“What an apt title for a game..”, I was thinking to myself when I was reviewing Wingbreaker, an arcade shmup like no other on the iPad. At first glance it has a lot in common with most games in the same genre, there’s a plethora of weaponry to choose from and a bunch of alien UFO-enemy types to blast them with.

Here’s the part where the game differentiates itself from the competition, in the area of handling damage. The ship that you control in-game comes with a rechargeable shield but when that shield fails, the first two things that gets destroyed are your wings. You may think this as trivial but losing either wing would result in one less weapon slot for all those nice power-ups you collect along the way. Lose both and you’ll have a really hard time destroying certain enemy ships.

Wingbreaker’s control scheme is bog-standard iPad-tilting fare but I don’t think you can go any better than this. The 3D graphics on the other hand are pretty nifty. There are 22 missions available in game (along with an arcade mode), and players are graded with a star-based system on how well they fulfill mission objectives. Having said that you’ll need to fulfill at least one mission objective (in effect gain one star) in one level before proceeding to the next.

The developers added a nice touch to the game with a UFOPEDIA, with entries explaining the various weapons and UFO ships found in the game. It wasn’t necessary but not many devs go about doing that in the first place. Nineoverten.com rates Wingbreaker at a 4.5 out of 5. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Created by the folks at RiggermanGames, the game can be found on the iTunes App Store for free for a limited time. Check it out over here: http://itunes.apple.com/app/wingbreaker/id555119638?ls=1&mt=8

We’ve got a couple of interesting games out on the App Store today for iOS devices, and both have something in common, they are based on existing IPs! First up is an Angry Birds clone by Californian indie developer Slimstown Studios called Dragonbites: Smokin’ Bunnies. Priced at only $0.99, this catapult-subgenre game turns the category on its head by introducing enemies that fire back, proudly juvenile humor, and the ability for players to use any type of bunny-based projectile in any order they choose.

“Dragonbites: Smokin’ Bunnies” is developed by RES Interactive, creators of the Dragonbites license, and published by Slimstown Studios. Check it out over here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id572421059?mt=8

Next up, fans of classic board game Stratego can now revel in their battlefield cunningness as Keesing Games brings the game into the digital era with today’s launch of Stratego as a free-to-play online game and paid mobile app for iPad. Developed and published by Keesing Games, a Dutch developer renowned for the Zigiz.com game portal, the officially licensed version of the international board game from Royal Jumbo is available to play now on Facebook, iPad, at Stratego.com and partner sites.

Stratego is available for $6.99 from the App Store on iPad or for free on Facebook or at http://www.stratego.com/.

Indie developers Jeffrey Chee and his wife have been working on a brand new iOS title which is best described as Theme Park meets Hotel Management. In Hotel Story which is slated to be released on Valentines Day 2013 for the iPad and iPhone, players set up their dream resorts with various facilities, decorations and tours with the hopes of bringing in all kinds of tourists.

So instead of roller coasters, water rides and concession stores, prepare to create hotel rooms, saunas, gyms, libraries, vending machines etc and stock them up with consumables. Taking cue from games such as Animal Crossing, you get to visit other players’ resorts as well. I actually wonder why anyone hasn’t come up with such a game until now and if you are a fan of games such as Theme Park and Theme Hospital, Hotel Story should fit right in.

Stay tuned to Nineoverten.com for more updates on Hotel Story, in the mean time, don’t forget to check out the preview trailer above.

There are a number of new free game releases on the App Store this week along with some older titles that have their price tags slashed to zero. Check them out:

Badass Free by indie developer Ming Jing is a Nintendo Warioware inspired title, but on the iOS platform. This brand new game features a diverse collection of action games and if you are familiar with how crazy a Warioware title can get, Badass Free aims to do the same with over 100 mini games, each with a playtime of lesser than 5 seconds. Check out the game over here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/badass-free/id528174829?l=en&mt=8

BetterLetter by Evenpod has been on the App Store since 2011 and has been awarded an Honorable Mention at the 2011 Best App Ever Awards. The game provides players the opportunity to construct a meaningful word from an array of letters, with the length of the word determining the points. Previously sold at USD 2.99, the game is now free: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/betterletter/id426913117

Siege Hero was reviewed by us back in 2011, and this excellent title from Armor Games, which features Angry Birds-style gameplay but from a first person perspective (imagine seeing things from the catapult’s point of view). The game features a tonne of levels, some of which are brainteasers by nature. The game was previously sold at USD 0.99 and now is available for free for a limited time: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/siege-hero/id431688122?mt=8

Pantheon the Legends is a brand new collectible card game for iOS devices and features heroes of Greek mythology fighting genetic abominations such as the Minotaur. The game features both social PvP gameplay and a funny solo campaign. Check it out over here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pantheon-the-legends/id582931583?mt=8

Puzzle game fans rejoice. UK based Phasic Labs Ltd. today announces Hexius Free 2.0.5, a free version of its popular psychedelic action-puzzler for iPhone iPod touch and iPad. Hexius features 3 fun game modes, global/friends scores, weekly score challenges, achievements, regular updates, and more.

Hexius Free has Time Attack mode, complete with Game Center leaderboards, and the first 9 levels of Time Attack. You can upgrade in-game to get unlimited Time Attack levels, and to unlock Strategy Mode. To check out the game, head over here: https://itunes.apple.com/app/hexius-free/id593055189

When I first started playing OrangePixel’s latest iOS game, Gunslugs, I had a difficult time trying to pinpoint its influences. For starters, this 2D platformer seems to be an 8-bit homage to Contra, but then I realize that its DNA also saw contributions from games such as Super Mario Bros and Metal Slug.

Also, the run-and-gun gameplay was as if someone took the frantic pace from Quake III Arena, threw out the z-axis and flattened the game into a 2D package. The result, really frantic shoot-me-up action on a platformer! Players choose between two characters and honestly aside from the gender, both seem to perform the same when the shooting starts.

Unlike most platformers, in place of lives, your character gets a health bar which diminishes when you get hit but can be replenished by picking up health packs dropped by enemies and by destroying crates. You get ammo and better weapons in the same manner as well. You’ll need these as the enemy can be relentless.

Like Contra, there is some strategy involved when it comes to attacking certain enemy units, and the boss fights are reminiscent of Metal Slug. Along the way you’ll find secret areas ala Super Mario Bros. I’m really impressed at how OrangePixel goes about creating retro style 2D platformers like this and Meganoid.

If you are looking for some crazy action to go along with your platforming, do check out Gunslugs. Nineoverten.com rates Gunslugs at a 4.5 out of 5. The game is available on the iTunes App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gunslugs/id591368443

A review code was provided to Nineoverten.com for the purpose of this review.

There’s this Chinese drinking game that seems to be always played at parties and it goes by two players facing each other with their hands clasped. Each player will try to slap the hand of the other player, and the other player would try to evade with his hands still clasped together. There are plenty of feints in this boisterous game, and it’s blink and you’ll miss noticing the slapping movement.

Speaking about party games, it seems that I’ve been reviewing several of them for iOS devices this week, and the second game in the list would be Steam Reaction, a brand new game by Spanish indie game developers Cuspine Studios. And like the Chinese drinking game that I’ve mentioned earlier, the gameplay with this one is basically, blink and you’ll miss.

Simple as it is, the game supports up to 4 players, and the first one to hit the buzzer at first sight of the signal shown by the steam engine in the middle of the screen wins. The three game modes are almost similar in nature, and the win condition still remains the same. One word of caution though, I seriously do not recommend going up against A.I opponents, their reaction time is so fast it’s borderline cheating.

Steam Reaction’s steampunk visuals are beautiful to look at and you may notice some measure of background animation going on in the game. Whether or not they serve as a distraction (since your attention is supposed to be in the middle of the screen), it was pretty cool for the folks at Cuspine to put in something so whimsical.

Steam Reaction is one game that you should really play in the company of friends. There’s a competitive element built in with each person’s reaction time is shown on screen. Nineoverten.com rates Steam Reaction at a 4 out of 5. Do check it out!

The game is available over here: https://itunes.apple.com/app/steam-reaction/id588460894?mt=8. A review code was provided to Nine Over Ten 9/10 for the purpose of this review.

As a teenager I was really fascinated at the leap that took us from Wolfenstein 3D to Doom. Back then, I noticed the atmospheric levels, the steps, and the sound effects. All these helped reinforce the notion that I’m fighting in an outpost on Mars, and these were in actual fact improvements over what we had played in Wolfenstein 3D.

So when Temple Run 2 was released this week, I noticed that several reviewers calling it a rehash. Having played the game, I felt that there was definitely a leap from the original Temple Run to Temple Run 2. The first game wasn’t shabby, and that itself is a good reason why people would miss out on the new changes to the game. For me, the biggest change in Temple Run 2 would be the rolling hills, whereby the path you are running on are actually a series of inclines.

The new game features new high-res graphics, which is also a refreshing change over its predecessor, and more Indiana Jones-like adventure elements such as zip lines and riding carts in mines. The game is bigger, crazier and definitely prettier but like the original Temple Run, its available for free on the iTunes App Store! What are you waiting for, head over here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/temple-run-2/id572395608?mt=8

I think someone over at either CocoaChina or Bucca Studio has figured out to how to make me really happy, and that’s by coming up with an excellent AND unique match-3 game. “Yeah right, a unique match-3 game”. That would be a cynical but common response to my enthusiasm on 7 Elements, a brand new match-3 game by the two development studios mentioned earlier, for the iPad. Yup. there’s still hope for the match-3 genre, read on to find out why.

7 Elements features a really nice presentation, the 2D graphics remind me of games such as Luxor (there’s a mild ancient Egyptian vibe going on in this game) and the special effects triggered by special pieces and power-ups are quite a sight to behold. But this isn’t the game’s killer feature. While most match-3 games are content with having you swap positions between two pieces on the board, 7 Elements, by virtue of multi-touch, allows players to swap positions of three pairs of pieces AT THE SAME TIME!

This enables players to create not only match 3 pieces, but up to 6 pieces at a time when usually you’ve to wait for pieces to fall into the right place to do so. Having this feature in the game means that gameplay is sped up and each play session is relatively shorter than that of other timed match-3 games. The timer is actually a set of flames located at the top left and right corners of the screen.

The game allows players to earn gold coins that will be used to unlock one-time use power-ups that need to be purchased before the start of the next play session. While it’s possible to play the game without power-ups, you can purchase more coins to unlock more power-up slots for a maximum of three.

With an interesting implementation of multi-touch to traditional match-3 gameplay, 7 Elements has certainly managed to stand out from a sea of match-3 games out there. This and the premium looking graphics help make the game a compelling purchase for any match-3 aficionado. Nineoverten.com rates 7 Elements at a 4.5 out of 5. TOTALLY AWESOME.

7 Elements is now available on the iTunes App Store, check it out over here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/7-elements/id577696686?mt=8. A review code was provided to Nine Over Ten 9/10 for the purpose of this review

It’s pretty strange that it took me 22 years before I finally heard of the party game called Twister. The game, by the Milton Bradley Company, was one that placed a premium on nimbleness and was pretty popular with some of my more urban friends (when compared to them, I was Smallville). In any case, players were required to place their hand or foot one multi-colored circles printed on a plastic mat on the floor. So it’s not uncommon to find sessions where the players are above or under each other.

Now, it would be easy to dismiss indie game developer VOVASOFT’s latest iPad game, Fingstar, to be a direct port of Twister onto Apple’s phenomenal tablet. After all, instead of their hands and feet, players are required to place their fingers on the touchscreen. However, Fingstar updates the old gameplay routine of Twister with a new twist (pun totally intended): movement.

Yes, instead of static colorful circles, the challenge in Fingstar would be to keep your fingers on moving circles. I found this quite difficult to do even at the tutorial level when I had to keep not one, not two, not three but four fingers moving. At certain junctures, the deviously plotted paths of moving circles will cause your fingers to overlap…whatever you do you must keep your finger(s) on the moving circles.

A total of 4 players can participate in this craziness and Fingstar’s already polished and beautiful user interface adds to the appeal of this game and in my opinion, it’s gonna be a hit at parties and with families as well. Nineoverten.com rates Fingstar at a 4.5 out of 5. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

The game is now available on the iTunes App Store, check it out over here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fingstar/id584703133?ls=1&mt=8. A review code was provided to Nine Over Ten 9/10 for the purpose of this review.