Today's Best Apps: Badland, Slayin, Injustice: Gods Among Us And More
Showboatr by Nyquist Design (Free, 4.7 MB): Here's something for you really social folks, a way to showcase, share, and taunt victories in various strange challenges, such as eating food with your feet or re-enacting the pasta scene from Lady and the Tramp with your dog. You can simply enjoy the performances of others or get involved by submitting a 10 to 30 second video showing your own successful completion of one of the many challenges. Of course, you can also share and send invitations to challenges through social networks. The app requires either a Facebook or Showboatr account to sign in.
PopAGraph by Flambe Studios LLC (Free, 9.3 MB): Something for your iPhoneography toolbox, this image editing app offers a couple of interesting ways to direct focus on objects in your images. The first concept is to differentiate by applying a filter to all but the area of focus. A second option is to create a more profound perception of depth by extending certain objects beyond the framed border. Either one or both of these effects can be utilized in a single photo. The app features brush highlighting and automatic cropping, frame and photo size adjustments, frame layering, 16 filters, as well as sharing via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, email, and instant messages. Some options do require the purchase of content packages.
Mittens by Disney ($0.99, 23.4 MB): If you just haven't had enough of the physics-based puzzler action, then perhaps it's time to check out this adorable and family-friendly entry. Mittens the cat is hopelessly in love, but the only way to win over Mia is by bringing her yummy bottles of milk, diamonds, and other gifts. To do that, you need to help Mittens navigate Milktown, Balloonland and the Mouse Cave safely by cutting cords and more to clear paths and disable those working to harm the cute feline. The game features cartoon-style 2-D graphics, an upbeat soundtrack, 75 levels spanning the three areas, a star-style rating system, and Game Center achievements.
Universal:
Run Sheldon! by Bee Square (Free, 26.4 MB): In this cute endless side-scrolling runner, Sheldon has just won the famous tortoise vs. hare race, but he can't stop yet as the rabbits appear to have poor sportsmanship and are now out to get the trophy through other means. Your task is to help Sheldon avoid those evil bunnies and retain the symbol of triumph as long as possible by running, jumping, flying, and clobbering. Along the way, collect coins and power-ups for assistance in surviving even longer. The game features a cherry and upbeat soundtrack, colorful 2-D graphics, single finger control, as well as Game Center and Facebook integration for score sharing and competition.
Injustice: Gods Among Us by Warner Bros. (Free, 473.1 MB): Enjoy utilizing the magnificent powers of your favorite DC Comic superheroes in this epic card-based combat game. Each battle is a competition against six heroes, two teams of three, who can be freely swapped during the fight for the ultimate strategy play. Be victorious and you will eventually collect the entire universe of superheroes. The game features Unreal Engine powered 3-D graphics, single finger control, authentic comic book characters with access to their special moves and capabilities, as well as Game Center achievements.
Slayin by FDG Entertainment ($0.99, 13.8 MB): As another great title to jump from the Web to your iDevice, this combination platformer, role-playing, and survival game is likely to get you addicted with its super simple, yet very challenging play. As one of the heroes, you must strategically maneuver left and right in a very confined space to stab and slice a constant onslaught of enemies emerging from multiple directions. Victories, small and large are awarded with experience and currency, which is useful for better weapons and succeeding in bigger victories. The game features 2-D pixelated graphics, retro arcade music and sounds, virtual button control, three characters types, Game Center leaderboards and achievements, as well as three play modes: Normal, Advanced, and Boss Rush.
BADLAND by Frogmind ($3.99, 114.8 MB): This physics-based side-scrolling puzzler has an exciting mixture of peculiarity, difficulty, beauty, and diversity. More to the point, it's a challenging adventure that whisks you to a mysterious and beautiful silhouetted forest to control an unidentified winged creature who must push past large tree limbs, quickly fly between and under cliffs and falling boulders, dodge spinning blades and crushing cogs, move levers, and much more to reach the end as quickly as possible. If that weren't enough to worry about, the strangely adorable animal will end up growing and shrinking, most times for a necessary purpose, and even come across others, which you will need to keep track of. The game features single finger control, wonderful visuals, nature-themed soundtrack, 40 level solo campaign, auto-save checkpoints, Game Center and iCloud integration, as well as a local multiplayer. On the same device, preferably an iPad, up to four people can play through one of 12 levels in up to 99 survival-style rounds. Characters are color-coded and control is split among the available screen space.
Dream Chaser by Chillingo Ltd ($0.99, 42.0 MB): With a story-based campaign, endless mode, and trophies, this third-person perspective running game is able to provide more in-depth and addictive play than many of the other offerings already available. The tale will take you through a luminescent dream world threatened of light and dark. To save this realm from nightmarish consequences, you must complete 26 objectives by listening to those who are more experienced, plus gain experience to upgrade your skills and utensils. The game features anime-style 3-D graphics, an uplifting and powerful fantasy-style soundtrack, two play modes, Game Center leaderboards and achievements, as well as upgradeable upgradeable attributes, tools, and power-ups.
iPad:
Mittens HD by Disney ($2.99, 23.4 MB): If you just haven't had enough of the physics-based puzzler action, then perhaps it's time to check out this adorable and family-friendly entry. Mittens the cat is hopelessly in love, but the only way to win over Mia is by bringing her yummy bottles of milk, diamonds, and other gifts. To do that, you need to help Mittens navigate Milktown, Balloonland and the Mouse Cave safely by cutting cords and more to clear paths and disable those working to harm the cute feline. The game features cartoon-style 2-D graphics, an upbeat soundtrack, 75 levels spanning the three areas, a star-style rating system, and Game Center achievements.
