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Jetpack Joyride update injects new jetpacks, reaffirms our loathing of Game Center friends
Our love for Jetpack Joyride is well documented, but we're not above admitting that accessing the game's leaderboard system is a bit on the cumbersome side. That's why today's surprise update with in-level leaderboard implementation is so, so exciting. Now, while flying along in your jetpack of choice, sign posts will point out friends' scores as you soar past them, maniacally laughing in the bathroom, all alone. The update also adds a pair of new jetpacks and a trio of wearable items for Señor Steakfries, giving players even more stuff with which to dress up the chronically murdered main character. Another bonus: The update is totally free, and the full game still costs $0.99.
Portabliss: Jetpack Joyride (iOS)
Did you know that you can download handheld games now? That's amazingly convenient! The only inconvenient part of it is finding the right games to buy -- and that's where we come in, with our Portabliss column. In each installment, we'll tell you about a downloadable game on the iPhone, iPad, Android device, DSi, 3DS, PSP, etc. Today: Jetpack Joyride. The free NES games in Nintendo's 3DS Ambassador Program arrived at an awkward time, because the standout of that group for me, Balloon Fight, is now getting overshadowed by the many jetpacks of Barry Steakfries. Like Halfbrick's Monster Dash before it (and Balloon Fight's "Balloon Trip" mode long before that), Jetpack Joyride takes the autorunning genre defined on iOS by Canabalt and adds a few kinks. Unlike Monster Dash, however, Jetpack Joyride is deep, with a mess of power-ups, vehicles, and mechanical and aesthetic additions. I was repeatedly taken aback by how fleshed out Halfbrick has made its latest iOS game, and repeatedly charmed by the studio's presentation. Nods to past Halfbrick titles abound (beyond the main character's return from previous iOS games), and the inclusion of an entire vehicle poking fun at the iPhone's most popular franchise lends an extra layer of levity to the already cheeky proceedings.%Gallery-131935%
Machine Gun Jetpack dev diary reveals the game's vehicles
In yet another dev diary, Halfbrick walks us through the process behind each of Machine Gun Jetpack's five vehicles, which not only protect Barry Steakfries, but come with crazy abilities of their own. The video's fun, but seriously, guys, all this for an iOS game? Can we just have it already?
Portabliss: Age of Zombies (Android)
Did you know that you can download handheld games now? That's amazingly convenient! The only inconvenient part of it is finding the right games to buy -- and that's where we come in, with our Portabliss column. Three times a week, our new Portabliss column will tell you about a downloadable game on the iPhone, iPad, Android device, DSi, 3DS, PSP, etc. Today: Age of Zombies! The only way to survive the zombie apocalypse is through constant, preemptive preparation and a cache of military grade weapons – thankfully for all the procrastinators out there, Halfbrick has found a way to make one half of that as easy as making a phone call. Age of Zombies is a straightforward, zombie-slaughtering top-down shooter featuring our time-traveling hero, Barry Steakfries, because you never know when the next phone booth you step into will be a time machine covered in the t-virus. Barry travels through five eras of undead history, including the age of decomposing dinosaurs, mummies, the American mafia, ninjas and a cyborg future. Professor Brains, evil genius, infests each era with hordes of zombies, which Barry has to mow down with a variety of weapons and his supply of snarky witticisms.
Machine Gun Jetpack preview: Run-and-fun
Halfbrick's latest iOS project, Machine Gun Jetpack, is probably the most straightforward game I've ever played. Barry Steakfries wants a jetpack, and so he takes one -- one propelled by machine gun fire, what else? -- rocketing from the science lab and dodging obstacles as he escapes. You tap the screen of your iOS device to hover (holding your finger down to ascend), and you try not to die. %Gallery-118258%
Fruit Ninja devs announce iPhone's 'Monster Dash' starring Barry Steakfries
Barry Steakfries, the deliciously-named hero of Halfbrick's PSP Mini Age of Zombies, is back in a new iPhone adventure. Monster Dash doesn't stray too far from Barry's skillset: instead of blasting zombies attacking him from all directions, Barry now runs endlessly forward, blasting every monster in his way across several different monster-themed landscapes. "Blast your enemies with the one shot Pacifier," according to the press release, "electro-charge your way to victory with Mr. Zappy, and look out for the ultimate in raining destruction – the Machine Gun Jetpack!" Monster Dash will barrel into the App Store on August 19. At that point, we'll see if Barry's personality (and anti-monster violence) will be enough to propel Monster Dash into the same kind of success seen by Halfbrick's last iPhone game, Fruit Ninja. Check out a (live-action!) trailer after the break.
