Despite releases being a bit slow, this week managed to exhibit some innovative iOS games. Most of the games on this list are highly creative or original, such as our top game of the week, Roar Rampage, in which you play as the boxing glove wearing arm of a giant monster. We’ve also got a great new take on pinball, an extremely challenging game about skiing and revenge, an atmospheric minimalist adventure, plus ports of After Burner Climax and Metal Slug 2. Let the games begin!
Roar Rampage ($0.99)
This isn’t the kind of game you’d usually expect to find atop lists like this, but the concept is so original and bombastic that I just couldn’t resist. From FDG Entertainment and Neutronized, this game puts you in the truck-sized shoes of a boxing glove wearing Godzilla creature as he roars and rampages his way through a city. You directly control the monsters right arm and swing it about to smash buildings, attack helicopters, and the like. With crazy power-ups, random unlockables and costumes, and simple 2-D visuals, this is one of those simple yet innovative iOS games that is just a pure joy to play.
After Burner Climax ($2.99)
The After Burner series of flight simulation/combat games has quite a bit of renown and history under its belt, dating back to the 1987 original. After Burner Climax is a smaller game, first released on Xbox Live Arcade and the Playstation Network, but it was generally well received as a solid, if flawed game. This iOS port is surprisingly well done. There is a real sense of speed as you dogfight at Mach 5, and the visuals actually keep up with the high octane action. The controls are more than manageable, but your plane is definitely very touchy, and will take some practice to master. The game is also fairly short. Still, this is a great alternative to the console versions.
PinWar ($1.99)
PinWar, from Prank and Bulky Pix, applies what I can only think to call the “iOS Treatment” to your classic Pinball game. With a great neon visual style, you’ll battle your way through solo and co-op missions, or face your friends on same device multiplayer, in what is basically Pong meets Pinball. The gameplay is a simple concoction of these basic ideas, but it executes on them wonderfully, with a plethora of power-ups and realistic physics holding it all together. The more creative among you can even design your own tables in PinWar’s level editor!
Krashlander ($0.99)
Skiing and revenge are the driving forces behind this bizarre, simple, and extremely challenging new game. Essentially, wearing something called a Krashsuit, you are seeking revenge on an enemy alien planet by skiing, jumping, and crashing into enemies in really difficult courses. The courses are difficult because of the totally unique controls. Essentially, you slide your finger across a circle, with various sections of the circle corresponding to different leaning positions for your skier. Even the second level will likely give you some trouble at first, so definitely don’t download this unless you love unique challenges. Otherwise, it’s a solid game with great minimalist art. Speaking of minimalist…
Kairo ($4.99)
This game is actually a couple weeks old now, but I missed it when it was first released, and after discovering just how awesome it was, decided I should feature. It’s a minimalistic and abstract adventure puzzle game, in which you explore a dreamlike atmospheric environment with a highly unique look and feel comprised mainly of basic shapes. Like Myst and similar games of yesteryear, traditional narratives are eschewed in favor of an environment that tells its own story. This game is simply beautiful, refreshingly unique, and a steal even at five dollars. Check it out.
METAL SLUG 2 ($3.99)
We end our list with another oldie-but-goodie. We’ve already seen Metal Slugs 1 and 3, so I suppose this was inevitable. Considering the prequel and sequel to this game are on the App Store, you pretty much know exactly what to expect from the middle child of this series. More of what you’ve seen in one, plus some new stuff that made it into three, and the same chaotic shoot-em-up action by which the series is defined. The pixel art is as good as always, as are the touch controls and everything else. These games may be old school now, but it was once just as innovative as everything else on this list. Still, if you want your gaming more straightforward and less abstract, nothing beats a classic.
