Brainergy, a new puzzler from BulkyPix, takes a familiar style of game and gives it an environmentalist slant. Developed by Pohlm Studio, the goal is to convert elements into energy sources to clean up and power the world.

The graphics are minimalist and the basic gameplay is simple. Just position things like solar panels over sunshine to convert it to energy. You can harness rain, wind, and more in increasingly complex arrangements as you try to find the best possible solution. The game is set on Earth, and takes players on a journey to 13 cities to battle the greenhouse effect.

Brainergy has six types of energy and 14 converters to help players solve the 50 included puzzles. The game explains how the various conversion processes work and offers other tidbits on point in much the same way that Fruit Ninja teaches fruit facts. In other words the environmental education is not part of the gameplay, but rather offered after the round where you can choose to read it or not.

Still it’s interesting to see a major game publisher putting out a title that focuses on something of greater social and intellectual merit than how to best kill zombies or make matches of three. If you try Brainergy, we’d love to know what you think in the comments.

$0.99

Brainergy

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-05-31 :: Category: Games

Okay, I’m obviously kidding but the inclusion of Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum wouldn’t be all that out of place in Escape to Earth. Someone’s been captured by aliens, then somehow miraculously manages to escape their captors and hijack a ship. The only problem is they have to get out of the mothership before they can taste real freedom. Or smoke those cigars. Last Independence Day reference, I promise.

So players will find themselves in control of yet another space-faring vessel, however things aren’t as derivative as they might initially seem. It’s true that they’ll have to blast away at many an aggressive extra-terrestrial along the way, but Escape to Earth is about more than just blowing stuff up. In addition to the other-worldly armaments (i.e. a laser and missiles), players also have access to a tractor beam and “repulser” which are needed to solve a number of physics-based environmental puzzles. So if they ever want to see Earth again, they’ll have to use both their brain and their trigger fingers.

Those interested in fighting (and puzzling) their way through this interstellar labyrinth can do so right now. Escape to Earth is already on the App Store, and it can be had for the low/standard price of one dollar.

$0.99

Escape to Earth

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-10-27 :: Category: Games

Remember Sprinkle? That super-awesome water physics puzzle game about aliens defending their homes from meteoric garbage? Well it’s just been topped-off with more content.

Mediocre Games has just released an update with 14 new levels. That’s probably about 3 lifetimes worth of gameplay, assuming one plans to aim for the maximum rating in each one. Seriously, getting the highest rating for the later stages in this game is hard.

But the real reason I wanted to talk about this has to do with Sprinkle‘s “controversial” in-app purchase option to unlock later worlds. Essentially it wasn’t necessary, as metalcasket mentioned in our review‘s comments. The feature has since been removed, but Mediocre has been gracious enough to offer up 6 new levels (in addition to the previously mentioned 14) to these early in-app purchasers. How cool is that?

Sprinkle is still just $0.99, and now features 36 levels (42 for the in-app folks). And there’s no time like the present to strap on that adorable little extra terrestrial firefighter’s helmet.

$1.99

Sprinkle: Water splashing fire fighting fun!

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-08-25 :: Category: Games