QuickAdvice: Tetris for iPad & Enigmo Deluxe
by Staff Writer
April 14, 2010
TETRIS® for iPad ($7.99) by Electronic Arts is the classic arcade game of arranging falling blocks to make and complete rows. The touch based game features marathon and magic mode where you swipe and drag to move pieces.
The game itself: Tetris is one of EA's better efforts on the idevice giving you controls that are smooth and only possible on a touch device. The graphics are redone to fit today's age, and having new gameplay mechanics is a welcome addition.
Tetris is one of the best games ever created, and the refresh on the idevice does the franchise proud. The game could use some online connectivity or some type of two player action. When things get really hectic the controls don't allow for as quick of movement and precision as an actual joystick on the arcade machine. With that said it's still outstanding tetris fun.
If you own the iPhone version: If you already own the iPhone version of tetris then just put that version on your iPad, and don't bother with the iPad specific version. Tetris for iPad gives you the same exact game with the only difference having it run natively on the iPad. The double pixel version of tetris looks practically the same so that new app cost simply isn't worth it.
Marathon mode is classic tetris, but allows you to start on any level you chose, which is great. Magic mode adds in different tools to help you get rid of the blocks. Tools include hammer to smash a the bottom mass, magic marker to draw your own shape, and bubble wrap allowing you to pop blocks, and there are six in total.
The touch controls are the same as well as the gameplay modes. It's smoother on the iPad with the bigger interface for dragging and swiping, but it doesn't matter which version you play, they both provide the advantage. IPhone 2x is good enough if you already own that version. Also included are d-pad controls, but they're not as good or as quick as the touch controls.
If you only own an iPad: If you only own an iPad then I would suggest picking up the iPhone version for $5 rather than the $8 iPad specific version. The ipad version brings nothing new to the table, and the iPhone app running at 2x can easily pass.
It would have been great if you could have some two player connectivity where you play head to head on the same iPad. I guess innovation and EA just don't go together.
If you never bought the iPhone version: If you're one of the few to never have bought the iPhone version, there's no better time than the present as it's only $5. It's a great game of tetris with new gameplay modes, and well done controls. It keeps tetris fresh and fun that all iPhone and iPod touch users can enjoy.
Enigmo Deluxe ($9.99) by Pangea Software, Inc. is a puzzle game where you add objects to move water drops from a faucet to a bucket. The objects include bouncers, slides, and absorbers. In levels you need to manipulate multiple flows passing through switches and all kinds of obstacles.
The game itself: Enigmo Deluxe is the same game as Enigmo for the PC or iPhone. 50 levels are included that are the same ones seen in the iPhone version. The iPad version features a level editor which is unique to that version, and let's you create your own level pack. This is just Enigmo 1 with no levels from the 3D Enigmo 2.
The ipad version also gives you access to pangea and user created levels all for free. The puzzle levels are simply outstanding, and may be the best in the App Store. The game provides the wonderful balance of difficulty and fun making you tinker and tweak until you have the correct placement of the given objects.
If you own the iPhone version: If you already own the iPhone version you may just want to play with that one on your iPad. The same exact levels are included so if you already beat them it's especially disappointing. The game looks pretty much the same between the iPhone app at 2x or the iPad native app.
The iPad one has finer crisper visuals, but nothing major that makes the iPhone game unplayable in comparison. The iPad version does start the levels zoomed out to fit perfectly, but a simple pinch on the double pixel iPhone version gives you the same effect of seeing the whole level at once. You can finally interact with the level while seeing the whole thing which is very difficult on the 3.5" iPhone screen.
The only real difference in this game is the level editor so if you're into making your own levels then this may be the version for you. The level editor is easy to use especially in the space provided by the iPad. You also get free access to other level packs so you're not limited to just the same fifty levels. From $3 to $10 just doesn't make sense though, so if you own the iPhone version just put it on your iPad, and forget the iPad specific one.
If you only own an iPad: If you only own an iPad the iPhone version for $3 is a much better purchase than the $10 iPad specific one. There are the same levels with practically the same visuals. Only if you really like creating your own levels will the iPad version be worth it. Uploading level packs is quite a chore so there won't be that many additional ones to play.
If you never bought the iPhone version: If you never bought the iPhone version I suggest you do so. For $3 you can't have much better puzzle fun and challenge on the iPhone/iPod Touch.
