• Tilt to Live: $1.99 -> Free
• Skullpogo: $1.99 -> Free

Introduction/First time booting the application

Dizzy Drops is one of those games that has a lot of work put into it, and it looks great, but to me, it doesn’t seem like a very deep game. Sure it may challenging after a while, but it has no depth. When you first boot the application you get a quick developer screen, and then an animated main menu. Looks alright, with each main menu option with one of the four Dizzy Drops, all of the faces animated.

Sound

The soundtrack in Dizzy Drops is quite…annoying. It repeats, as the song only seems to be a minute or so long, and just loops. It isn’t even different sounds, it is just the same repetitive thing over and over. There are no sounds for the drops, or buckets. Very repetitive, doesn’t really appeal to me.

Graphics

The graphics of Dizzy Drops are very, very simple. It’s just 4 colored drops with 4 colored baskets. There isn’t all that much to talk about in terms of graphics. Unless you like simple graphics, with no sounds besides some music, then you’ll like this game.

Controls/Gameplay

The controls of Dizzy Drops are simple. There are 4 baskets of 4 colors, and 4 colored drops. You need to catch the drops in the corresponding color, and to do that you must drag one basket, and switch it with another. A very simple concept, an there are simple twists to it. The drops can fall faster, and there are multiple perks. Extra-lives, Bonus points, and perk that slows down time. And even in the later levels a cloud blocks your sight for seeing which drops are falling next, which really adds to the challenge.

Replayability/Summary

Dizzy Drops is one of those game that some people love, and some hate. Well, if you think of it, that is how every game is. For me, I didn’t really care for this game. But maybe you will. It’s only $.99. There’s even a Lite version, so you can try it out too. The replayability is mainly in the Global leaderboards, which is a great addition, and mainly based on the score, and not which level you got to. There is also a Memory Mode, which is basically a MasterMind type of mini-game.

Rating

Out of 5, Dizzy Drops get a 2; for too simple of graphics, only one repetitive soundtrack, and with not too much of replayability.

Dizzy Drops on the App Store.

Introduction/First time booing the application

Map my Mind is a game that will test your skills in answering question of multiple topics. Think of it like Shout-about Movies, or any other editions of the series; except without the teams, since there is no multiplayer in this game. When you first boot up the application, screen runs a quick slide show of the developer names and logos, then goes to the main screen. Here you will see Profile, Play Game, Downloads, and Credits. There is DLC in this game, which mainly adds more maps, or levels with different topics. There is a tutorial, so it will teach you the main game and how to play.

Sound

The sounds and soundtrack of Map my Mind really fits well. You are basically asked simple questions, and the music behind the soundtrack isn’t distracting, annoying, or repetitive. You can easily turn the sounds off, but it really adds to the game. The sounds when picking questions or answers are ‘bubbly’, in a sense. There is also a white, Pikmin-esque mascot that helps you throughout the tutorial. Though he does not say anything (all his words are in a speech bubble), he makes sounds when entering and exiting his tutorial help. It fits in well with the music, and it does not sound block-y, or sudden. Nice and smooth!

Graphics

Since this is a quiz game, the graphics aren’t really a big hit to talk about. There are multiple lines that draw to multiple topics, with the questions that you answer, all on a scrollable map. So, the graphics really don’t matter; this isn’t a game known for it’s graphics! (But the graphics for the tutorial mascot are quite nice.)

Controls/Gameplay

Map my Mind has the simplest controls. Scroll by swiping your finger across the screen, tap and hold to pick a question, and tap to answer it. But the controls do not make the game; the gameplay does! The whole idea of Map my Mind is simple; Pick a main topic to answer questions from, pick a question on a specific topic, answer the question, and unlock other specific topics to answer questions from. But there is a twist in the game; You can get a question wrong, and you can try it again, using one of your three lifelines, and try it again. If you lose all three lifelines, and you miss every available question, it’s game over. There are a few extra things to note here: There are bubbles called ‘nodes’ and there are a few different types. Besides having every node (or specific topic) open up more questions, nodes can have a minigame (where you can get extra points), there are nodes that can give you another lifeline (if you still have all three, then nothing happens, as there are no extra lifelines available in this game). During a question, you can use 1 of 3 wildcards. The first one is a 50/50, which knocks out two of the wrong answers. The second one is to have the mascot check your answer and tell if its wrong or right. The third is to escape from the question, and not answer it. All these twists in the game really make it unique!

Closing Comments/Summary

Map my Mind is a very unique quiz game, to say it in short. With more depth than the DVD quiz games, and even DLC with more maps, each one for $.99. There are some simple, yet innovative twists that make it so unique. Some of the twists being able to check your answer, and yet another one being able to redo a question if you have missed it. It is a really great, simple game that will make you think about how much you really know about Super Heroes or Sports. At $4.99, which may be a steep price for some, but it ships with 15 maps! And even then, more maps are being made, and sold as DLC! The replayability of the game is great, if you do want to redo maps, or buy the new ones. The price is just about right, while there may be more $5 games that may appeal to you more. If you loved the lite version of this game (Map my Mind: Starter Edition), then you should really buy the full version. It’ll keep you thinking, and maybe you’ll learn a few things along the way!

Rating

Out of 5, Map my Mind gets a 5; for unique style, great sounds, and simple controls.

Map my Mind on the App Store.

Inkvaders, what a beautiful game, simple game. Its fun and enjoyable with its nice artwork, it keeps me coming back to it.

Graphics: OHHHHH this is where this game shines. Its outlandish artwork is so great. The artwork features a paper drawn style, with a background, a midground, and a foreground, the game just looks amazing. The cartoony gore and the animations are smooth to the point of satisfaction, and not to mention the midground animations too. The game sports some quirky drawn signs that feature some funny sayings. Although the game only features 3 basic environments, Moon base, Military base, and the City, the landscapes are diverse enough for a game of this magnitude. (not to mention price)

Sound: Another part where this game excels in is sound. It sports different soundtracks for each stage, and they are a blast to listen too, I find myself listening to the game music more than my music. If you do get annoyed by the music however, you can open your ipod playlist and choose one of your songs. The guns sound loud and powerful, and the exploding brains make a noise too. Overall the sound just compliments the graphics perfectly.

Difficulty: Oh Yes! the difficulty… The game has three different modes, each one vamping up the difficulty. We have easy mode, which is well… super easy. Normal mode, which is nothing to crazy or hectic, this mode is quite easy if you have played this type of game, and last but not least, hard mode. Hard mode is the only mode I play in now because it is the most challenging. In hard mode you get less money than you do in medium and easy mode, you also get more enemies and they take more hits to kill than in easy or medium. This means, you spend more bullets, and make less money, challenging, YES. I love the challenge in hard mode it seems to be what keeps me coming back to this game. I think I have invested well over 14 hours just playing endurance mode.

Story: The story is told in a notebook, which is very unique. The story is 30 “pages” and basicly consists of you fighting the enemies through these “pages”. There seems to be no real storyline in place as of yet. All we know is that your some guy who started out in space, heads down to Earth, then fights his way through a city. There is no dialogue (or monologue for this case) no indication as to why hes realy going there, or how the world came to like this, all we know is that your some guy named G whos killing aliens. That does not detract from the game however, as a pick up & play game i did not intend for it to have a storyline, or a hint at one. The game is fun nonetheless and enjoyable.

Gameplay: The gameplay is rather simple, you kill aliens and collect rock to gain money, you use the money to buy upgrades for your weapons, you get to the end of the level. Simple enough, but this game builds upon that concept by adding a jetpack, and a rush sequence. In every level their is a box with an ‘R’ wich will start a sequence that makes every enemy super fast, super vulnerable, do alot of damage and come from both sides, a Rush mode.
The jetpack also adds another level of depth, sort of like your last resort to get away from the action. The aliens cannot touch you if you are mid flight, nor do they follow you. You also use your jetpack to pick up the moonrocks to gain more money. Most everything else in this game is standard for this genre, upgrading weapons and what not.
The levels are simplistic at best, linear. With the addition of the jetpack I was hoping for some extras, like secondary areas and hidden stuff.

Overall: 5/5, The game went overboard with the graphics, and with the dev being active on the toucharcade forums and listening to the suggestions some of us have given, I believe this game will only get better.

(The dev of this game has said he will consider bosses, which is something I look forward too, and an insane mode would be gracious too )

fenrir911

Screenshots: