QuickAdvice: Charadium for iPad and PAC-MAN for iPad
by Staff Writer
April 10, 2010
Charadium for iPad ($4.99)
Charadium is an online pictionary game where you play with people around the world drawing pictures for them to guess, and trying to guess theirs.
The game itself:
Charadium is an app only possible on the idevice whether that is the iPhone/iPod Touch or iPad. The iPad version is a definite upgrade, and brand new experience only made possible by the extra room on the device. It's tough to draw images on the tiny iPhone surface, so the extra room is a great addition.
You can play against other iPads or iPhone and iPod Touches though there is an advantage for iPad owners as they have more room to guess, and an easier bigger keyboard to type on. The gameplay is just as great connecting you with people across the world playing the game of pictionary live online. Whether you're the one drawing the picture or trying to guess others it's an experience unlike any other on any platform.
It's great to draw these images with your fingers on the large canvas. Charadium for iPad is a must buy for $4.99 for the game itself.
If you own the iPhone version:
Now if you already own the iPhone version you can play it at 1x or 2x on the iPad. The problem is that this game doesn't translate very well at double pixel, and it's still the same cramped problem at iPhone size. When you double the screen size you get the same amount of room as on the iPhone, but just when you draw your brush is thicker.
You don't get the extra space the iPad provides, and you still have the same old iPhone keyboard. It's definitely worth it to buy the iPad version of Charadium even if you own the iPhone version.
If you only own an iPad:
If you don't have an iPhone, then Charadium is one game you definitely should buy for your iPad. Pictionary has never been better, and it's especially amazing on the iPad. See our explanation above of the game itself.
If you never bought the iPhone version:
If you never bought the iPhone version I suggest you should at least download the current free ad supported version. If you own an iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad, and have never experienced Charadium you should pick up the iPad version, and the free iPhone version. If you just own an iPhone/iPod Touch see our review of the iPhone version.
PAC-MAN for iPad ($4.99)
PAC-MAN is a classic arcade game where you chomp all of the dots in a level, and collect power pellets to turn ghosts blue and eat them too.
The game itself:
PAC-MAN for iPad is the same classic arcade game that fills the iPad screen, and has touch controls. The biggest question regarding Pac-Man on touch screen is the controls, and sadly there is just swipe and virtual control stick like the iPhone version, and not the great controls of Pac-Man: Championship Edition.
Consequently the game is a hassle to play as the controls don't allow for precision, though they're manageable in the early levels. The original Pac-Man is repetitive and slow, and there is no innovation for the iPad version. Normal, original, and easy play nearly the same with some modes going even slower than usual. Overall Pac-Man for iPad isn't worth $4.99.
If you own the iPhone version:
If you already own the iPhone version you might as well play that one on the iPad if you want to play Pac-Man on your iPad. The 1x was just as much of a hassle as the iPad specific version, and the 2x looks nearly identical to the iPad native game. 2x of the iPhone version is nearly the iPad version so if you own it, definitely don't bother with the iPad specific one.
If you only own an iPad:
If you just have an iPad, Pac-Man for iPad isn't a game you want to buy as it's just a hassle to play with practically no fun, even with that nostalgic feel. There are many better games to buy for the iPad so avoid Pac-Man for iPad.
If you never bought the iPhone version:
If you've never bought the iPhone version consider yourself lucky, and don't change that now. Pac-Man on the iPhone or iPad just isn't very good so don't buy either version no matter the device you have.
***Note all images clickable for full size. What do you think of this style for iPad apps that have iPhone versions?
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