Play A Refreshing Twist On Tic-Tac-Toe
Tic Tac Toe Twist ($0.99) by Parsith takes Tic-Tac-Toe to the third dimension.
Instead of playing on a dinner napkin or a sheet of looseleaf paper, gameplay takes place on a rotating gray cube. Place your marker (either X or O) on any spot and wait for your opponent to place his or her marker. The opponent's marker may not be placed on the same plane as yours.
You win by placing three markers in a row on any plane. The game becomes much more intense since you have to be aware of what’s happening on each of the six planes.
Touching the cube rotates a section on either its X or Y axis, exactly like a Rubik’s Cube. You can use your turn to rotate any section. This can work to your advantage if you’re tricky enough to turn it so that you get three in a row. But you could help your opponent score three in a row if you're not careful.
Your opponent can either be the computer, an in-person friend, or a player in Game Center. You can also use Game Center to keep track of your achievements and catch up on the leaderboard. Playing against the computer seems easy at first, though I think it’s really just hustling you.
While the gameplay is great, the overall design could be improved with a sleeker menu and better graphics. The cheesy synth music also leaves something to be desired. However, the developers have included a feedback option, where you can leave comments, report bugs, or suggest updates. Support for the iPad would be nice.
This app is definitely a diamond in the rough. With a little polish, it could really stand out as a great game. Just imagine how different "WarGames" would be if the WOPR supercomputer played Tic Tac Toe Twist, rather than the basic version. It might think twice about stalemates.