Microcraft is something of an oddity. It’s a fan-made “remake” of a port of a Notch-made knockoff of one of the most popular indie games of all time. Wow, that was intense.

The game itself functions much like a top-down Minecraft, with a few other key differences. While surviving assaults by vicious monsters and crafting items from wood and stone are still a major factor, there’s not much in the way of building. So while players can (and should) explore the world and create helpful tools and weapons for themselves, they can’t construct a fortress to live in. Kind of a shame, but making something like that from this perspective would undoubtedly be tough to pull off.

With several “mobs” to fight, a number of different environments to explore and a day/night cycle (not to mention all the crafting), I think Microcraft should make for a good time. Whether or not it stays on the App Store for very long is up in the air at this point since it does share many a similarity to Mojang’s runaway train of a game, as well as Notch’s Ludum Dare spin-off, but I’d like to think that it’s different enough to earn a permanent place among the other hundreds of thousands of titles up there.

$0.99

Microcraft

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-01-30 :: Category: Games

It all started with a clever design and lots and lots of felt. After that initial success, Shawnimals grew into a fairly notable “indie” brand. This soon lead to a Nintendo DS game, followed by another on iOS. After all this activity, it’s a wonder no one thought to make a custom ninja creation app. Well, until now anyway.

And Ninjatown Ninja Builder does just that. It incorporates elements from the classic and very recognizable Shawnimals style and lets users go nuts. Moods, body styles, backgrounds, clothing, colors and accessories can all be fiddled with in order to craft that perfect shadow warrior representation. Or just to make a goofy looking ninja. Whatever they’re in the mood for, really.

In addition to the new app, Shawnimals and Venan have also released an update for Ninjatown: Trees of Doom!. Perhaps the app was made to celebrate the update, or perhaps it’s the other way around. Or maybe it’s just a coincidence. No matter the reason, owners of the iOS platformer can now enjoy a winter theme as well as new mountain and zombie ninja avatars.

Really though, Ninjatown Ninja Builder is what we’re talking about here. And it’s available on the App Store right now, ready to scratch that adorable ninja-making itch. The basic app is totally free, with two (thus far) additional content packs priced at $0.99 each.

FREE!

Ninjatown Ninja Builder

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-12-29 :: Category: Entertainment

$1.99

Ninjatown: Trees Of Doom!

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Our Rating: :: VERY FUN
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2010-05-05 :: Category: Games

We got a quick look at Casey’s Contraptions from Snappy Touch and Mystery Coconut Games at GDC — it’s a physics puzzler where you solve the puzzles with toys and other everyday items.

And it’s a great little puzzler. Take the contraption building of a physics puzzler like The Incredible Machine and make it quick and casual like Cut The Rope. Once you are done, filter all that all through the mind of an 8 year old and you get the idea of what Casey’s Contraptions is bringing.

We can expect to see Casey’s Contraptions to hit the App Store soon. I know I can’t wait!