I just found a new obsession, working up the Game Center leaderboard of a brand new shmup called Jet Space for both the iPhone and iPad. The game takes place in space where players pilot a spaceship through an endless series of caverns. You’ll need nerves of steel to pilot your craft, as the amount of free space can be tight with plenty of enemy craft, ranging from rockets to UFOs, out in force.

Confounding matters is the limited amount of fuel that your craft can carry. Fortunately there are fuel cans to replenish your space craft and blowing stuff up nets you crystals that you can then use at certain checkpoints to buy different weapons, shield and yes, extra fuel. Fulfilling the myriad missions available in the game, such as destroying x number of enemy bases or rockets will net players with additional crystals as well.

I think what the developers at Netox have succesfully done with Jet Space is to create an addictive blend of difficulty, competition and gameplay, topped up by vibrant 2D graphics and I must say a really catchy house-techno soundtrack. In other words, Jet Space is perfect. Each new run through the game is randomly generated so it ensures that the experience will never be dull.

Nineoverten.com rates Jet Space at a 4.5 out of 5. The game is available on the iTunes App Store for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, check it out over here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jet-space/id585552737?mt=8

OK, this is too weird: Watching the Joker laying the beatdown on Lex Luthor. Well, anything can happen in video games and this is the result of the Joker vs Lex Luthor match up in the Injustice Battle Arena Fight Video available right here:

From the video you get to watch the Joker use a shiv, a crowbar, a pistol, a pie, gasoline and a bazooka among other things, to defeat Lex Luthor who has electric mines, a satellite that goes thermonuclear on the Joker and the frigging battle suit that I mentioned earlier. All these Super Hero beat-em-ups tend to yield less than satisfying results, so it remains to be seen whether Injustice: Gods Among Us would bring anything different to the table.

Phew, finally I’ve found the time to put my thoughts together on this week’s comic book releases. As all Bat-fans would know, Batman #17 was released earlier in the week, marking the end of Scott Snyder magnum opus Death of the Family. Everyone seems to fine, no thanks to Batman’s quick thinking and training imparted to the rest of the Bat-Family, but the Joker’s masterstroke would be to shatter the very bonds that hold the family together.

Greg Capullo’s art is totally amazing, complementing the macabre storyline of Joker and his Bat-king. Death of the Family has been an amazing ride and I expect the fallout to reverberate across all the Bat-titles moving forward. 5 out of 5.

Like Batman #17, Jonathan Hickman’s The Manhattan Projects #9 marks the end of a storyline which pitted the likes of Einstein, Yuri Gagarin and Joseph Oppenheimer against the cabal known as the Illuminati. No points guessing who wins here, but like Batman #17, Manhattan Projects has been a wild ride, with pretty cool art from Nick Pitarra. Like the rest of the series, there’s a lot of comedic blood letting and funny dialogue. 5 out of 5.

Wolverine and the X-Men #25 finds Principle Logan taking the class out on a roadtrip to the Savage Land. Who in the right mind would bring them there except the guy who has a berzerker rage. Among the cast of students out on the trip include Kid Omega, Genesis and a now savage Broo. They are in for a surprise though, at least Wolverine is, as Dog (yup, that Dog, from Origins) is on the hunt for him. This book continues to amaze me to no end, take a look at the back, there’s a school roster and a class  list! 4.5 out of 5.

Plenty of interesting games released for iOS devices this week and as usual, Nineoverten.com highlights the cream of the indie crop. Check out the following list of games, one of which is available for free on the iTunes App Store, and with a disturbing theme concerning animals:

Lost Tales of Egypt HD

This hidden item game is set in the mysterious desert sands surrounding ancient tombs of the once-powerful Egyptian Pharoahs. Players are tasked with looking for objects in beautiful and richly detailed levels. The game features over a thousand hidden objects, two game modes and bonus sliding tile puzzle segments. Lost Tales of Egypt HD by SelectSoft is available on the iTunes App Store for the iPad at a price of USD 2.99: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lost-tales-of-egypt-hd/id596992480?ls=1&mt=8

Crazy Highway

This brand new, not to mention free, iOS title from KeitGames takes the gameplay from Frogger and turns it on its head. Basically instead of controlling all manner of wildlife trying to cross a busy highway, you are sending the vehicles out to make them into roadkill. To aid you in this endeavour, you have nitrous oxide, tranq shots, and even a monster truck power up. It’s one crazy premise and it is worth checking out: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/alone/id537026501?mt=8

Hackycat

How do you save cute kitty cats from exploding? According to Kenneth Wong’s latest iOS title, you’ll need to kick, knee or headbutt them up into the air like a soccer ball and they must never touch the ground. There are over two dozen Hackycats to unlock using the cheezburgers you collect while playing the game. Think you can hack it? Hackycat is available on the iTunes App Store for USD 0.99, check it out over here: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/id570127207?mt=8

Catch the Kid

Splash Fox Games’ latest iOS title will have players playing the role of parents waiting for their kids after school. Your job would be to “catch” the kids coming out of the school in an endless stream and match them with their respective parents. The game promises great, frantic fun and features hand-drawn graphics and Game Center integration. Catch the Kid is available on the iTunes App Store for USD 0.99: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id587094611

Redneck Revenge: A Zombie Roadtrip

Good old reliable BulkyPix has just released this game, which features a redneck named Red, walking around shooting zombies. There are plenty of environments featured in this game, including Red’s Bar, Route 66, the Junkyard and the Graveyard, with a lot of weapons and Easter Eggs to match. Redneck Revenge is available on the iTunes App Store for USD 0.99, check it out over here: https://itunes.apple.com/app/redneck-revenge-zombie-roadtrip/id594428590

Maybe I should start a new classification for iOS games on my blog, games that you can play with one hand while patting a baby to sleep. It’s actually more difficult then it sounds given that some games, even with one hand, would require 110% of your concentration, which leaves none for the poor baby. So, I guess the folks at Playtend would be delighted to know that their latest iOS title, Train Empire would do nicely in a busy parent’s schedule.

The gameplay in Train Empire is primarily inspired by tabletop railway sets with a little bit of seasoning from bigger virtual siblings such as Transport Tycoon. Players choose from four different time periods, which in when put together, span from 1850 to 2050. Each era features its own set of levels along with unlockable coaches, engines and freight segments for players to assemble their trains.

How a train is assembled will ultimately allow players to pick up more freight and passengers in each level, there are quotas to be met and players are rated, Angry Birds style, on how much they exceed the quota. Earlier on I mentioned that this can be played while watching over a baby sleep, this is because all you need is a simple tap on certain parts of the screen to stop the train or to to change tracks. The challenge here is that as the eras push forward towards modernity, the trains get faster and may require a faster reaction time from players.

Train Empire features beautiful 2D graphics which complements the gameplay really well. Adding to the competitive element would be Game Center integration. Players who are out for a more challenging time may find the game to be a little bit of a pushover, but for me, a new dad with a baby to care for, it clocks in as being just right for my busy schedule, I’m confident that kids would find the game entertaining as well. What’s more, it’s like having a table top railset but in my iPad, what’s not to like about that . Nineoverten.com rates Train Empire at a 4.5 out of 5.

Train Empire by Playtend is available on the iTunes App Store for USD 1.99, check it out over here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/train-empire/id569641118. A review code was provided to Nine Over Ten 9/10 for the purpose of this review.

The folks at Uruguayan indie game development outfit Ballpit Monster Studios have just come up with their maiden title, Frog Orbs. This impressive effort is, in the developers’ own words, a “ribbiting” re-imagining of the old school arcade shooter, but this time for mobile devices.

Players utilize the powers of elemental orbs to destroy waves of invading Benglings; these nasty things are out to destroy your tasty supply of flies. With various enemy types, plenty of levels and an upgradable arsenal of spells, Frog Orbs is set to provide some really cool casual gaming fun.

The game is available for free on the iTunes App Store, check it out over here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/frog-orbs/id566577285?ls=1&mt=8

The two Sueiras brothers, Roberto and Javi, who form up the indie Cuspine Studios are behind the recently reviewed Steam Reaction for the iPad (read about it here) and they are our guests in this week Indie Game Developer Interview segment. Check it out:

Nine Over Ten (9/10): Tell us more about yourself and how you started developing mobile games?

Sueiras Bros (SB): We have worked for years in IT jobs, game development is a new professional challenge that began just six months ago.

9/10: What was the idea behind Steam Reaction?

SB: It was at a party with some friends. We started looking for multiplayer games for iPad and we realised that there were  few available and then we had this idea.

9/10: How has the response been to Steam Reaction on the iTunes App Store? Could you describe the process of marketing your games?

SB: We are still  promoting it and we have just finished the official trailer. It is early to expect any results.

9/10: Could you share with us a little on what you’ll be working on next? Any plans for releasing games on other platforms?

SB: We will migrate the games to the Android platform if they become popular on iOS (App Store), considering that it takes us some time to migrate from iOS to Android platform.  Our near future projects are two: a “point-and-click” adventure game and arcade physics.

9/10: Any words for aspiring game developers out there?

SB: If they have a good idea, they should start working on it. If it doesn’t work, try the following idea.

HeroCraft releases two brand new missions for Majesty: The Northern Expansion, licensed by the original IP owner Paradox Interactive, for iPad®, iPhone® and iPod touch®. Along with the update comes a price cut for the game, which is now selling on the iTunes App Store at a 70% discount. Check out the rest of the press release for details:

You have probably already slain all the trolls, put down the revolt of the paladins and conquered the hostile Northern Lands. You think you have enough tactical knowledge to command your army of heroes, wizards, freaks and misfits… but war is not the only trouble in the Kingdom! Your Majesty, this time you will have to find a solution how to overcome the Tax Crisis as well as Overpopulation. What will you do if a local dragon refuses to pay his taxes for the last 100 years or an immigrant from an unknown kingdom kills your monsters?

Don’t wait until your subjects rise up in rebellion. Put on your crown and go and reign! Moreover, starting today iPad®, iPhone® and iPod touch® users can buy Majesty: The Northern Expansion for only $0.99 USD. Check it out over here: https://itunes.apple.com/app/majesty-northern-expansion/id577053259

“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/.