The iPhone App Review : iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad App Reviews

The iPhone App Review : iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad App Reviews

Art of Darkness: Conrad-Inspired Click-and-Find Gaming

May 17th, 2013

Luke Patrick

Price: Free
Rating:
Art of Darkness: Written iPad App Review

Art of Darkness for iPad 1 300x225 Art of Darkness: Conrad Inspired Click and Find Gaming

Reviewed by Luke Patrick

If there’s one particular genre we like more than almost any other, it’s the click-and-point adventure genre. That is to say, we adore any app that has us hunting items, solving puzzles, and spinning around six ways to Sunday attempting to unlock more plot points. With that in mind, we’re beyond pleased to be introducing you to Art of Darkness by developer Booty Bay Limited. It offers a rich setup, a load of puzzles, and more than enough plot-bound item hunting to keep you busy for a long time yet to come. For our full review, you need only to slide on down below the break!

Concept and Gameplay

If you’ve ever played one of the retro-inspired click-and-point adventures from old, then you’re already aware of how Art of Darkness works—though there are some notable additions. For instance, the app mostly still has you finding items in piles of rubbish. These items run the usual gamut, from bent out of shape frames to lost keys. Find these bits and pieces, and then you can use them to unlock more elements within the environment.

And here’s where things get cool: You see, most games in the genre have you going from unseen room to unseen room. There are no connecting elements to tie it all together. Within Art of Darkness, though, you have every opportunity to walk around the docks, talk to the people, push the puzzle pieces, add your collected items, etc. In a way, it reminded us much more of Myst or Riven than it did any other title within the field for iPad. We couldn’t get enough of this, in fact. Because the app takes off the reigns a bit, and has you walking about between item hunting bonanzas, the world is instantly more immersive—and that’s a good thing.

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Instatim: A New Kind of Social Network

May 16th, 2013

Luke Patrick

Price: Free
Rating:
Instatim: Written iPhone App Review

Instatim for iPhone 1 168x300 Instatim: A New Kind of Social Network

Reviewed by Luke Patrick

Here at the iPhone App Review, we’ve had more than our fair share of opportunities to try out new social media venus. Some of them have been good, some of them have been bad, but it’s truly a rare entity that shows genuine promise. Thankfully, Instatim, from Instatim, LLC,—the subject of today’s full-length review—gives us exactly that. If you want a deeper look at how its security and privacy can provide you with a smoother, more meaningful social experience on the iPhone, then you need only to slide on down below the break. Starting with:

Concept and Functionality

Rather than trying to provide you with about a thousand (and two) ways to contact your friends, family, and vague acquaintances, Instatim instead tries to keep things simple. The app streamlines the social media process by restricting the experience to only those people whom you have added individually. The idea here is that you’ll only add your close friends, family members, or project coworkers. In this way, Instatim already supplies you with a more meaningful networking outing.

The features that the application provides fit right into this idea. The app allows you to add quick, 100-word status updates to let your loved ones know what you’re up to. If you’d like, you can also add a location. The app uses this information to create a map of everyone you’re linked to, all at once. This is really cool, in fact, and if you can convince your family to use it, it’s quite a useful tool for keeping an eye on them. From here, you can add whether or not you’re around or occupied. You can even share specific updates that are aimed at groups of your contacts, that way you can let your family know you’ve landed safely, and your coworkers know you’re on your way to the meeting.

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Keep Little Ones Entertained with Memory Match HD for Kids

May 15th, 2013

MarilynChau

Price: Free
Rating:
Memory Match HD for Kids: Written iPhone App Review

memory2 Keep Little Ones Entertained with Memory Match HD for Kids

Memory Match iPhone App Review

Memory Match HD for Kids by Internet Designs is designed to be a memory game for children. Available for free through the iTunes store, Memory Match teaches children to exercise their memory skills through a fun, interactive game that is made to challenge children of all ages.

Features:

Anyone who played the card game “Memory” as a child will quickly recognize the basic idea of Memory Match HD for Kids. Memory Match challenges players to utilize their memory skills in order to correctly match identical virtual cards; players can choose from a variety of card themes (toys, fruits, school, food, etc.), and opting to purchase the full version of the app opens up numerous more card categories. Cheerful music plays in the background of Memory Match, and simply turning the iOS’ sound off transforms this game into one that children can play in “quiet-only” settings. In addition to multiple card theme options, this game also features three different levels of memory-matching challenges; the number of cards increases with each level. Each game in Memory Match HD for Kids is timed.

memory1 Keep Little Ones Entertained with Memory Match HD for Kids

Reviewed by Marilyn Chau

Appearance and Layout:

The layout and graphics of Memory Match HD for Kids are definitely ideal for an app that claims to be designed for young audiences. Specifically speaking, Memory Match’s cartoonish graphics are bright and fun, and arrows at the bottom of each level’s screens allows for easy navigating. The different level/difficulty choice options are also clearly indicated, leaving no room for confusion. While the interface of Memory Match HD for Kids is extremely simple, such an interface is really the only ideal option for an app of its type. Additionally, since the layout of this app is so simple, it can easily be played by children who are not yet of reading age.

Value:

Memory Match HD for Kids is a free app, and it really is an app that should appeal to children who enjoy a fun challenge. In fact, this app may even appeal to some adults who enjoyed playing the game “Memory” as children themselves. Overall, the “value” of Memory Match HD for Kids is definitely a full “5/5” stars, as it is an easy-to-use and visually appealing app.

Memory Match HD for Kids iPhone app requires iOS 4.3 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. A small expedite fee was paid to speed up the publication of this review.

The iPhone app reviews rating:

“The best iPhone apps and the best iPad apps are reviewed by TheiPhoneAppReview.com”

Prepare for Battle in War of Machines!

May 15th, 2013

globalwhirl

Price: $0.99
Rating:
War of Machines: Written iPhone App Review

mzl.akyfxjsx.320x480 75 200x300 Prepare for Battle in War of Machines!

Reviewed by Michael Naber

War of Machines, from IK Media, is an app for the iPhone and iPod touch. The point of the game is for you to defeat the opposing player using strategy and cunning. The game has some intriguing gameplay and excellent graphics that are sure to make it a winner. I’ll go into the gameplay, features, and graphics below, but the game is definitely worth the download and I would highly recommend pulling out your phone and checking it out.

Features

The features of War of Machines are pretty impressive. The entire game is based on strategy and fighting, so if you like chess, you might like playing this game. In the game you are like the general, and you have to command and oversee your troops. You can also build new troops and place objects that will gather you more resources. War of Machines also incorporates special abilities and a wide variety of units. These added features give more depth to the game and make it much more enjoyable to play. The controls are also very intuitive, and they are based on tapping and dragging. To place a unit, simply tap where you want to spawn the unit. Then select the unit and move him to a proper area. You win the game/mission by destroying the enemy’s base. War of Machines has the potential to be a top strategy game on the App Store, so it might be worth checking out.

mzl.nfdcxvch.320x480 75 200x300 Prepare for Battle in War of Machines!

War of Machines iPhone App Review

Design

The one disappointment I have with War of Machines is that it isn’t available for the iPhone 5 or iPad. Hopefully the developers add this, but for now, you will be stuck with the older size. Everything else in the game is designed perfectly. The game’s map is in 3D and looks great. The characters and soldiers are smoothly animated and the explosions, bullets, etc. all look great. The menu’s are also very easy to follow and navigating throughout the app is a breeze. One of the best things about this game is the number of levels available, so the game has potentially hours of fun waiting to happen.

Overall Value

Overall I was really impressed with the game. If they add iPhone 5 and iPad support, and perhaps multiplayer, it will be a real winner. The game has great graphics, solid gameplay and might be the next big strategy game. In total, it’s an above-average game.

War of Machines

War of Machines is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.2 or later. A small expedite fee was paid to speed up the publication of this review.

The iPhone app reviews rating:

“The best iPhone apps and the best iPad apps are reviewed by TheiPhoneAppReview.com”

Track Your Golf Handicap with TheGrint | Golf Handicap Tracker

May 15th, 2013

MarilynChau

Price: Free
Rating:
TheGrint | Golf Handicap Tracker: Written iPhone App Review

thegrint2 168x300 Track Your Golf Handicap with TheGrint | Golf Handicap Tracker

Reviewed by Marilyn Chau

TheGrint | Golf Handicap Tracker is an app designed to help golfers easily keep track of their stats and handicap. Developed by TheGrint LLC, TheGrint is a free app, but an in-app purchase to upgrade the features of the app can be bought if desired. This app is marketed as being an ideal app for anyone who wants a convenient way to keep track of his/her golf statistics.

Features:

TheGrint: Golf Handicap Tracker features the ability to do exactly what its name indicates—to keep a record of a user’s golfing statistics. To do this, TheGrint users are given the option of submitting a picture of their golfing scorecard to the app or inputting scores directly into TheGrint. Once either choice has been employed, scores are also automatically inputted into the website for this app, through which individual scoring and handicap data can also be viewed. Other features of TheGrint include the option of connecting with friends in order to compare statistics and locating golf courses by state or through the “Find Courses Near Me” option.

Thegrint1 168x300 Track Your Golf Handicap with TheGrint | Golf Handicap Tracker

TheGrint iPhone App Review

Appearance and Layout:

TheGrint features a beautifully clean layout. The fonts used in this app are easy to read, making this app perfect for use both on and off the green. While TheGrint’s graphics are fairly simplistic, they are definitely ideal for an app of its type, and these clean graphics simply add to the overall appeal of using TheGrint. Setting up an account on this app is easily done, and using the app as a “guest” is also a possibility. Every feature of TheGrint is easily accessible and can be quickly found, and the clean layout of TheGrint leaves absolutely no room for confusion. As a whole, TheGrint is designed to be an app that pleases both the logical and aesthetic senses.

Value:

TheGrint: Golf Handicap Tracker is a free app, and the features available through it are well worth the space they take up on the chosen iOS device of any golfing enthusiast. TheGrint is an app that is easy to use, and the “scorecard picture” function enables players to be able to enjoy using TheGrint without having to utilize their 4G data plans if desired. Overall, while TheGrint obviously won’t be of any use to non-golfers, golfing fans will definitely enjoy using this app.

TheGrint iPhone app requires iOS 5.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. This app is optimized for iPhone 5. A small expedite fee was paid to speed up the publication of this review.

The iPhone app reviews rating:

“The best iPhone apps and the best iPad apps are reviewed by TheiPhoneAppReview.com”

OddPlanet: Things That Go Bump on the iPhone

May 14th, 2013

Luke Patrick

Price: $0.99
Rating:
OddPlanet: Written iPhone App Review
(Promo Code Giveaway! See below for free promo codes)

OddPlanet for iPhone 1 300x168 OddPlanet: Things That Go Bump on the iPhone

Reviewed by Luke Patrick

It’s no secret around the house here that we absolutely adore indie games for the Xbox 360. Sadly, it’s not something we get to discuss much here at the iPhone App Review, for what should be obvious reasons. But today we finally get to crack that nut and dive head deep into the endlessly indie-inspired and wholly awesome OddPlanet, from Piotr Krol, for iPhone and iPad. The game brings us a wonderfully complex, vivid, and horrifying look at an alternate world, complete with rich (though ambiguous) story lines and incredible graphics. For our full review, you need only to slide on down below the break! Starting with:

Concept and Gameplay

The idea behind OddPlanet should look very familiar to anyone who has ever played the game Limbo. We’ll be drawing comparisons between the two titles often here, but it’s worth nothing that despite OddPlanet’s similar appearance, it is an entirely different game. They do, though, share a similar story: A small child is abandoned on one creepy (No, really) planet which must be explored, poked at, or otherwise discovered to be conquered.

To do this, you’ll need to guide your protagonist around the darkly lit environments, avoiding spikes and other deadly traps. You’ll also need to interact with the game’s elements themselves. This means pushing logs, pulling on vines, climbing trees, warding off gigantic creatures, etc. All in all, it’s an entirely immersive experience, and when you’ve got art this good, you’ll hardly be complaining. Along the way you’ll slowly decipher more and more about the plot’s setting, as well as what it means for your character to be there. It’s wildly engaging, and if it doesn’t scare the crap out of you at least once, we’re pretty sure you’re not human.

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