Addictive!

• App review for Pik's Revenge
• Posted by PassiveThoughts January 17, 2010
• Recommended for Gamers

I saw this game appear in the What's Hot section on my iphone the other day and I figured I'd give it a shot. It's put out by an indie company, and as many of us have experienced, with the ridiculous pricing of games on the App Store, it's rare an indie company or individual will publish anything of any real depth or quality. The downward pressures on pricing mean that really only established game companies or developers doing this part time on the side have any chance of making any real money on the App Store. But anyway, enough ranting.

This game is huge. It's got fantastic art - the art alone is worth not 1.99 but more like 49.99. The music soundtrack, like the story, is quite original. And it is what they say it is, a side scrolling adventure RPG. This game is not for people who hate to read... some of the reviews on the app store have complained that the game feels pointless.. I can see that only if you don't read anything at all and avoid the tutorial.

So far i've logged about 4 to 5 hours on the game, and I think I'm getting close to getting off the first planet. Off hand I'd say I've completed at least 30 quests so far, seen 2 movies and a handful of comics. I've been eaten and robbed more than I'd like to admit :)

Sure the game has the odd crash, but overall it's well designed and strangely addictive... I think you'll agree if you give it a chance. I'm looking forward to more great titles from these guys.

Great Yoga Finder App

• App review for MINDBODY yoga
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Road Warriors, Foodies, Book Readers, Gamers, Workout Junkies, Parents, Students, Animal Lovers, Outdoors Enthusiasts, Music Fans, Shopaholics, Career People, Social Butterflies, Budget Hawks, Sports Fans, Film/TV Fans or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

Since I am using MindBodyOnline to manage my studio, I think this app is great! Now my customers can find our schedule no problem!

Great List App

• App review for Listerful
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Road Warriors, Gamers, Parents, Students, Shopaholics, Career People, Social Butterflies, Budget Hawks or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

Was my main GTD app for a while- good interface, but Things had too many extra features for me to ignore. Good solid listermaker.

Great Golf App

• App review for Let's Golf!
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Road Warriors, Gamers, Students, Social Butterflies, Sports Fans or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

I really like the simple easy to use golf swing and the variety of courses and unlockable characters. You can play quick or take your time. My favorite iPhone gold app for sure!

Too Difficult UI

• App review for Endless Defence
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Gamers

I like the premise, but it's too hard to hit the guys attacking you, and hard to tell where you are going. I was tired of this game very quickly

Too Bloody Bloody & Boring

• App review for Champion Archer
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010

I just didn't like the gore of the app, coupled with very little to keep my interest in the way of gameplay.

Number One in Coolness Factor

• App review for Ocarina
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Road Warriors, Gamers, Parents, Students, Music Fans, Budget Hawks or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

Well, I wish I could play this beautiful instrument with some competence, but even so, this is the coolest app ever- if only for iPhone Coolness Demonstrations.

Missed this on the new iPhone

• App review for Music Quiz!
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Road Warriors, Gamers, Students, Music Fans, Budget Hawks or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

I sure liked this old game on my old iPod, and so I was glad someone thought to come up with it. Interesting and challenging for a lover of music like me and with my huge music library, it is a big challenge!

Average TD Game

• App review for Ninja TD
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Road Warriors, Gamers, Students or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

I didn't find this game brought much new to the genre or carry any particular depth or hold my interest for any length of time. Still, a solid average app in about every way- graphics, depth, gameplay and upgrade path.

Interesting and novel

• App review for myQuest: Rise of the Hunter
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Road Warriors, Gamers, Students or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

A nice and different approach to the fantasy/hack-slash genre, which I enjoyed. Still, the replayability ends when you've finally explored each and every resolution to the game, but it's nice that after you solve the puzzle the first time, you get to keep your armor and head out to find more unexplored paths through the game. I look forward to other games with this novel approach, but far more depth.

Well, it's Ms. Pac-Man!

• App review for Ms. PAC-MAN
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Road Warriors, Gamers, Students or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

What else can you say but a perfect port of the my favorite arcade game of all time!

For Kids or Partiers

• App review for Voices 2 ~ fun voice changing!
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Parents, Students or Social Butterflies

I frankly couldn't see any place I would use this beyond having fun with some kids, and I just don't have the fascination with voice alteration as the rest of the iPhone app world seems to, given the success of apps like this one and the "I'm On A Boat" guy. Maybe it's my generation or something, but I guess I'm not cool anymore...

Not a Lot Here

• App review for Traffic Rush
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Road Warriors, Gamers, Students, Career People or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

I like the basic game itself, but I have to say that I can't see a lot of reply value to this game, or anything much to hold my interest, frankly.

Love the Faces!

• App review for Trenches
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Road Warriors, Gamers, Students, Career People or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

I like the basic game itself, but I have to say that I find myself chuckling a little each time I see the face of the various levels of characters with their gritted teeth! A good and interesting side-scroller, if a little easy IMO.

A Great TD App Port

• App review for Vector TD
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Road Warriors, News Junkies, Book Readers, Gamers, Workout Junkies, Parents, Students, Outdoors Enthusiasts, Career People, Budget Hawks, Sports Fans or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

I loved this game when it was only a Flash game on a Chewing Gum website. I love it here too- has the same great UI and graphics we all loved from our halcyon days as Tempest & Asteroids pre-teens- and a balanced weapons and upgrade path too. Among the best- but unfortunately, I didn't have this app when I curated my top 5 TD apps!

Great Twitter App

• App review for Twitterrific Premium
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Road Warriors, News Junkies, Book Readers, Gamers, Workout Junkies, Parents, Students, Outdoors Enthusiasts, Career People, Budget Hawks, Sports Fans or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

I pretty much like Tweetie 2 and Twitterific Premium the same- so much so I use them for my two Twitter accounts instead of lumping them in together.

Great Twitter App

• App review for Twitter
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Road Warriors, News Junkies, Book Readers, Gamers, Workout Junkies, Parents, Students, Outdoors Enthusiasts, Career People, Budget Hawks, Sports Fans or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

I pretty much like Tweetie 2 and Twitterific Premium the same- so much so I use them for my two Twitter accounts instead of lumping them in together.

My first place for Apple News

• App review for TUAW
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Road Warriors, News Junkies, Book Readers, Gamers, Workout Junkies, Parents, Students, Outdoors Enthusiasts, Career People, Budget Hawks, Sports Fans or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

Since I was a Tier 2 Tech Support Agent at Apple for 3 years, I have to stay up to date on all things Apple, and while TUAW isn't something I use outside my iPhone, it's my primary source of Apple-related news on it. The articles are well-written and relevant with a clean, easy to use interface that many new aggregators I can see are slowly moving toward- as I find this similar to the CTV Olympics app in this regard.

BattleZone, revisited

• App review for Vector Tanks
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Gamers, Students or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

Well, this is so like BattleZone that I am surprised they don't get sued. I loved the game then and I like it now too, although it's a bit antiquated with the reverse control scheme making moving around awkward at best

Does what it says, but...

• App review for JIRBO Paper Football
• Posted by durgadas January 16, 2010
• Recommended for Gamers, Parents or Students

How much time can one spend on this activity that was sophomoric when we were even kids? Might be a good app to have on the iPhone to show to kids, but otherwise not for me.