I came away from playing Irukandji thinking what an amazing bullet-hell experience it turned out to be and I’ve experienced it on the Mac. This shmup features really stunning graphics which are inspired by sea-life and plankton that need to be seen to be believed.

The enemies are procedurally animated sea monsters of various shapes and sizes, and some of the bullet patterns generated by them rival even those featured in Japanese “manic” shooters. I really had a tough time playing the game and navigating the “mazes” as a result of the bullet patterns became a full-time, but really interesting occupation.

Irukandji features a total of 6 ships to unlock, and before you scoff at the single level the game has, the giant crab of a boss is one tough mother.. Players get to submit their scores online and there are 10 challenging achievements to unlock.

I’m very impressed with the game both graphically and gameplay-wise, and even more so on the the game’s small footprint. My copy of Dodonpachi Revolution takes up 363 MB on my iPhone where as this game takes up only 14 MB in all it’s procedural glory on my MacBook Pro. What it can use now is probably more levels, perhaps in the next update?

Nine Over Ten 9/10 awards Irukandji with a 4/5 rating. Recommended.

Irukandji is available on the Mac App Store for USD 0.99. Check it out here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/irukandji/id414472647?mt=12. A review code was provided to Nine Over Ten 9/10 for the sole purpose of this review.

If there’s only one thing that I need to say about Raptor: Call of the Shadows on the Mac, it would be that this is a triple-A retro experience. The guys over at DotEmu have done a bang-up job in bringing this retro title back to life on the Mac OS platform and are now selling it through the Mac App Store.

I’m talking about a game, a shmup to be exact, that I’ve played almost every day for a number of months many years ago on the PC, and this revival makes it look like the first time I played it was just yesterday. From the looks of things, everything is intact, right up to the sound effects. The game offers up 4 difficulty levels, and three different acts with levels (waves) choked with relentless action.

The premise of Raptor, for those who are unfamiliar with it, is a pretty simple one. You are flying the futuristic Raptor space fighter against hordes of  enemies. Shooting down enemies earns you cash where you can spend in between levels to upgrade your fighter. This new version of Raptor comes with improved graphics and native support for higher resolutions, a boon I would say to most people but if you want the old school stuff, they are available as well.

Nine Over Ten 9/10 awards Raptor: Call of the Shadows (Mac) a 4.5 out of 5. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Raptor: Call of the Shadows is available on the Mac App Store for USD 4.99. Check it out over here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/raptor-call-of-the-shadows/id406972401?mt=12. A review code was provided by DotEmu to Nine Over Ten 9/10 for the purpose of this review.

Fancy some word games on your Mac? Check out Kevin Ng Games’ Wordcrasher, formerly for the iPhone and iPod touch. Recently updated to version 1.0.3, the tactile word game is available from the Mac App Store and offers an innovative take on the word game genre; letter discs fall and collect on the screen as the player touches discs in sequence to make words.

WordCrasher features realistic tactile physics, 3 difficulty settings, comes with all new music and graphics designed for the Mac version and more. Version 1.0.3 adds game dictionaries in four new languages.

WordCrasher on the Mac App Store Updated – Adds Multilingual Dictionary

Edinburgh, United Kingdom – Kevin Ng Games today is pleased to announce that WordCrasher, a word game available on the Mac App Store, has been updated to add game dictionaries in four new languages. The game now supports English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

“Players are able to change their preferred language freely in the Settings menu, for example, to practice a second language,” says Kevin Ng, developer of WordCrasher.

WordCrasher is a tactile word game which made its debut on iPhone and iPod touch in January 2010. A new version was made available on the day of launch on the Mac App Store. An innovative take on the word game genre, letter discs fall and collect on the screen as the player touches discs in sequence to make words. Scored words will disappear, clearing space for new letters. Combining long words with rare letters will score the highest number of points. When the discs fill the screen, it’s Game Over.

WordCrasher for Mac brings the same core gameplay from the iPhone game, but also introduces a unique twist exclusive to this version. On the Mac, the player can use their typing skills to get ahead; WordCrasher allows the player to enter words simply by typing on the keyboard.

For those players who want a similar experience to the iPhone version, the mouse or trackpad is also supported, allowing the player to click on letters instead of using the keyboard. Whilst players of all skills are catered for with three difficulty settings, a special quick-fire game mode, called Insanity, is included to test the reactions of even the most experienced touch typist.

Feature Highlights:

• Realistic tactile physics. Letters bounce and roll around as they fall
• Recognizes English, French, German, Italian and Spanish
• High score tables
• 3 difficulty settings
• Insanity game mode
• All new music and graphics designed for the Mac version
• Fullscreen and windowed modes

Pricing and Availability

WordCrasher 1.0.3 is available worldwide through the Mac App Store today. Price may vary per region. WordCrasher is usually priced at US $3.99, but is available at a reduced US $0.99 price for a limited period. WordCrasher for the Mac App Store requires Mac OS X 10.6.6. Check it out over here: http://itunes.apple.com/app/id405987262

I just got my sorry self handed over by the enemy A.I in Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Uprising. LOL. Should have known that this expansion is going to be a lot tougher than what I’m accustomed to, or maybe it’s just me getting older or the fact that iPhone gaming took away my mouse/keyboard gaming skillz.

Anyways, tough missions aside, one thing that never gets old in the Red Alert games are the voice-overs. The person scripting the lines must be a comedian or something. I started off with the Soviets first and the grunts were going like “Why must we fight in the snow?”

The Mac version runs very smoothly on the MacBook Pro, but with one caveat, graphic settings had to be set to low, otherwise, there are noticeable graphic artifacts. This is going to tide me over until EA decides to release Tiberium Twilight for the Mac.

If you are snowed-in (or in my case, stuck at home due to the rain), and need some form of arcade distraction on your Mac, check out Pangea Arcade, a collection of games inspired by classic arcade hits. Released recently on the Mac App Store, Pangea Arcade consists of three games, Nucleus, Warheads and Fireworms.

Of the three, Warheads, a derivative of Missile Command happens to be my favourite. The gameplay is pretty damn frantic and the gorgeous graphics complement this. Players controls sets of missile launchers and the controls map themselves well to a three buttoned mouse. Nucleus, on the other hand is inspired by Asteroids. I’m not sure what’s the take on Fireworms, but I would assume that it would be Centipede.

One unique thing about Pangea Arcade are the optional 3D settings. Once selected, you can view the game in 3D with a pair of 3D anaglyph glasses! Nine Over Ten 9/10 rates this game at 4/5 for being such an excellent time waster. RECOMMENDED.

Pangea Arcade is currently availalble on the Mac App Store for USD 2.99. A copy of the game was purchased during its promotional period when the price dropped to zero. Check it out over here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pangea-arcade/id403414084?mt=12

Personally, I wonder how companies like Macgamestore.com will survive in light of Apple’s new Mac App Store. Already you see some big hitter games being sold on the App Store, with more to come. How would other digital download Mac gaming stores fare with a soon to be 4000-pound behemoth as more big publishers flock to Apple? Well, I don’t really have a crystal ball but on to some news.

Macgamestore Announces Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction Pre-Orders

Calgary, Canada – Macgamestore.com today is pleased to announce that it has begun taking pre-orders for the digital download version of UbiSoft’s upcoming Mac release of Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction. The game is schedule to be released on February 17th, 2011.

An investigation into his daughter’s death unwittingly leads former agent Sam Fisher to discover he’s been betrayed by his prior agency, the Third Echelon. Now a renegade, Fisher finds himself in a race against time to thwart a deadly terrorist plot that threatens millions.

Uniting revolutionary gameplay enhancements with a high-octane, no-holds-barred storyline, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction arms you to the teeth with all the high-tech weaponry and lethal skills of an elite operative and invites you to enter a dangerous world where justice means making your own rules.

Pricing:

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction will come in two SKUs: Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction Deluxe Edition, which includes the standard version plus Infiltration Mode and 3 bonus weapons, is available for pre-order for $24.99 (USD). Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction Standard Edition is available for pre-order for $19.99.

Insurgency Pack:

Macgamestore.com will also begin taking pre-orders for the DLC Insurgency Pack later today for $9.99 (USD). The Insurgency Pack delivers brand-new missions for Archer and Kestrel on four additional maps for Deniable Ops modes. Take on challenges in Hunter, Face Off, Infiltration or Last Stand to unlock new achievements and play in settings from the docks of San Francisco to a New Orleans cemetery, a prison in Portland to a hidden research complex in Salt Lake City.

For more information, including screenshots and video trailers, please visit the Macgamestore.com home page.

One of the iPhone games that I reviewed has made it to the Mac App Store! Iron Wars (check out my iPhone review here) by European game makers AppMania has successfully made the transition is now available on the Mac App Store for USD 2.99. I wonder how the controls are like though, keyboard or touchpad? In any case, check out the press release below for more details:

Iron Wars Game is Available for Downloading in Mac App Store

Kiev, Ukraine – AppMania Company today is delighted to announce the release of our new product: 3D game “Iron Wars” for Mac that from today is available for downloading in Mac App Store. The Iron Wars is a thrilling 3D shooting game which will undoubtedly impress even the most hard-to-please gamer.

Iron Wars is an exciting battle between fabulous iron balls in real time or in top-down view. It can equal the best action games in dynamics, speed, excitement in a breathtaking atmosphere. The showy graphics, dynamic sound and captivating gameplay will carry you away to the fabulous world of the Iron Wars which is full of challenges and surprises. The action absolutely will surpass your expectations without a doubt.

The battle of the balls takes place in the most unexpected areas such as space platforms, abandoned mines, forests, and cemeteries with vaults. There are 9 colorful maps which diversify the game and add to its exciting gameplay. Besides, there are many weapons and special bonuses on the maps. Besides the traditional first-aid kits and armor there are brand new ones such as a ram. It will help you to defeat enemies and earn a victory.

Moreover you have an opportunity to play with each other via Wi-Fi with up to 6 players per map. You are able to share your scores with your friends via a special application that allows this. You of course decide with who you will share your score. You can choose the single-user campaign or play with customized bots in Quick Match mode. The campaign consists of 32 missions and three different game modes – Death Match, Team Death Match and Domination.

Take the challenge and become a participant in this fantastic bloodless war. You will need much effort, skill, wit and endurance to gain victory as your enemies may be very smart, experienced and unpredictable. One of the advantages of the game is good control so you will be able to do your best.

Features:

• 32-level campaign
• Network game via Wi-Fi with up to 6 players per map (Internet mode in the nearest updates)
• Possibility to play with other iPad/iPhone and Mac OS X owners
• Customized game with bots
• 9 different maps in 5 settings
• Dynamic sounds
• Three different game modes (Death Match, Team Death Match, Domination)
• Vast variety of weapons and special bonuses on the maps
• Score table developed on the direct sharing basis to show just your own and your friends’ results

System Requirements:

• Intel-based Mac
• Requires Mac OS 10.6.6 or later
• 35.1 MB

Pricing and Availability:

Iron Wars v1.1 is $2.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Games category. Check it out over here: http://itunes.apple.com/app/id411880657

I just switched over to using a MacBook Pro a couple of weeks ago and I think like most switchers, it has been a pretty drastic change. The operating system is different, software installation is different, there’s the Mac App Store, the Dock, the really really cool trackpad, multitouch gestures….in short, it was quite overwhelming.

To make myself feel at home, I installed MS Office to get my e-mail done, but the interface is also pretty different than the version on Windows. I swapped Safari for Firefox, as I was really never comfortable with that browser on Windows anyways. Stuff like VLC and Plex were installed for my media files and I discovered some pretty nifty stuff as well.

For starters, there’s Simple Comic, a comic reading program and Text Wrangler, which is kinda like Notepad++. Time Machine is doing regular backups of my system and it comes included with Mac OS. So far it’s been pretty good, and the App Store is just one click away if I need something interesting installed on my system….hehe….I just installed Angry Birds earlier this week.

Any other recommendations?

Oh my goodness, one of the best shmups that I used to play a lot on the PC is has now made it’s way to the Mac App Store courtesy of DotEmu. Raptor Call of the Shadows 2010  has been brought to life on the Mac OS X at a launch price of USD 2.99. Check out the following press release for screens and a trailer!

Raptor Call of the Shadows 2010 Edition now available on Mac App Store

Paris, France – January 20, 2011 – DotEmu, developer and publisher specialized in bringing retro games back to life, is proud to announce a first game for the Mac App Store with an explosive title: Raptor Call of the Shadows. Three other games will be following very soon: Nicky Boom, Nicky Boom 2 and Krypton Egg.

As a mercenary in the not-so-distant future, flying the super-advanced Raptor space fighter, you’ll be sent on interplanetary missions to knock out your MegaCorp’s top competitors. Battle against hordes of relentless enemies. Spend the bounties claimed for their demise to expand your devastating arsenal!

One of the best 2D Shoot’em’up ever made is back on your Mac !

• According to Gametrailers.com, one of the best 2D shooters ever made.
• An impressive arsenal of upgradeable, hard-core, deadly weapons!
• Earn more cash to improve your ship’s technology!
• Fast-paced action and a pulse-pounding soundtrack to pump some adrenaline into your veins!
• The 2010 Edition features improved graphics and native support for higher resolutions (640×400, 960×600 and 1280×800). Standard, oldschool graphics are also available.

Raptor Call Of The Shadows now available on Mac AppStore at a launch price of USD 2.99, check it out over here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/raptor-call-of-the-shadows/id406972401?mt=12

I bought a MacBook Pro (yup, I’ve “switched) a couple of weeks ago and it’s safe to say that, yes, Nine Over Ten 9/10 is now in a good position to review Mac OS games, specifically the ones sold through the recently launched Apple App Store. So what better way than to kick start Mac OS game reviews with the review of Angry Birds.

Previously available on the iPhone and iPad, this game involving sling-shooting birds at a bunch of pigs was a phenomenon. The game was easy to play, difficult to master, the characters were cute and the gameplay was addictive. How does the overall experience translate over to the land of physical keyboards, large touchpad, mighty mouses and bigger screens? It comes over INTACT, and on the MacBook Pro, the entire experience is defined by the touchpad.

The touchpad behaves like a touchscreen in the absence of one. To zoom in or out, players use two finger movements on the trackpad. Swiping left or right with 2 fingers allows players to navigate a level. A three finger tap brings out the menu while a single finger gesture to the left prepares one of the birds for launch. The controls are just amazing.

Graphics wise, there’s literally no difference than viewing the game on the iPad. One would think the developers could have more shebang since the app will be running on a Mac but keeping it simple is one way to let the gameplay speak for itself and leave complex graphics to other games on the App Store such as Braid and Pinball HD (both which I’m downloading now).

The Mac version of Angry Birds features 195 levels and that’s plenty of time-wasting opportunity right there. And if you have just one game to purchase from the App Store, make this your choice. It’s pretty hard to go wrong with this, furthermore it’s being sold at half price at the moment. Nine Over Ten 9/10 awards Angry Birds with 4.5 STARS out of 5. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

A copy of Angry Birds was purchased from the App Store for this review. The game is available at USD 4.99 at the following link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/angry-birds/id403961173?mt=12