First review of 2012 and it’s for a match-3 game for the iPhone, but it’s no ordinary one. If anyone is crazy enough to come up with a really difficult match-3 game, you can count on the folks from Bedtime Creations to come up with one. Their latest game, Panic Block II will have novices lasting mere seconds in the game’s Classic mode. Basically, players can only form matches in the middle row as blocks are constantly added to the rows of colourful blocks.

The level progression is kinda like Tetris, and the rate in which the blocks are added increases with each level. Players will need to possess nimble fingers just to manipulate the middle row in order that they do not get trapped by columns that become too tall for their own good. Matching a row of 5 blocks of the same colour will result in the player rewarded with coins, these coins can be used to purchase power-ups in-game.

The game’s Action mode is a little more kinder to newbs, since it’s just a race against time and the number of blocks that are added is based on the number of blocks that get destroyed by the player. Unlike what the title seems to suggest, the way to gain more points in either game mode in Panic Block II would be to actually NOT panic. Having a cool head (and an alert one at that), will certainly allow you to go far.

Unlike most match-3 games, Panic Block II is for the hardcore (just take the game for a spin and then check out the Game Center leaderboards and you’ll get an idea how tough this game can be), and it’s probably God-send for some . Nine Over Ten 9/10 rates Panic Block II at a 4.5 out of 5….Excellent Stuff! The game is actually available for free on the iTunes App Store, so check it out over here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/panic-block-ii/id472155211?ls=1&mt=8

Nine Over Ten 9/10 was provided with a review code for the purpose of this review.

If you are a fan of Super Mario Land on the GameBoy, you really should check out Fire Fruit Forge’s latest title for the iPhone, Terra Noctis. Much like Super Mario Land, Terra Noctis is a 2D platformer that borrows liberally from the earlier mentioned game, it even has destructible blocks and their very own version of coin boxes, secret areas within levels and the same method to get rid of enemies..by jumping on their heads.

Imitation is often said to be the sincerest form of flattery, and what Terra Noctis brings in addition to what that has already been mentioned above is tight controls. The game is a joy to play with and while Mario’s pixelated look on the GameBoy was necessary given the hardware available at that time, Terra Noctis’ pixel art graphics is simply astounding. It just goes to show that besides aiming for console like graphics for 3D games on the iPhone, there’s plenty of room for exploration in other genres as well.

Nine Over Ten 9/10 rates Terra Noctis at a 5 out of 5, this game is just…awesome! Go out (I mean figuratively, you’ll just need access to the App Store) and get the game for USD 2.99. Check it out over here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/terra-noctis/id479517015?mt=8. A review code was provided to Nine Over Ten 9/10 for the purpose of this review.

Who would have thought paintbrushes can be the subject of an arcade title on the iPhone? In Tiny Brush, they are the stars, customizable ones at that, in a game where these brushes battle for supremacy in three different game modes. The game puts players in control of a single brush as they aim to, depending on the game mode, paint the most area in a level, hang on to a flag the longest or just chase and shoot opponents to submission with paintballs.

Regardless of which game mode you choose from, try keeping your distance from enemy paint brushes as bumping into them will stun BOTH paint brushes. As you are running around the battlefield, look out for obstacles and items that can be utilised to great effect, either to gain more ground or simply to stall the enemy. Items and costumes can be purchased between levels so be sure to rack up them coins (capture the flag is one of the easier modes to start out with)

Tiny Brush boasts multiplayer via Game Center along with leaderboards as well. I can’t help but feel impressed at the amount of gameplay the game provides, contrary to the word “tiny” in its title. Nine Over Ten 9/10 rates Tiny Brush at a 4.5 out of 5. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. The game is available on the iTunes App Store for USD 0.99, check it out here: http://itunes.apple.com/app/tiny-brush/id482532167&mt=8

A review code was provided to Nine Over Ten 9/10 for the purpose of this review.

In Zombie Bash: Christmas Attack, Santa Claus has been transformed into a one-man defense against a zombie invasion. In this arcade game, players will need to make sure that Mr Claus survives the hordes of zombies attacking houses during Christmas. Standing on roof tops, players will need to shoot the hordes (by tapping crazily at the screen) that are climbing up the walls.

The only thing protecting Santa from the cold dead grasp of the undead are a line of defense made out of gifts and if that line is breach (and it’s easily breached mind you) and a zombie goes through it to get on the roof, it’s lights out for Mr Ho-Ho-Ho. There are a number of power-ups that can be beneficial in your fight against the undead horde, while there’s a particular power-down that freezes Santa in his place for a few moments.

There are a total of 8 houses to protect, and the last one is crazy shooting mad-fest. Santa will need all the luck he can get and during my third attempt at playing the game, I managed to get 12th in the overall high score leaderboard and 1st place for today. LOLz. Yup, that’s the top 1%. The game lags a little when the action gets hot but I doubt you’ll get that when you are using an iPhone 4S.

Zombie Bash: Christmas Attack may just be my favourite Christmas themed-title for the iPhone this season. Nine Over Ten 9/10 rates this game at a 4.5 out of 5. The game is available on the iTunes App Store for USD 0.99. Check it out over here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zombie-bash-christmas-attack/id478013799?mt=8

I find it so difficult to pry my fingers off the iPhone to write a review of Magic Cube & AQSystems’ latest game for the iPhone: Infect Them All: Vampires. This is a fast-paced 2D action game where you are in control of a vampire, out to infect or consume everyone else in a particular level.

There are several vampires to choose from but I stuck with the one who was more Edward Cullen rather than Bill Compton, it wasn’t by choice though as the other vampires had to be unlocked first before I can make use of them. Anyways…the levels themselves are populated with all kinds of people.

Some of them require you to kick/punch/soften them up a little before you can get up close and personal with the business of either converting them into ghouls…or consuming them (which causes them to explode) for a nice healthy HP recharge. Some can actually dish out nasty damage especially those that are carrying weapons, and some even have special attacks/buffs!

Either way, converting or consuming people nets you points which can be used to purchase upgrades for your vampire. The upgrades are crucial if you want to survive the later levels, with one of the upgrades giving you better minions at the start of each level. How does a linebacker ghoul is better than a ghoul with a gun never fails to puzzle me…oh…maybe it’s because of the stun attack the linebacker has.

It’s quite amazing how the game holds up even when there are over 150 units (both yours and people you are about to convert/consume) in a single level! The game’s primary mode is the campaign mode with 50 stages, and the 3 remaining modes can be unlocked as you play the game.

This is a super fun game and it’s great that the developers saw fit to put both Game Center and OpenFeint in…no doubt it’s for players and their bragging rights. Nine Over Ten 9/10 rates Infect Them All: Vampires at a 5 out of 5 for being pure casual gaming fun, and come on, it has VAMPIRES! The game is available on the iTunes App Store for just USD 0.99. Check it out over here: http://itunes.apple.com/app/id472896868.

A review code was provided to Nine Over Ten 9/10 for the purpose of this review.

Welcome to a new segment on Nine Over Ten 9/10 called the Monday Night iOS Review Round-up! Here we’ll feature bite-size reviews of new iOS games so you can make quicker decisions on whether to get them or not . Today, we feature 3 games, Cristiano Ronaldo Freestyle, High Tide and Ravenmark.

Cristiano Ronaldo Freestyle

I’m a Gunners fan through and through, but if there’s one thing that I must admit when it comes to Manchester United’s current and former stars, they have a lot more marketability. Take for instance Cristiano Ronaldo who currently plays for Real Madrid, his new iPhone app, Cristiano Ronaldo Freestyle, takes him off the pitch onto the center stage of freestyle soccer.

For those not in the know, freestyle soccer is a combination of acrobatic and athletic moves performed with a soccer ball, and in the able hands, well, feet, of Cristiano Ronaldo, these “tricks” would simply look amazing. The game goes one up by combining the tricks with a rhythm style gameplay reminiscent of Taiko no Tatsujin. The combination of pretty graphics and timing-based touch control necessitate the need for a fast device like an iPhone 4.

Nine Over Ten 9/10 rates Cristiano Ronaldo Freestyle at a 4 out of 5. The game is available on the iTunes App Store for USD 0.99. Check out the game over here: http://itunes.apple.com/app/c-ronaldo-freestyle/id473940226?mt=8

High Tide

“This must be fastest fuel-guzzler of a sea-plane I’ve ever encountered” That thought was hovering in my head after I hit the game over screen for the N-th time after failing to avoid the storm from catching up with my tiny plane. The game is the latest in the long line of 2D distance games that challenge players on how far they can go.

The only difference is that players will need to grab onto jerry cans of fuel that can be found floating on the sea, otherwise the players cannot cause the plane to “lift” off the water to grab some air time/bonuses. This is certainly one tough casual game to master and my advice to new users is to get used to controls and the timing, or otherwise get use to the game over screen. LOL.

Nine Over Ten 9/10 rates High Tide at a 3.5 out of 5. The game is available for FREE for a limited time on the iTunes App Store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/high-tide/id475933297?mt=8

Ravenmark: Scourge of Estellion

I think I saved the most hardcore game in this review round-up as the last and I must admit, I took a while to review the game. Ravenmark: Scourge of Estellion is an isometric turn-based strategy game featuring plenty of unit types and a surprisingly compelling storyline.

Having plenty of unit types is one thing, but players can also make use of Formations and Standing Orders, and rarely do you get these stuff implemented in other games, and here we are talking about a game meant for mobile devices! As players issue their orders, the action then unfolds in the combat turn.

This game is strictly for the hardcore as it can be pretty unforgiving. Nevertheless, Nine Over Ten 9/10 rates Ravenmark: Scourge of Estellion at a 4.5 out of 5! The game is the most expensive of the lot in this review round-up, but at the same time, it’s probably the best, it’s going for USD 2.99 on the App Store: itunes.apple.com/us/app/ravenmark-scourge-estellion/id478016806?mt=8

Hot on the heels of its well-received game Asteroids: Gunner, Atari has done it again with the release of a former retro hit, Breakout, on the iPhone. Titled as Breakout: Boost, the game features something that not many people would expect to be in a Breakout game: Boost Control, whereby players get to change the speed of the ball which playing in-game.

This is a classic risk versus reward gameplay that was not prevalent in the original versions of Breakout. In the case of the iOS release, the faster the ball goes, the more points multipliers the player get. This however increases the chances of players catching the ball in the first place. IMHO, the ball’s high speed factored in the by the frantic gameplay doesn’t detract from the point whereby the controls can serve up as a hindrance.

I lost count at the number of times my finger blocked my view on where to place the paddle that will be bouncing the ball back. One good thing however is that tapping on the screen will cause the paddle to appear, saving you time from dragging the paddle around the bottom of the screen. The game comes with both Game Center and Openfeint support, a tad overkill these days.

In any case, Nine Over Ten 9/10 rates Breakout: Boost at a 4 out of 5, definitely worth checking it out. The game is available for free on the iTunes App Store, with additional in-app purchases to unlock new levels. Check it out over here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/breakout-boost/id476059948?mt=8.

A review code was provided to Nine Over Ten 9/10 for the purpose of this review.

Saving Yello can be described as Angry Birds on steroids, and from an angle, a rather disturbing but fun take on the usual “shoot-birds-at-pigs” formula. In Saving Yello, players are tasked with literally saving a goldfish named Yello by getting him back into his fish bowl. The route back however is a route filled with obstacles, and some of the methods used to get him back to his bowl present a rather liberal definition to the word “saving”.

Players will need to launch Yello (ala Angry Birds) through towers of toys, stuffed animals, FIRE and even DYNAMITE. Yup, the last two are doozies and if there are two things that this physics-based game teaches players are a. fictional goldfish are built FORD tough and b. destroying toys is THE way to get more points. Do look out for how the toys are arranged in a level, often you’ll find familiar references.

There’s not so much emphasis on getting Yello back to his fishbowl. With his ability to survive out of water coupled with the finite number of launches available, players are actually encourage to torch more toys before getting Yello back into his bowl. The game comes with 40 levels and 3 levels of difficulty, ensuring that players get enough of a challenge and plenty of value for the money spent on the game.

Saving Yello is one crazy game and with its interesting level design and gameplay tweaks, the game is definitely one of the more engrossing titles in its genre. Nine Over Ten 9/10 rates Saving Yello at a 4.5 out of 5. Very impressive! The game is available on the iTunes App Store for just USD 0.99. Check it out: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/saving-yello/id465065038?&mt=8

A review code was provided to Nine Over Ten 9/10 for the purpose of this review.

One word that I can use to describe the gameplay in the later levels of Spin Gem would be FRANTIC. The developer, Waggle Games, has come up with a game whose genesis was due to the overwhelming abundance of match-3 games on the iTunes App Store. The game is like a statement: “To hell with these match-3 games, how about trying your hand on a game which challenges you to come up with a continuous string of match-2 combos”.

Essentially, long continuous combos are key to gaining high scores in Spin Gem. In Focus Mode, the game punishes you for not stringing combos together by deducting the time in which you have in a particular session of play. Matching is done by switching the position of gems placed around a clock/compass dial, with the objective of having two same-coloured gems at each end of the dial.

The game becomes gradually harder as you progress through the phases; the dial spins faster and there are lumps of coals in between the gems. These don’t count when they are matched, it’s best to move them out of the way and arranged like-coloured gems in their place. The other mode that the game has is some sort of endless, Meditation, mode. Here, players strive to get as many pairings as they can in a set amount of time without fear of penalties.

Spin Gem features a total of 50 achievements to unlock along with online leaderboards, both of which provided using Apple’s Game Center. I haven’t manage to work my way up the leaderboards, having being stuck at the bottom 35% with a 5-digit top score. Heh, just goes to show how crazy the scores are at the Top 10%.

In any case, Spin Gem is bound not to disappoint, and is a guaranteed keeper if you are looking for something different other than the numerous match-3 games out there. Nine Over Ten 9/10 rates Spin Gem at a 4.5 out of 5. Check out the game on the iTunes App Store (USD 0.99): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spin-gem/id467428948?mt=8

A review code was provided to Nine Over Ten 9/10 for the purpose of this review.

It’s a Friday! So here’s a pop quiz question: Name me a casual game on the iPhone that manages to look AND sound cute at the same time? Stumped? Think something like that doesn’t exist? Well, check out Kasra Kyanzadeh’s latest game, Swing Away. The game is a 2D platformer featuring a cute little monkey (who in turn emits really cute sounds) attempting to escape a zoo.

Players do so by making use of the vines swinging above the monkey’s head. You’ll need to grab onto one and use the momentum to fling the lil’ monkey to the next vine. Repeat this and grab whatever bonuses and snacks you find along the way in order to get your score to the online leaderboards thanks to the Game Center support built into the game.

Supporting the gameplay is the implementation of one-touch controls. You’ll need just one finger to play this game, so it’s a pretty easy game to pick up and play. Complementing the interesting gameplay are the beautiful and colourful 2D graphics. I’m suitably impressed by the game although the level of difficulty (there’s a time limit for every speed run) may put some people of.

Nine Over Ten 9/10 rates Swing Away at a 4 out of 5. It’s available on the iTunes App Store for just USD 0.99, check it out right over here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/swing-away/id480228396?mt=8.  A review code was provided to Nine Over Ten 9/10 for the purpose