:: NIGHTMARISHIt's becoming a habit to see which new games powerhouse Chillingo will serve up each Thursday. They seem to be entering every genre. This week they have a casual universal title, racing themed, but standard fare. But they also launched a free game souped up with in-app purchases, a serious tower defence-shooter title and something we haven't seen from Chilingo before - time management.
Dream Track Nation
This game has players racing on fun, sometimes downright silly tracks jumping over obstacles and getting power-ups, while collecting up to three stars in the usual progression formula. There are 20 tracks set in Texas, Alaska and New York. The game is physics based, and the type of great casual game one expects from Chillingo. Dream Track Nation has a level editor to add an extra dimension to the game, and uses both Game Center and Crystal Network for multiplayer action locally and online. Chilingo calls the design "patchwork quilt" style - it looks hot.
One Man Army
One Man Army is a more serious game. It's a tower defense title in which Earth is a desolate planet under threat of mutant invasion. Players mix shooter elements with classic tower defense gaming. There are six zones to defend with a total of thirty-six levels in all with high-end graphics meant for retina displays.
Monster Mayhem
Hack and slash at monsters galore in something new - a freemium game, not a lite or trial version - called Monster Mayhem. It's bloody, cartoonish and vibrant and it's something Chillingo hasn't done before - that is making a game free to play, but making advancement almost dependent on IAPs. Insane monsters are lurking in the dark and gamers playing as The Gate Keeper have to keep them out by any gory means available. It also has castle defence elements, but served up with humor. There are 20 monsters to kill and five distinct bosses to battle. Upgrading the arsenal is key to progress and that's where the IAPs come in, but they aren't necessary to buy in order to enjoy the game - there is no pay wall, just ways to advance quickly for a fee.
Jet Set Go
Jet Set Go is the biggest departure for Chillingo and the most intriguing. With the free game released last week and Chillingo and parent EA's increased used of incentives using its Crystal Network integrated with social network sites like Facebook and Twitter to unlock items in some newer titles, one can't help but wonder if they aren't thinking of moving into not just time management, but also the lucrative freemium market?
Jet Set Go, however, is a premium game with everything included for the one time purchase. The game is universal and only $.99. Nothing extra here to buy, and it's from the team that brought us classic iOS time management title Sally's Spa. Players help April build her new travel agency empire and fly customers around the globe. The game has five different types of time management systems built in so there isn't much waiting around and there are a total of 12 locations from Montreal to Hong Kong, with 14 different types of customers, each with their own specifics likes and needs to learn. All these games look great but, we especially can't wait to give this one a try!
Gaming app behemoth Chillingo has just released details on their Spring lineup and it's looking pretty strong for pretty much all tastes comprising of a mixture of casual and more complex concepts.
There's Spider Jack, a game that looks guaranteed to enthrall fans of Cut the Rope. You have to help Jack the hungry spider collect up all the flies in each level. The trailer looks like the perfect combination of cute cartoon graphics with pretty simple yet compelling gameplay.
Continuing the simple yet fun theme, there's Spoing that has a great looking indie style to it. This time round you have to guide little Spoing, a rather cute little black ball thing, levels while collecting gems and avoiding monsters. It's looking rather simple in the trailer suggesting you direct the ball around by flinging him up trampolines, hopefully it'll get a bit harder as the levels progress. The ability to create your own trampolines certainly has a lot of potential.
D.A.R.K promises a mixture of science fiction horror survival RPG elements alongside 3D two stick shooting action. The trailer doesn't appear to offer any in game footage but the premise certainly sounds intriguing. Screenshots certainly look atmospheric. A possible rival to Dead Space?
Another cryptic title is that of Swords & Soldiers - an iOS conversion of the Wiiware and PC game of the same name. Only one image has been released so far and it makes the game look rather 'busty' offering some buxom blonde women in, er, knitted form. Chillingo promises 2D side scrolling strategy action so it'll be interesting to see how Swords & Soldiers turns out.
Vampire Rush looks a bit more obvious with Torchlight/Gauntlet style gameplay. As the trailer suggests, there'll be plenty of hack n slashing fun to be had as well as some elements of tower defense too. Hopefully there'll be plenty of looting to do too.
Dream Track Nation offers slightly mental looking 2D racing action. Physics will play an important role here in order to leap through the numerous obstacles ahead and frantic racing seems to be the order of the day here. It's also going to include a level designer which should promise some great creations amongst you and your friends.
As always, check back here for the latest on all of these titles as we hear about them. While you wait though, take a look at the selection of screenshots below.