I think it is fair to say that the App Store is overpopulated with high score runners. From Monster Dash to Rayman Jungle Run, there is allot of them. So when a game comes along that does something different it really stands out. One game that is doing that is Sparkwave by Megasweet, published by Crescent Moon Games.

Just from playing the tutorial you will be able to notice the difference between Sparkwave and its competition. The game takes on a relatively retro graphic and music style whilst at the same time feeling unique with the games controls and colors.

You control an arrow going along a path made of hexagons. You must attempt to stay on the hexagons whilst avoiding the black obstacles in the way simply by going left or right. The longer you survive the greater your high score. To make things more tricky, each time you go off the path you lose energy, which when depleted ends the game. You will also have to deal with the game flipping into different angles making it incredibly difficult to master the controls, offering a really good challenge.

To help increase your score there is a range of power ups to grab such as magnets which can help you grab crystals which can be used later on, speed up which increases your speed, a shield which lets you play on if you hit an obstacle and energy which allows you extra time off the grid.

At the end of the level you have the option to continue by watching an advert which can be used 5 times a day. After this you will be on your own to set a high score. The crystals previously mentioned can be used to unlock other colored lines and special limited power ups through the games in-store menu.

If like me your ability to survive is very average (I am not afraid to admit this) you can purchase 50k crystals in the store. There is also the option to remove the games ads if you want to support the games developers.

If you think you can tackle difficult games, wait until you try out Sparkwave. It truly is a difficult game to master, but despite this is great fun, even if you keep ending up dead. With great animations and well made environments Sparkwave is worth trying out when it launched worldwide this Thursday for free on the App Store.

To celebrate the fifth anniversary of arguably the third most successful game on the App Store, Fruit Ninja, the game’s developer Halfbrick has released updates across their iOS games. In Fruit Ninja there is an all new tournament mode, 6 new mini games and the most powerful blade yet for players to acquire.

Found in the games new festival section the mini games require you to manipulate bombs, juggle fruit and master new tricks. The new tournament mode requires you to beat six iconic Fruit Ninja characters, the prize being the new fifth anniversary blade which allows you to slice the same fruit twice.

Not only has Fruit Ninja been the only one to get an update to celebrate the occasion. My personal favorite Halfbrick game Monster Dash has also received new content. There is now a Fruit Ninja blade to master which comes with a special attack. The blade also accompanies five challenges where you can gain the skill required to master it. You will however have to pay for the blade to use it out of the challenges.

Jetpack Joyride has also got in on the juicy action receiving a new game event titled Cut & Run! The mode brings faster gameplay, new zappers, mountains of fruit and characters that look fruitier than usual. Band Stars has also received a new Fruit Ninja dojo with lots of fruit styled goodness.

It doesn’t stop there — Bears vs. Art has a new Fruit Ninja event and costume. Yes Chef has a new Fruit Ninja world with 25 levels, and Top Farm has a new sensei statue and Fruit Ninja characters will make random appearances on the farm with special jobs to offer.

New game Radical Rappelling is also getting in on the act with new Fruit Ninja rappelling suits allowing you to dress up as Fruit Ninja‘s Rip and Roxy. Finally there are also new stickers and outfits for Fruit Ninja Academy.

Halfbrick have gone to extreme lengths to celebrate the games fifth anniversary, and I am sure there is an update out there to make any gamer happy. Happy fifth anniversary Fruit Ninja!

In addition to One Man Left‘s awesome holiday sale, Halfbrick is joining in by hosting a pretty special sale where all of their games are available to download for free for a limited time only. Yes that’s correct folks, two of Halfbrick‘s most popular games — Yes Chef! and Top Farm — can be downloaded completely free of charge. In addition, players can also download Fruit Ninja and Age of Zombies: Season 2 for free. Here’s the entire list:

• Age of Zombies: Season 2
• Band Stars
• Birzzle Fever
• Colossatron: Massive World
• Fish Out of Water
• Fruit Ninja
• Jetpack Joyride
• Monster Dash
• Top Farm
• Yes Chef!

Whether it’s a flight or a long road trip this Christmas season, we highly suggest you check out these titles from Halfbrick to keep yourself busy and pass time. Tread carefully though, some of the games mentioned above include optional in-app purchases and if you get hooked, you may end up spending some money. You can view these games on the App Store by clicking here.

With already a fruit-shaped hit title under their belt, Halfbrick have a lot to live up to with their new game, Monster Dash. In true Halfbrick fashion, Monster Dash is also a pick-up-and-play game but instead of slicing, you are running, and running fast.

Gameplay 9/10

Much like Canabalt, you have to jump from platform to platform, timing jumps precisely to land on each pillar. However, you will also be up against monsters. There is about every horror monster you can think of (well… I say every) who have put their differences aside and decided that you would be a good target to devour/mummify/bite and all sorts of other ghastly deaths, tonight.

Thankfully, you have been provided with a large array of arsenal to fend off these beasts as you make your way through the endless levels. You start of with a simple, short-ranged pistol with infinite ammo, however, you pick up weapon boxes on the ground which provide another, much more deadly firearm. For example, you may come across a sizzling ‘Mr Zappy’ that ejects a ranged bolt of electricity which decimates nearby enemies, or maybe a Pacifier, a powerful weapon that rips through all monsters in sight. But by far the best weapon is the Machine Gun Jet-pack. Oh yes. Somehow, Halfbrick have managed to merge a machine gun with a jet-pack. This works by firing your gun at the ground, resulting in the momentum lifting you upwards. Ok, so it might not be feasible in real life, and don’t go on at me with all this physics, resultant force, momentum nonsense. It’s possible in the Monster Dash world and that’s all that matters.

In all its Canabalt style, Monster Dash manages to capture the addictive gameplay well and the resulting game is fun to play. What’s more, the art style is fantastic and maintains its own personalized look that is not reminiscent of any other game that I know of.

Yes, the epic Machine-gun Jetpack, and you thought I was joking.

But there is one thing that sets Monster Dash apart from every other casual iPhone game in the App Store. The best main character name… ever, Barry Steakfries. Boy, that kid must have been teased at school. But being the man that Barry Steakfries is, he would probably just hop on his Machine Gun Jet-pack and fly away, laughing.

Graphics 10/10

The art style is fantastic and maintains its own personalized look that is not reminiscent of any other game that I know of. There was also no slowdown during the time I played the game which was good.

Controls 10/10

Monster Dash incorporates a two button control system which works well with the simple concept that Monster Dash is. On the left you have a jump button and the longer you hold this down, the higher you jump. On the right you have a shoot button which fires your weapon. Both buttons are responsive and work well. I also love the added touch of the gradual fade away of the button image resulting in a clean flush look overall.

Sound 6/10

The sound on the other hand is well made, but doesn’t fit the game as well. Instead of the casual light-hearted cheerful soundtrack found in most pick-up-and-play games, Monster Dash’s music fits more into a first-person shooter or fast-paced setting. Even though I commend the developers for trying out something new, the soundtrack feels like it was made for another game.

Menus 10/10

The menus are responsive and the buttons are satisfyingly big. I also like the menu monsters which slumber around the screen until you place your godly finger on them, banishing them from the world (i.e. killing them).

The different environments help prevent the game from becoming repetitive

Longevity 4/10

There is always one problem when it comes down to pick-up-and-play games. Their replay value. This is no different for Monster Dash, and despite the cute graphics and cool weapons, the game doesn’t take long to get old. To try and prevent this, every 1000 meters Barry gets transported to another time and place where the scenery is different and the monsters have changed, and this works well at keeping the game from being repetitive. Still though, the lack of replayabilty in terms of features such as unlockable items and modes shows through, and to be honest, it isn’t an original concept either.

Cost 10/10

The cost of Monster Dash is an affordable $0.99/£0.59 which is the perfect price.

Conclusion 59/70 – 4/5

Monster Dash is certainly one of the best in the pick-up-and-play genres out there, but it fails to tackle the problems associated with that type of game. However, for its incredibly affordable price, definitely one to check out.

Monster Dash on the App Store.

Halfbrick Studios (the developers of the popular game Fruit Ninja [REVIEW]) have just recently released Monster Dash, which we previewed not too long ago, on to the App Store for $0.99. Here’s Monster Dash‘s application description:

From Halfbrick, creators of the legendary iPhone game Fruit Ninja comes the newest and most exciting world-hopping adventure!

In a world filled with monsters and without public transportation, one man is running.

That man is Barry Steakfries.

Monster Dash is an action game starring the lovable hero Barry Steakfries as he runs and shoots monsters with nothing to lose! Travel through portals to visit exotic world locations, battling demons, mummies, vampires and more! No monster is safe when Steakfries is on the case!

Instantly playable and simple to control, the action speeds up and changes gears with every new world. best of all, there are weapon and health pickups to buff Steakfries into serious action mode! Blast your enemies with the one shot Pacifier, electro-charge your way to victory with Mr. Zappy, and look out for the ultimate in raining destruction — the Machine Gun Jetpack!

Run as far as possible and shoot monsters along the way to amass high scores and collect awards. Upload your best runs to the Openfeint leaderboards, and enjoy every ounce of personality Barry Steakfries brings to your iPhone.

Do the dash. Do the Monster Dash!

As of now, I’m not sure if a iPad specific version is in the works or even if there will even be a iPad specific version, but we will just have to wait and see. Monster Dash costs a mere $0.99 and weighs in at 14 MB.

Monster Dash on the App Store.