148 Apps on Facebook 148 Apps on Twitter

Tag: Space Invaders Infinity Gene »

Favorite 4: Classic Franchises Reborn on iOS

Posted by Carter Dotson on February 17th, 2011

One of the great things about iOS and the App Store has been that it's allowed plenty of unique new ideas from small developers no one had ever heard of, which has brought about plenty of fun titles that might not have ever existed. However, fun games are fun games, even if they're from franchises that have been kicking around before some of us were even born. With that in mind, here are 4 of the finest examples of established gaming franchises making appearances on iOS.

Street Fighter IV: Playing a fighting game on a touch screen seems like a bad idea - until you actually play this version of the most recent major Street Fighter game on your device. The on-screen joystick is nothing short of a miracle - all the special moves are easily executed in an accurate way using just a virtual joystick, which is just another knock against the Xbox 360 controller's terrible d-pad. While the character roster is smaller than the console versions, Capcom has added characters since its release, almost doubling the original roster, along with Game Center achievement support. And of course, there's Bluetooth multiplayer for beating up your friends in ways that are less likely to damage your relationship or get you arrested.

Space Invaders Infinity Gene: This starts out looking and playing like the original Space Invaders game. Within minutes, the game is something else entirely, a shoot 'em up that is intense and visually dynamic. The game is just familiar enough to make you feel comfortable, but this game takes Space Invaders in a direction you may have never imagined it going, and it makes for a great shoot 'em up experience. The game has also gotten Game Center and Universal app support since its release, so if you haven't checked it out lately, it's worth picking up again.


NBA Jam: The classic arcade basketball game has been revived on iOS by EA. Everything that made the game so great back when it came out in the early '90s, from the flashy dunks, enthusiastic commentary from Tim Kitzrow, the thrill of hitting a three-point shot from the other side of the court to win a game, and the ability to play as a variety of characters who would otherwise be odd fits in realistic basketball games are all here. The controls are part of what make this game play so well on iOS - either the virtual buttons or gesture-based system both work well to play the game. The whole game still feels as fun as it did back when it first came out, and it feels remarkably fresh just because there's been little else like it in recent years.

Pac-Man Championship Edition: Pac-Man might be the first game many people remember ever playing - the formula of ghosts, dots and power pellets is ingrained into people's skulls by this point. What can you change to make the formula fresh? Well, how about the levels? By introducing dynamic levels that change as you clear out the board, the experience becomes something completely different, and with the ability to rack up even bigger point bonuses by continuously eating ghosts when you have the power pellet (since they are more plentiful due to them replenishing every time you eat a fruit to refresh one half of the board), you get a game that feels familiar but fresh, just as great entry in a licensed series should feel.

TAITO Winter iPhone Sale

Posted by Chris Hall on December 21st, 2010

When I think of TAITO, I still think of playing Sky Shark on my old PC running DOS in the mid 80's. It's pretty amazing that the company that guided my airplane obsession as a youth is now pumping out great iPhone games in the 21st century. Ok, enough of my childhood memories, on to the game sale!

SPACE INVADERS INFINITY GENE - Now $2.99

SPACE INVADERS INFINITY GENE was on many app of the year shortlists last year, and is still a mainstay on my iPhone a year and a half later. Its insane mix of old school Space Invaders and new aged freneticism will make you think you are on the iOS equivalent of an Easy Rider drug sequence (and I think that is a good thing).

This winter sale is the first time that TAITO has dropped the price of SPACE INVADERS INFINITY GENE in the App Store. It's only going to be discounted for the first 100,000 downloads though, so be sure to pick up your cheap copy before the sale runs out.

Mikado Defenders - Now $0.99

Mikado Defenders is also on sale for the first time ever, and it is now a whopping 80% off. It's definitely not for everyone, but fans of tower/castle defense games that want a brutal challenge will get a good deal of enjoyment out of Mikado Defenders.

Bust-A-Move (Puzzle Bobble) - Now $2.99

Since the original arcade release of Bust-A-Move in 1994 (don't litter or do drugs!), millions of people have grown fond of the bubble popping puzzle game. It's one of those nostalgic puzzle games that is a requirement on a new system, and now it's on sale. If you like Bust-A-Move but have been holding out for a cheaper price, now is the time to snag it.

Cooking Mama - Now $3.99

Like SPACE INVADERS, Cooking Mama is only on sale for the first 50,000 apps that are downloaded, so don't wait and end up as customer #50,001.

Enjoy the sale, and happy holidays!

December 2010 App Hall of Fame Inductees

Posted by Rob LeFebvre on December 10th, 2010

The App Hall of Fame (the original App Hall of Fame, not the Apple knock off) is an independent initiative launched by 148Apps that includes selection committee members from over 40 web and print publications.

Our goal is to archive the very best mobile apps by honoring only 12 applications per month. To be eligible, applications must be available for download from the App Store for at least 6 months. Applications are nominated and voted on monthly by the selection committee with the applications that get the most votes being inducted into the hall of fame.

We want you to join in on the celebration. We'll be giving away copies of the newly inducted applications to subscribers of our mailing list later this week. Subscribe now for a chance to win.

We are very proud to announce the December inductees into the App Hall of Fame:


Skype from Skype Software S.a.r.l
Words With Friends Newtoy Inc.
Canabalt from Semi Secret Software
Netflix Netflix, Inc.




Drop 7 from Area/Code
Zen Bound 2 from Secret Exit Ltd.
Space Invaders Infinity Gene from TAITO Corporation
N.O.V.A. from Gameloft



Jet Car Stunts from True Axis
Boxcar from appremix
Peggle from PopCap Games, Inc.
iBlast Moki from Godzilab


Favorite Four - Retro Remixes

Posted by Chris Hall on October 6th, 2010

Sequels seem to be all the rage these days with Gangstar this and Halo that... heck, three of the games in the App Store top 10 are sequels, and if you count Tiger Woods you have four. As much as people like sequels, there's nothing that is quite like snuggling up to a nice, cozy retro game. Well, nothing except for the hell-spawn of the retro games themselves.

They aren't quite sequels, but they are definitely retro inspired - and that makes them awesome in a deranged slasher film kind of way.

Be2: Escape From Pongland - People have been playing the simple game of Pong for almost 40 years without caring too much for the well-being of the little dot that gets knocked around by the paddles. As any prisoner, the dot wanted freedom, and Be2 is the game about its escape.

You start out the game in a normal Pong screen and then break out into the Alice in Wonderland-esque world of Pongland. The game is filled with creepy rooms, stages inspired by numerous retro games, and a witty, but slightly creepy inner monologue to guide you through.

Speaking of creepy, the New Orleans jazz track that starts the game is about as creepy as it gets. Nothing about the song itself is creepy, but the whole thing feels like the start (or the end) of a creepy Kubrick movie.

Space Invaders: Infinity Gene - Space Invaders was long my dads favorite game on Atari. For some reason or another, an entire generation of gamers were drawn into a zombie-like trance by a little space ship that would destroy wave after wave of enemy ships.

Infinity Gene steps way outside the box and creates an unforgettably sexed up techno remix. The game resembles the original in that you have to kill the invading aliens, but the graphics and colors added to the original are striking. Also striking is the fact that the music (either the built in stuff or whatever you decide to play) actually jives with the action on screen.

This is the one retro game remix that actually outshines the original. It's fantastic.

Super Mega Worm - Is it a stretch to call Super Mega Worm a rethinking of the retro game, Snake? Yes, but the games do resemble each other in the fact that you have to eat something. Fine, maybe it's a stretch, but the game is extremely fun and undoubtedly retro.

In full retro graphics glory, your worm must survive by eating all the humans, vehicles, and wildlife that inhabit the above ground world. The first few levels are quite simple because nobody is savvy to your worm attacks, but after a few levels you'll have all sorts of troops and worm haters to deal with.

Super Mega Worm isn't the most involved game, nor does it have the best graphics, but it does offer a serious dose of fun. There's just nothing quite like bouncing off of trucks to munch on airplanes flying overhead.

So Long. Oregon! - As I wrote in the original review, "So Long, Oregon is the techno destruction of my Oregon Trail playing childhood." The game takes the typical game of Oregon Trail and blows it up, turning the whole game into a physics racer with a bit of bizarre hunting. The graphics are all dark and neon, buffalo are flying around the sky, and people get hurt and die at a pace that is probably far more accurate to the actual event.

To be honest, the game really isn't that good. It's a big, messy disaster... but it's my big messy disaster. I'd definitely recommend the game to just about anyone, but there is a very distinct chance that the vast majority of gamers will just stare in horror.

Space Invaders Infinity Gene Updated

Posted by Chris Hall on July 9th, 2010
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Our rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar :: PLAY ME NOW :: Read Review »

Space Invaders Infinity Gene really was one of the best games to come out on the iPhone in 2009. It was simple to play, didn't demand a ton of time all at once, and looked and felt beautiful, in a spooky, System Shock 2 sort of way. If you haven't played it yet, download it as soon as you can.

Just today, Taito released an update for the game that adds some really neat things, most notably the ability to play the game as a side scrolling shooter and the ability to purchase unique levels and new ships that are based on other arcade classics like Darius, Metal Black, and Night Striker.

Check out the newly updated promo video that Taito put out. If it doesn't make you want to re-download the game, I don't know what will.

Update to Space Invaders Infinity Gene a Late Christmas Present From Taito

Posted by Jeff Scott on December 29th, 2009
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Our rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar :: PLAY ME NOW :: Read Review »

Space Invaders Infinity Gene is easily one of my favorite games of the year. It's an amazingly wonderful re-imagining of the Space Invaders world, one of the oldest video games around.

Space Invaders was originally released in 1978 and I can't count the number of quarters I dumped into the machine down at the neighborhood pizza shop. So while my love for SIIG might be a little tainted with nostalgia, it still stands as a fantastic game. The method of play in this game is basically the same as the original. You are shooting at advancing aliens -- the twist here is that the game evolves from the original Space Invaders to a progressively different and more interesting game as you score more points and progress through the levels by filling the evolution gauge. With each filling of the gauge, the game evolves into a new one bringing increasing weapons and level changes.

This update brings, much like the Fieldrunners update, integration with OpenFeint. This allows you to compare your score with your OpenFeint friends and also includes new achievements to work toward. While the first version of this game was amazing, it left me wanting more. This new update adds new levels to work towards as the evolution gauge fills.

Here's a video demo of the game from Taito.

One of the interesting feature of this game which I all but ignored in the first release is the Music Stage. In this stage you select a song from your device music library and play a level that's specifically tailored to that song. Each song generates a different level. With this update you can rate and share your favorite Music Stage levels with friends.

Monday Morning App HQ

Posted by Will on August 10th, 2009

Random musings of the App Store.

Retro Invasion

Retro games are appearing in the App Store in droves! Pac-Man Remix, Q*Bert Deluxe, and of course, the incredible Space Invaders Infinity Gene. All of these are updated in some way from the classic games. Q*Bert has updated graphics, Pac-Man Remix has updated graphics (though they are still not too hot on the iPhone) along with power-ups that sometimes feel gimmicky, and Space Invaders is a complete re-imagining of the classic game. Of these, the only game that really captivates me is SIIG. In my opinion, retro games are retro for a reason - frankly, they're boring and outdated. However, the concepts are still good, and if they're updated for modern gamers, they can turn out like SIIG. To go with these retro games, there are plenty more on the way: Snood, a classic match-3 shooting game, TAITO's Bust-a-Move, and most importantly, Pac-Man Championship Edition. Pac-Man CE, for XBLA, is, along with SIIG, one of the best re-imaginings of a retro game I have ever played and, if the controls are changed from Remix, should translate fantastically for the iPhone.
[caption id="attachment_15570" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Pac-Man CE, a great re-imagining of the classic game"]

[/caption]

Gameloft coming on strong (maybe)

Along with NFL 2010, Gameloft has an upcoming FPS, Sandstorm, and a GTA knockoff, Gang$tar in the works. These games are particularly of note because it seems as if Gameloft is attempting to directly compete with other developers. NFL 2010 was notably released before EA's upcoming Madden 2010, and at a lower expected price point - $7.99 compared to $9.99. Sandstorm seems to be in line for direct competition with ngmoco's upcoming FPS (as yet unnamed). Gang$tar looks to have a huge advantage on current App Store GTA-a-likes with a fully roam-able 3D world. If I was a betting man (ok, I am a betting man), though, I would count on the other two games losing out. If there's two things Gameloft games have in common, with the notable exception of Castle of Magic, it's lackluster, on-screen controls, and uninspired gameplay. Gameloft seems to put all of the genre "requirements" in their games, without doing anything truly unique to make the game their own. They seem stubborn about their controls as well, always opting for mediocre on-screen d-pads or joysticks, rather than attempting any innovation for the iPhone. NFL 2010 is a solid football game with licensing, and I'm sure Sandstorm will be a decent FPS. However, neither if these titles, probably, will be great.

[caption id="attachment_15571" align="alignright" width="184" caption="Get out of my games, stupid pygmy"]

[/caption]Games requiring 3.0 software

I wanted to briefly address a common complaint springing up various places: games requiring 3.0 software or higher. Developers are excited to utilize 3.0 features and making their apps 2.2.1 compatible takes a lot of time, resources, and extra testing. Look, I know that the update is $10 for iPod touchers (whoops, that sounds weird), but that's really not a lot for a major software upgrade, and if these stubborn users don't update soon, they're going to find themselves left out in the cold for some of the App Store's best apps and games.

This week's sign of the apocalypse

First Doodle Jump, now Harbor Master; the Pocket God pygmies are invading other games! It was bad enough that I had to look at those stupid pygmies while playing Pocket God, thinking I would eventually like it. But no, that wasn't enough, now they have to ruin games that I actually play! I really want to kill a pygmy, and in a way so that they can't be magically dropped from the sky a few seconds later.

Apps of the Week

Gomi

[caption id="attachment_15572" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Gomi, an app of the week!"]

[/caption]

Last week, I previewed Kevin Calderone's new game Gomi, mentioning the staggering amount of content. Now, the app is out, and not only is it huge, but all that content is actually worth playing! In Gomi, you clean up the world by eating pollution and the like while spitting (?) out trees and flowers. You have to eat smaller things to build your appetite, eventually building up to shopping malls and the like. The regular levels are great, the boss battles are challenging and clever, and the game is seemingly endless with 140+ levels, eight mini games, achievements, and online scoreboards. At the low price of $1.99, Gomi is a unique game and a highly recommended bargain. Expect a full review soon (sorry, I'm on vacation).

BargainBin

BargainBin is an app that allows you track other apps; creating wish lists with target prices and viewing the newest apps, updates, and price drops. BargainBin recently was updated with two major improvements: a nice UI update and a killer feature: push notifications. Now, whenever an app you're tracking reaches your desired price, you'll instantly receive a push notification without ever having to open the app. Finding the App Store's best deals has never been easier!

Well, that's it for this week, and I'm still loving writing this column! Apparently, I messed up the links for the previous articles, so commenting was impossible. This has been fixed, so hopefully this week my begging for feedback/comments will succeed!

Monday Morning App HQ

Posted by Will on August 3rd, 2009

Random musings of the app store.

Minigore Released into the Wild

[caption id="attachment_15283" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Minigore = Mini content"]

[/caption]Minigore, a dual-stick survival shooter, has finally been released onto the App Store after weeks of intense hype and anticipation. So what was all the hype about? Honestly, I don't know. Compared with its survival shooter kin, iDracula (App Info), Minigore is as shallow as a puddle. It has one map, two weapons, four enemy types, and two health points. It definitely has a unique art style going for it, but beyond that, not too much. There seems to be some sort of story, and while it is never even touched on, there will apparently be Pocket God-style episodic updates. I'm sorry, but I don't like this approach unless it's done with a complete game. Minigore is clearly not a complete game, and I'm tired of getting incomplete games with promises of updates that aren't always fulfilled. There seems to be a bit of a logjam cycle going on with apps nowadays - developers won't add to their apps unless they do well in the App Store, but consumers don't want to pay for an incomplete app. But hey, it worked for Pocket God (App Info); it went from being a boring, mindless, stupid time waster to a... boring, mindless, stupid time waster. But seriously, Minigore is not a bad game, just an average one that without a bevy of substantial updates is undeserving of the immense hype that preceding it.

Freeverse joins ngmoco's Plus+ network

As I touched on last week, there is an emerging social game network competition on the App Store. And, as I loosely predicted (thank you, thank you), ngmoco's Plus+ network has taken the lead. Freeverse, who may not be my favorite developer but is certainly among the most popular and has a large volume of games, has announced that they will be implementing the Plus+ network in their upcoming action space trader Warpgate, their incredibly popular Flick Fishing (App Info), and presumably more upcoming games. Having two of the premiere App Store developers certainly bolsters Plus+, and could induce a chain reaction of developers braking for Plus+. At this point, OpenFeint may be implemented in more games, but that catalog is very scattered, not all of those games are exactly quality controlled, and some apps were clearly not made for OpenFeint (have you ever tried to go into a Pocket God chat room?). I'm definitely putting my money on Plus+ for now.

From the developer of Trace - Gomi submitted

Bovine Dragon has finally submitted their new game, Gomi, to the App Store. Gomi appears to be a platforming game in which you, as a Gomi, replace the pollution in the world with trees and other natural things. The artwork is certainly unique, and the gameplay looks good, but perhaps the most impressive thing about Gomi is the staggering amount of content. Gomi will have over 140 stages, each lasting several minutes, spread across 8 worlds, with a boss battle for each world that unlocks a new ability. There are also 8 unique mini-games, hundreds of achievements, hundreds of playable Gomis, a complete soundtrack of 17 songs, and online scoreboards for everything. Wow, talk about a complete game! The developer estimates that playing through each stage once, without trying to unlock any achievements
or playing any mini-games, will take over 12 hours. The price for a game of this size? Reportedly just $1.99 upon release. This looks to be an incredible value and if the production values and unique gameplay of Trace (App Info) were any indication, Gomi should be an incredible game.

This week's sign of the apocalypse

[caption id="attachment_15285" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Locating sex offenders will be rendered pointless when the ENTIRE WORLD IS DESTROYED!"]

[/caption]

Offender Locator (App Info), an app that locates nearby sex offenders, is currently sitting at #4 overall in the App Store. First of all, are people really that paranoid? And second, if you do find an offender in your area, what are you going to do? Move away? Complain to your neighborhood police patrol? Set up barricades? No, you are just going to be more worried than you were before.

App of the week

So normally, I would list more than one app of the week, but this week, there is basically only one app deserving of the honor, only one game I have been playing all week:

Space Invaders Infinity Gene

[caption id="attachment_15286" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Undeniably sweet"]

[/caption]I have to admit, after seeing SIIG appear on the App Store, I was skeptical. After all, how fun can a remake of Space Invaders be? It might be fun, but for $4.99? I figured they just slapped some neon backgrounds on the old tried and true gameplay. Well, after reading the 148apps review, I decided to buy the game, and, happily, I was utterly, completely, and unequivocally wrong. TAITO brings a shining example of how to remake retro games for the App Store. The graphics are fantastic, the action is frantic and heart-pounding, the music is techno bliss, and the controls are perfect. The evolution concept and implementation is fantastic, with unlockables aplenty. And on top of all of this, there is the ridiculously awesome ability to generate completely original levels based on your iPod music. I really need some good songs for this mode, so if anyone has any suggestions, post away! This isn't just a great App Store shooter, this is a great shooter period. Probably in my top three iPhone games ever, and at $4.99, if you've ever enjoyed a shooter, you owe it to yourself to buy this game.

Wow, they actually let me write a second Monday Morning App HQ. Hopefully everyone is enjoying the column, and feel free to post feedback.