Skwirl Please - 1.5 Stars

What is it?

Impossible and frustrating! This game involves navigating a squirrel on a bike under falling tree trunks dropping from the top of the screen at various speeds. The squirrel automatically starts travelling but you can speed it forward by tapping and holding the right of the screen and reverse it by tapping and holding the left side of the screen. The screen moves with the game so can push you into the falling tree trunks and you must be ninja style quick to get under some of the logs. 

The graphics are very bright, not pixilated, but very basic. The main character is a moving picture and is not animated to cycle the bike the developer has chosen to place it on. When the character is crushed by a falling tree truck it simply turns grey and you can reattempt the game. 

This game is very difficult and quickly lost my attention. My partner, who loves to beat me at any game, was a bit better but also got very frustrated and refused to play it again. This is the type of game that could, if taken too seriously, result in a broken iPhone in fit of frustration.

There is an impossible level which I didn't even attempt based on the fact the normal ones were beyond my capabilities. 

This game is one of those games that you must have ninja reactions to play, which sadly I do not possess! I didn't take to the game but I wish the developers luck and hopefully some quick reaction players will enjoy it!

Now for some ratings.....

Ease of use - 2

The instructions are provided in the opening screen and in theory are easy to use. The actual ease of play isn't great, the obstacles move far too quickly and don't give the user enough time to adapt to the game play before they introduce seemingly impossible sequences. Maybe I am just too slow but I didn't find this an easy game to take to. 

Price - 5

The app is free.

Adverts - 4
There are header adverts in the app, which aren't invasive and don't interrupt game play. I didn't experience full screen or video ads but they could be hidden away after a certain number of obstacles which I was never going to achieve.

Overall Rating - 1.5

I did not like this app, it was immediately too difficult to play and after several attempts I just wanted it off my phone. The developer should consider making the first few obstacles easier for the user to get familiar with and how the game is played. Looking at the GameCentre scores, I wasn't the only person struggling to get past a couple before giving up!

Keep, jury is out or delete - Delete

This is a delete for me, its already been removed from my phone upon publishing the review!

Where to find it:

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skwirl-please/id962048531?mt=8

The Kitten - 4 Stars

What is it?

The Kitten is a platform game with a cute kitten as the main character. The aim of the game is to get as far as you can without killing the kitten. The kitten bounds across the screen under your control by power of the tap. As the kitten runs, there are items to collect to increase your score whilst avoiding road obstacles, swooping birds of prey and gaps in the road. There are special features that can be collected that slow down and speed up play making you concentrate more on keeping the kitten alive. One special feature makes the kitten roll into a ball and zoom through game play, which is challenging as its easier to fall through the road gaps.

Like an old school arcade game you are given three lives that allow you two collisions, but don't worry there are tokens to top this up as you play. In addition, when you are on fast mode you don't lose lives but will die if you fall through any gaps. 

Something the app doesn't tell you, and I learnt in a panic to avoid a gap, is that you can double tap the cat to make it jump higher, which is great to avoid silly falls!

I instantly liked this app, and not just because I like cats! This is a well designed and animated game, and you can tell the developers have spent time on creating and producing it. The game is a refreshing change from the current pixel games flooding the market.

One frustration with this game is that it isn't on the GameCentre so I can't see how well I am doing against other users. There is a High Score section but mine doesn't work and just stays on the loading screen which is a shame. 

I have let a few people have a go on this app while I was reviewing it, and it was an instant hit with the younger player. Interestingly they asked if they could change the appearance of the cat, as you are given a black cat as the sole character. I couldn't find this feature but maybe something to consider for the next version ;)

Now for some ratings.....

Ease of use - 5

This is a simple tap game and very easy to play. I think this app is good for kids too, it's playful theme and easy functionality makes it very appealing!

Price - 5

This is a free app with no in app purchases. 

Adverts - 3.5
I had to go back into the app to check for adverts as I didn't remember any! There are header and footer adverts in the screen but they aren't invasive. Unfortunately in doing this I came across an advert that has a swear word in it, which is such a shame :( I am tweeting this to the developers as this could really put parents off allowing children to the use the app. This does, however, go to show that letting ads on your app isn't only frustrating to the user but can also tarnish a developers hard work!

Overall Rating - 4

I really like this app, it is a fun quick game to play and is good for all ages, especially if you like platform games. As the high score function doesn't work and considering the issue with the advert, I, with regret, have dropped this rating to a 4. 

Keep, jury is out or delete - Keep

Where to find it:

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-kitten/id907630296 

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.com.gameever.thekitten&hl

Twitter: @GameEverStudio

 

Spring Ninja - 4 stars

What is it?

Spring Ninja is the latest release from Ketchapp, featuring a Ninja on a pair of springs whose aim is to hop from one platform to the next. To spring between platforms you press on the screen, causing the ninja to compress on its strings and then release to make the Ninja jump. You can either jump on the next platform, giving you one point, or hop over it to land on the next, which awards you more points. If you miss a platform, you fall through the gap and die. It may be a simple premise, but it's certainly not a simple game! It will take a bit of time to judge the power needed to land on the next platform and the distance and heights of the platforms vary, making it extremely challenging.

Although this game is difficult, I actually enjoy it. The game maker's Ketchapp are renown for making highly addictive games which have great graphics and clean interfaces. 

You can compete on GameCentre, which is always a plus for me with these endless runners. But while I have achieved 13, the top score is, inexplicably, 1000 - the work of a gaming genius or, more likely, a shameless hacker. Either way, I only downloaded it today, yet I struggle to put it down.

If you like platform games and endless, flappy bird-esque, runners then this is definitely worth a download. And if you find it very difficult at first, don't give up straight away. Keep with it and you soon get the knack. Right I have to go now as I need to increase my lead!

Now for some ratings.....

Ease of use - 5

This game has simple controls, simply 'tap to play' and it functions very well, but it is a very challenging game. It will frustrate you, and infuriate you, but once you get the hang of it, you'll soon be racking up good scores.

Price - 4

This is a free game with the option to pay if you want to remove the ads. 

Adverts - 2.5
There are adverts in this game which is reflected in the rating. The footer ads don't really bother me nor do they interrupt gameplay. About every five games you get a full screen ad that is timed to prevent you immediately closing it for a few seconds, causing me to end up in the App Store a few times. In my most recent play there was an ad that couldn't be closed for five seconds which was a little annoying. 

Overall Rating - 4

I like this game - its challenging but will keep you coming back to it regardless, and it's well designed. I am on a mission to get better at this game and maintain my lead at home! If you liked Stick Ninja, Ninja Jump and any games were you have to do aimed jumping then give this one a go :)

Keep, jury is out or delete - Keep

Where to find it:

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spring-ninja/id963980545?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Twitter: @ketchapps 

Out Of Circle - 3.5 Stars

What is it?

Out of Circle is a tap style game with the aim to escape a rotating circles. I was contacted on Twitter to review this game so was pretty excited to get started. I think this is a love or hate  app game as it can be very frustrating. 

The game is a white circle  outline with a gap rotating around a dot, you tap the screen to release the dot but if you hit the edge you die. Once out of the first circle you move to another and so on an so forth. The style, speed and direction of the circle change between moves and the longer you stay alive the more complex it appears. 

One frustration that I did have is that you can't tap anywhere on the screen as you are restricted to a circle at the bottom of the screen. This was particularly annoying when you were into the game, missed and lost the flow. 

There are three modes to the game: Arcade, Time Trail and Chirstmas (which I assume means Christmas with an unfortunate typo!). As it is Christmas I mainly played the Chirstmas version. The screen has a few colours that it changes to between plays, with stockings hanging from the header and festive snowfall. 

The normal version is the same as the Chirstmas game but is a  full colour screen, which I feel is a little plain and would benefit from having anything on there to liven it up a bit. 

If you have played DashUp then this is very similar to it. The colours and set up are the same but the format of the game play is different through the use of circles and not sliding white bars. 

Thus far my highest score is a mere 11 but my partner has scored 13 and is forth overall in the world with the highest being a mere 16. This is a bit of an indication to how difficult the game is to master and that there are some frustrating adverts, that I must admit has made me kill the game a few times. 

Now for some ratings.....

Ease of use - 4 

This is a pretty simple game to get a grasp off but it is difficult. If you have poor reaction speeds you will quickly get angry with it but it is interesting for in home challenges. The main frustration is that you can't tap anywhere on the screen to play and if you miss the tap circle you lose your flow. 


Price - 5

This is a free game with no in app purchases. 

Adverts - 2
This game is riddled with adverts. There is a constant banner at the bottom of the screen, but it doesn't interrupt game play. After three plays there are full screen ads, these start off as manageable but after about 8 plays they turn into 5 second screen invaders. After 4 of these in a row the game got switched off. As this game is difficult you don't want to break your concentration but the ads do it for you!

Overall Rating - 1

I have struggled with rating this app but I am going for 3.5 stars. The adverts are annoying and the game is a little difficult to play. The inability to tap anywhere on the nearly blank screen is also frustrating. With that said it has remained on my phone and from starting the review to now i have upped my score...but will I get the highest in the world. 

Keep, jury is out or delete - Keep

I will be keeping this for a little while longer as I enjoy the competition, but if the adverts get any more annoying it will have to go :(

Where to find it:

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/out-of-circle/id943841480?ls=1&mt=8

The Gopher Chase - 4.5 Stars

What is it?

The Gopher is a fast paced flappy bird-esque game where you get points for moving a Gopher through a never ending course. As you go forward, left or right, you get a point each move, whilst avoiding rocks and running out of time, as you attempt to go the furthest distance. This is a brightly coloured game which is easy to learn but difficult to master. 

When you first open up the game you are greeted by a lovely bright menu with a cute Gopher dancing in the middle of the screen and flappy bird-style fonts. From this screen you can 'Rate' the app, tap 'Top' to see the leaderboard or press 'Play' where you choose from a range of game modes.

From the 'Play' button you are taken to an option screen where you can choose from eight options, some that are time-driven and others that are points-driven. I started on Classic mode as that seemed the Normal, or Standard, mode! 

The game screen is split into two parts. The bottom of the screen is taken up with a left, right and up arrow with the main body being the game. The game is green in background with a scattering of rocks. The aim of the aim is to go as far as you can without hitting a rock. I kept dying without hitting a rock so was getting a little annoyed...then I noticed the timer bar at the very top of the game.  Basically you have to keep going as quickly as possible and it keeps your timer charged up, if you delay for even a second the timer runs out.

One thing that did bug me about the games is that once you have selected a mode you can't get back to the main menu to change to another. To overcome this I had to force close and re-enter the app.  This was a little annoying but I am sure not too complex to fix. I will say that after a few plays of this, I found that if you hit the pause button, you can return to the main menu, but i would have thought this would be available from the 'Game Over' screen.

As I (I should say we as my partner loves this game!) was reviewing the app I wanted to look at all the game modes, and although it was frustrating to force close the app, it was worth it. So here they are:

10 seconds / 30 seconds mode - these are speed modes where you have to gain as many points as possible within the selected time.

Marathon mode - score as many points as you can within 100 seconds. If you die before the 100 seconds is up then it is 'Game Over' but its a great opportunity to test your tapping speed and agility to move around the screen. 

Impossible mode - as you tap the buttons to negotiate the course, they randomly change directions, i.e. the up button becomes the left button, so you have to take it slower to get a lot of points here. It's a good twist to the game as you have to pay attention and be very quick...I am rubbish at this mode!

Stop and Go - is a mode that's a little like musical statues! Basically you play as normal but the screen will flash up STOP and you've got to resist hitting any buttons or you die. When the screen flashes GO you can resume play. Obviously if you hit a rock you still die (which I did often!). 

Relay mode - is split into two stages 'Easy' and 'Hard'. In the Easy version you are given 8 seconds to get a score of at least 40. If you do, then you are given another 8 seconds, and so on until you do not hit 40 within the 8 seconds. In the Hard version you need to get 50 to get another 8 seconds, and this really is difficult to do unless you have an insane tapping action. You can still die in either mode if you hit a rock.

I did notice that the GameCenter only records the Classic and Impossible mode score and a collective total, which is a shame as we have had great fun trying to beat each other on the various modes. 

I enjoyed this game, its strongly addictive but highly frustrating!

Now for some ratings.....

Ease of use - 3.5 

This game is simple to use, once you figure it out. The game would really benefit from providing some instructions or a tutorial for the first time user. There are no descriptions for any of the modes within the game itself, but I did find them on the App Store, which I rarely read. 


Price - 5

This is a free app and I didn't notice any in app purchases. 

Adverts - 3
There are ads in this game. They tend to appear every third game play but are easily closed.  The please rate me window also appears as frequently and doesn't have the option to stop asking. 

Overall Rating - 4

There are a couple of things that have stopped me nudging this to a five, but I do really like this game! The inability to change the mode of play from the game over menu is frustrating and it did take us two days to find the option from the pause menu. The other frustration is the lack of in app instructions or tutorials.  Please don't let these minor items stop you from downloading this app as it is highly addictive and well made. This is a definite hit in my household!

Keep, jury is out or delete - Keep

No doubt about it this is a keeper! We have had great fun with the Gopher and even if you are watching people play it is very amusing, due to the frustrating screams when the timer catches you. 249 is the highest we have achieved in Classic mode, and 515 in Marathon mode... dare you to beat it!

Where to find it:

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/the-gopher/id947291741?mt=8

3D Santa Run & Christmas Racing - 2 Stars

What is it?

Ever played Temple Run? Well imagine that with a funny looking village, Ginches and a sort of 3D Santa and that is the game. I play Minion Rush, well I did until the latest updates with Jelly Labs that have ruined it for me, so I am used to pretty good graphics. This game wasn't exactly what I was expecting in the graphics, especially from the icon. The graphics are a little clunky, but they don't really disturb game play, but equally they don't encourage you to want to keep playing. 

The game is basically to make Santa run for as long as you can, sliding and jumping over obstacles and turning sharp corners. You dodge obstacles by tilting the phone from left to right so pretty easy to use.  Like Minion Rush the more points, coins and Grinches you collect the more points you earn to increase your multiplayer. When you increase the multiplayer you get more points each time you play.

If you have the sound on the game plays you festive music which is a nice touch.

As I am sat here writing this, I am struggling to say that I liked the game. It is a bit of festive fun and delivers on its promise of a Christmas theme, but I think the clunky graphics let it down. 

Now for some ratings.....

Ease of use - 3 

If you have played these games before then this will be easy to pick up and play. I did like in the game that there are instructions as you play the first few times. If quick paced games aren't for you then I wouldn't recommend this one but if you like Temple Run then you may like this. 


Price - 5

This game is free.

Adverts - 2

There are adverts of various types but they are not as frequent as I have seen in other games.

Overall Score- 2

I just didn't take to this game. I only kept playing because I had decided that I was going to review it. If you like Temple Run and don't mind less jazzy graphics then this is worth a try, it is Christmas after all.

Keep, jury is out or delete - Delete

I hate saying delete when I can see that effort has gone into a game but I just don't want to play. This game is already off my phone, but mainly as I just upgraded to the iPhone , but I am not going to download it again as it just isn't for me. 

Where to find it:

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/3d-santa-run-christmas-racing/id938177866?mt=8