Zombie Highway for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

There are (un)officially about 16,000 games in the App Store that have something to do with zombies. I'm pleased to announce I've found my favorite - so far, at least. Zombie Highway puts you in control of a beat up car, trying to flee zombies and dodge vehicles strewn across the rickety road. Zombies leap and grab on to the car, in an attempt to flip it, presumably to then eat your brains. 

Your mission is to see how far you can go before the zombies inevitably win. You have several weapons to choose from, but the most effective zombie-killer is brute force: run the side of your car into the sides of the crashed cars to inflict the most damage on your unwanted passengers. There are a few tips and tricks to keep the zombies from getting to your car to begin with, but you'll have to watch the video to see those:

Zombie Highway in the App Store.

Rage HD Video Review

There's been quite a bit of buzz leading up to the release of Rage HD, primarily because of its use of id software's graphics rendering engine. The graphics do not disappoint. This is clearly a console-level game in terms of visual pop. Even on an iPhone 3GS, not only are the graphics great, but they are also smooth; something that can't be said of other apps we've tested.

As for the gameplay, while it's enjoyable, and intense right from the start, I personally prefer the tap-to-shoot action of something like Zombie Crisis. For fans of first-person shooters, Rage HD does not disappoint. It's really quite incredible that a game with this much polish is only $1.99. There are plenty of other games at that price point that should be ashamed of what they offer by comparison.

Here's a look:

Rage HD in the app store.

Potty Panic reminds us when we've gotta go

When you gotta go, you gotta go! If you haven't learned that in the real world yet, you certainly will in Potty Panic. Essentially Potty Panic brings the same game dyanmics as seen in Flight Control to the world of porta-potties. As people make their way onto the screen, you direct them to a nearby potty by drawing a line on the screen, and drawing a line for them to follow and exit the screen when done. 

The goal is to keep the people from running into one another. If that happens, then you're done. I felt the game was hampered by some silly potty sounds when the toilets are occupied. Fortunately, you can turn off the sound effects. You may have never considered playing a game centered on the concept of directing people to the bathroom, but that's the miracle of the app store!

Here's a look:

Potty Panic in the App Store.

Super Blast for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

Super Blast is proof-positive that even the simplest of games have evolved in the app store. The gameplay is basically a variation on the tried and true Galaxian model: Enemies  at the top of the screen try to attack you at the bottom. If one of them gets by you, the game is over. 

The graphics really show how the app store has evolved though. The bad guys, even on a lowly iPhone 3GS look crisp, and almost as if they are popping off the screen. It is one of the best looking games, and shows that even a simple game can have a great deal of polish.

Here's a look:

Super Blast in the App Store.

Pig Shot for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

Wait, you want me to put pigs in slingshots, and hurl them the barnyard? I went into Pig Shot with what we'll call lowered expectations. I have to say though, the game is more fun than I would've expected given the basic premise. Indeed you shoot a round pig from one slingshot to another, picking up extras along the way. (Gas from cabbage, for example) It's all in an attempt to see how far you can go without running into a fence, rock, or other obstacle. One hit, and you're done.

The gameplay is easy to grasp, and quick restarts mean you'll soon be hurling more pigs than you ever imagined. If I could give the developers one quote they could use in marketing the game, it would be that it's more than you ever wanted in a pig slingshot game! Currently 99 cents in the app store.

Take that for what it's worth.

Here's a look:

Pig Shot in the App Store.