Mr. Aahh!! iPhone App Review

Sometimes less is more, and the folks behind Mr. Aahh!! hope this game is one of those cases... It comes pretty close.

Mr. Aahh!! (and the free version) combines the key elements for iPhone app success: simple premise, quick start, and short challenges that can be played just about anywhere, anytime.

With that said, the game could perhaps use a bit more spice. The gameplay revolves around swinging from one pedestal and successfully landing on another. As you progress through the game, the landing zones get smaller, the wind gets trickier, and gravity takes on a mind of its own. You can rock the iPhone/iPod Touch back and forth to gain momentum to tweak your jump.

Does it reach the bar of say DoodleJump for short, fun, play? Take a look and you be the judge:

Mr. Aahh!! in the App Store.

Camel Race is Missing a Few Humps

I know, I know.. We'd all like to start our Monday with a cool, one-of-a-kind, app. Unfortunately, this won't be one of those Mondays, because today we're talking about Camel Race. (Or try this free version.)

The gameplay of Camel Race will be familiar to anyone who has been to a carnival, or perhaps a Dave & Buster's:

You roll balls up a ramp, and depending on which hole you ball goes into your camel (although usually a horse at fairs) moves a corresponding distance, with the goal being to finish the race before everyone else. While the premise is fine, the execution, specifically the effect (or lack of) gravity plays on the balls does not seem realistic.

It's a little easier to see than describe, and luckily we create a bunch of videos around here just for that purpose:

Camel Race in the App Store.

You'll Never Guess What Happens in Blaster Tank

Blaster Tank, as the name implies, involves a tank blasting away at airborne enemies. You pilot your tank left and right, back and forth across the same area of terrain via a control on the lower left side of the screen. On the right side, you fire your cannon and adjust trajectory.

The best hint for staying alive is to simply keep your tank moving. Especially in the early rounds, mobility is the key to avoiding damage. Between rounds you can bulk up your tank with money earned through the previous level, or you can make an in-app purchase of $250,000 game dollars for 99 of your hard-earned real U.S. pennies.

Here's a look:

Blaster Tank in the App Store.

Book Of Thoth Brings the Worlds of Bejeweled and Zuma to a Tile Game

Damian Filigree: Book of Thoth is more than just a contender for the app store game with the longest name. It's also a fun mix of several existing game styles.

The main portion of the game focuses on a series of tiles in the top portion of the screen. You must manipulate these tiles via rotation to match three (or more) of the same tile in a row, which are then eliminated from the screen. As you clear more tiles, Damian (the tiny guy at the bottom of the screen) will move accordingly. That's important as you need to keep Damian ahead of the angry mummy/zombie who isn't thrilled that he came to visit.

Other than a few quirks with the secondary game element of "traps" that tiny Damian must avoid, the game is fun and fresh, yet familiar at the same time. Not convinced? Give the free version a try.

Here's a look:

Book of Thoth in the App Store. Or try the free version.

Boggle for the iPhone Eliminates the Skull-Crushing Sound

For some people, my self included, the loud thud-thud-thud of the Boggle pieces as they settle into their spots in the board is the thing most associated with the game. For others, it makes the game nearly unbearable. Fortunately, everyone can enjoy Boggle on the iPhone and iPod Touch.

While there's still a sound when shaking the pieces, it is decidedly higher pitched than its physical equivalent. Otherwise, the game is largely the same, with the advantage of fast scoring, and the ability to guess at potential words. A data-filled stat screen allows you to easily keep track of your Boggle conquests, although there's no GameCenter integration, so you have to rely on a clunky email to invite others to play.

As a plus, the self-scoring mode allows you to use the app as the center of a physical game of Boggle: the screen merely shows the letters, while you and your friends write down words the old-fashioned way. Or I suppose you could use two iPads, but that just seems silly.

Currently priced at 99 cents, Boggle is a solid iOS-ification of a familiar family game.

Here's a look:

Boggle in the App Store.