AppAdvice Game Of The Week For April 18, 2014
Every week, our staff will handpick a game from the past two weeks that we believe is a must-download for your iPhone or iPad. These games will always be from a wide variety of genres, but they are chosen because our own staff members love it and can’t quite put it down. So here are this week’s picks! Enjoy, and happy gaming!
David.
Looking for a unique game that mixes up physics-based platformer action with epic battles like Shadow of the Colossus? Then look no further than our Game of the Week, David.
This beautifully minimalistic game features nothing more than flat, simple shapes that come to life and move around seamlessly. You are a little square named David, and you are pitted against giant bosses that each represent one of the seven different sins. The music is ambient and soothing, and the quirky sound effects will keep you coming back for more.
Players can choose to go against any boss at any time. There are two difficulty levels for each battle: Okay (Normal) and Very (Hard). If you can manage to defeat all the bosses on Hard difficulty, then you will unlock some extras in the game. Each boss has their own unique personality and fighting style, so you will need to learn their patterns and figure out their weaknesses rather quickly.
Controls will take some time getting used to, but in the end it is rather intuitive. Just move David by using the directional buttons in the bottom left to move him horizontally, and then tap on the button in the right to jump. When jumping, you can do small jumps or longer ones by holding down on the button. To attack, just tap on David and drag your finger to your target. This will fling him slingshot-style (like Angry Birds) towards the enemy, causing damage — multiple hits will be needed to take these baddies down.
We have been loving David for the challenging and unique gameplay that it offers. If you are looking for a stunning physics-based platformer with arena-like action, then you need to check out David. Get it on the App Store as a universal download for $0.99.
For a closer look at David, make sure to check out my full review.
Honorable Mention
Groundskeeper2
Love survival games that just throw you out in the middle of fast-paced action? Then you’ll get a kick out of Groundskeeper2, our Honorable Mention for the week.
This fun little arcade shooter game features gorgeous 16-bit visuals that are still incredibly detailed. The different areas you’ll find yourself in are vibrant, lush, and full of color, despite you blowing everything up to survive. There is also an action-packed soundtrack, fun “pew pew” laser sounds, and a dash of humor to spice things up a bit.
Things start out pretty slow, as you find yourself in the middle of an alien invasion. You shoot the incoming hordes of enemies to buy yourself some time, but will get overwhelmed. Then you’ll discover a scientist who is on your side and will tell you how the aliens are invading by using their “bits and bobs” to create portals, so you’ll need to collect these things to gain access to different areas via portals. He will also help get powerful new weapons and power-ups to help you in the middle of battle.
Controls in the game are simple and easy to pick up. Just move left and right with the directional buttons in the bottom left, and the buttons on the right allow you to fire your weapon (watch out for recoil) and jump. You’ll need to use all of these to safely maneuver around enemies while also clearing them out.
Groundskeeper2 is a highly fun and addictive little survival shooter game that you should check out if you’re in the mood for the genre. We’ve been enjoying this over the past few days and definitely think it’s worth a download. You can get it on the App Store as a universal download for $1.99.
For more information, don’t miss out on my full review.
