Tag: Pixelbite »

Back in November of 2020, I reviewed Space Marshals 3, concluding that it feels a lot like the same old Space Marshals, but in the sense that all of the games in the series are great. Now, with the game's third and final chapter in place, I can't really say that anymore. In its finished state Space Marshals 3 is now the definitive stealth action game on the App Store and the sheer amount and variety of ways it mixes up its gameplay through its add-on content is second to none.

A few months ago, one of our favorite stealth action mobile titles, Space Marshals 3, got a story update that nearly doubled the original game's length. Support for the game isn't showing any signs of slowing down, because just this week another content pack came out that adds a fresh batch of challenges for you to test out Burton's gadgets and your own sneaking skills on.

Called Bounty Mission Pack #1, this addition to Space Marshals 3 adds 12 new levels that are disconnected from the game's main story. Instead, these isolated maps offer one-off challenges in both "action" and "stealth" modes, which reward you for taking a certain number of enemy targets in a specific way.

Over the Thanksgiving break, a bunch of games went on sale, but one in particular is worth talking about. Xenowerk Tactics, in addition to falling to $3, got a huge content update alongside it’s price drop. Even though the game is back up to full price, you need to buy it now if you haven’t already.

In my initial review of Xenowerk Tactics, I liked it well enough, but the game felt a little too easy. In building and managing a team of professional alien killers, there was always the potential for me to lose a soldier or get forced into a retreat, but it essentially never happened. I could almost always just take everything in stride and kill aliens with abandon without any problems. This update changes that.

Pixelbite has released a new update for their sci-fi wild west tactical shooter, Space Marshals. The free update includes Chapter 2, which brings you 8 new missions, more weapons and gear, and new enemies.

Join specialist Burton as he hunts down fugitives through space armed with only his wits... and an arsenal of awesome weapons. The game also has a new language update that offers translation for Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

You can download Space Marshals for $4.99 on the App Store.

Reckless Racing 3 is down and dirty racing that prides itself on crazy drifts, breakneck straights, and fantastic in-game physics. Here are few tips to help you to take those corners like a pro.

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Start Your Engines

• Use the straight sections to steal a glance at the mini map towards the top of the screen and check for any fast-approaching sharp turns.

• It's only on those severe turns that braking becomes necessary. Usually releasing the acceleration while turning into the bend, then hitting the gas and turning out of it will suffice. When using the default button layout, tapping to turn out of a drift is a much better technique than holding down on the directional arrow, ensuring maximum control rather than veering into another drift accidentally. Just be aware that terrain can sometimes dictate otherwise.

• While the green guideline might be a great tool for rough navigation, deviating slightly wide and then taking corners as close as possible without crashing is a surefire way to overtake and undercut other racers.

• The reset button isn't as damning as you'd think. In fact, in any situation that requires a reversal maneuver the reset button is actually preferential as it only incurs a minimal time penalty, can serve as an obstruction to opponents, and sometimes players won't even lose their position.

• Larger, heavier vehicles can use their weight to their advantage by smashing other cars off-course. This is best achieved by hitting the back of an opponent's car during a turn, forcing them into a tailspin. Be sure to judge how this will effect the speed and trajectory of your own car, though.

• In the settings menu, turn on the Chase Camera to have a clearer view of the road ahead, putting you behind your racer rather than at a fixed bird's eye view. While this new angle may bring on a bit of motion sickness for the weak-stomached (if you had a problem with iOS' home screen animations then you might want to play Zen Garden instead) it grants a better perspective for upcoming turns. For Gymkhana Mode however, the sheer amount of donuts and spins makes the Chase Camera a dizzying nightmare, so it's better to have it saved for Races and Drift events.

Repulze, the futuristic racing title from Pixelbite, has released its Phase Two content which features seven new tracks and new challenge types. In our review, Rob Rich said, "Repulze is a slick futuristic racer with some spotty controls that (thankfully) can be fine tuned to fit just about anyone’s needs."

More details from the App Store description:

PHASE TWO : Break & Desist (OUT NOW!)
Exiled to the outer rims of space you need to hone your skills and gather strength for the inevitable showdown.
•New industrial wasteland theme
•Seven sanity defying tracks
•New challenge types
•Power Ripper upgrade
•Magnetic Fields, Barriers & Toolkits

There is a reason the original Reckless Racing received an Editor's Choice nod from 148Apps when it first debuted at the end of 2010. It was pure, feel-like-a-kid-again racing with slick controls and fast cars. Reckless Racing 2 is even better. This third-person racer now has more tracks, more modes and more excitement.

I'm sure from a developer's standpoint racing games with their quick movements are probably one of the most difficult genres to develop. Not only do they have to dial in hairpin turns, they also have to make the driver feel like every turn they make is on a dime. Lag is a racer's worst enemy. The silky smooth physics of Reckless Racing 2 are phenomenal. The car reacts to every touch in an instance without lagging, jigging or chopping along. It's like butter.

The amount of gameplay is impressive with 24 routes of dirt and street options as well as several modes to choose from, including career, arcade, single, and multiplayer. While I tested out all thoroughly, I'd have to say I got the most out of career and multiplayer.

Career offered a ton of racing, points, achievements and leaderboard runs while multiplayer gave me the bragging rights (not all the time) of taking pinks against human racers. The one negative I noticed was that the other opponents ghosted in and out and there was a light chop every once in a while. However, it's most likely do to varying reception issues.

One of the best additions to the newer version is the larger and better selection vehicles and upgrades one can choose from, which is 18 to be exact. They all look very similar to some of the best American muscle and high-end import cars. The upgrades, which can be purchased in the garage, are the usual speed, handling and acceleration options. Some tournaments have specific upgrade requirements and will not let the player race otherwise.

Reckless Racing 2 improves on all of the original game's features and adds several more goodies such as career mode and car customization. This all combines to make it the best "rubbin's racin'" game on the App Store.

Who can resist a cute, cartoon penguin? I know I can't and neither can anyone else in their right mind. Enter Penguin Palooza, a game that appreciates the adorable nature of the flightless birds.

It's a physics based puzzle game that requires drawing lines on the screen in order to bounce the penguins from one side of the screen to the other - kind of like creating a trampoline. It's a simple concept but a fun one nonetheless.

36 different challenges will keep the player busy with all sorts of additions such as baby penguins and huge birds and fish. Two different game modes are available for the iPhone version with global leaderboards providing much of the competition. The iPad version additionally includes includes split-screen multiplayer.

Check out the gameplay video for Penguin Palooza below.

It's out now priced at $0.99 each for the iPhone and iPad versions.