Few notable games were released this week, yet we have several exceptionally awesome titles. Not the least of which is the latest RocketCat Games title, Punch Quest, which is essentially an endless punching arcade game. We also have the third entry in the Penny Arcade RPG series, a He-Man based side-scrolling brawler, a stylish exploration based puzzle adventure, and a long awaited N.Y. Zombie sequel. Here are this week’s top iPhone games!
Punch Quest (Free)
Man, was I excited when I saw this game’s announcement! This is the latest title from RocketCat Games, who are quickly becoming one of the most reliably and awesome developers in the iOS gaming space. Responsible for the Hook Champ games and the excellent Mage Gauntlet, this time around they take you on a quest full of punching. It’s basically an arcade auto-runner, but instead of a regular jump, you have punches and uppercuts to perform as you pummel your way through hoards of enemies. The retro art and music are fantastic, and the game is totally free to boot. Also, you get to ride dinosaurs that shoot lasers out of their mouths. If that hasn’t sold you, I give up.
N.Y.Zombies 2 ($1.99)
The first N.Y.Zombies was a beloved first person shooter that was very impressive at the time of its release. iOS gaming has taken a quantum leap or two since then, but we finally get a sequel, and it’s fantastic. The controls and visuals may lack the polish that big studios can muster, but that’s part of the game’s charm. The introduction of in-app purchase currency worries me to some extent, but hopefully it never becomes just a way for the developers to glean some extra cash from this whole thing. If you were a fan of the first, don’t miss this one!
Penny Arcade’s On The Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness 3 ($2.99)
You know you can expect quality entertainment from anything branded with the Penny Arcade logo. This series of RPG’s based on the Penny Arcade comics is no exception. Though we’re missing the first two games from the App Store, that shouldn’t prevent anyone from giving this one a look. Especially since, unlike the first two games, it was developed by the same team that created Cthulhu Saves the World, and this was even ported by the same third party. Like Cthulhu’s heroic adventure, the writing and humor are the star of the show, with the solid gameplay and retro visuals as icing on the cake.
He-Man: The Most Powerful Game in the Universe ($0.99)
This game is admittedly not nearly as powerful or engaging as its title implies, but I’m pretty sure a large sect of the Internet has been waiting for an official He-Man game for decades now. Chillingo is here to meet your needs with an extremely simple yet fairly well done brawler. The controls are very streamlined and gesture-based as you use your various abilities. You buy these abilities with in-game currency that you can also buy via IAP, which is always a bit worrisome to see. The animation is a bit stiff and awkward, and the game is very repetitive, but I’d say it’s worth checking out, for the sake of Castle Grayskull.
Shardlands ($1.99)
Shardlands is a very slick and sleek new puzzle adventure game. It’s the first iOS title from developer Breach Entertainment, and it’s pretty great, as first impressions go. In the game, you awaken in a cavern with a strange spirit telling you what to do. The game is very non-violent, based on exploration and enemy avoidance. As you progress, you’ll develop new powers to use in puzzle solving, such as telekinesis that allows you to move platforms. The visuals and atmosphere are remarkably well done, and while the game does seem to start off a bit slow, it has promise.
