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'Observation' is a gripping space puzzler with an AI hero
Many video games are set in space. Most cast you as a human super-soldier or plucky science-type trying to untangle a truly terrible situation. Not Observation. The latest game from No Code, the Scottish studio behind Stories Untold, makes you play as a piece of artificial intelligence instead. It's a fascinating choice that changes how you move around the spaceship, solve basic puzzles and interact with the game's protagonist, a medical officer called Emma Fisher. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to live inside a computer, or hack your way through a modern spacecraft, this is the game for you.
Fuel Burner hovers and lands
Fuel Burner is a free game currently available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch and is optimized for iPhone 5. The goal of the game is to land all the helicopters in each level on landing pads marked with an "H" and landing on roofs in between to get there. By clicking on the helicopter, you can begin to move from one roof to another by clicking on them until you reach your landing. A user cannot land on the same roof twice and must use exactly the number of fuel power ups before landing on the helipads. This game does not allow a user to purchase more fuel. However, the user is encouraged to tell friends about the game in exchange for more 10 power up units. That seems fair enough and a pretty good way for the developer to get the word out about the game without having to pay for advertising. The graphics are very basic. For a free game that does not have any in app purchases available, expectations are pretty low anyways but they are quite underwhelming. The graphics seem to be for boys under the age of 12. 90 degree angles, basic color palette, and simple 3D graphics make it seem like it's a game targeted towards a "Lego" demographic. I could see kids between the ages of 5 and 12 finding this app visually appealing. I personally know a lot of kids who are big fans of helicopters and would be interested in giving this game a try. There are three difficulty settings - "Beginner" allows a user an unlimited amount of time to land all of the helicopters. "Intermediate" gives a 5 minute time limit, and expert provides only 3 minutes. I don't consider myself to be an expert player by any means, but I beat all of the levels even on the expert setting with very little difficulty. This game is not challenging but is a good way to pass the time on a train or while waiting in line. It doesn't require much focus especially on the beginner setting which does not have a time limit. The app describes itself as "A 5-star FUN strategic challenge, just don't get addicted!!" Very cute reverse psychology tactic, but didn't work on me. I like a game to be more challenging and dynamic. Every level is pretty much the same appearance wise and the only real obstacle is time. The number of fuel power-ups I think is supposed to be an obstacle but it's too easy to work around to be considered one in my opinion. Fuel Burner might be incredibly easy for some, but less experienced game players might find it very addictive. Helicopter fans of all ages, try it out but just don't get addicted!
Daily iPhone App: Pivvot mixes music and mayhem
I really have a thing for simple games. And I'm not using the word "simple" as a replacement for "easy." I just mean that if a game can teach me how to play it without having to explicitly explain how, I'm much more likely to enjoy my first experience with it. Pivvot is that kind of a game. Part puzzle game and part rhythm game, Pivvot teaches you everything you need to know about it within the first 45 seconds of playing. You control a floating orb that is tethered to a long track. Your only input comes in the form of swinging your orb in one direction or the other in order to avoid various obstacles. These obstacles are sometimes attached to one side of the track, prompting you to swing in the opposite direction, or spread across both sides with one side being impassable and the other being a tight, but necessary squeeze. If your orb touches one of these objects, it disintegrates in a multicolored explosion and you'll have to try it again. There are two main modes of play, a checkpoint-based run where your progress is saved, or a more intense ride where the speed of the course ramps up quickly and a single failure sends you back to the very start. Regardless of which you choose, it's no cakewalk, and the "Expert" variations of both of these modes make things considerably harder. There's also a truly sadistic "Berserk" mode that throws a ton of obstacles at you at high speeds. This core gameplay is satisfying in its own right, but what really makes Pivvot worth playing is its soundtrack. The techno tracks match the minimalistic art style perfectly and many of the obstacles twist or sway along with the beat, adding an additional layer of complexity. Playing the game with headphones is an absolute treat. Pivvot makes it a point to say that the game features no in-app purchases whatsoever, which I can appreciate. However, the game does cost US$2.99 upfront, so it's a bit of a tradeoff. Still, the game is undoubtedly worth its asking price and if you're looking for an arcade-style thrill that is instantly accessible, Pivvot is for you.
Daily iPhone App: Alien Hive might help evolve your brain
I am not sure whether I like Alien Hive or not, and I'll explain why in just a second. But last week at GDC, whenever I had a free moment to play games on my iPhone, I found myself pulling out Alien Hive and playing yet again. So I think that's more than enough reason to recommend it to you here. The game was described to me as a match-3, and I guess it kind of is, in only that you need to match three items of a certain type to earn points. But in practice, it's much more like Triple Town than Bejeweled. This is a slower-paced, thinking man's game, where you need to make your moves more carefully. You get a board with various tiles on it and one empty space, and you can slide tiles horizontally or vertically, trying to make a match to evolve your tiles up into the next type. Tiles fall into the categories of plants or aliens, and matching up plant tiles earns you more moves, which allows you to keep your gaming going along. I'm not sure I like Alien Hive yet because apparently I'm not very good at it. The aliens on the board start out as little eggs, and matching them together evolves them up into more and more complex creatures, with you eventually unlocking a full hatchery of different alien types. But despite all of my playtime, I haven't unlocked a single higher-level alien. I do feel like I'm progressing in terms of finding matches and lining them up, but apparently I haven't even really started up the game's progression curve. Part of the problem is probably that the game involves "boosts," where you can spend a certain amount of earned currency to give you items or abilities that help you move things along. But I hate boosts as a player, so I really haven't spent any money on them, and that could be what's holding me back. At any rate, despite my issues with boosts as a mechanic and despite my inability to actually evolve any aliens, I'm enjoying Alien Hive -- I like that the game requires some thought despite the relatively simple mechanics. Hopefully sooner or later here I'll figure out the trick to evolving my aliens (and hopefully it won't just be to spend more money on boosts). If you want to join me, Alien Hive is available for free.
BioShock Infinite: Industrial Revolution puzzle game available with pre-order [update: more retailers]
A pre-order from GameStop for the upcoming BioShock Infinite will net you not one but two games, apparently. Not only will you of course get a copy of the BioShock followup itself, but you'll also pick up a completely separate puzzle game called BioShock Infinite: Industrial Revolution, a Flash-based puzzle game that appears to have been created just for this promotion. Industrial Revolution places you in the shoes of a factory worker in BioShock Infinite's world, completing puzzles to support either one of the game's two factions.Industrial Revolution will have over 50 levels to play through, and will be available to pre-order sometime before BioShock Infinite releases on February 26 of next year. The original version of BioShock had its own Hacking minigame included, but this one seems completely separate, just a fully promotional tie-in title rather than an integral part of the finished release.Update: The offer is not exclusive to GameStop: Irrational has the full list of retailers here.
TUAW Review: Reiner Knizia's Monumental turns puzzle apps upside down
The basic gist of Reiner Knizia's Monumental [$1.99] is that it's a thinking man's Tetris. This isn't to say that Tetris is a game for dummies – it's not – it's just that the never-ending rain of blocks means it's part puzzle, part twitch-fest. In Monumental, on the other hand, blocks fall constantly, but they do so at a rate you define. You still want to form complete lines and make them disappear, something old Tetris hands will feel right at home doing, but now you're placing each block carefully instead of in a frentic rush. The game is the brainchild of prolific board game designer Reiner Knizia, and you can feel the math Knizia is known for (he has a PhD in mathematics, after all) in his games poking its head. Read on to find out if a slow-paced but tense puzzle game is worth your time. %Gallery-91650%
Wizard101 introduces iPhone minigame
We've gotten quite an infusion of side applications for mobile devices of late, but Wizard101 has released one that might set a somewhat dangerous new precedent. It's one thing to be able to surf your auctions or your character builds, but it's another to be able to earn gold and potions in-game through diligent play of the mobile app. But just such a thing is possible in the new WizardBlox app, for the iPhone and the iPod Touch. High scores give you access to in-game rewards, thereby making your goofing around between classes or during breaks at work all the more productive. In terms of gameplay, it's a fairly standard puzzle game format -- slide blocks around on the bottom, match three or more to destroy them, avoid crossing the top of the screen. It's based off the in-game minigame Sorcery Stones, so gameplay will be familiar for any Wizard101 fan. The official page doesn't give any information on how large the rewards that you can earn for the main game will be, so it's safe to bet they're not going to be enormous. Still, this means players on the go can do more than usual in the game... even when they're not in the game.
Metaplace to stress test its platform
Raph Koster's Metaplace app is getting closer and closer to workable reality every day. This Friday at 5 PM PST, they'll be stress testing their platform by gathering as many people as they can to play one of their puzzle games called Wheelwright. The idea is to see if the underlying technology can sustain a large number of users at the same time.It's exciting to see these baby steps happen and feel that one is part of something potentially huge. And if Raph is prescient, Metaplace will be merely the beginning of a revitalization of what the Web can be, the next step in multi-user, multi-site interactivity. I'm eager to see how it all works out, but can anything live up to this level of hype?[Thanks, Steve!]
