SkyGoblin, the developers behind The Journey Down: Chapter One, have been hard at work on the second chapter in the point-and-click saga, taking their time to ensure that they didn't just re-do what they did with the first game. Today, they've released a bunch of screenshots for The Journey Down: Chapter Two, showing off some of the environments we'll be able to wander around in.
The Journey Down: Chapter Two is set to arrive on iOS this Summer, with The Journey Down: Chapter One available now for $2.99.
Sebastian Gosztyla, a programmer for such games as Guilty Party and Avengers Initiative, wanted to make games less escapist and more interactive with other human beings. After experimenting with different gameplay styles he has come up with Dual.
The game involves two players and each of their screens make up half of the play area. Players fling missiles at each other and attempt to doge them by physically moving and tilting their phones. The game communicates between phones using bluetooth or wifi on the iPhone and Android, which makes it a great play-anywhere-anytime game.
There is no set release date, but Sebastian Gosztyla is hoping to make Dual available sometime near the end of summer.
Bulkypix have today announced that Starkom's Heli Hell will arrive on the App Store this week. Set to offer a "modern take on the vertical shoot'em up genre," the game will challenge players to take out the enemy that has holed up on the island of Vyellna, using the heavy upgradeable arsenal at their disposal.
Heli Hell will fly into the App Store on June 26 and will be free to download.
Wadjet Eye Games have announced that the Blackwell series of mystery adventure games is set to arrive on iOS soon. The series features the duo of Rosa Blackwell and her spectral sidekick Joey Mallone as they crisscross the five boroughs of New York, helping confused spirits comes to terms and move on.
The first three of the series, Blackwell 1: Legacy, Blackwell 2: Unbound and Blackwell 3: Convergence are set to arrive on iOS on July 10, with the rest of the series likely to arrive by the end of the year.
Big Action Mega Fight! developers Double Stallion Games have announced that their previously free-to-play brawler is set to relaunch as a premium title on June 25. In this new version of the game, ads, in-app purchases, and two sets of currencies will be no more, with gameplay progression adjusted to avoid any tedium or grinding. The game will also feature the new levels, enemies, and features added since the launch of the free-to-play version.
This change is being made after players commented to the developers that the free-to-play model did not feel right. As such, the developers decided to experiment with a paid version of the game on the Amazon App Store back in March, which generated a positive reaction from players. As a result, this new premium version is now set to become available to iOS players as well.
The new version of Big Action Mega Fight! is available on the App Store for $1.99, with the price set to increase to $2.99 after a week.
A new gameplay trailer has been released by Glu for their upcoming game Kim Kardashian: Hollywood, which will feature both her likeness and her voice as she guides players to Hollywood notoriety.
Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is set to launch on the App Store next week.
tinyBuild and Enter Skies have announced that their gesture-based turn-based RPG Fearless Fantasy is set to come to iOS later this Summer.
Described by the developers as "probably the weirdest RPG you’ll play this year," you play as Leon, the world's most dangerous bounty hunter, on a mission to slay the world's weirdest creatures and save a girl from an awful marriage. As well as the use of gestures to get critical hits, the game also features voice-overs, animated cut-scenes and "mildly disturbing boss fights."
Fearless Fantasy is set to arrive on the App Store later this Summer.
Over in Los Angeles last week, SEGA announced Sonic Jump Fever - a new competitive multiplayer take on Sonic Jump. Much like the previous incarnation the game will feature jumping gameplay, with the aim of the player being to progress as high as possible via vertical platforming. A bunch of Sonic characters will be available to play as, each with their own unique abilities to go alongside the power-ups scattered along the levels and countless rings to collect.
At the beginning of every round players will be shown the scores of their friends that they'll be trying to beat. Players won't be able to rest easy on their high scores however, as leaderboards will be reset twice a week.
Sonic Jump Fever will be free to download when it launches later this Summer.
It's always easy to be way too cynical when it comes to free-to-play games, and when Tony Hawk's Shred Session was announced there was certainly some thought that it could be a cheap licensed affair. Well the game has soft-launched in New Zealand, so I put on my helmet, grabbed my board, and found out this is a more casual game - but not a cash-in.
The game is set up as a lane-based runner a la Subway Surfers, but it truly is just a Tony Hawk game set up in that vein of being friendly for mobile and casual play. Levels include ramps, rails, and even half pipes. Tricks can be strung together through the gesture-based system for grabs, flips, and grinds. Extended gestures exist for more complicated tricks. These complicated tricks can be unlocked and bought with coins over time as players level up, or unlocked instantly with bucks (the hard currency).
The game takes place in two modes: Shred Session and Survival. Shred Session is a level-based mode where each level tasks players with short-form goals to chase after. Some levels involve scoring a certain number of points before the timer or level runs out. Others involve collecting a certain number of orbs, collecting time tokens, and participating in trick-offs with other skaters where the prescribed tricks must be matched. All are managed by a three-star system, with higher scores or more collectibles necessary to get more stars.
While the game is free-to-play, and more advanced tricks will help with combos, it does a great job at not letting the monetization get in the way of playing the game. There are boosts to buy along with new boards and skaters, but purchases largely feel optional instead of necessary. Having no energy system helps out a lot, too. Given that style is a huge part of skating culture, I can see cosmetic upgrades contributing to the game's moneymaking - particularly as hard currency is needed to unlock many of the skaters and cooler tricks early on. But there's no replacement for skill.
While certainly the monetization could change, it seems as if there's a really interesting core here; one that could appeal to those who like skateboarding games, but want a mobile-friendly experience. We'll see how the world reacts when Tony Hawk's Shred Session eventually goes worldwide.
Tilt to Live developer One Man Left has announced Tilt to Live: Gauntlet's Revenge - the first spin-off game for the series. Gauntlet mode first appeared in the original game and was about dodging around hordes of deadly traps with precision and timing. Whilst fun, the developers felt that the precision endless runner mode still needed work.
That's where Tilt to Live: Gauntlet's Revenge comes in. The game originally started out as the second DLC for Tilt to Live 2, but all sorts of gameplay and obstacle ideas starting to arise during development. Rather than cut down on these ideas to make it DLC, the mode is now a game of its own.
Tilt to Live: Gauntlet's Revenge is currently in development for iOS and is expected to release later this year.
Game Insight has revealed the alien enemies players will encounter in their upcoming free-to-play turn-based strategy game X-Mercs: Invasion. In defeating these enemies, players will both continue to defend their homeworld from these invaders and gather further resources to continue development of their underground military base.
X-Mercs: Invasion is set to invade the App Store sometime soon.
The rather popular point-and-click adventure game that is Secret Files Tunguska is making its way to iOS, courtesy of FISHLABS and Deel Silver.
The game is loosely based around actual events involving the Tunguska event in 1908. You'll be in control of Nina, a mechanic searching for her father who quickly gets swept up in all sorts of global conspiracy craziness. It also features some lovely visuals, as well as a supposed 12+ hours of adventuring.
Secret Files Tunguska will be available towards the end of June for $4.99.
Following on from the mobile MMO Arcane Legends, Spacetime Studios has announced Arcane Battlegrounds: a free-to-play online strategy spin-off for the franchise. Arcane Battlegrounds will let players take control of Warriors, Trolls, and Dragons in real-time battles as they attempt to defend Arlor from a tyrannical ruler. Through use of strategy and cunning, players will build a kingdom and its army, and hopefully bring peace to the region once more.
Gary Gattis, CEO of Spacetime Games, gave this statement on the game:
This new title mixes the compelling storyline and rich fantasy world of Arcane Legends with the explosive and strategic gameplay found in Battle Command. Arcane Battlegrounds will add another pillar to the growing foundation of games we develop and support.
Arcane Battlegrounds is set to become available for iOS within the next few weeks.
Digital Tribe Games has announced Stronghold 3: The Campaigns, an iPad version of the PC Real-Time Strategy (RTS) classic. As with the original, the blend between city building and RTS remains, with the key to the game being the castle that must be designed, managed, and defended. Players will need to run a medieval economy, devise personalized tactics, and launch sieges - as well as defend against them - in order to succeed.
Melanie Mroz, VP of Business Development at Digital Tribe Games, had this to say of the upcoming title:
The Stronghold franchise was met with great success and acclaim on PC and is a perfect fit for the iPad. Fans and newcomers alike can enjoy the trademark real-time castle-building gameplay anywhere in the world, and the talented developers have spent a great deal of time, effort, and care to optimize and fine-tune the game specifically for this platform.
Stronghold 3: The Campaigns is set to arrive on the App Store sometime in late June.
Noble Nutlings developer Boomlagoon has announced Monsu, their upcoming side-scrolling collectible card game. The character design and gameplay has been in development for months, and as such the end result will contain dozens of characters and a 'rich' storyline.
In Monsu, players will have to battle their way through endless hordes of grumpy villagers in order to complete the task of retrieving stolen treasure. Each character players come across will have their own magical powers, which can then be collected and used to bash and smash their foes. The game also features multiple territories to explore, including the Woods and the Cemetery.
Antti Stén, CEO of Boomlagoon, had this to say of the game:
We’re focused on creating character-driven games that players love, all around the world. With Monsu, we’ve created a platformer that is easy to pick up and play, instantly rewards the gamer, and still provides nearly infinite ways to progress through the environments.
Monsu is set to arrive on the App Store sometime this Summer.
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