A few years back, my independent games writing caught the attention of TouchArcade’s editor-in-chief, who brought me on board for a series of reviews. Here’s some of the work that resulted from that partnership. Links will take you to the full articles.
‘Rocket Patrol’ for iPad Review – A Classic Casual Card Game Shoots for the Stars
…As both a lover of retro 1950s sci-fi design and an enthusiast of gaming history, it was inevitable that Rocket Patrol would snare my attention in its tractor beam. This recent, iPad-only release by GRL Games is a descendant of the classic card games Touring (1906) and the French-designed Mille Bornes (1954). Those games took two players on a head-to-head, cross-country automobile race, avoiding fender benders and flat tires along the way. Rocket Patrol trades wheels for warp drives, taking that competition into the final frontier…
‘Leviathan: Warships’ iPad Review – Strategic Naval Combat Founders in Choppy Waters
…From the moment Leviathan: Warships was announced, I was crackling with an electric anticipation. Published by the developer of some of my favorite PC games, Paradox Interactive, this strategic naval combat game challenges players to outfit and lead a fleet against AI and online opponents. Set in an alternate history, beautifully stylized ships combine traditional firepower with a few high-tech tricks like beam weapons and energy shields. Personally, I can’t think of many game concepts that would get me more excited than this one. But, as Leviathan: Warships has reminded me, even amazing concepts don’t always translate into amazing experiences…
‘The Blockheads’ Review – Two-Dimensional Minecraft That’s Anything But Flat
…In recent years, Minecraft has become the common ancestor of an entire sandbox subgenre. While it boasts a player base bursting with creativity, it’s also a subgenre that suffers at the hands of less ambitious developers. Uninspired Minecraft imitations continue to pour into the iOS market, each trying to capture and cash in on a piece of Mojang’s magic formula. Cast adrift on an ocean of Cavern Clones, Block Knock-offs, and Tryin’crafts, I sometimes catch myself wondering if it’s all been done; if we’ve already seen the best Minecraft‘s successors have to offer. But then, inevitably, a new diamond emerges from the coal pile to disabuse me of that notion. The Blockheads is the latest game to set me straight…
‘Murder Files’ – Calling All Gumshoes For A Bloody Charming Mystery
…The recent iOS port of Murder Files–originally released for the Playstation 3 in 2009–features fanciful storytelling and over-the-top mysteries. Despite the alarming body count that accumulates as the story progresses, the game maintains a lighthearted and cartoonish feel. You play as one of four detectives from the Blue Toad Detective Agency, sent to the small town of Little Riddle for some R&R between cases. But before you can even unpack your bags, you witness the cold blooded murder of one of the town’s prominent citizens. A conspiracy unfolds, and you must put your sleuthing skills to work to unravel the mystery…
