Mac game news and reviews, arcade and casual games, real-time strategy, and more

Review: FaceFighter for iPhone

Tim Mercer — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:05:00 -0800

With great graphics, cool kung fu sounds, and a multi-player mode, FaceFighter is really entertaining. Add in the ability to create custom foes, and hilarity quickly ensues.

Review: The Deep Pinball for iPhone

Ben Boychuk — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:30:00 -0800

OOO Gameprom returns with another pinball adventure, this one set in a watery underworld. It's a fun game, with the 1.1 update improving upon the original release.

Interview with the producers of Warhammer Online

Chris Holt — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:39:00 -0800

A chat with two of the producers of this new MMORPG.

Review: 9 The Mobile Game for iPhone

John Brandon — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:51:00 -0800

The animated motion picture 9 may have come and gone from theaters, but its iPhone game remains. Unfortunately, this platform game misses the mark because of simple gameplay and weak graphics.

New Mac 'game' plays Russian roulette with your files

Tony Craine — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:42:00 -0800

An artist tries to get gamers to think about their actions by creating an arcade-style game for the Mac that purposely deletes files from your hard drive as you score points.

Review: Alive 4-Ever for iPhone

Tim Mercer — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:52:00 -0800

Everything about this zombie survival game is highly polished, from the music and effects to the controls. Alive 4-Ever is the king of its genre.

Review: Toy Bot games for iPhone

Lex Friedman — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:38:00 -0700

The Toy Bot Diaries series improves sequel-by-sequel, but Iugo Mobile Entertainment really gets the gameplay right with Spy Bot Chronicles, a spinoff from the physics-based platform game.

Review: Words With Friends for iPhone

Ben Boychuk — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:25:00 -0700

Words With Friends is a two-person crossword challenge that takes advantage of the networking capabilities of the iPhone and iPod touch to help you take on far-flung opponents in a Scrabble-esque word showdown.

Review: FIFA 10 for iPhone

Chris Holt — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:25:00 -0700

This soccer game offers engrossing competition and graphics that far out-pace what we've seen on the iPhone and iPod touch. Now if only Electronic Arts could do something about FIFA 10's wonky artificial intelligence.

Classic board game Catan arrives for iPhone

Dan Moren — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:45:00 -0700

Catan - The First Island brings the classic German board game to the iPhone, with multiplayer action in either human or computer form.

Review: Medieval for iPhone

Tim Mercer — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:59:00 -0700

The App Store features plenty of castle defense games. Medieval is one of the more stellar offerings.

Iconfactory releases Pickin' Time game

Jason Snell — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:27:00 -0700

The Iconfactory released Pickin' Time, a fast-paced pattern-matching game for iPhone.

Review: Moonlights for iPhone

Lex Friedman — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:55:00 -0700

With challenging levels and spacey visuals, this tower-building puzzle game is a fine addition to the iPhone. The ability to create your own levels and play levels created by other users, though, pushes Moonlights toward greatness.

GameFly launches GameCenter App for iPhone

Chris Holt — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:43:00 -0700

Video game rental service Gamefly launched Thursday their GameCenter App on the App Store. This free application gives iPhone and iPod touch users access to data on over 5,000 video games as well as news, videos, screen shots, release dates, user reviews, and cheats. While not designed to actually play the games themselves, the application serves as a pocket library for gaming information as well as a quick way to research, rent, and buy titles.

Review: Must Eat Birds for iPhone

Tim Mercer — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:26:00 -0700

This original game offers a good challenge and even some laughs, as you try to keep birds from devouring your delectable desserts.

X3: Terran Conflict launches on the Mac

Chris Holt — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:13:00 -0700

The immersive sci-fi space simulator and strategy game from Virtual Programming is now available for download.

Halloween games for the iPhone

Lex Friedman — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:57:00 -0700

We take a look at a trio of iPhone games with a Halloween twist. Zombie Pizza delivers ghoulish fun, Halloween Chicktionary is an enjoyable word game (though its holiday trappings feel tacked on), and Scarecrow falls short.

Review: Rock Band for iPhone

Chris Holt — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:49:00 -0700

It's not that this iPhone version of the console sensation is a bad game -- it's just disappointing. Instead of pushing the genre forward, Electronic Arts has delivered a game that's not all that different from the many other tapping-interface apps you'll find in the App Store.

Earthworm Jim hits iPhone

John Davison — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Earthworm Jim, originally released on the Sega Genesis 15 years ago, has made its iPhone debut courtesy of Gameloft.

Review: Crazy Machines for iPhone

Tim Mercer — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:58:00 -0700

This physics-based puzzle game requires you to build elaborate machines out of all kinds of objects. Crazy Machines offers loads of challenging puzzles that put your problem solving skills and creativity to the test.

Review: Toy Story Mania for iPhone

Philip Michaels — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:32:00 -0700

If you've been to Disney's California Adventure or Hollywood Studios theme parks recently, you've doubtlessly seen the Toy Story Midway Mania ride. This game delivers a lot of the carnival-style fun of that attraction to your iPhone or iPod touch.

Review: Word War for iPhone

Ben Boychuk — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:35:00 -0700

This game lets you flex your command of English as you and an opponent build words, letter-by-letter, until you can't build anymore. And who knows -- the game just might have some educational value too.

Ace Combat XI coming to iPhone

John Davison — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:13:00 -0700

Namco is using its Facebook fan page to communicate more and more about its upcoming titles these days, with a post this week promoting the upcoming release of Ace Combat XI for the iPhone.

Red Alert has an October surprise for iPhone gamers

Chris Holt — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:46:00 -0700

Electronic Arts plans to bring the Cold War-themed Command and Conquer: Red Alert to the iPhone and iPod touch later this month -- October 23 to be precise.

Review: Inkvaders for iPhone

Lex Friedman — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:42:00 -0700

If you're in the mood for a cathartic alien annihilation, you can't really go wrong with this side-scrolling shoot-'em-up from Chillingo.

Review: Game of Life for iPhone

Lex Friedman — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:15:00 -0700

How you feel about this game for the iPhone and iPod touch will likely depend on how warmly you feel toward the classic board game on which it's based. If you're a fan of the Game of Life, you'll be more than pleased with Electronic Arts' mobile offering.

Review: Worms for iPhone

Tim Mercer — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:09:00 -0700

First released in 1995, this turn-based combat game has arrived on the iPhone. There are some small annoyances, mostly with controls, but overall, Worms is a pretty good game with its own unique charm.

Review: Bowman for iPhone

Omaha Sternberg — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 09:20:00 -0700

The simple graphics and limited audio of Bowman might turn some off, but this is made up for by the focus on the physics of archery within the game. It's a fun way to pass the time.

Review: Scrabble for iPhone

Jeff Phillips — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:50:00 -0700

Despite some quirks with the mobile version, this is still the classic Scrabble game, and it is a lot of fun to play.

Rock Band ready to rock out on the iPhone this month

Chris Holt — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:53:00 -0700

EA Mobile says the iPhone version of the popular music game should hit the App Store sometime this month.

Review: Waterslide Extreme for iPhone

Beau Colburn — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:43:00 -0700

This waterslide-based racing game doesn't redefine the genre. But it does make good use of the built-in accelerometer to deliver a game that's fun to play.

Review: Battle Bears for iPhone

Chris Holt — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:42:00 -0700

This twisted first-person shooter -- in which you're a brown teddy bear battling pink teddy bears who want to hug you to death -- has a handful of flaws with its gameplay and save system. But if you've got the right mindset (an immature one), Battle Bears can be a guilty pleasure.

Review: Minigore for iPhone

Lex Friedman — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:45:00 -0700

The gameplay in this 3-D shoot-em-up is a little limited. But the impressive details of Minigore make up for lacking features.

Review: Leaf Bound for iPhone

Tim Mercer — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:12:00 -0700

There's not a lot of replay value to keep you coming back to this vertical jumping game. But Leaf Bound is still entertaining, and a fun way to pass the time when you're standing in line.

iSurf for iPhone

John Brandon — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:50:00 -0700

Gameplay is weak, the graphics aren't compelling, and the use of the iPhone's built-in accelerometer are poor in this surfing game. And that's a shame because iSurf should deliver more fun than it actually does.

Review: BurgerTime Deluxe for Mac

Peter Cohen — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:31:00 -0700

This recreation of the old-school arcade game makes for some nostalgic fun... until you notice that Namco is charging twice as much for the Mac edition as it does for the Windows version of BurgerTime Deluxe.

Westbang for iPhone

Tim Mercer — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:56:00 -0700

With its frantic and challenging play, Westbang is a fun and addictive tap shooter that's full of action.

First look: Eliminate

Chris Holt — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Snipe your enemies through a scope. Buy sci-fi weapons in your quest for multiplayer supremacy. Own some noobs. Sound like another high-end, first-person shooter for the PC? Wrong. Thanks to Ngmoco, online multiplayer FPS action is coming to the iPhone.

Earth Vs. Moon for iPhone

Chris Holt — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:21:00 -0700

Earth Vs. Moon doesn't shy away from the comparisons to old-school gaming; rather, it seems to relish and enjoy the campiness of arcade games long gone. It's not that deep of a game, but it's ideally shorted for short bursts of fun.

Anti-video-game crusader sues Facebook for $40 million

Robert McMillan — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:30:00 -0700

Jack Thompson, a constant critic of violent video games has sued Facebook for $40 million.

Review: Real Soccer 2010 for iPhone

Chris Holt — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:02:00 -0700

Graphically impressive, easy to pick up, loaded with features, and offering some of the deepest gameplay on the iPhone, Real Soccer 2010 isn't just an upgrade over the previous edition of the soccer franchise, but one of the best games to come to the iPhone this year.

Review: The Price Is Right for iPhone

Lex Friedman — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:17:00 -0700

This mobile version of the popular TV game show looks good and sports great audio, but suffers from a recurring series of interruptions that detract mightily from the fun.

Gaming consoles gear up for the holidays

Ian Paul — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:40:00 -0700

The holidays are just around the corner, and gaming console makers hope to make 2009 a record-setting year.

Farewell, but not goodbye

Peter Cohen — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:00:00 -0700

Peter Cohen moves on.

GameSalad engine launchs membership plan, iPhone games

Chris Holt — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:54:00 -0700

Gendai Games announced the launch of GameSalad’s Early Access Program, granting its members the ability to create and publish games to the App Store.

Bioshock arrives on the Mac October 7

Chris Holt — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:34:00 -0700

In addition to announcing a release date for the heavily anticipated game, Feral Interactive also has published system requirements for Mac users.

Review: Arcade SpinBall for iPhone

Chris Barylick — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:13:00 -0700

There are certainly more sophisticated games available at the App Store, but not many can match the fun of Arcade SpinBall, a first-person version of Pong that anyone can enjoy.

Game Notes: Asphalt 5, Sniper trailers pave the way for new iPhone games

Chris Holt — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:08:00 -0700

New trailers from Gameloft and Com2uS give iPhone gamers a flavor of what to expect from the upcoming Asphalt 5 and Sniper vs. Sniper releases, respectively.

Review: Triazzle for iPhone

Tim Mercer — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:00:00 -0700

If you're a fan of puzzles, Triazzle is a must-have. With its pleasing graphics, relaxing music, and unlimited amount of time to solve each puzzle, the game lulls you into a zen like state far from stress.

Hands on with Real Soccer 2010

Chris Holt — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:29:00 -0700

Real Soccer 2009 was one of the better sports games on the iPhone and iPod touch. For the 2010 edition, Gameloft has added more leagues and teams as well as real players' names. In addition, Real Soccer 2010 offers multiplayer functionality. Chris Holt has a preview.