS device.
Shooting Stars ($2.99, iOS, Noodlecake) – a tongue in cheek, pixel art SCHMUP. Todd digs it but is not head over heals about it. It tries too hard (or not hard enough; depending on how you look at it) with its humor. It is worth trying if you are craving something thematically different in the SCHMUP genre.
Down the Mountain (Free, iOS, Umbrella) – Crossyroad meets Q-Bert. Todd likes, but does not love, this game. It has some very fun elements but that Q-Bert game play style of only being able to jump “down” can really add to the frustration here. Why not innovate and allow the player to jump “up” the map? It would help a lot. Nevertheless, it is free, does not have too many ads, and has some fun game play elements that may grab others more than it grabbed Todd. Try it and see.
And that is all.
In this special episode of the Touch of Gaming podcast I interview Corey King the Chief Executive Artist from Zenfri the creators of the new Augmented Reality game Clandestine Anomaly.
We chat about the birth of the game, what it is, and why you should be excited to get out there and play it!
You can find out more about the game at:
https://www.facebook.com/ClandestineAnomaly/
https://twitter.com/anomalygame
http://zenfri.com
In this episode:
The Executive ($2.99, iOS, Riverman Media) – Todd grabbed this one and, while he has not had a lot of time in the game yet, he can already tell that its quirky sense of style and amalgamation of game play elements – from platforming to brawling to company building – work well. He recommends it already but he will try to come back next week with a full review.
Democracy 3 ($4.99, iOS, Positech games) – Jared dug back 1 year for this diamond in the rough. A very interesting and different strategy game that had made Jared think more about being a political leader and the challenges faced therein. He gives it a 4 out of 5; despite some issues with lag in the game. Check it out.
Groove Coaster 2 (Free, iOS & Android, Taito) – the sequel to one of Todd’s favorite mobile rhythm action games, Todd is playing this on Android and enjoying the experience. He has not played enough of it yet to really see how the Freemium model comes into play, but he feels it is worth grabbing nonetheless. Fun music and fun gameplay are in store.
Portal Pinball (Zen Studios, $1.99) – Jared, who admittedly does not really like digital pinball games, grabbed this because he was craving something more in the Portal world. Oh, and Todd sort of talked him into it. Jared likes the game…in short bursts. He does not love it, but it is not really his style to begin with. Todd tends to really enjoy the Zen Pinball games, but has not tried this one yet. This is probably well worth it if you like other Zen Pinball games and the world of Portal.
CivMiner – a CivCrafter Expansion (Free, iOS, Naquatic) – Todd is playing this game but asks the universal question of all clicker games…”Why?”. Truly, there are things to do but none of them really appeal to Todd at the moment; mostly because there are so many other games, with richer experiences and actual gameplay, out there. And there are better clicker games out there too. Try it if you want, but it will probably not stick around long on your device.
Battlelore: Command (Fantasy Flight Games, $9.99) – Jared really enjoys this deep strategy title (which may still be on sale as of this posting) but he did not completely understand it until he watched some “Let’s Play” videos about the board game version. So, that is his pro tip – seek out and watch some of those videos and you will have a much better time grasping this game. Highly recommended.
Todd and Jared are both still playing, and still loving: Capitals (Nimblebit) and Cards and Castles (Bit Mass). Jared is still playing Fallout Shelter (Bethesda)…and all of them are FREE – so grab ’em and get gaming!
In this episode:
We talked iTunes reviews and how many interesting games came out this week.
We talked news including the Apple/iTunes Confederate Flag issue and Touch Arcade’s Patreon campaign.
We talked games…and here they are:
Piloteer ($2.99, iOS, Fixpoint Productions – Whitaker Trebella) – Todd is really digging this very challenging ragdoll physics, jetpack “sim” meets Rocketeer game. The dev is very active and the game looks and plays a treat. 4 1/2 stars.
Door Kickers ($4.99 Killhouse Games SRL) – Jared has been digging this strategy game a lot this week. It has a ton of content so he is not ready for a full review, but all signs point to “Buy this game”.
Her Story ($4.99, iOS, Sam Barlow) – Todd has been “playing” this game. It is part interactive video novel, part text adventure, and all fun. You unravel a mystery by watching video clips and piecing them together. It is different, for a FMV game, and it is not so much a game as a well thought-out and acted piece of interactive fiction. 4 stars.
Heroes and Castles 2 ($1.99, Foursaken Media) – Jared spoke on this one and he is really enjoying it so far. He thinks it is worth the price of admission but they also have a free version that you can try if you are on the fence. Todd owns it too but has not really played it yet.
Sonic Runners (Free, iOS & Android, Sega) – Todd played this and he just could not recommend it. There are the makings of a fun, side-scrolling endless runner here, but they are overwhelmed by ham-fisted freemium models, pointless cutscenes, and ads. Try it if you love Sonic, but be warned…
Todd’s suggestion to Sega…get rid of the junk, flip it to a more Crossyroad method of payment, and you might have yourself a winner.
Fairystone ($2.99, iOS, Odenis Studio) – Todd just started this. It is a happy and vibrant block builder in the vein of Minecraft. No fights. No campaign. No dying. Just a fun little builder that you, and maybe your kids, will enjoy tinkering with.
And here are the games we are still playing and still talking about:
Capitals – we both ponied up and paid for Unlimited Lives during that 1/2 off sale. We both have 6+ games running at any given moment. Bring it!
Cards and Castles – Jared has taken a huge lead on this game while Todd trails behind…too timid to battle it out with others. Overall, this is an awesome game and we are hopeful we will be talking to the devs on the show in the near future.
Fallout Shelter – Jared was doing so well at this that he broke the game and actually had to restart from scratch. Well…that is half true. The game crashed and he had to restart. He is still loving it. Todd has not found the time to play…and probably won’t. His loss.
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