Rock, Paper, Scissors, iPhone App Review

Today's app has a long name, so let's just get it out of the way right now: Ben's Somewhat Spiffy-looking but Ultimately Craptastic Rock-Paper-Scissors Game." (We'll call it Ben's RPS for the rest of the review) Sure it's a long name, but it might also be the most honest name for an iPhone app yet. That title tells you exactly what you're getting.

The graphics are nice (dare I say, spiffy) and the play is fine, but there really isn't much to do except pick rock, paper, or scissors (craptastic?). Then a grumpy old man insults you, regardless of your performance. There it is in a nutshell. Is the app worth 99 cents? Probably not, but given all the apps out there that promise a lot more than they deliver, we're happy to give Ben 99 cents if it leads to greater honesty in the app store.

(iTunes Link)

Here's a look:

Dr. Nano for the iPhone and iPod Touch

As a kid, I always had a special place in my heart for the various movies and theme park rides (Body Wars at Epcot) that involved being shrunk down, and placed inside the cardiovascular system. So I was excited by finding an iPhone game with that same basic premise, but it turns out, shrunken body fun might be best enjoyed only as a kid.

In Dr. Nano, you swim through arteries/veins, and pilot a robotic contraption to zap parasites, plaque, and other evil doers, while collecting red blood cells. As an adult, the gameplay becomes monotonous fairly quickly, but I could see a certain age group, maybe 8-10 really enjoying Dr. Nano.

What the kids (and their parents) probably won't enjoy is the current $3.99 selling price. This game would be solid at $.99, but when you're competing around the same price point as fully fleshed-out, kid's franchise games like SpongeBob, and Toy Story, this price just won't fly.

Take a look:

iGarageSale for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

We previously told you about the iGarageSale app  in terms of Apple's decision that it needed to be rated as a 17+ plus app due to the inclusion of a search box.

Well, we put all of that silliness aside to look at the app with fresh eyes for today's app review. iGarageSale draws upon craigslist garage sale and yard sale listings, then overlays them on a map, showing location relative to you. A few years back, I went on a retrogame-buying frenzy, and countless hours (literally, unfortunately) were spent plotting sale locations on a map and then figuring out how to best plan my route.

If this app had been around then, it would have been a godsend for me. If you're an occasional sale-goer, the app might be overkill for you (try the lite version) and because the listings are pulled from online sources, it will have limited usability for those living in more remote locales, without vibant online sale postings

In short , iGarageSale is straightforward, and delivers on what it promises, provided you live in an area that takes advantage of online posting.

Take a look:

Urban Ducklings for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

Who doesn't love a cutesy wootsy little duckling, huh? In Urban Ducklings, you play the role of mother to some wayward ducklings, who find themselves on the other side of the highway from you. Tilting and moving the phone or iPod Touch, the ducklings follow you, and try to make it across the road. Unfortunately, an ever-increasing amount of traffic keeps getting in the way, including a disproportionate number of double-decker buses. 

It's an entertaining game, and as a free app, it would be perfect. Unfortunately, it's a bit of a one-trick pony. Also, around level 10, you get tired of seeing the same scene, and the vehicles start coming quite fast. Maybe those ducks would be safer waiting until they can fly, then cross the road...

(iTunes Link)

Take a look:

DrawRace for the iPhone and iPod Touch Video Review

We've stated before that the "perfect" (at least to us) racing game for the iPhone/iPod Touch still doesn't exist. We have to give kudos to DrawRace for going in an entirely different direction, and creating a game that's fun to play, and has you hanging on to play "just on more time."

DrawRace features a simple overhead view of the race track. You then move your finger around the track to create the path and speed you'd like your car to go. Once you've completed the set number of laps, the race begins, and your car follows your path against a computer adversary, time trial, or network opponent.

The play is easy to catch on, but we just wish there were more laps in each race, as going around and around drawing your path gets more complicated with more laps.

(iTunes Link)

Here's a look: