CrushTheCastle
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Daily iPad App: Cannon Crasha offers nostalgic medieval combat
Your goal in Cannon Crasha is simple: Destroy the castle on the right side of the screen while protecting the castle on the left side of the screen. There's a relatively disposable story that is designed to push you on, destroying castles and leaving rubble in your wake, but in the end it's Crasha's fantastic medieval combat and old-school aesthetic that will keep you playing. Equal parts Angry Birds and a lesser known classic, Crush The Castle, Cannon Crasha gives you one weapon to start with: a massive cannon. With each successfully aimed shot, your opponent's castle takes damage until it eventually crumbles. Of course, your computer-controlled adversary returns fire as well, and if you're not careful you could end up on the losing end. The battles start off simple, but after a while you are introduced to various cannon upgrades, additional bonus attacks like soldiers and airborne bombers, and defensive tools like customizable barriers. Your gold level controls this micro economy, with your monetary level rising each time you strike your enemy's stronghold. Cannon Crasha's old-school 16-bit design style works great on the iPad, and everything from your castle to the background environments feel both retro and extremely crisp. The same goes for the sound effects, which are basic but fit in well with the nostalgic vibe. The only real complaint I have is that at times there is almost too much stuff going on to be able to pay attention to. With bombs going off, planes and dragons filling the sky, and ground units attacking both sides it can be rather easy to forget to launch your cannon as soon as it's ready to fire. When precious seconds count, missing a well-timed cannonball can cost you a round, but managing every aspect of the battle can be very distracting. Still, this doesn't take away from the fact that Cannon Crasha is a great addition to any iPad game library and a must-have for fans of games like Angry Birds. Just be warned: You may need to grow and additional hand to keep up.
Crush the Castle for iPhone free today only
I'm not much of a gamer but I adore Crush the Castle. It's a medieval themed game where you use a trebuchet to knock down your enemies who inhabit an increasingly difficult arrangement of fortifications. It's a good test of skill and your knowledge of the physics of heavy airborne objects. Today only, the full featured game is free, and in Uncle Mel's view it is definitely worth grabbing. It's great for passing the time in an airport, and can help you conquer your daily build-up of frustrations. The sound effects are super, from the screams of your victims to the subtle environmental sounds that match the locale in which a particular round takes place. My only regret is that there is not yet an iPad version, but it doesn't scale up too badly and is still fun to play. If you haven't played this game, I recommend trying it. If you have only been using the 'lite' version, here's a chance to upgrade at no cost. Thanks to Bill for the tip!
