Archive for the 'Action' Category

Direct Link : Cactus Factory
Publisher : Cactus Factory

Price : $12.95

Rating : 7 out of 10

First let me get this over with once and for all. I HATE this game. It’s basic, simple gameplay is one of the main reasons. The other reason is it’s so bloody addictive. This game is the classic example of the ‘just one more go’ factor. Yes, an over used cliche and one I have used before, but let me tell you, it’s so bleedin’ true.

So what’s this game all about… mmm, let say matching numbers. In fact it’s slightly more than that, but not much. You basically have a grid of numbers and you have to remove the pairs, or a slight variation of this. The game has 5 different skill levels, with three different game types:

Blitz
Remove all pairs of numbers from the playing field as quickly as possible. You can gain additional points by removing pairs quickly and can also get additional points by removing two or more pairs of numbers within a certain amount of time. You gain the biggest bonus, by removing all numbers.

Timed
Remove pairs of numbers in any order. The difference is that pairs will appear to fill the blanks created. Similar bonuses to the Blizt mode apply.

Special
This is perhaps the simplest mode of all. Remove all the numbers from the field in ascending order, beginning with 0. Bonuses are awarded depending on how quickly you remove two consecutive numbers. Further bonuses are awarded for eliminating 3 or more numbers within a certain time.

Even though it’s a simple game, the presentation is very good. The graphics are crisp and clear and the sound is very atmospheric. I think the only real niggle I have, is that the price is a touch on the expensive side. Yes I know it’s one of my biggest grumbles, but when you compare it to some of the game with extensive gameplay that weigh in at a touch under $15, you see what I mean.

Conclusion : Yes it’s simple game and a touch on the expensive side, but in saying that, it’s not exactly going to break the bank and it’s still a fun game and one that will keep players old and young occupied for a while.

Direct Link : Arcade Challenge
Publisher : eSoft Interactive
Price : $9.95

Rating : 8 out of 10

Sometimes you have some time to kill, but do not want to load a game that’s going to take too much brain power. Arcade Challenge is such a game, or should I say it’s 10 such games. The premise behind this title is KISS (Keep it simple stupid), ok, so stupid is maybe the wrong word here, but when you have 10 games that only require you to press the stylus on the screen to interact, you get what I mean.

Arcade Challenge is an ideal introduction to Pocket PC games for children, but don’t let that fool you, some of the games within have some real good playability. I’ll cover each game briefly so you can see what you get, along with a score out of 10 in brackets, next to each title.

Skateboard Spiff (6)
Navigate you skateboard along a course, pressing the stylus on the screen to make him jump various heights to clear varying size objects.

Jump Rope (3)
Tap the screen to make your skipper jump when the rope comes round.

Toy Factory (7)
Pack Toys by releasing your toy (a colored block) on top of a similar colored toy, to remove them from the screen.

The Fly (7)
Trap the fly to a single block, by making the room smaller and smaller, by tapping the screen, which causes a wall to form each time clockwise around the room, until the fly occupies one square. Be careful not to squash the fly under the wall.

Jump Bot (8)
Make your Bot jump up to the next platform. Platforms move and shrink in size.

Captain Gravity (5)
Fly you spaceship through a narrowing, twisting canyon. Use the stylus to negate the effects of gravity and make you ship go up, otherwise your ship will fall Careful not to hit the walls.

Alienz (5)
Kill all the aliens on the screen. Your ship moves back and forth as in space invaders. You tap the screen to fire a shot. Remove all the aliens to proceed to the next screen.

Basket Hoops (7)
Place your throw, by first selecting your horizontal and then vertical, by pressing the stylus when the ball is near the centre of the cross. Once you vertical is set, the ball is released and you hopefully you get a hoop. Games progresses in speed.

Circus Canon (8)
Fire your canon at the correct trajectory to hit the target either above or to the right of the canon.

Litter Bug (6)
Guide the bug across the screen to pick up litter. Tap to start your spinning bug in the direction pointed to collect litter, then click to reset the direction and then click again to release your bug.

Conclusion : Whilst none of these games is going to tax much of your grey matter, there is a certain charm about them. They are all certainly presented very well, with very good graphics and fitting sound. A couple of the games get very repetitive, very quickly, but the rest should keep you entertained for a while. My particular favorite is Jump Bot, as this reminds me of a game I played something like 20 years ago on a home computer. Overall for just under $10, this is a nice title to have on your Pocket PC and a definite buy if you have small children, who are allowed to play on it.

Direct Link : Obulis
Publisher : IonFX

Price : $7.99

Rating : 9 out of 10

There’s many different genre of games, but the Pocket PC seems to excel at puzzle/strategy games. This isn’t to say that action games aren’t possible, but with limited input possibilities, it’s no surprise that games that stretch the gray cells, are plentiful.

Obulis is one of those games that’s just done perfectly, from the graphics and sound, to the actual gameplay. It’s one of those games, that’s a joy to play and has that also important “Just One More Go” factor.

To anyone that’s every played Contraption on the PC, Obulis will come as no stranger. The idea of the game is to get the coloured balls into the pots. This is done by cutting a series of chains and ropes to unleash various objects that obey the laws of physics and produce a typical cause and effect. The first puzzle is extremely simple, but aims just to get you used to the controls. You have a single rope, with a pot under it. Just click on the rope and then on the scissor icon, to cut the rope. The ball is released and ends up in the pot, level over.

The game gets progressively more difficult and sometimes it seems that the puzzle are impossible, but bit by bit, you manage to somehow work out what to do.

Conclusion : I love finding a game, that just does everything right. It’s a pleasure to play and a game that I will definitely be purchasing. The downloadable trial version comes with the first 9 levels and at just $7.99 this game is a steal.

Direct Link : Deflex
Publisher : Llamasoft

Price : $9.00 approx

Rating : 8 out of 10

To anyone who had a home computer in the UK during the 80’s, the name Jeff Minter will need no introduction. Indeed the name Llamasoft may be familiar to people in the US and Canada, especially if you had a Commodore Vic 20 or C64. To anyone who doesn’t know what I’m talking about, be sure to visit the Llamasoft website, as there’s lots to read.

Above all else, whatever your opinion on Llamasoft games, the one thing you cannot ever say is that they’re boring. This guy has a seriously warped mind and it’s contagious. Even the simplest of games cannot escape the mighty Yakness and Deflex is a game in point. There’s been many variations of this theme, but the basics are, you control a ball that bounces back and forth between the walls of an enclosure. There are numerous objects dotted around the screen for you to pick up (targets). You do that by pressing one of two buttons on your PPC. Depending on the key you press a deflector will be placed in the path of your ball, either a ‘\’ or a ‘/’ that will change it’s direction, either up, down, left or right, depending on how the all strikes it.

What’s starts off as a very simple game soon turns into something much harder. Although this starts as an action game, it soon becomes clear that you’ll need your puzzle head on as well, as some screens need a very logical mind to complete. While the majority of action games I’ve played on the Pocket PC tend to be very awkward to play, Deflex plays like a charm… once you manage to work out what deflector you need to drop and which key drops it.

What sets this game apart are the crisp, fluid graphics and quirky sound effects. Many of the sound effects have a very British influence and this is something very unusual in games today, especially Pocket PC games.

Conclusion : This was the first Pocket PC game I purchased and I love it. Although Llamasoft have another game available called Hover Bovver, I wish they’d write some more as they are sorely needed. For $9.00 you can’t go wrong.