Professer Layton-A Former DS Exclusive Is Coming to iOS

TechCruch is reporting that Professor Layton, the hit puzzle series from Nintendo DS is coming to iOS in a  new game named Layton-Brothers:Mystery Room. With over 10 million copies sold on the DS, it has become one of Nintendo's hit series. While no release date was set and details are slim, this is still  huge news for fans of the series. Also, does this mean that we could see more Nintendo exclusive games coming to iOS in the future? Sure, we probably won't see Mario on are iPhones but could we see games like Harvest Moon that are developed and published by third-parties come to iOS? This could also just be a one-time thing with Level 5 reaching the end of their contract and wanting to try and develop for other platforms. Only time will tell.

Grand Theft Auto 3 is Coming to the App Store and Some Android Devices

While not a big fan of GTA myself, Rockstar games has announced that they will release GTA 3 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the game. Sadly, they have announced it will only run on A5 devices, which means you better whip out your shiny new iPhone 4S or iPad 2.  It will also run on these    android devices  : Droid X2, HTC Evo 2, LG Optimus 2, Moratoria Atrix, Samsung Galaxy S2, Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 This is potentially huge news to GTA fans. You can see the original announcement here .  

This Week's Mover and Shaker Games in the iDevice World

Starbase Orion

This space-based 4X game looks like a huge step forward for iDevice strategy games. It features 5 unique races and even a race builder to create your own unique race. Plus it features turn-based multiplayer(iOS 5 only) and a single player game. With the added bonuses of iCloud support and being universal, this app has the potential to be amazing.

Advena

This side-scrolling action RPG by Gamevil features 5 playable party members that you can switch between at any time.  It also features multiple classes and multiplayer modes. This game could be interesting as it seems like a cross between Battleheart and Gamevil's own Hybrid   .

Siegecraft

Published by Crescent Moon games this game displays stunning visuals along with a single-player campaign, endless mode, same device multiplayer, and even online multiplayer with iOS 5 for the low introductory price of $0.99(regular 2.99) . It's gameplay consists of slinging rocks and arrows towards the enemy via catapult and crossbow, which leaves its gameplay feeling less like a strategy game and more like hit the target.  This game could be interesting to those who like this style of gameplay.

Warm Gun

A unreal engine FPS. It features a prominent online multiplayer player mode along with a single player bot mode. When it was first released earlier this week it was riddled with bugs and crashes, although the developers have released an update aimed at fixing them. If your in the market for an unreal engine shooter, this is pretty much the only one in the App Store as of right now.

Descend RPG

An old-school RPG with modern day graphics. It features first person grid style turn-based gameplay.  If your want to remember the good-old days of gaming maybe this app will provide a nitch between new and old.

Danger Alliance:Battles

This TBS features a skirmish mode and a hot-seat multiplayer mode. While this might seem like the game is a little light on game modes, the developers have promised online multiplayer and a campaign if they sell enough copies. Even if the game doesn't get the updates, the gameplay seems like a interesting mix of Final Fantasy Tactics and Great Little War Game.

Scribblenauts Remix

Some of you might recognize the name Scribbenauts . This puzzle game has finally made its way to iDevices. With 40 levels from past games and 10 original levels for this version of the game, plus a sandbox mode, if your a fan of Scribblenauts you might want to check it out.




 

iOS 5 Is Now Live -A How-to-Install and Feature Review All-in-One

iOS 5 is now available as a free download from iTunes. It is compatible with the iPhone 3GS,  the iPhone 4, the iPhone 4S, the iPod Touch 3rd and 4th generations, the iPad, and the iPad 2. It adds iCloud support, Newsstand, iMessages, and Reminders, and more than two hundred new features.

To get this update on compatible devices:

1.Download iTunes 10.5
2. Sync your device with your computer.
3. Press update on the device summary tab.
4. Agree to the licensing agreements.
5. Let the iTunes download the update.
6. Click Update when the pop-up window comes up.
7. Let iTunes backup your device and install the update.
8. Once installed, go try the awesome new features.

Note: If you get an internal error, try restarting your computer and idevice. If this does not work check the article here.

Another Note: If your download has stopped, or you are getting a server error it may be that Apple's servers are overloaded. There is really nothing you can do but sit and wait.


iOS 5 adds the powerful new iCloud. This service stores all your data on your idevices in the cloud(on the internet). This allows you to transfer documents from your iPad to your iPhone or even to your PC. It also allows developers to develop games with online capabilities much easier than before, so you may see a lot more apps with online mutiplayer.

iOS 5 also adds iMessage, which replaces Messages on an iPhone but is totally new to iPad's and iPod Touches. This app allows you to send free text messages and  multimedia messages between idevices. If most of your friends and family have idevices it could save you a pretty penny each month. Also, iOS 5 brings a new app called newsstand, which is basically  ibooks for newspapers and magazines.

The last major thing that iOS brings to the table is the Reminders app.  This app allows you to set reminders for yourself and can be programmed to remind you at a certain location, which is useful if you are at home and want to remind yourself to do something at work. This update also brought many other changes too such as the new Notification Centre and minor changes to Gamecenter. So, if you can actually update without getting errors, I seriously recommend you do.

Asphalt 6: Adrenaline Review- Gameloft's Newest Burnout Clone

Asphalt 6 is Gameloft's newest addition to the Asphalt series.  The Asphalt series are arcade racers which lean heavily on console games like Burnout.  It offers fast-paced gameplay that will have you doing insane drifts and nitro-boosting out of corners, while all the while trying to total your competition  and not get hit by oncoming traffic. The game comes packed with a career mode featuring 8 game modes, 12 tracks and a muti-player mode which offers 6 person racing online and local wifi.

If you ever played an game in Gameloft's Asphalt series before, you'll know what to expect out of this game as it leans heavily on it predecessors. Many of the game modes like Beat'em All and Elimination have appeared in past games and game modes like collector take a lot from previous games.  The star scoring system is also inherited from previous games, but the addition of secondary tasks to get 2 addition stars is welcome, as it gives you something other than the main task to aim for. Also, with the most recent update the game has brought an IAP that allows you to purchase stars, upgrades, and in-game money. While the IAP is not needed to advance in the game,  it allows players to progress faster and unlock cars without playing career mode, which may turn some people off of this game.

While the career mode offers lots of tracks and game modes,  the career mode seems to get repetitive after the first few cups when the events start to repeat. Also, the game somewhat forces you to finish career mode and get one of the better cars if you aren't going to purchase IAP, as in muti-player you'll be left in the dust if you're using a starter car.

One of the most welcome additions to this game is that unlike its predecessors, the car you last unlocked is not always better than the car before it. For example, the car you jut unlocked might have better handling than the previous car, but it might not have as great a top speed.  Also, the game allows great customization of a car's appearance, allowing you to both chose an exact colour from a slider and adding one of a great number of decals.

The muti-player in this game allows for 6 car races, which  may not seem huge compared to Real Racing 2's 16, but offers good nitro-boosting filled fun. The game also has a leaderboard to track best time, number of races, and total experience earned if your into becoming number 1 in the world.  What threw me off about muti-player was the lack of game modes. While racing is good fun, I wanted to total other players in Beat'em All or face off one on one in a Duel.  Also, games took a while to get enough players and start, which is pain if you want to play one race right after another.

Also, on an original iPad the game seemed to freeze at times and then start somewhere else on the track in the same position I was before.  While not game ending, this bug was annoying and I hope it gets fixed in future versions.

This game might not be as realistic or as eye-catching as Real Racing 2, Asphalt 6 is has a nitch of its own. Its on sale currently for $0.99,  which is a steal, but was also previously free, so you might want to bid you time.  If you're the type of person who likes to cause havoc by crashing into other racers, traffic, and even lamp posts, and then use nitrous to quickly accelerate this game is for you.


Rating:

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick Review

What would life be like if an EMP hit us and billions  died, leaving only the really young and the old survived. Add to that the fact that anyone between the ages of 12-65 might not totally die, but become a zombie-like cannibal . Seems a bit unbelievable, but unique, no?  Well, this is the premise for the book Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick.

Ashes follows Alex, a seventeen year old who has terminal cancer and is hiking out in the woods. Ashes  is a book that gets off to a fast paced start, and by page 30, the "Zap" has happened, leaving Alex with super-smell, and 8-year Ellie's grandfather dead.  Even though Alex doesn't like Ellie, she can't leave her out in the woods by herself, so the unlikely duo sets off towards the ranger station.

Along the way, the pair comes across two teenagers who are feasting on a woman, and the duo runs away.(Who would blame them?)  This leaves both Alex and the reader wondering what caused the teenagers to act this way.  If this isn't enough, the get attacked by wild dogs and an twenty-year old war veteran who's name is Tom has to save them.

Although I liked the pacing and characters in the first half of the book, I didn't understand how a seventeen year old, who had been in the hospital a lot,  knew everything there was to know about surviving the wilderness. Also, she was able to name everything about the types of guns, and give a description about them, which I don't think many seventeen year olds would know about.

This is a very minor gripe compared to the one I had to the second half of this book. The action slows down, almost to the point of non-exstience,  when Alex gets to the town of Rule. Its seems like a pretty crazy town, ruled by a Council of Five and filled by a bunch of people who tried to linch her when she stepped into town. At first, she thinks about escape, but she never attempts it. Instead, she works as a doctor's assistant and falls right in, even though she needs an escort wherever she goes.  The ending was a cliffhanger, making it kind of love or hate. Giving no clue on what will happen to Alex, the ending wanted me wanting more and waiting for the next book in the series.


So,  lets recap.  The first half of this book had was great, but the second half was kinda...Huh. Overall, I think this book is worth your time and I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

My Rating:

There Is No Dog by Meg Rosoff Review

There is No Dog by Meg Rosoff is a book with a weird genre mix of humour, romance, and post apocalyptic. It is based on the idea that God is actually an immortal teenager named Bob. Just a note, this book may offend some reads because of this. 

Ever wondered why its raining? Well, Bob is probably just sad. You see, when he created the world Bob tied the weather to his emotions. So, when he's happy it's sunny and when he's in love, well watch out. The weather's unpredictable,  hail falling one minute and warm the  next.  Bob doesn't care that the world's flooding, no he is self-centered and only cares about the one he loves. In this way he kind of reminds me of Romeo, who loves a woman so much he doesn't see what its doing to the world around him.  Despite being self-centered and a general pain, I found myself cheering for Bob; he was in a job he didn't want and had a mother who didn't care about him.(She even gambled away his pet Eck, who happened to be the last Eck in the universe).  

Also, I felt sorry for Mr. B, Bob's assistant. He took care of Bob and the Earth, but never got the respect he deserved. Also, ever time Bob falls in love he has to deal with the consequences.   Even though I liked the cast of characters and the unique, but weird idea, I didn't like the worldbuliding, which  was almost  non-exstient. I would have liked to hear what Bob's house or the zoo looked like, but the book was void of these descriptions.   

My major gripe with this book was its ending.  The book wrapped up within twenty pages leaving way to many lose strings. Overall, this book was a fast read that felt cramped into 242 pages.  I would have rated this book higher if it had been longer and had more description.  

My Rating:

The Wizard Heir by Cinda Williams Chima Review

The Wizard Heir by Cinda Williams Chima, book two of the Heir Chronicles, takes us into the life of Seph, a young wizard.  It follows directly after the events of The Warrior Heir, where tensions between the Wizards and other guilds is high. If you have no idea what I'm talking about right now, go and read The Warrior Heir, as you will have no idea what is going on in this book if you don't read it first.   

Seph doesn't know anything about the tension though. His guardian died a few years ago and all he knows is that he is a wizard. When he sets fire a bar in Toronto, his new guardian ships him to a reform school in Maine. When he gets to the reform school he figures out that the alumni and the headmaster are wizards.  When the headmaster offers to train him, he says yes, but when he has to do a blood ritual he backs out.  

Will he be able to resist the headmaster and the alumni? Or will he end up a slave to the headmaster? Read the book to find out.  Just in case your wondering, Jack and Ellen do come back in this book in the second half. 

The author has managed to write a long book that has great characterization but doesn't drag on.  They was always action around the corner,  wether it be in the form of a magic duel or political showdown.  The characters were what really made the book shine. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses, and each has a unique  relationship with the other characters. For example, Hasting and Linda don't trust one another, but they also love each-other. 

The ending in a book in my opinion is the most important part, and is were this book really shines. The book comes to an action-packed close, but also manages to wrap up a lot of loose strings while also setting the plot for the next book.  There were also a few small plot twists in the end that really surprised me.  

If you're looking for a great fantasy read look no further as The Wizard Heir delivers. My only minor compliant  about this book is that I didn't really like Seph because of some of his actions during the book,. but maybe thats just a testament to how great the characterization is in this book. Overall, this book is great and fully deserves my first five star review. 

My Rating:

Subject Seven by James A. Moore Review

Subject Seven is the Y.A debut for author James Moore. Its based on an interesting premise that the military is creating the perfect killer, and that these killers are all teenagers. With this premise , I was expecting an action novel, but it actually is not the fast paced thriller that I expected and is more a mystery novel of sorts.

The novel starts out with Subject Seven breaking out of his cell and escaping. After that the book skips forward a year. Subject Seven is getting used to his street life, but he keeps talking about the Other, but you have to wait until later in the book to find out who that person is. Next chapter, we get in the mind of Hunter, who woke up in a hotel room with no memory.

For the first part of the book,  the point of view switches between Hunter and Subject Seven. Hunter continues having his memory loose and Subject Seven searches into his past. In the second part of this book, many more characters narrate. All of these characters are experiencing the same memory lose as Hunter.

The book wraps up fairly quickly. The ending is very action-packed and answers a lot of questions, but ends on a major cliffhanger .  The cliffhanger is probably my biggest gripe with this book. Now I won't spoil the ending but the book ends just before the real action starts, which leaves me feeling as if this book was a prequel instead of the first book in a series.

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Michael Vey: The Prisoner Of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans Review

The Prisoner of Cell 25 Cover Page

Michael Vey: The Prisoner Of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans is a book about children with superpowers, and to be honest it sucked me right in.   The best thing for me about this book is that the characters feel real. They all have problems and flaws that they try to overcome, and have one or two things that they excel at.  For example, Ostin, Michael's best friend, is socially awkward but very smart. Another thing that great about this book is that the superpowers are fresh and original.  Never before have a read a book where most of the characters are electric.   Plus, this book actual gives a plausible reason as to how these kids got there powers and why an organization wants them.

Richard Paul Evans also perfectly balances the mix of action and character development. We get to learn about the characters before the fighting started, and got frequent breaks in the action to learn the characters feelings and reactions.

I really liked the characters and the powers, but  while I was reading this I felt as if I seen the story before. It seemed to lean heavily on movies like the X-Men or shows like Heroes were suddenly ordinary  people learn they have powers and then have to save the world or bring down an organization.

If your looking for a book that has realistic characters and a plot that will suck your day away look no further, but if you like your story totally original than look elsewhere.

My Rating:

  

Death Sentence(Escape From The Furnace) by Alexander Gordon Smith Book Review

Death Sentence Cover Page

Death Sentence by Alexander Gordon Smith is the 3rd book in the Escape From the Furnace series.  All the Escape From the Furnace books offer a unique blend of horror and dystopia genres. If you haven't read the other books in the series I seriously recommend that you do as many times in this book you will have no clue what the characters are talking about if you having read the past books. 


Just a quick recap: Alex's tried to escape twice from the furnace prison twice now. His last attempt landed him in the warden's hands. Now, the warden wants to turn Alex into a Blacksuit, one of the prisons inhuman guards.  


In Death Sentence, Alex goes through the operations to become a Blacksuit. Will Alex ever remember who he was after the operations are done, or will he become what he hates most? Also the big question looms, will Alex ever escape? 


Death Sentence is a very fast-paced book. If action packed books are your cup of tea, then look no further.  Bullets may well go flying around the corner and you never know what to expect. Also, this book shows many different medic experiments gone wrong which may well give you nightmares.  One last thing that I like about this book is that the reader is finally able to see how the Furnace came to be. 


One thing I don't like about the book is that the world seems very unrealistic. Would modern-day Britain allow the Furnace to be built, even if there were huge gang riots and people were killed. Also, wouldn't a government inspector visit the prison and see the bad conditions and the medic experiments? 

My Rating:

  

People's Republic by Robert Muchamore Review

People's Republic Cover Page 

Robert Muchamore is one of my favourite authors mostly because his books are action-packed and realistic. People's Republic is the newest spin-off book from his cherub series.  If you haven't read any cherub books, the book's all revolve around a British Goverment Agency called Cherub. Cherub trains kids to become spies because, well, nobody suspects the kid next door is spying on them.

Ryan, 12, is a Cherub agent that is fresh out of basic training and is really hoping that he gets a big mission. Well at the start of the book he gets his wish. Amy Collins, a returning character, needs someone to help her infiltrate Aramov Clan, an elite criminal agency, and Ryan is the man for the job. To do this, he goes to California to try to befriend Ethan, who's grandmother is the leader of this criminal organization.

Across the world in China, Ning is a rebellious student who is participating in her school's parents day. When her alcoholic mother shows up, she nows something is wrong. When they get back to their house, her stepmother murders a cop, so they have no choice but to run. Her journey takes her many places, but will she ever reach her goal of getting into Britain.


As always, Robert Muchamore charter's feel real. People's relationship's are complicated, and everyone may have different motives for doing the same thing.  Also, the character's that are kids act like kids. They fool around, get into trouble, and sometimes act without thinking.  Robert Muchamore balances the character development with an action-packed plot.  With these kids, you never know when a fight is going to break out, or when something will go absolutely wrong.

One thing I don't like about this book is the split narrative. It always seemed that when something exciting happened in one plot,  the story would suddenly switch to the other plot.  Some readers might like this set-up, but I've never really liked when a story switches from one character to another. Also, although these kids act like kids, they seem cold and not affected by violence. Is it just me, or should seeing someone tortured mess up your mind a little.


Other than these minor gripes, it is a great book, and reminds me of the earliest Cherub books. I look forward to the other two books in the trilogy.

My Rating:

Rip Tide Review

Rip Tide by Kat Falls Title Page

Rip Tide by Kat Falls is a sequel to Dark Life. If you haven't read Dark life I'll fill you in really quick. The ice caps have melted and alot of land has been flooded, causing people to live in "stack-cities".  So, some people have the bright idea to move out sea, living on big floating rigs called townships. The people who live on townships are "surfs", while "settlers"  are people who live on the ocean floor and farm crops.  Ty, the protagonist and narrator, is a settler by birth and has lived on the ocean floor his whole life, and so, like all other children who live under the sea for long enough, has a "Dark Gift", which is basically a superpower.  Ty's is biosonic, which means he can talk to sea creatures, and see in the pitch dark, kinda like aquaman.

Basically in the last book, Ty meets a person who lives in a stack-city named Gemma. She's trying to find her brother so she can go live with him, as she no longer wants  to live in an orphanage. Long story short, she crashes, Ty finds her, and they go back to Ty's home were they meet the Seablite gang. The Seablite gang ends up deflating, yes deflating, a house. Ty and Gemma decide to do a little work and find out were the gang is. They go to fight the gang, but find out the that Gemma's brother, Shade, is actually the leader of the gang.  They let the outlaws go, and everyone should be happy.

Well in Rip Tide we find out that it okay  until  Ty and Gemma find an anchored township with a bunch of dead surfs. They call the Seaguard, which is like the police, to investigate and find out that 3 townships have gone missing in the last 3 months. The next day, when Ty's parents go to trade with the surfs they kidnapped. Ty and Gemma try to stop them but fail as the surf's sub is state of the art, which to Ty is strange because the surfs are dirt poor. Maybe it isn't the surf's who kidnapped his parents?  They tell the Seaguard, but to Ty it seems as if they aren't doing enough. What do they do? Well, Gemma's brother Shade is boxing on Rip Tide, an old oil rig turned town, were it turns into an action packed race for survival.

Kat Falls writes an action-packed book. From chapter one, Ty is risking his life as he goes out of the sub and comes face to face with a giant squid. The action doesn't stop from they, as they are chased, attacked, and in one case put in a cage with a crocodile.  One thing I love to see more of in this book is world building. It seems like a very interesting world, but Ty never stops and really explains something looks, or how it works. Also, The romance of this book seemed a little forced. One second they were friends and the they were explaining how they loved each other and kissing.

In the end, Rip Tide was a short, action-packed book that will have you. I mean in what other book can you find people who live under the sea,  kids with superpowers, and a fight with a crocodile?



My Rating: