Zarik for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

Sure the iPhone/iPod platform is quickly maturing, with more immersive, console-like gameplay every day. For me though, I still think the small, quick puzzle games are among the best suited to casual iPhone play.

Zarik is one of those games. The strategy component is simple: Move dice into specific spots within a number of moves, determined by the numbered showing on each die.

The graphics are everything you'd want from this kind of game, and the gameplay is fine in small doses. If you like puzzle games, you'll like this one, just don't expect to play it for half and hour at a time.

(iTunes link)

Here's a look:

Zenonia 2 for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

Zenonia 2 aims to bring the elements of traditional role-playing games to the iPhone, with all the gem-collecting, screen-reading, weapon-choosing action you would expect. While the game has been a bit buggy in the past, the developers have been responsive in issuing fixes. If like me, you're not the biggest RPG player, you might want to try the free version first.

(iTunes link)

Here's a look:

Pinball Ride Unlimited for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

Growing up, one of my prized electronics was a handheld LCD pinball game. It was a dual screen, clamshell game, I believe from (a very young) Nintendo. Since then, I've yearned for a similar game on the iPhone.

Pinball Ride Unlimited brings whiz-bang graphics, and realistic pinball play to the iPhone. Unlike my trusty old game though, obviously the iPhone only has one screen, so as the ball moves to certain portions of the board, the game zooms in. At first this is a bit distracting, but frankly it's probably he best way to see what's going on, and keep up with the action.

The only thing holding this game back is the price. $4.99 would be fine for multiple pinball tables, but for just one table, it's too much. Now if that included an iPad version that featured a bigger look at the table, it would certainly be worth it.

(iTunes link)

Here's a look:

Gate Runner for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

It's interesting how quickly the app store continues to evolve. What once would've passed as an acceptable 99 cent app, now seems overpriced at free. Such is the case with Gate Runner.

I'll let the video speak for itself:

(iTunes link)

Chain Link Pro for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

Let's start the weekend off with a fun, simple, addictive game, shall we? Chain Link Pro has an easy premise: link the same shapes together as they come on screen, then send them to oblivion on the vortex in the middle of the screen for big points. The game has three different modes, with the first bringing the game to a halt as soon as two different shapes collide. The second (and personal favorite) timed version requires you to reach certain point thresholds within given times, and the last version, static, simply requires you to create the chains with static shapes already on the game board. This mode seems too easy to me. Much like Goldilocks, you can probably find a type of game play that's just right for you.

(iTunes link)

Here's a look: