THE GAME GUY
Spring on-the-go games for iPhone and iPod
March 19, 2010
Marc Saltzman
THE GAME GUY
Spring has sprung, which means it's time for Canadians to get out and stay out – and, of course, bring along their favourite smartphone packed with music, video, apps and games.
According to Nielsen, that would be the iPhone, and so the following is a look at five games you should snag from Apple's App Store (part of iTunes). These games also work with the iPod touch.
Plants vs. Zombies (PopCap Games; $2.99)
The insanely additive "tower defence"-style strategy game for personal computers has gone pocket-sized. Protect your home from hoards of the undead by planting the right foliage for the job. Complete the lengthy adventure mode to unlock mini-games, individual levels and a catchy music video. See if you can complete all the achievements, such as collecting all 49 plants or discovering the Yeti zombie.
Where's Waldo? The Fantastic Journey (Ludia; $0.99)
Going on a family road trip? Want to prevent the incessant "Are we there yet?" from the back seat? Hand your children the iPhone to play Where's Waldo?, a fun "hidden-object" game based on the beloved book series by British illustrator Martin Handford. Travel to 12 parts of the globe to find Waldo (and other characters and objects) well-hidden in the busy and colourful scenes.
Final Fantasy (Square Enix; $8.99)
To commemorate the 20{+t}{+h} anniversary of the beloved fantasy role-playing game (RPG), Square Enix has relaunched Final Fantasy (and Final Fantasy II) for iPhone and iPod touch, with better graphics, bonus dungeons and a revamped interface to take advantage of the portable systems' touch screens. Explore vast kingdoms, battle fantastic foes and unravel an epic story. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the series, this 72MB download won't disappoint.
Tap Tap Revenge 3 (Tapulous; free)
Music lovers, listen up. The latest in the popular rhythm game series that challenges players to tap on the correct circles in time with music (think Guitar Hero), features more than 130 downloadable songs (Lady Gaga, Fall Out Boy and Coldplay), many modes, including online multiplayer matches, integrated chat support and numerous weapons and power-ups. A new feature lets you create your own in-game persona from hundreds of avatar items.
Stinger Table Hockey (Stinger Games; $1.99)
If you're one of the millions of Canadians who grew up playing table hockey – a.k.a. "dome" or "bubble" hockey – then this iPhone game will strike a nostalgic chord. Use your fingertips to move these stick skaters around the ice and flick to shoot the puck. Choose your teams (or create your own) before challenging the game's artificial intelligence (A.I.) or play against a friend wirelessly via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Toronto Star