Angry Birds Space

Is there really anyone out there that hasn't heard or even played Angry Birds at this point? By now I'm sure everyone gets how it works: just pull the slingshot to the left and release and away your bird goes. The single touch-screen input sends your bird hopefully on a collision course with the evil pigs. Angry Birds has always been one of my top games being very simple and polished, but after several hundred levels and multiple different Angry Bird season games it's beginning to be a bit stale and boring.

Space of course features two major innovations: Gravity Wells and Zero Gravity. In Zero-G, the birds seem to only fly in a straight line. Hitting a dynamite box sends debris flying in almost every way possible, while nudging a green swine sends it floating through space. Most of the stages in Angry Birds Space feature tiny moons that have their own gravitational pull that will suck in birds and pigs/objects alike. This can pose a challenge when obstacles are in the way, but as long as you're an adaptive player you can use the gravity effect to your advantage to hit hard-to-reach pigs or dynamite. In Angry Birds Space sometimes you'll even has to sling birds around a planet to attack from the back.

Rovio's newest sequel is the first to actually feel like a sequel as sad as that sounds. Angry Birds Space adds new elements to the game right from the start and that's always a plus, and with the increase in difficultly later in the game with more planet gravitations it's a challenge and with 60+ stages and more coming soon it's almost too much to ask for. Not to mention the two new birds introduced into the game which keeps the stages fun and fresh. A square like ice bird can be detonated like the black bird to freeze any blocks or near by pigs to set up the little blue bird for a clean shot. The Yellow dive-bombing bird has also had a little tweak in color and use, instead of doing a straight dive you can now send him anywhere on the mission just by tapping the target, this includes going backwards. Angry Bird Space adds a new style of Physics to the game and it does kinda bring down the experience down a little. you can fling the same bird five times and have totally different results which can be very frustrating when you want to snipe the last pig on a level.

Should you buy it?

Angry Birds Space is the kick in the pants Rovio needed. Everyone was burnt out on the same birds flinging and flying concept. Angry Birds Space however brings a whole different idea to the table, it's action filled and you need a bit of skill combined with luck in order to complete missions and with 60+ levels it's going to take you a long time to beat, but an entire third chapter with 30 more levels is only available via a $.99 purchase (in my opinion I wouldn't get it). Additionally, the "Mighty Eagle" isn't as Mighty anymore. The level-cleaing bird used to be a one-time purchase, but now can only be purchase as a consumable aka you can only use it so many times*. Each 20 uses of this last resort now costs player an additional $.99 bummer...

Beat Sneak Bandit

Beat Sneak Bandit

Iphone/Ipad

Price - $2.99

Beat Sneak Bandit is the only game in my library that requires the player to have a certain level of thought before moving his character as well as having a sense of rhythm. The game itself starts with a short caption to breifly explain why your charcter is a bandit. The story goes that where is an evil millionire, that he has stolen all the clocks in the world, his name ironically is 'Evil Baron Von Clockface' and the main objective is to get as many clocks as you can while not getting caught.

Beat Sneak Bandit combined the challenge of a puzzle with the simplicity of a one finger tap to move your character. The whole experience of the game is that to be remembered, the beats are different and varied from each level and that provides a little toe tapping fun as you try to collect all the clocks.

The gameplay of Beat Sneak Bandit is an area where no puzzle game has gone before. Beat Sneak is very challenging in that fact that if you screw up your beat you will instantly destroy any clocks that are on the same floor as you. As well as if there is a security guard he will easily discover you if you don't move quick enough. the main idea of the game is to collect all the clocks on the level without getting any destroyed or getting caught. While some of the puzzles are frustrating and not as clever, Later levels rely on complex network of teleports and wheels to get you to your destination. Beat Sneak Bandit shines the brightest when players have to use their logic and sense of rhythm to complete the mission.

Should you buy it?

One word, yes. Simogo really showed how to create a true master piece that is mind boggling but remain polished. The game itself is very original and a lot of fun to play around with, it's a perfect example of presentation and how to get the gamer really involved, and with the corky sounds it's a extremely fun game. while there are over 65+ stages you can tap your way through at a price of $2.99 it's a for sure steal.