Data Hunter for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

With the opening scenes of Data Hunter, it appears you've stumbled upon a hidden gem of a game. However, once the game begins, you'll find that, for now, the best part of the game is already behind you.

On paper, Data Hunter has a ton of promise. It's a top-down shooter, with a storyline involving infiltrating a compound on an unknown planet, and retrieve data (data keys, cards, etc.) while fending off bizarre enemies. However the pacing of the game is quite tedious: there's a lot of walking around, without much happening. Your navigator back on the main ship is of little help, as her guidance is quite general, at times frustratingly so.

Add some maps for some of the levels, and amp up the action/activity while the playing the game, and Data Hunter has real  promise. That's not where it is right now though.

(iTunes link)

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iStunt Reloaded for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

iStunt Reloaded is one of the many "careful-how-you-land physics" games for the iPhone. (You know, a CHYLPG). The thing that sets iStunt Reloaded apart is they have successfully found the right mix of difficulty and fun.

You pilot your snowboard down a hill, jumping obstacles, performing tricks for bonus points, and at times inverting gravity itself. When you go through the tutorial, they throw essentially everything you will encounter at you at once, and it seems a little overwhelming, but relax at start playing the game, and you'll find the obstacle pacing to be just about perfect.

A quick note that the gravity inversion feature can be turned off, and that's good: while it's fun the first few times, it can get frustrating to keep having to flip the phone, as the controls reverse (or, invert) in this mode.

It's a solid entry in a crowded field of similar games.

(iTunes link)

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Little Metal Ball for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

My older brother had one of those wooden labyrinth games when I was growing up. Previously, I've mentioned some apps that try to replicate that fun, but frustrating experience. Little Metal Ball finally combines the frustration/addiction of the traditional wooden game with the creativity and expansiveness of video games.

In Little Metal Ball, you move your ball through jungle scenes complete with jumps, pitfalls, and Mario-esque moving platforms. The only issue is it isn't always clear which edges of logs/bridges, etc will keep you safe which ones will send tumbling to your Little Metal Ball death.

(iTunes link)

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Box n' Bug for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

Box n' Bug shows the evolutionary nature of games in the app store. Last year, we got Tiki Totems, a fine stack-em game. Now, Box n' Bug takes that same concept, but adds clever original features, and fun graphics to make a unique and addictive game.

As the spider (hey spiders, aren't bugs, they're arachnids.. anyhow) you swing back and forth, dropping boxes with the goal of stacking them as high as possible. There are different strategies, ranging from the single stack, to the wide-and-high method. Along the way you can zap misplaced boxes, and make others "sticky" with a web making it easier to continue to stack. These special moves are limited, and you can gain additional moves by reaching certain stacking heights.

All in all, especially for 99 cents, it takes a simple concept and makes it its own with a few simple tweaks.

(iTunes link)

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B-Boys Beats for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

B-Boys Beats opens with some slick subway graphics and sound effects, then follows that up with a cool fold-out map effect of NYC, as you're set to begin your B-Boys dance journey. Unfortunately, you've already experienced the best part of the game.

The gameplay is similar to Tap Tap games: you place to fingers on the screen, then move them in time to onscreen cues. The concept is fine, but on the iPhone screen, your next move is often blocked by your own fingers. And while some will see the two finger moves challenging, for others they will be downright frustrating. Then there's the music of the game. I expected something better and all-ages friendly, but to each his own. I would highly suggest trying out the lite version first, before you drop too many Benjamins to drop yo' beats.

(iTunes link)

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