Ten Android games
It's Play time
Product Round-up Not everyone will agree with me that the Nexus 7 tablet is nigh on perfect but I can't imagine anyone seriously questioning its ability as a gaming machine. With a quad-core CPU and a 720p IPS screen, we're off to a good start. It's also the perfect size and weight to hold in both hands but still give your thumbs free range to activate the controls without risking cramp.
Since it landed on the doormat a few short weeks ago, I’ve been playing more games and for longer than on any Android device I’ve owned or tested. Admittedly, not all the titles are currently Nexus 7 compliant, but here are my current recommendations for some summer ‘droid gaming to keep you occupied when the rain falls.
Amazeballs
Just because Android devices have G-sensors doesn’t mean they have to be used. Frankly, I avoid games like the plague that require I hold my device just-so to play them. Here, to move your ball through the vertical labyrinth, you use two buttons to rotate the game arena left and right about its vertical axis. For me, the result is far more satisfying than having to tilt your device.
Early levels are as simple as manure but as you advance things get tricky: you have to swap between colours (often while in freefall), dodge crushers and resort to the slow-mo option with ever greater frequency. With no zoom-out option you are never entirely sure what’s around the next corner – or over the next cliff edge to be more accurate – but then that’s half the fun.
Reg Rating 85%
Cogs
Cogs is a retro digital take on that old favourite puzzle of sliding tiles around to move a vacant square from one place to another. The difference here is that you are working with steam pipes, cogs and other steampunk odds and sods and in 3D. 3D? Yes indeed. Apply two fingers to any of the shapes and they rotate about all axes so you can see how to pipe steam from one side to drive a set of gears on the other and onto a pair of wheels on the third.
As always the real fun is in the details – moving gears to work two bell clappers is easy, doing it so the clappers strike in perfect unison is the tough part. With 50 puzzles, plus time and move restricted modes, there’s a fair amount of playtime on offer. Yet for a casual gamer, the full asking price is a bit steep. If you just want a taster, the first 10 levels are free in a demo version. After playing them, I coughed up for the full version and didn’t feel short-changed.
Reg Rating 80%
Next page: Dead Trigger
COMMENTS
Better than all the aforementioned games:
ScummVM and a bunch of old point and clicks. I really don't know why developers aren't making native adventure games for Android already, the ergonomics are ideal for it.
Machinarium
> but I found this puzzler extraordinarily difficult and was constantly rummaging about on the web for walkthroughs
Use the little book icon on the menu. You play a little maze game with the key in order to unlock the book which then gives you useful hints.
Don't be put off by the the fact that the game can be challenging; the music, the art work and the way the story is told is absolutley superb.
Missing a few points.
Some goodies on the list but your review missed massive factors.
Strike fleet omega is a freemium game, impossible to progress after a while because upgrades cost. You have to unlock mega credits (cube like things) and you get maybe 2 or 3 in later levels, if you are quick and good. However you need 40 or so to buy chepaest upgrades (try an artillery ship to level 3, or buy the advanced fighter carriers)
It is only thanks to peer pressure that replaying early levels unlocks 'material' allowing a replay value, otherwise you wouldn't be able to progress or upgrade either. And replaying early leavels actually require you to spend mega credits on the doomsday weapo as a demonstration on how to use it. Seriously bad game if you don't want to spend real money on a suppodesly free game.
Now I support free games, but I worked it out that it would be over 20 quid if you want to be able to upgrade and but enough to get the all the ships.
Radiant HD as well is a must purchase or you will struggle, half those turrets you show in your screen shot are a purchase only affair with unlock packs. Only a quid each or so, but there are 5 or 6 of them.
I thnk the main thing is...
I think the main thing for tablet/phone gaming is that it's something to fill dead time - "I have 40 minutes until my flight boards, what shall I do with this time?"
To that end, IMHO games need to be:
1) quick. I should be able to complete a game or two during that time
2) resumable - when they say "group 4 may now board" I need to be able to shut the game down without losing a great deal of work.
3) absorbing, but not too absorbing: it should entertain me but not keep me from hearing the previously mentioned boarding announcement.
It seems that many of the games in this article meet those requirements, which is good.
And another..
Don't forget 'Great Little War Game' and its follow-ups.
My girlfriend is always complaining that I spend more time playing this than talking to her. But then, pretty much anything is better than talking about fluffy kittens / pretty dresses / celebrities, or whatever the hell else it is that women talk about.
