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Portabliss: Another World: 20th Anniversary Edition (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: Another World: 20th Anniversary Edition. My ability to complete Another World is entirely rooted in memory at this point. To wit, the only reason I can finish it is because I've finished it. That's how it goes every time I play a new incarnation, and I struggle to imagine my younger self peering through the game's opaque sequences without the aid of a previous life. And sometimes (just between you and me) I think it's just a bad game. Another World (which, holy crap, is twenty years old now) has almost no guidance, no user interface, it murders the bewildered protagonist without warning and, if it's your first time, progress seems to require pristine visions of the future. Not many developers would make a game like this today. Even fewer would let you drown within the first ten seconds of gameplay.
Daily iPhone App: Another World
Yep, it's out -- Another World has finally made it to iOS, in a special anniversary edition celebrating the game's 1991 debut. The game features completely remade graphics, sounds and effects, and you can switch between the original graphics and updated HD display at any time. There are now three difficulty modes to play with, and there are even Game Center achievements added in to the mix. Nearly all the ratings on the app are positive so far, and while I was never really a big fan of the original game (I definitely think it's a great achievement, though the style of gameplay never appealed to me), I can appreciate the fact that we now have it playable on iOS. The app is available in a universal version for US$4.99 right now.
Another World coming to iOS this month
Eric Chahi's classic game "Another World" (also known as "Out of this World," from its US release) is finally coming to iOS at the end of September. BulkyPix will be publishing the title, and controls will come in two flavors, either as full touchscreen controls or through a virtual D-pad. Fans of this game really love it, and will probably be happen to see it finally available on Apple's portable devices. The title will be US $4.99, and available as a universal app. I always found the game really hard, but that problem could be fixed (or worsened, depending on your preference): This version of the game will provide both easier and harder difficulty levels, as well as remastered sound, and full Game Center achievement support. We'll have to see what the game is like when it comes out on September 22nd.
Chahi's 'Another World' teleports to iOS on September 22
Two Eric Chahi games in two months! That's got to be a record. Of course, unlike From Dust, this second game is a remake, but it's still exciting. Publisher BulkyPix announced today that the iOS update of Chahi's classic action-adventure game Another World (known in America as Out of This World) will be released on September 22 as a universal iPhone/iPad app, for $4.99 / 3,99€ / £2,99. The new version includes remastered graphics, which can be toggled with a two-finger swipe. It also has the option to use "new intuitive touch controls" or a virtual D-pad -- we're desperately hoping at least one of them will work. The iOS remake also adds new difficulty levels -- both easier and harder than the original -- and remastered sound. This all sounds great, but, once again, we're wary of those controls.
Hysteria Project 2 coming to PlayStation Minis on August 23
Today we learned the U.S. date for the PlayStation Minis release of FMV thriller Hysteria Project 2. Tragically, Yan Marchal from Sanuk Games included no amazing video of himself peering directly into your soul with his 1,000-yard-stare, as he did with the game's announcement. We have rectified the problem.
Eric Chahi's classic 'Another World' coming to iOS
Timed to coincide with the conclusion of Eric Chahi's GDC 2011 postmorterm on his adventure classic Another World, comes the announcement that the game is being ported to iPone and iPad, courtesy of DotEmu and publisher BulkyPix. The game won't hit iOS until later this year, but is evidently up-and-running according to Chahi himself. "The first prototype looks beautiful on iPad; they are doing a great job on it," he said in the announcement. It's unclear whether the iOS version will be based on the 1991 original or the 2006 15th anniversary remastering (or both!), although DotEmu founder Xavier Liard promises his team will "put a lot of love and care to insure that the gamers get best user experience playing this game on iOS."
Lots more iOS games on sale for just a buck
We're heading into the final day before the App Store freeze on Thursday, and so there are lots more price drops popping up on Apple's digital outlet for iOS apps. Here's a few of the sales we've heard about so far. Bulkypix is holding a 99 cent sale on its titles. Freeverse has dropped a few apps to just a buck, including Skee-ball and Flick Fishing, and it's giving away Moto Chaser for free. Sega has a big holiday sale going on, including Gunstar Heroes and Phantasy Star 2 for just 99 cents each. Telltale has a sale going on, including the excellent Puzzle Agent for just 99 cents. And don't forget the iOS indie games "bundle", offering up excellent deals on some of the best indie games on the App Store. Lots of terrific games available for cheap on the iOS store this week. Stay tuned -- we'll probably see some more drops tomorrow, and then on Thursday, as Apple freezes store releases, everything will be nailed in for the busy holiday weekend.
TUAW's Daily App: Saving Private Sheep
Saving Private Sheep is a fun one, especially if you like Angry Birds (and there are plenty of you out there who do). Saving Private Sheep is another physics-based puzzler. This time, instead of throwing birds at pigs, you have to save sheep from wolves by tapping various wooden objects in a scene and blowing them up to try and land the pentagonal sheep safely on the ground. It may sound confusing, but once you play the game (which you can do in a free trial), it makes much more sense. The game's 80 levels will have you exploding crates, breaking ice, dropping pulleys, tossing objects around, and trying to earn as many gold medals as you can (by exploding as few items as possible as quickly as possible). And the best part is that the game's on sale for just 99 cents right now. It's not exactly the same as Angry Birds, but the game has a very Angry Birds-style feel to it, so if you like that one, give this one a shot as well.
TUAW's Daily App: Pix'n Love Rush
I first heard about Pix'n Love Rush about a month ago from my colleague, JC.Fletcher, who described it as "a short, nervous, ristretto version of a platformer ... a sort of crossover between Mario and WarioWare, with a pinch of Galaxian and a hint of Game & Watch." And now that it's out on the App Store to play, I can say that's exactly what it is; it's a weird little mini platform game, with an art aesthetic that might turn off those not versed in gaming history. The basic idea is that you play as a cat-like creature, and you bounce around a randomized series of 125 various 2D platforming stages, collecting good icons and staying away from bad ones. The gameplay is frenetic but forgiving. There are big bonuses to be had if you can pull things off perfectly (the colors and graphics flip through various designs), but even if you miss a few icons, the game will let you run through some quick platforming pleasures in a few modes. If your taste in games begins and ends with FarmVille, this one's probably not for you. But if you're interested in experimental and art games, or if you just want to spend a quick 99 cents to see what this crazy, original gaming experience is like, give Pix'n Love Rush a try. It's definitely not a traditional title, but if you want to take a few steps off the beaten path in terms of gaming, there's a lot of fun to find.
