The iOS gaming thread

[Petrousgyre]

Finished Year Walk. Lovely stuff. Make sure you download the companion app, it's required to finish the game.

[Graham S]

My iPad 1 doesn't support The Room. Is the iPhone version any good?

Also Battle of the Bulge, the expensive but universally lauded iPad strategy game is on sale this weekend.

[Nagrub]

I often find myself getting frustrated with games on iOS being so throw away and simplistic. Yes, I get that really is the nature of the medium, but there must be some games out there that which are more my cup of tea and have a bit of depth to them. Was wondering if you guys might have any suggestions. I enjoy playing strategy games (anything nice that takes advantage of my iPads lovely retina screen is a bonus).

Recently I've been playing galaxy on fire II which I was enjoying, and looks pretty enough. But it has so many little things that annoy me and really detract from the game for me. Why can you only accept one mission at a time? Why do you not set turrets to fire automatically? Why is the whole game just quite, well, dull? When I picked it up I had hoped it would be a bit like Freelancer, but the whole thing just feels so needlessly simplified.

Apparently someone is making a proper Space Hulk game which I'm uncomfortably excited about. I know of hunters which I layer a bit on my iPhone, but... Meh. Didn't get on with it so much. Just saw the spots about battle of the bulge? Any good?

[Dudley]

I guess it's the nature of mobile gaming, most people play iPhone games for 5 minutes waiting for the bus, on the shitter etc.

Not to say there's not a market for things you can lose yourself in for hours but I can see why it's less.

Something like a GameDevStory etc does good work by being useful in 5 minutes but also playable for hours.

[Davros sock drawer]

I finished Questlord earlier this week. Pretty good overall, and I would have enjoyed it a lot more were it not for my own stupidity in missing an obvious entrance to somewhere I hadn't been.

I really do think that iOS devices are the natural home for old school dungeon crawlers. I wish they'd hurry up and release Legend of Grimrock.

[joeplus]

backflip madness is one of those games you only get on iOS - 69p little physics thing where all you have to do is land a series of increasingly tricky backflips

it looks a bit shonky, all you do is time the 4 stages of the flip with a single button, the menus are training are horrible and we've been playing it for the last 2 hours

its nails hard too (and thankfully has no 3 star reward system)

touch arcade talk about it in more detail today - seems quite a few people are getting addicted.

Second this! Great little game, hilarious when you mess up and smack the guy's skull on a box or faceplant him.

Just finished the first level after realising I was aiming for completely the wrong area on one jump. Watch out for the red markers as they tell you where to land.

[Mr Do 71]

Mechanic Panic

Price: Was $1.99 for iPhone and iPad

[merman]

Frutorious update is out, four new worlds and major changes to the pro mode

[ZOK]

Mechanic Panic

Price: Was $1.99 for iPhone and iPad

This is great, thanks!

[hombre_hompson]

Just finished Year Walk. The final section is wonderful - especially with the associated companion app.

However I did find myself stuck on a few occasions which led to long periods of aimless wandering. Also can't decide if one of the puzzles was unfair or if it was just me being stupid.

These frustrations aside highly recommended.

[DukeOfEarlsfield]

Just saw the spots about battle of the bulge? Any good?

Completely brilliant. It's expensive by iOS standards but excellent value by any others. It makes wargaming accessible.

Most decent iPhone/iPad strategy games are ones that take advantage of the bite size nature of mobile gaming. You can (and probably will) play games like Strategery (ultra streamlined, incredibly customisable Risk type game) or Outwitters (multiplayer only, micro version of Advance Wars) for hours but most games won't take more than ten minutes.

Ravenmark (Fantasy/Medieval themed TBS) has an incredibly loyal fan base but I found it too fiddly. It's worth checking out if you want a game that brings a lot of innovation to the genre. It has a big campaign mode with a lot of varied missions.

Rebuild is an excellent Sim City style game where you're having to manage a town in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse.

Waking Mars isn't a strategy game but it does bring the kind of depth of experience you're looking for. Explore the subterrainian caverns of Mars, revive the ancient fauna and flora and bring the planet back to life. Easily one of the best games on the iPad.

[Sabreman]

Yeah, I'm really enjoying Battle of the Bulge. I've always had a craving for 'proper' wargames - many a time I've found myself browsing the Matrix Games site - but have been put off by the seeming complexity of even the interfaces. Thanks for the extra recommendations as well.

I'm stuck on Year Walk

trying to find the fourth 'baby'

. I've even mapped it so far to no avail.

[Rudderless]

Yeah, I'm really enjoying Battle of the Bulge. I've always had a craving for 'proper' wargames - many a time I've found myself browsing the Matrix Games site - but have been put off by the seeming complexity of even the interfaces. Thanks for the extra recommendations as well.

I'm stuck on Year Walk

trying to find the fourth 'baby'

. I've even mapped it so far to no avail.

Follow the blood trails. Have you been back to the windmill?

[Sabreman]

Follow the blood trails. Have you been back to the windmill?

I have, since talking to the girl. I spun the wheels round lazily and got served my second screamer. I've found three blood trails, and though I can't remember precisely I assume I've taken a baby from each. I got the baby from the wagon, the one where you have to pull yourself 'offscreen', and I can't remember the third. There is one with blood dripping upwards that I feel I'm missing something about, but seeing as the blood seems to be linked to the babies I'm three for three...

[milko]

Does the single map not limit Battle of the Bulge's longevity a bit? That put me off a little.

[Rudderless]

I have, since talking to the girl. I spun the wheels round lazily and got served my second screamer. I've found three blood trails, and though I can't remember precisely I assume I've taken a baby from each. I got the baby from the wagon, the one where you have to pull yourself 'offscreen', and I can't remember the third. There is one with blood dripping upwards that I feel I'm missing something about, but seeing as the blood seems to be linked to the babies I'm three for three...

Think about how you might make the blood drip downwards instead...

[Petrousgyre]

I have, since talking to the girl. I spun the wheels round lazily and got served my second screamer. I've found three blood trails, and though I can't remember precisely I assume I've taken a baby from each. I got the baby from the wagon, the one where you have to pull yourself 'offscreen', and I can't remember the third. There is one with blood dripping upwards that I feel I'm missing something about, but seeing as the blood seems to be linked to the babies I'm three for three...

You're on the right tracks - the blood dripping upwards is significant.

Edit: beaten. Thought my clue a little more delicate though.

[Sabreman]

Oh, that's the only thing I haven't tried!

Thanks

[Nagrub]

Downloaded a trial for battle academy. Think they made some strange choices on the art direction in the game maybe, every thing is very bright! do love the illustrations in the menu though. Really enjoyed it, but it does have a very, very steep price tag. I guess it's the kind of price I wouldn't really think twice about dropping on a pre owned 360 title or something, yet somehow it feels a bit different in a market where you don't often see things a over 3-4 quid.

Thanks very much for the suggestions Duke. I'll check them out.

[Sabreman]

Finished Year Walk. Quite a memorable experience, very slight but effective, and a fine use of the device. I do highly recommend it.

[Guest]

Jeez. I found that Kairosoft have a title based around football - Little Soccer League.

I downloaded the lite version and it stopped me playing just after I'd signed "Heckham".

Thank god, it was 3am.

Damn you Kairosoft...

[Looper]

Does the single map not limit Battle of the Bulge's longevity a bit? That put me off a little.

Two scenarios and two opponents per scenario though, plus the 'dice' element to combat means it rarely plays out the same way twice. It's worth full price, if its still cheap get it for sure.

[SaintM]

Completely brilliant. It's expensive by iOS standards but excellent value by any others. It makes wargaming accessible.

Most decent iPhone/iPad strategy games are ones that take advantage of the bite size nature of mobile gaming. You can (and probably will) play games like Strategery (ultra streamlined, incredibly customisable Risk type game) or Outwitters (multiplayer only, micro version of Advance Wars) for hours but most games won't take more than ten minutes.

Ravenmark (Fantasy/Medieval themed TBS) has an incredibly loyal fan base but I found it too fiddly. It's worth checking out if you want a game that brings a lot of innovation to the genre. It has a big campaign mode with a lot of varied missions.

Rebuild is an excellent Sim City style game where you're having to manage a town in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse.

Waking Mars isn't a strategy game but it does bring the kind of depth of experience you're looking for. Explore the subterrainian caverns of Mars, revive the ancient fauna and flora and bring the planet back to life. Easily one of the best games on the iPad.

I'll just add my usual 'Battle of Wesnoth!' call to the list for deep strategy games.

It's not been updated for a while, but still has more content than anyone sane can get through.

[Rudderless]

Was going to say that Year Walk is now the highest-rated game of 2013, overtaking Fire Emblem: Awakening, but one review has since dragged its average down because the guy apparently got stuck halfway through and gave up. Cites 'lack of hand-holding' as a negative. I dunno.

Anyway, I started playing Battle of the Bulge last night, and it seems excellent. Reminds me a lot of Advance Wars. I gather the developer is at work on a new iOS strategy game, so that's certainly one to look forward to when I've finished this.

[Kramer]

Two scenarios and two opponents per scenario though, plus the 'dice' element to combat means it rarely plays out the same way twice. It's worth full price, if its still cheap get it for sure.

Yep, Battle of the Bulge is superb. Some of the in depth analysis of that single map, I've read, is pretty mental. There's plenty of longevity as every game plays out differently.

It's a boardgame - so that's the board for the game. Incredibly well polished App, worth the full price - no doubt.

The follow up is based on El Alamein. They've just released a sneak peek at the board (check pocket tactics website.)

[Dudley]

Jeez. I found that Kairosoft have a title based around football - Little Soccer League.

I downloaded the lite version and it stopped me playing just after I'd signed "Heckham".

Thank god, it was 3am.

Damn you Kairosoft...

Is this a new one or did you just miss the one that's been out forever?

[kiroquai]

Having played and completed the awesome Year Walk (loved it), I went back and checked out Simogo's Beat Sneak Bandit. What a tremendously fun game that is

[shock33]

Downloaded a trial for battle academy. Think they made some strange choices on the art direction in the game maybe, every thing is very bright! do love the illustrations in the menu though. Really enjoyed it, but it does have a very, very steep price tag. I guess it's the kind of price I wouldn't really think twice about dropping on a pre owned 360 title or something, yet somehow it feels a bit different in a market where you don't often see things a over 3-4 quid.

Thanks very much for the suggestions Duke. I'll check them out.

For Battle Academy you need to bear in mind that this is the same game as on the pc and mac with no cuts, and indeed supports cross platform asynchronous play. I actually think its incredibly well priced overall, just screwed by the new world economy that the AppStore has brought in.

[Petrousgyre]

Was going to say that Year Walk is now the highest-rated game of 2013, overtaking Fire Emblem: Awakening, but one review has since dragged its average down because the guy apparently got stuck halfway through and gave up. Cites 'lack of hand-holding' as a negative. I dunno.

What an awful review. I was briefly stuck because I have an appalling sense of direction and because:

I did the dark cellar late one evening and tried to solve the tombstones the following day - clean forgetting the same symbols turned up in both

Entirely my own stupid fault and only happened once. If anything the game's too easy - once you get into your stride the final half hour or so of puzzles are all trivial.

[klargon]

I was briefly stuck because:

I did the dark cellar late one evening and tried to solve the tombstones the following day - clean forgetting the same symbols turned up in both

Hilariously I just guessed that bit. Seemingly got the right combination within a minute. I was trying to use the symbols on the trees for guidance! Just getting hold of the companion app now to see what I've missed.