Psvitalife

BADLAND: Game of the Year Edition is a multi-award-winning side-scrolling action adventure game with innovative physics-based gameplay, deviously creative levels and stunning atmospheric graphics and audio. Redesigned for consoles and built on the beautiful, hand-painted graphics of the original with enhanced Full-HD visuals. The controls have been expanded for the analog stick and triggers, a change that each level of the game has been carefully tuned to accommodate. Featuring over 4 times more content than the original did when it was launched. It has over 15 hours and 100 levels of single-player story content and 100 co-op and 27 multiplayer death-match stages in an up-to-four-person local multiplayer mode. Good: beautiful backround visuals and sound, very atmospheric, easy to play, but occasionally challenging. Bad: ...Land Verdict: whoever has played the original simply has to try this brand new completly revamped version. Everything that made the original great is still there, just made better.

Experience the addictive gameplay of old-school arcade favourites, updated and improved for the 21st century! Unique retro-futuristic sound and graphics, player responsive difficulty, and a subtle system of tactics combined with classic gameplay make Ultratron a fun and hypnotic arcade blast. The last human has been slain by evil killer robots. You are the one remaining humanoid battle droid. Your mission: avenge the human race! Boost your battledroid with powerups, buy cute but deadly pets in the shop., and take on the four giant boss 'bots of the Apocalypse - Ieiunitas, Bellum, Lues and Letum! Good: Fun,Twin-stick, shooting action, bright, sharp neon color scheme, real classic arcade feel Bad: as is the case with most twin shooters, it get repetitive, but take that as your queue to jazz things up by purchasing some upgrades! Verdict: any fan of old-school shoot em up alien/robot fare will full enjoy this title, it's simple, fun, anybody of any age can just pick this up and let it rip!

You are Mudokon champion Abe, and his partner Munch, in Oddworld’s 3rd game, using psychic powers, cool power-ups, and special abilities to deliver payback as they reclaim the last gabbit eggs on Oddworld, which have been packaged in a can of gabbiar. Experience the classic Munch’s Oddysee in HD!. Improved graphics and sound make for an even more thrilling ride! Play as the Munch the Gabbit as he hops and swims his way to bringing his species back from extinction. Good: one of the most well-done remakes I've seen in years, completly redone graphics and ****: if you are new to the series or the "Oddworld Universe" like yours truly, you may be a bit lost, but once you walk around a bit and get a feel for the characters,you'll be right at home.Verdict: if you consider yourself a veteran of Oddworld games, this is a no brainier, a fresh complete re-make of a classic title, almost a brand new game compared to the original, you can't possibly miss this title. And if you are a newbie, this would be the perfect "jumping on point" especially for Vita owners, all of the abilities of the handheld are shown in full force in Munchs Oddysee HD!Leave a comment below and tell us what you thought of Munchs Oddysee HD!

Take your superpowered rat on a quest for power and revenge on Playstation Vita! Your are Ethan, a rat hit by meteors granting him telekinetic powers and the ability to stop time and move stuff around him. Now he is looking for more meteors that fell in the area to gain more power and get payback on his neighbor who destroyed his home! Freeze time and manipulate objects all around the map with infinite possibilities: solve puzzles however you choose there is no hand-holding (after the initial tutorial of course). During the course of navigating this time-stopping platformer,?you will die a few times, but it will only make you feel that much better as you progress further. The game is difficult, but not the hair pulling kind, plus you respawn as soon as you die so no worries. Eventually, you'll even start to like tourturing the poor little guy. Ethan's Telekinetic powers use real time physics. You will be able to pause time and move objects around to solve puzzles and build the solutions you want. Each level can be solved in a variety of ways. Over 50 levels and 3 worlds await you. For all you completionist types, finding all the meteor fragments, and 100% of the achievements and secret bonuses. Is going to be a real chore to keep you busy for weeks!. Time-attack, fragment collection and other modes only add to Ethan's replay value! The online leaderboards will be the final destination for those who wish to beat your friends and claim mousey, meteor hunting superiority! Good: clever level layout, fun story, replay value Bad: difficultly of at times, but it's no deal breaker Verdict: radioactive rat, superpowers, time stopping, and a smart game that keeps you coming back for more, what more do you want?

Get ready for some classic arcade shoot em up action as Project Root blasts its way to Playstation Vita! Indy dev OPQAM and partner Reverb Triple XP brings us Project Root for PlayStation Vita, A whole new take on the shoot ‘em up (SHMUP) genre, Project Root is cross-platform and cross-buy for Sony consoles, allowing you to buy the game only once and play anytime and anywhere using home consoles, or your PS Vita. Project Root largely consists of fast-paced, shoot ‘em up style,arcade action, charging players with the task of taking out multiple targets, both on ground and in the air, while at the same time dodging a ridiculous amount of on-screen enemy projectiles. With eight unique and wide-open free-roam levels to fight through and light RPG upgradable weapons and armor to use along the way, you will take the role of rebel ace Lance Rockport who flies the F-72 Zonda hover fighter against the evil Prometheus Corporation, which seeks to control the world. And all you can do to fight back, is to keep on shooting!. The overall story is that you are the typical lone pilot "raging against the machine", that's all you need to know. Camera view is top-down with no option to pan or zoom, all you can do is turn 360 degrees, but you can't go higher or lower. But even within those limitations, the game is beautiful honestly. Graphics are sharp, detailed trees sway left-right to reflect the wind blowing, explosions of fuel tanks are huge and really have a Hollywood action movie feel to it. Controls are simple, right stick to turn, left stick to move, shoulder buttons to shoot, square button for special weapons. Easy game to pick up and play anywhere you are. The music is intense, there's an immediate sense of urgency to every level, but it flows very nicely with the theme of the game. The effects are the best I've seen in a top-down SHUMP in since the "****" series. Love those explosions!. Special weapons come in the form of weapon drops, including missiles and lasers. There are also assist weapons like shields and EMPs which are all upgradable via XP Points. Good: constant shooting action, great effects, easy to upgrade weapons, simple controls Bad: ability to Zoom in/out for detail, or Auto-aim would've been useful Verdict: Project root, brings a whole new level of depth to the SHMUP genre. Any fan of arcade classics or top-down shooters should give this one a shot.

Head back the lab and revisit your old clone buddies for this excellent stealth platformer for Playstation Vita. Originally titled "Stealth Bastard" on the PC Version, the original "Stealth Inc" started out as a small project released in 2011 and went on to sell over half a million copies across multiple console and mobile gaming platforms including PSN and iOS. Curve Digital released "Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones" for PlayStation Vita on April 7,2015 (US). The game is priced at $14.99 and is Cross Buy on PlayStation. Game of Clones combines puzzles, platforming and stealth elements all in one. Hiding in the shadows, hacking computers, robots and getting blown up by lasers and/or falling to your death will become a normal thing and almost serves as a right of passage as you learn the mechanics of the game early on. This sequel takes everything that made the original great and fun and expanded the games world even further, including a fully explorable, world, brand new gadgets, a new level editor which can then be shared/played by others online and all-new customisable hats. What grabbed me the most about this sequel was the Improvment in the music department, there was nothing wrong with the tunes of the original. But it seems as though specific attention was payed to make the audio experience as deep and immersive as the rest of the game, the main menu theme being my personal favorite among the soundtrack. Control-wise nothing much has changed, which is a good thing. Run, jump, duck, pull/push is a simple reliable setup best left un touched, especially for returning players. I noticed a the difficulty increased a tic, even during the early levels, but nothing is impossibly hard. You just need to screw up, die, and next time, step back and think harder. The story I'll admit, I didn't pay much attention to, just that some scientist let the clones loose in the lab, and from there you are off to the races,During the tutorial, promts helpfully placed on the walls as you progress give you tips on the controls and how to proceed. (Like in the previous game), and they are worded in a way as though the clones creators are talking to your character, helping you along the start of your journey. It's easy to stay hidden once you know the layout of any paticular map, promts on screen, as well as the color of your clones goggles indicate how well concealed you are, green is good, Orange is caution, red is bad. Really all you need to know. Good: smooth graphics, simple controls, improved customization (via level creator) Bad: game gets more difficult early and you will need to play closer attention to on-screen hazards. Verdict: if you played the original, this is a no-brainer, Game of Clones is twice as big, more customizable experience, deeper, richer gameplay, while maintaining the same simple controls. It's just as easy on the ears as it is on the eyes, just not "easy" as in Difficulty. But veterans will already be familiar with the terrain.

Pull up a chair and put on your thinking cap for the "smartest" game ever to hit the PS Vita Sketchcross began Development in June 2014 by Spiky Fish Games (based in Arizona). Four months later they had already created an Alpha version. In October 2014 the team recieved SCEA approval and started full development for an early 2015 **** April 28th Spiky Fish Games, released Sketchcross in The US. Sketchcross is a logic picture puzzle game. Similar to Sudoku and Crosswords players are given clues and must use them to fill the grid. In Sketchcross, puzzles form a picture, that can help players quests to solve puzzles. The numbers on the rows/columns are groups, the value of those numbers is the amount of connecting blocks in that group. Each group must be separated by at least one blank space. Sketchcross launches with 50 puzzles featuring a variety of subjects and sizes. Small puzzles are 5 by 5 while the largest puzzles are 30 by 30. The game offers 3 difficulty settings allowing for casual play as well as beat the clock play. Difficulty also dictates the use of the Check Button which you can use to find any errors or get hints. Sketchcross also has Frenzy mode which is a randomly generated mode. Frenzy mode gives the player just 30 seconds to finish a 5 by 5 puzzle. PSN leaderboards are integrated into Sketchcross allowing for players to view their best time against the world and their friends. Good: exciting new take on the complex, puzzle game genre. Bad: If you are new to "Sudoku", you may be kind of lost at first. Verdict: If you are a fan of puzzle games you should have no problem picking this one up as it will be right up your alley. Sketchcross is mobile-friendly, easy to play (once you know how). And can be enjoyed anywhere! Leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Avengers Assemble once again!, as your favorite heroes return to the tables for yet another pinball classic! The only thing better than Zen Studios "original" pinball properties is the care and detail they place upon their "Licensed" tables. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" is certainly no exeption. With the movie right around the corner, Zen Pinball 2 brings us an awesome table pack to go as a companion piece to our soon to be blockbuster experience. The pure awesomeness of Zen tables overall has already been covered in previous reviews, so I'll just cover the awesomeness of this paticular table. The one different thing I noticed right away this time around was the inclusion of difficulty levels! At the start of the table, you are given the choice of easy, normal, or hard, (I'll take easy of course!). Second, you can choose to either play the prelude, or skip it if you are already familiar with the terrain. Third, "targets view" enables you to take a quick peek at which Avengers are available to spring into action if your timing is just right!. The heavily theme-driven nature of each table is one of my favorite features of the series. Which is why I was pleased to see that the ball launcher they chose was none other than the glove of Iron-Man, which contained a "palm cannon". The Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron table lets players relive the movie, follow Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye as they battle Ultron and his infinite army of clones. The table features a minigame for each Avenger, including a first-person sharpshooting mini-game starring Hawkeye,and a spectacular aerial melee combat sequence between Iron Man and Ultron. The depiction of the movie characters on the table, the different colored balls to represent each Avenger, the voice acting (Ultron in paticular), everything just screams out detail and effort. Which has been Zen Studios claim to fame since day one. Good: adjustable difficulty, great voice acting, realistic ball physics Bad: you won't like hulk when he is angry Verdict: Pinball enthusiasts should eat this one up as usual. Marvel fans who want a fun hero-themed gaming experience starting your favorite characters should give this one a try. Leave a comment and tell us what you think of this table?

Avengers Assemble once again!, as your favorite heroes return to the tables for yet another pinball classic! The only thing better than Zen Studios "original" pinball properties is the care and detail they place upon their "Licensed" tables. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" is certainly no exeption. With the movie right around the corner, Zen Pinball 2 brings us an awesome table pack to go as a companion piece to our soon to be blockbuster experience. The pure awesomeness of Zen tables overall has already been covered in previous reviews, so I'll just cover the awesomeness of this paticular table. The one different thing I noticed right away this time around was the inclusion of difficulty levels! At the start of the table, you are given the choice of easy, normal, or hard, (I'll take easy of course!). Second, you can choose to either play the prelude, or skip it if you are already familiar with the terrain. Third, "targets view" enables you to take a quick peek at which Avengers are available to spring into action if your timing is just right!. The heavily theme-driven nature of each table is one of my favorite features of the series. Which is why I was pleased to see that the ball launcher they chose was none other than the glove of Iron-Man, which contained a "palm cannon". The Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron table lets players relive the movie, follow Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye as they battle Ultron and his infinite army of clones. The table features a minigame for each Avenger, including a first-person sharpshooting mini-game starring Hawkeye,and a spectacular aerial melee combat sequence between Iron Man and Ultron. The depiction of the movie characters on the table, the different colored balls to represent each Avenger, the voice acting (Ultron in paticular), everything just screams out detail and effort. Which has been Zen Studios claim to fame since day one. Good: adjustable difficulty, great voice acting, realistic ball physics Bad: you won't like hulk when he is angry Verdict: Pinball enthusiasts should eat this one up as usual. Marvel fans who want a fun hero-themed gaming experience starting your favorite characters should give this one a try. Leave a comment and tell us what you think of this table?

Put on your magic glove and defend your kingdom from the Krinkle menace with this tense tower defense title. "Krinkle Krusher" is a story-driven tower defense game where you play as a Magician using your powers, along with a magic talking glove "Mitty", to drive back the evil creatures known as the Krinkles, sent by the Krinkle King to take over the Kingdom. On one end of the map you have the invading Krinkle, on the other end, there is the Mage and Mitty holding down the fort and casting spells to keep the dark forces at bay. Those of you who have read my previous reviews may recall a title from a few months ago called "Get off my Lawn" about a cranky old man with a shotgun trying to keep literall "aliens" off his property. The concept here is similar, only this game is way more difficult. I would even go as far as to say this is the hardest tower defense game I've played. This is the "Flappy Bird" of tower defense. Visually, the game is nice to look at, the 3D graphical style is very well done here. The way the player views the map feels a bit limited though, only being able to go up and down. It would have been nice to be able to do 360 rotation, or pinch zoom in/ out. Just for the sake of detail. The spells to protect the kingdom are mostly performed via touchscreen. With a tap, you have the abilities to send bolts of lightening down on the enemy. Later on you can draw a line straight across to create a line of fire that will burn and deal damage to the Krinkle menace. As the levels progress you will unlock other abilities, such as being able to summon a food cart as a distraction while you prepare your next attack. Using the face buttons, you can switch up these attacks any way you choose. But be careful! If you over use any of your magic abilities they can become temporarily disabled. Good: visually pleasing, easy controls Bad: a bit too challenging, too early on Verdict: any collector of tower defense games will appreciate and enjoy this gem. The difficulty spikes early on, but the fun out weighs the challenge. Once you master all the magic spells, you won't be able to put it down!

Q*Bert returns and jumps his way into a whole new generation of gaming! On February 2015 Loot Entertainment in collaboration with Gonzo Games & Sony Online Entertainment (Daybreak Game Company) released a remake to a timeless arcade classic "Q*Bert: Rebooted", seen in its own animated series as well as a movie cameo in "Wreck it Ralph", fan response was so positive that the bigwigs at Sony Pictures could not ignore the renewed interest in the old-school arcade icon from the early 80s, who went went on to become one of the biggest games in history. "Q*Bert: Rebooted" is a tale of two games: there is the old-school 2D pixelated classic version you may remember from arcade machines in the 80s,same Qbert, same enemies & controls, everything untouched, exactly how you remember it (except for the addition of trophies). And then there is the "Reboot" part, the revamped version of the game which takes all the good stuff and makes it better. Everything from the graphics, character and stage design to variety of enemies has been redone for this generation. The graphics have been converted up from 2D to 3D, for both Qbert and the stages. Three new enemy characters have been added to the originals: Homer, Uppercut, and Treasure Chest. Seven new playable characters have been added that can be unlocked using bonus points earned during gameplay. Each character is based on the original Qbert, but has their own unique name, look, and "jumping" sound effect. Once you reach the point goal of each level, a bonus game is triggered where you have a short time limit to collie the as many "gems" as you can, these can be used to purchase the extra characters. Adding to the already rich replay value, Level Select is available across all levels that have been unlocked through gameplay. Let's not forget, 9 trophies are waiting to be won , 2 of which can only be unlocked in the "classic" version. The most obvious change in the "reboot" Being the stages switch from squares to hexagons, which help transition the games appearance from flat 2D worlds, to a a more "dynamic" feeling experience, and as a "happy accident", it makes every stage quite easier if you are a "veteran" of QBert. As you progress through the game, you may have to change the color of the blocks twice rather than, once, all while dodging, enemies, and holes in the ground, all while staying on the "play area". Remember to utilize the discs to grant you safe passage to the top of the "pyramid" and evade certain fall-death due to enemy pursuit. Controls can be accessed via the Left analog stick, or the D-pad, but for accuracy i suggest using the touchscreen to let Qbert know EXACTLY where you would you like him to jump next. The games sounds are pleasing to the ear, most of the sound effects are the same as the arcade version, just higher quality. Gameplay: 8 Bucks worth: 9 Effects: 7 Content: 8 Good: perfectly done reboot to a classic arcade game, everything from graphics,sound, and gameplay was improved Bad: the extra Qberts could have been given special abilities (enhanced speed, far jumps,etc.) not just changes in appearance Verdict: if you are an old-school gamer, or collector of Classic Arcade titles, Qbert: Rebooted needs to be on your roster.

PSVL Review #31 Get ready to "Rumble" on Ps Vita! "Jungle Rumble" is a rhythm-based puzzle game released in February 2015, by Boston indy studio Disco Pixel. Founded by Trevor Stricker, a veteran of AAA titles such as the NBA 2k series. You play as the "great spirit" of the Mofongo tribe of monkeys, assisting them against a rival clan of Red Monkey who keep stealing their bananas. Your job is to use the rhythm of the music to guide the monkeys along the map to coconuts which they may use as weapons againt their red enemies. But it's soon discovered that there is bigger "monkey business" at hand than rival primate factions, such as humans with bulldozers tearing up their rain forest. The first obvious thing that you may, or rather WILL notice, about this games which make it unique is the screen orientation: there have been games in the past that offer you the OPTION of playing the game using "vertical" screen orientation, but this is the first game that I recall, which requires you to play the game holding your Vita in the vertical position. It feels wierd at first and it takes some getting used to,similar to a console controller, most handheld gamers are used to having a "wide" device between their hands (and the Security that comes with). but once you start playing the game and you really get into it (which you will), you won't even notice the difference. The art style just screams made in the US. It reminds me very much of some Nickelodeon cartoon a kid would like. The entire design of the game is simple and easy to look at. Colors are sharp, and everything is "not too much, not too little" Controls are as simple as controls can possibly get. You simply move to the rhythm and tap the screen to tell your monkey minions where to go. In the beginning of the game there's a short tutorial showing you how many times to tap the screen to get your monkey to move, as well as how many taps to target enemies and throw coconuts. The music is practically the life of the entire game, without the smooth jungle tunes, there would be no "Rumble". The rhythmic beats act as your guide throughout the game, helping you along with your progress through the story, just follow the rhythm, and you are golden (your score will be as well). Possible moves will be hilighted on screen so you will never be lost as to your next move, but remember, your score is largely based on time, so use strategy, good timing, and think smart. This is one of those titles you will truly get good at once you finally, "become one" with the experience. Gameplay: 8 Bucks worth: 8 Effects: 7 Content: 7 Good: Cute cartoon style graphics, simple story, easy control scene Bad: my bananas are missing... Verdict: this is one of the best rhythm based games I've played in the past year, and anybody who collects this genre of game should pick it up from the PSN now.

This game is a double-edged sword, on one hand its a great game. One the other hand, it's an AWESOME game! "Aeterno Blade" is a 3D, side-scrolling, action packed, revenge quest. You a woman named Freyja, embarking on a epic journey for vengeance against Beladim the evil Lord of Mist who destroyed her entire village include her clan, but even with her powerful weapon, the Aeterno Blade, she still isn't strong enough to defeat him. Freyja enlists the help of Vernia, who teaches her what the Aeterno Blade is, how to use it, and how to unlock it's true power! Visually, the game is very pleasing to look at, the opening cinematic is beautiful and does a very good job of telling the story and letting you know who the main characters are. Usually when games switches from cutscenes to in-game graphics, there is a painfully obvious dip in quality, with "Aeterno" the transition is a lot smoother. Everything from the character models, light reflecting off the armor, sound effects, reminds you of a fictional Japanese movie with English subtitles. Music is slow and somber until enemies appear and "exiting stuff" happens, giving the player a sense of urgency to react quickly. As you progress through the game, you recieve various other kinds of assistance in your quest. Vernia will show up as you find new pieces of the "Aeterno Blade" to teach you how to use your new abilities, you will meet new "ally" type characters who will aide you in your journey. Freyjas abilities can also be upgraded to make her more skilled on the battlefield. Figuring out how to use the time-manipulating mechanics is where the game really shines. It combines elements of puzzle games and action platformers in a way never seen before. Gameplay: 8.5 Bucks worth: 8 Effects: 9 Content: 7 Good: great story, dazzling special effects,easy control scheme for combos Bad: the side scrolling makes the game world feel "flat" (as the case will all scrollers really) Verdict: if you enjoy good storytelling and hack n slash swordplay action, "Aterno Blade" is just the game for you.

"Minutes" game for Playstation Vita Video games, much like life, always boils down to a game of "Minutes". Released in February 2015, "Minutes" is a complex, puzzle game by one-man indy developer Red Phantom Games. Founded 3 years ago by a 17 year industry vet who, among many other gigs, has even worked at Codemasters And Sony!, so this guy knows how to make games! A stark departure from traditional puzzle games, "Minutes" is action packed in its own way,challenging you to use your brain at every turn. You play as a circle expanding and shrinking to squeeze your way through each map with the ultimate goal of reaching a "perfect score". But to do so, you must collect all of the point-accumulating orange bullets. While dodging the black ones which you negative points,quickly leading to a game over, at 60 levels in all, they only become harder as the game progresses. Graphics are as smooth as can be for a game consisting largley of circles and lines, and the music scores keeps you on you toes with some upbeat techno. "Mins" can be easily controlled using just the analog sticks: right to move, and left to change size. There is also a "Daily Challenge" which can be played online when (or if) the campaign become too easy for you. GAMEPLAY - 7 BUCKSWORTH - 7.5 EFFECTS - 7 CONTENT - 7 Good: unique idea, artsy feel,great music choices Bad: the circle/line dancing runs its course of "fun" long before the levels reach double digits Verdict: a challenging modern, puzzler to any gamer who is so inclined, great to play while waiting for an appointment...which you ended up scheduling because of the game.

Who are you? What are you? Where are you? Three very good questions asked at the beginning of "Nihilumbra", a unique platformer by BeautiFun games. Previously released in iOS and PC platforms, the game finally finds its way to Playstation Vita in January 27,2015. You are Born, a creature created from an dark anti-matter entity known as "The Void" which wants Born to return to it and pursues him throughout the game. Anything in its way will be consumed and destroyed. The void frequently sends creatures after you, which you must avoid in the beginning, but later on you will be able to fight back! Having previously been released on iOS, the controls are largely touch based and after being added to Vita, button functionality was added, and was a very nice transition, otherwise, touch controls are quick and responsive. Your character dosent engage in a huge vareity of moves aside from walking back and forth and jumping. The main feature of the game is being able to change the games environment through the use of color. There are 5 colors in all, to be collected at various points during the game. My prersonal favorite for example, is the color green, which after collected, can be placed on the surface using the touchscreen to make your character bounce higher than born can jump, making it possible to reach higher platforms. Different colors control new elements of the world, and can be used to either solve puzzles or defeat enemies. The games music is very dramatic and eerie sounding, giving you the feeling that you really are lost and don't know what's going on, or what to do, feelings echoed by the games narrator, who does a great job telling you the story and pushing you along. There are 5 worlds In total, each one increases in challenge and concludes with a twist which you have to complete the game to appreciate, but there is plenty of replay value to be had for certain!

Go fishing for a classic on Ps Vita! "Reel Fishing", a series of fishing simulation games started in 1996 for The original Playstation. The latest installment "Masters Challenge" was released in February 2015 for the PS Vita. You play as an un-named first-person character, visiting the old cabin you often visited with your father as a child, you go through his belongs hoping for someway to connect to your (presumably deceased) father, and you decide upon becoming as good a fisherman as he once was. Great story,and it's put together very well in the opening cinematic, you really do feel like that character, seeking to follow your fathers footsteps as a great fishermen. What follows after the intro is a selection screen where you choose your bait and fishing rod, a brief and simple tutorial basically showing you how to work the fishing poll,shoulder buttons move the boat left to right, left analog moves the fishing rod, and (once in the water) how to maneuver you bait to get the fish biting, after which you must follow a series of on-screen prompts to catch the fish. Mistakes, (of which I made plenty) lead to the fish "getting away" and you start from scratch. Graphics are very dynamic, really gives the player a sense of scope and depth, as if you are really standing at the foot of a lake, trying to catch some fish. The soft, reflective musical score does so much to contribute to the overall calm zen-like theme that carries throughout the game, no rush, no urgency, just relax and catch fish. The reflection of scenery off of the surface of the water being the nicest touch in the game, combined with the birds flying overhead and the sound of splashing water in the distance, you could easily consider this the best depiction of "nature" in video game history. Good: simple mechanics, beautiful graphics, easy story to follow Bad: fish catching gets a bit tricky, but isn't it always? Verdict: any regular fan of the series or fishing games in general need to add this one to the collection as they only keep getting better year by year and with each new generation. As far as obscure sports/hobby games go, you can't go wrong

In the genre of tower defense games, Final Horizon literally blows the competition out of the water, and into space! Released in December 2014, Final Horizon is a single-player, tower defense game by UK developer Eiconic Games. A new take on classic sci-fi titles such as Space Invaders which has never been done before. You play as a group of space explorers (presumably a search n rescue,or defense team) answering broken distress calls and traveling from planet to planet, constantly driving back a mysterious alien threat known as "The Swarm"(many of whom resemble large bees,scorpions,and spiders). To do so you must utilize the various hi-tech weapons at your disposal. Gadgets vary from missle launchers, lasers, and assault weapons. Every time you place a weapon you must wait for your "energy" to rise back up so you may place another tower before you are overtaken by the enemy, which is where the strategy element comes into play. It's also note worthy that your weapon towers can be destroyed if you take too long to make your next move,so choose both the weapon, and the location carefully. Guns are upgradable, and can even be "re-funded" in case you make a mistake, or need to switch your strategy. Graphics are just how they should be given the dark theme of the game. Music is soft and somber,always giving you the feeling that somthing bad happened,or will very soon. Stages are 3D and have a real cinematic feel (especially during kill streaks). You can pan, as well as zoom in/out at anytime you wish. Everything from explosions, weapons, to the enemy are very detailed. Most of the games functions can be completed via touch controls (which are very responsive), but the Analog sticks, and face buttons can also be used effectively. Survival mode is where the story truly shines. Pick a planet, enemy spawn rate, strength, and see how long you last. The game ends when your planet is overrun. Replay value is...well,very valuable, stretching across 15 planets, 50 levels, 100 objectives, and over 10 hours of gameplay. Enough to keep you playing until the next alien invasion. GAMEPLAY - 8.5 BUCKSWORTH - 9 EFFECTS - 9.5 CONTENT - 8 Good: constant action, sweet graphics, easy controls Bad: aside from distress communications, no characters involved in storyline Verdict: any fans of the tower defense genre will enjoy the unique concept of "Final Horizon". The never ending, shooting action and strategic gameplay, combined with the replay value will be more than enough to keep you coming back.

The sequel that surpasses the original, does a 5-star job on Vita! Joe Danger was released in September 2014 by British indy Dev Hello Games. An action-packed side scroller which combines elements of racing and platform games. You control the daring protagonist daredevil and traverse insane, timed levels, with the goal of completing enough objectives to advance. Joe Danger comes across with much comical cheer, with the main focus being on stunts and keeping top speed. The sequel, Joe Danger 2 was released Jan 13,2015 for the Ps Vita, and is everything the original was and tons more. Joe is now working with a movie director in Hollywood and is performing all the stunts on set of a new project. This movie contains mostly cliche action stunts involving chase scenes on various vehicles including motor carts, skis, and bikes. Over 10 hours of exclusive content,100 levels, 40 hours of gameplay and 20 vehicles await you! "Joe 2" is very pretty to look at,plenty of bright sharp colors. Graphics are solid and crisp. The variety of costumes and alternate characters is impressive,some very familiar faces "Sackboy", "Minecraft Guy",among others,and of course Joe himself,with a different costume to match every set he is on. Controls are smooth as silk, very easy to start stop/reverse, boost , and of course do tricks,including flips etc. Whether you are on the ground or in the air, all movements can be handled with a pro level of precision. Aside from the obvious smashing into a wall, the only mechanic in the game that puts you at a slight risk of failure is the occasional "balancing act", having to keep from leaning too far foward or back, but those of you who have played any Tony Hawk game are already familiar with this. The games music scores sound just like a cheesy 80s action movie (or like you are on the set of one). But there's a certain undeniable charm within that cheesiness. With the exception of crash & burn, pretty much everything you do earns you bonus points. Tricks and combos earns you bonus points and build up your boost meter, and speed earns you an even higher bonus. Keep landing flawless runs to add to your bonus multiplier and blow everybody in the leaderboads out the water! Adding to the already high replay value & customization options is the "Movie Maker" which allows you to create,edit and share your own stages with other players as well as play your creations yourself! Good: Graphics,various choices of costumes/characters,fluid controls,replay value, tons of bonus content. Bad: in certain situations/vehicles you can lose balance easily if you land awkwardly or lean too far. GAMEPLAY - 8 BUCK'S WORTH - 9 EFFECTS - 9 CONTENT - 8 Verdict: Joe Danger is the perfect mixture of platform adventure and arcade racing action. And as far as sequels go, the folks at Hello Games did an excellent job.

"War is hell",but fortunately,it is fun once again thanks to "Tiny Troopers: Joint Ops",brought to us by the good folks at Wired Productions. Joint Ops is a combination of Tiny Troopers and its awesome sequel Tiny Troopers 2: Special Ops, previously released on mobile devices. Joint Ops was released on October 28th for PS Vita, the same day I was thrilled to receive a copy to review. Story: They choose to go the straight-forward route with the story but what they did,they did well,my guess is they assumed (correctly) that for games such as this,people don't pay much attention to the story,they just want get to the action. You are the ring leader of a small ragtag group of child-sized soldiers tasked with the duty of stopping a rouge nation from acquiring nuclear capability. To do so you must invade enemy turf , and do what troopers do best! Gameplay: Coming from a medium such as mobile/cellphones, it should come as no suprise this is an arcade-style, twin-stick shooter, but the way the controls were ever so slightly tweaked for the Vita adaptation was done masterfully. If you were familiar with this series previous mobile entries then you should have no trouble picking this up on Vita. Left stick moves your guys around, right stick shoots, square to duck from explosions (the animation for which we find hilarious!) You can't make a arcade game anymore simple,yet any more enjoyable. You may be reminded of why you enjoyed the SOCOM Fireteam Bravo series so much back in the PSP days. This game is equally as much fun to play. The teamwork mechanics don't require as much micro-managing, because your guys just follow your lead and do everything you do. Fallen comrades can be revived,upgraded with better camo,more powerful weapons, and given special abilities such as increased speed,using in-game currency which you earn through your progress on the field. Big weapons such as air strikes and bazookas are activated by using a drag-and-release control over the desired target. The default camera view is "top-down", but you can zoom in for detail by "un-pinching" the screen and zoom-in by pinching. Graphics: The games graphical quality is solid. Everything is detailed,you can clearly tell the trees,grass,and sand apart. Your fellow soldiers are seemingly generated at random, giving you different names, looks and facial expressions each time, (only their height stays the same,which is funny). The comic book/storyboard style cutscenes are solid,reminds me of an animated cartoon movie a kid or young adult might enjoy,as well as us grown-ups. Sound: There isn't much talking during gameplay,but the voice work during cutscenes is well acted. Shots and explosions all sound accurate,and are well timed. The *BOOM* really gives you the satisfaction after taking out a mine field,or a small enemy tower fortification. Flamethrowers, tanks,etc. all sound how they should sound. Overall: Tiny Troopers: Joint Ops is a fun bite-sized arcade adventure which will provide you with hours of gameplay,as well as replay value, and if the normal campaigns are not enough be sure to check out the "zombie" missions which is a survival mode where you face off against wave,after wave of the dead! So don't wait around,grab your **** your wallet (whichever is closer)-and get a copy of Tiny Troopers : Joint Ops from the PSN Store now! Good: Great action & graphics, fun controls, easy story to get into. Bad: These guys don't meet regulation height for military service (haha) Find more information about Wired Productions HERE

"Crimsonland" is an RPG-like top-down shooter by 10tons Ltd. an Indy developer based in Finland. Catering to the guilty pleasure of every type of gamer ever. Whether you are a hardcore gamer/expert/completionist or just a cell phone casual,this game has something for everybody. What started out as a PC game around 2003 is now available on steam and PS4, as well as this awesome device called Playstation Vita, for which I'm writing this review. (Find out more info on 10tons Games HERE!) You are a masked, un-named, body armor clad mercenary-looking type of character, in the middle of nowhere fending off against the zombie horde. Of course, the zombie horde later on becomes the spider, lizard, monster horde. Your job is to simply to survive until your progress meter is filled. You are given no shortage of help however, weapon pickups and health appear at random. After each level perks and weapons are unlocked, to be used later during the bonus game modes such as "survival" This game isn't pretty to look at, presentation is simple and gritty, yet effective, the creators clearly knew what type of look they were going for and they went for it all the way. My only gripe with the camera angle is that I wish the zoom in function (included with the hidden menu) could have brought you closer to the action, you always feel just a little too far away, but for the purpose of being able to show dozens of enemies on screen at once, it worked out perfectly. The explosions from the grenade/rocket launcher type weapons are huge,heat-seeking missles was a great addition. And oh yes, there will be blood...everywhere!, especially in the wake of the biggest weapon in the game, the Atom Bomb/Nuke Pickup! Audio wise, everything is literally "loud and clear", with multiple zombies moaning on screen it almost sounds like you are watching the walking dead, or playing an old resident evil game. Gun sounds are all on point. Your trusty AK47 never sounded so familiar. Crimsonland is a twin-stick shooter, utilizing a control scheme you should all be accustomed to if you have played an arcade game in the last ten years. Right stick to aim, left stick to move, R trigger to shoot, it's so simple you cannot possibly mess it up. Any weapon you pick up you can use until the ammo runs out, Health is indicated as a circle around the character, but this can be extended via "shield" pickup. Nukes and multi-directional weapon pickups activate soon as you touch them, saving you in some instances, clearing a path in others, but always useful. We here at PSVL are of the opinion that there will always be room for a classic top-down, twin-stick shooter in anyone's gaming collection. Whether you need to sharpen your skills, or if you simply long for the games of yester-year (only better) you can't go wrong with "Crimsonland". Good: Classic arcade style Huge explosions Big collection of weapons & perks Bad: Top-down view too high up

As one of the most unique game ideas i have come across,this actually caught off guard. This is why you should never judge a game based solely on graphics,you miss out on gems such as this. As much as I love my fighters,shooters,racers,and RPGs,the fact that someone actually sat down and thought this up gives one new faith in creativity of the videogame industry. The guys at Glitchy Pixel are to thank for this. (For more information about Glitchy Pixel click HERE! ) "Poltergeist: a Pixelated Horror" a puzzle/strategy haunting game, was released in late October 2014,right before Halloween. Originally made as a Steam title,but was later ported to the Playstation Vita. You are Henry Night, a man who loves his home so much he is protecting his beloved mansion even beyond the grave, by scaring away anyone who enters!. You are given a variety of ghostly powers to accomplish this (throwing ****.), but only a limited number of opportunities to use them,once you exhaust your power options,its mission failed. A certain amount of strategy and pre-planning needs to go into the execution of your haunting efforts. The game is mostly of the point-and-click variety,although you can also use the d-pad/analog sticks to navigate and X to confirm. There are 60 levels across 4 time periods, and at the end of each time period there are one or two "bosses" who are not scared so easily by ghosts. These can range from witches, ghost hunters, or a magician. Each level needs to be planned out based on the number of occupants in the house, and their location,as well as the powers at your disposal. The pixelated,dull-colored graphical style for a game like this have the desired effect.Even with the puzzle elements,it's still a horror game after all. As far a character detail you can see just enough to tell the facial expressions of the characters, that along with thought bubbles and 3-point meters next to their heads tells you if the occupant is "scared" or "okay". Once they are scared enough they run out of the house, screaming in horror. The mansion is presented in a "see-through the walls" 3/4 camera angle point of view,allowing the player to easy navigate the mansion to interact with all the rooms and people inside. Once you select a ghost power to use, you must next choose which room to use it in. Some instances require you to scare all the inhabitants of the house into one room, which can cause a challenge because they may have different levels of resistance to your haunting efforts. Musical scores here are masterful. Simple,yet exactly what is needed to set the tone for the game. You may be reminded of your favorite "haunted house" type of movie of the 90's. Good: Unique idea, perfect musical tones, easy to play. Bad: Could have used a camera angle change option in addition to the existing zoom in/out. Overall: "Poltergeist" scores all the points for originality, and **** doesn't want to play a ghost in a game,scaring people?. Whoever loves new concepts this game is just for you.

And the original ideas just keep on coming out of the artistic Indy sector. I'll admit,upon first glance I was lost, I had no Idea what I was supposed to be doing here. I never played a circus-themed game before, but once I got the hang of it, I couldn't put this game down for days! (For More about Kalio Click HERE! ) You are Nina, Ned,& Nelson. Three acrobats who literally "run circles" around rings using wheel-shoes and unicycles. The game starts out with Nina,the "agility" character as I see it she has the ability to jump over obstacles,later you unlock Ned,the "strongman", who has the ability to smack any enemies who get close,(except for elephants).Last but not least there is Nelson,the agile old man who can still "go" so to speak. Nelson has the ability to use the hook on his cane to pull levers and make areas of the level more accessible. All 3 characters can switch between in/outside rings at will, and switch between rings,as most of them will be connected. Later on,you gain the ability to switch between the three to perform certain tasks which one character can not, this has to require some strategy and pre-planning,it is a puzzle game after all. Your ultimate goal for each level is two-fold. You must collect golden stars scattered around the map in order to gain points,and also there is a key you must locate to use on the "exit ring" in order to leave once you are done. But it's not as easy as it sounds, just like you and your two allies, enemy characters have their own special abilities to stop your progress. Lions,magicians, stuntmen, it seems like the entire other half of the circus suddenly has it out for you guys!, but complete the tutorial,repeat the first level a few times until you are confident with your "ringformer" skills. RingRun has a very fun,Saturday morning cartoon type of presentation, smooth bright colors,everything reminds you of an old-school circus poster from the 80s,but animated. Each character has their own unique phrases, for when you are doing well,or building up score multipliers. My personal favorite is Ned's smack talk after he smacks an enemy! Good: Awesome concept,easy to pick up & play Bad: star points spread all over the map once hit. Overall: in what is hands down the most unique idea I have come across in a while,I would recommend Ring Run Circus to anybody's game collection just for the creativity alone. Now is the perfect time to support indie game companies to the fullest.this title in particular is the greatest show on earth!

As far as skating games go I grew up on the "Tony Hawk Pro Skater" series (as many of us did),I bought and played every edition to %100 completion. So when I heard the Vita was finally getting its own skating game,I figured I was in for a nice trip down PS2 memory lane and a few easy trophies along the way. Not so.I felt like this was my first time playing a skating game period! The guys across the pond at Roll7 have crafted a completely different skating experience,forcing the player to abandon what they thought they knew and start from scratch. (For more on Roll7,click HERE!) "OlliOlli" is a single-player skate boarding game released for the PS Vita in January 2014. Winner of many awards,among which was Gamespot's Game of the Month in January 2014,upon first glance, "Olli" may not seem like much of an award winner,but one must first look beneath the surface... The graphical presentation resembles that of an arcade action platformer I might enjoy anyway,but it's actually a 2D side scroller,which is the main thing that took me by surprise,"a side scrolling skate boarding game?,this will never work". Yet somehow,they pulled it off,to stunning effect. The urban backgrounds are similar to "cardboard cut-outs" of buildings you might see in an old school movie. Charming stuff like that. You can literally close your eyes while listening to the gameplay and it sounds like you are listening to a "modernized" skate boarding game,on a next-gen home console. From the wheels rolling,to the rail grinding,everything sounds as it should. All of the "metal on metal" noises are present. The sound and the animation of your character bailing made me laugh more than it should have. The game starts you out with a seemingly simple,standard tutorial section,but to those of you new to the world of 2D skating, may need to repeat a couple sections to make sure you have everything down (I myself spent enough time repeating tutorials to have completed the entire game,haha!). But once those are over, the kid gloves are off. Every level has 5 goals to unlock,and failing prompts you to start from the beginning. The main buttons you will be using are the X,shoulder buttons, and Left Analog Stick. But within that simplicity there is complexity,so make sure you stick this landings and stack up as many points as possible Good: Classic,arcade style,skating action Bad: more difficult than you might suspect Overall: fan of skating games will find "OlliOlli" to be worth a play,and you will definitely enjoy the sequel "Olliolli2" due next year!

As if we weren't already impressed enough with the high quality of their most recent entries: The Walking Dead & South Park, the folks at Zen Studios decided that it's wall-crawling time once again, only this time it's Marvel favorite "Venom" pulling the symbiotic strings for our pinball enjoyment! If I didn't know better I would say they have an artist up there making the actual tables for real. That's how much detail you notice,even the little things. The main thing I noticed right off is the "Carnage" prison in the middle of the table,right underneath the glass. From that point on,getting him outta there became my main focus (for me,it became the Carnage table haha!), excellent inclusion! Everything about these Zen tables tell a story,or contribute to the overall theme, like the buildings in the backround,the symbiote webbing surrounding the table,and of course,Venom and Carnage holding court center-stage. The voice acting for Spidey,Venom,and Carnage are spot-on. You will be reminded of "Amazing Spider-Man" animated series from the 90s immediately. I was expecting the carnage "jailbreak" to queue up some multi-ball unlock (which is my favorite), but I wasn't expecting to be taken to a different table for it,which was a nice surprise. Throughout the table you will notice numerous comic references if you zoom in (Anti-Venom). With the recently surfacing rumors of "Venom","Spider-Man 3", and "Sinister 6" movies planned for next year and beyond, one might think this is rather clever timing on the part of Zen Studios,so kudos once again. Good: Great attention to detail,awesome voice acting, good use of Carnage! Bad: Evil wins!!! Overall: Whether you are a pinball enthusiast, a casual who is just curious, or a collector of everything SpiderMan-Related, this is one pinball table worth adding to anybody's collection.

It's like "Once Upon a Time", only for grown-ups. That's the perfect way to describe The Wolf Among Us by Telltale Games. In keeping with their successful formula of intense,emotionally driven,choice-based gameplay, "Wolf" is a single-player graphic novel adventure, a prequel,based on the comic book series "Fables" by Vertigo Comics,(which is now a DC Comics property), Warner Bros. Is also involved with Distribution for the title. You are Bigby Wolf (the reformed "Big Bad Wolf"), the Sheriff of a secret community in Manhattan,New York called Fabletown,where all of the residents came to live after a mysterious mass-exodus from "The Homelands" from which all of our modern-day fairy tales originated. Those Fables who could not pass for human (like "Colin",one of the 3 little pigs) must either puchase a "glamour" a magical spell, which renders fables human to the "mundies" (fable slang for the "mundane" aka normal people). A shocking crime scene appears literally right on the front steps of our sheriff,sending him off on a long journey to find the culprit and find the truth,but it soon becomes not so simple as finding the bad guy... The game is of the point and click variety,making it easy to pick up and play no matter what entertainment medium you are familiar with (PC, Console,or Mobile). The control scheme is fairly simple,you walk and run, but the complexity comes as you begin interacting with the environment and the characters throughout the story. Similar to "The Walking Dead" the choices you make affects the outcome of the story later on,in addition, it's not just the story that changes,but also your characters personality and the other characters interactions with you. You can either use your detective skills OR let your wolf side come out and beat answers out of your suspects. But you must be careful, because your decisions may have unfavorable consequences later on down the road. The graphics in "Wolf" are cell-shaded, which should come as no surprised to anyone who has played a Telltale game. The animation and lighting,the use of colors and shadow,it has a real "neo-noir" feel to it, like you are watching a TV detective drama from the 80's, one of those "who done it" mysteries. It's usually nighttime,leaving only street lamps,moon light,and car headlights for illumination. The voice acting is nothing short of excellent, the most recognizable voice in the game being that of "Bluebeard", many think he is Clancy Brown,because of his vocal similarities to DCAU's Lex Luthor, but he is not. The rest of the characters sound exactly how you imagine for anybody who has read the comics.Everything else is clear,sharp and easy to hear, especially the gunshots. Good: Great storytelling,cinematics,use of light and colors Bad: No real explanation as to what/who caused the retreat from the "Homeland" Overall: This one is a true no-brainer,if you enjoy high quality visuals,deep character driven stories, a perfect mix of drama and action,then "The Wolf Among Us" is just up your alley.

It's a story you've heard a million times before: Queen Victoria (yes,THAT one!),tired of her queen duties and seeking excitement, sneaks on board a shuttle for Mars disguised as a man. After her arrival she and her shipmates are captured and forced into slaverey in the mines on the surface of the Red Planet. The Queen is left with no other choice but to pick up arms and fight her way to freedom,and back home to earth! ...Okay so maybe you NEVER heard a story like this before,and to some this story may LEGIT make no sense,but there is an undeniable charm in its presentation that will draw you in anyway,it worked on me! "Rock Boshers DX" is the second game by "Tikipod Ltd."-creators of the soon to be classic "Aqua Kitty",and these guys are already developing a reputation for unique ideas,strange stories,and super-retro graphical presentations/music. "Boshers" is a Retro arcade shooter adventure presented in a ZX Spectrum format that may remind you of old-school gaming consoles of the 80s. If you grew up playing Atari or Nintendo, then just go back in time a couple decades,find a nice comfy chair and you will feel right at home. Controls don't leave too much to the imagination,you can walk/run and shoot in 8 directions Sounds and music are of the classic 8-bit variety,which feels just right with the wacky tone of the game. The game starts you out on board the shuttle, which is pretty much a "tutorial mission" where you have to go from point A to point B,collect food,then go back. Everything is color coded, enemies are red,NPC's are blue,etc. Items and weapons are represented by colors as well, it's much easier to navigate the map once you get used to this color scheme,especially those who grow up during the last two console generations. Good: Classic,retro,presentation,and gameplay Bad: small character models,but I'll get used to it. Overall: Tikipod has done it once again,blessing us with yet another old-school styled gem. Happy Holidays from us here at PSVL!

This is a game that lives up to its name,this is truly one of the best portable RPG gaming experiences I've had. Brought to us by the creative minds of Tasty Poison Games,based outta South Africa. Pocket RPG is a dungeon crawling, action game with all 3D characters, areas,and enemies. You can take your pick between 3 character classes,all with different weapons,abilities, and powerups. (For more about Tasty Poison Games click HERE!) You start out choosing between between 3 main characters: the "hero" who wields 2 broadswords, an archer (with infinite arrows,of course),and the female character,a magician (also called a "Mage"). You pick a spot on the map and fight your way through hordes of monsters. On the way, keep an eye out for coins hidden in trees and treasure chests. Throughout your gameplay your character will "level up" making you stronger and giving you access to more powerful abilities and weapons. Once the map is complete,you can use the coins you earned to purchase shop items such as uniforms,and weapons. Pocket RPG started out as an iOS game and was later ported to Vita,the transition was made perfectly I believe. The one thing I like about iOS ports is that the control scheme is always simple, due to the lack of buttons. Once buttons are added, they usually go with twin-stick controls, left stick to move, right stick to aim/attack, simple. Good: variety of characters,huge maps,easy upgrade system Bad: could have used more attack options other than main weapons Overall: perfect example of what an iOS-to-vita port should look and play like. The ease of use and player friendly controls made this a smooth,simple, and fun experience from the start. Do what the sign below says... This is a game that lives up to its name,this is truly one of the best portable RPG gaming experiences I've had. Brought to us by the creative minds of Tasty Poison Games,based outta South Africa. Pocket RPG is a dungeon crawling, action game with all 3D characters, areas,and enemies. You can take your pick between 3 character classes,all with different weapons,abilities, and powerups. (For more about Tasty Poison Games click HERE!) You start out choosing between between 3 main characters: the "hero" who wields 2 broadswords, an archer (with infinite arrows,of course),and the female character,a magician (also called a "Mage"). You pick a spot on the map and fight your way through hordes of monsters. On the way, keep an eye out for coins hidden in trees and treasure chests. Throughout your gameplay your character will "level up" making you stronger and giving you access to more powerful abilities and weapons. Once the map is complete,you can use the coins you earned to purchase shop items such as uniforms,and weapons. Pocket RPG started out as an iOS game and was later ported to Vita,the transition was made perfectly I believe. The one thing I like about iOS ports is that the control scheme is always simple, due to the lack of buttons. Once buttons are added, they usually go with twin-stick controls, left stick to move, right stick to aim/attack, simple. Good: variety of characters,huge maps,easy upgrade system Bad: could have used more attack options other than main weapons Overall: perfect example of what an iOS-to-vita port should look and play like. The ease of use and player friendly controls made this a smooth,simple, and fun experience from the start.

Match 3 puzzle games have always been my favorite, match games period. From Tetris (back in the GameBoy days),to Bejeweled, Treasures of Motezuma (aka "TOM Blitz"), right to the modern day with "Sparkle 2" from 10Tons Ltd. Based in Finland, creators of another classic, Crimsonland, "Sparkle 2" is a pleasant award winning, bubble shooting, match 3 puzzler which approaches the genre from an angle which has only recently begun to be explored in that it's a match-3 game with a storyline. Based in a magical land, you are presented with a map where your task is to solve stages and work your way to discover ancient landmarks containing 5 magical keys, which once combined unlock a huge portal at the end of the map. (For more info about 10Tons click HERE! ) As you progress through the game, you unlock helpful powerups which assist you in your quest. These charms can vary from orb freezers, color changers, or slow down. ("Fire" was my personal favorite!). In addition to the main story campaign there are two more modes: survival and challenge. Having mostly touch controls dosent leave much to be learned which is a good thing, one can just drive right in, but alternatively,you can use the left stick to aim,and X to shoot. Otherwise, just simply point to the spot on the map you would like to shoot orbs. Graphics are rock solid, solid as the marbles. It almost looks like a very abstract-artsy kind of dream. The elemental effects from the power ups are all very satisfying when activated. The music is pleasant but not too distracting. Voice acting for the story narration is top notch. But once you become addicted, the cutscenes pretty much becomes skippable (i liked sticking around to hear about the area descriptions & key collecting however) Good: nonstop "match 3" action, great storytelling, awesome special effects Bad: feels repetitive,(which eventually every puzzler suffers from.) Overall: "Sparkle 2" is another great game from a developer that has turned out nothing but homeruns so far, so in all likelihood they won't steer you wrong.

Pinball revolutionized, once again! It seems as though whenever I speak of creativity and originality,another game comes along and knocks it out the park. This time it's ATLUS with "Rollers of the Realm"-a Pinball game,fused with RPG elements. Now,we have seen pinball games with storytelling elements before (curtesy of Zen Studios),but these guys go ALL the way there,making the games story and characters just as prominent as the pinball. Released in November 2014, Rollers of the Realm takes the concept of "themed",Story-esque, pinball and stretches it out across the entire game. Introducing you to a Fantasy Medieval world where a group of rebels are fighting to free their world from dark forces,using pinball. Each one of the games protagonists are represented by a pinball,and each ball has uniques abilities. Each one of the games 10 playable characters are swappable,but be warned,some may not be able to proceed due to certain limitations,(for example,in one area the Knights armor makes him too "heavy" to be used) forcing you to choose a lighter character. A certain degree of strategy is required as in any competitive pinball game. During your gameplay you will have to complete a series of goals in order to advance,as well as accumulate gold which is scattered throughout the stage.Treasure,such as gold (the in-game currency) is collected by making contact with it using the ball. If a specific character or group needs to be defeated,you simply hit them using the character you selected,so you must choose carefully!. Multiplayer bonuses can be unlocked and stacked up if you are good. Aside from the the character selections and the goal oriented nature of the game,"Rollers" is, at it roots, still a pinball game,and as such,it plays like one.Ball physics are smooth and believable,flipper mechanics are responsive and move how they should. One thing I personally appreciated about the games unique approach to the genre, among many things was the use of more flippers than normal. I've seen 4 flippers on one table before, but never 6 or seven! So points for innovation! The medieval theme gives the game a very classic artistic type of setting. I loved the art style used,in paticular the specific detail put into the characters faces. If I didn't know any better,I'd say they must have been based on contest winners. Music,storytelling and the voice acting all have that "epic" feeling to it. Good: story, use of characters, ball physics Bad: there is never anything bad about pinball Overall: any fan of pinball,or unique RPG concepts will enjoy this gem,its user friendly,you can just pick up and play it anywhere,and gets quite addictive.

It's a running platformer like you have never played before! On June 2014 Beatshapers released the most unique zombie survival game I have ever played: Z-Run, a running 3rd person Zombie platformer where you must run down dark streets ducking,jumping, and dodging waves of the undead to survive. The graphics are beautifully dark and gritty, dimly lit streets, littered with abandoned vehicles, it's nighttime for the entire game but you can still see perfectly, the brightness can be adjusted in any event,but the graphics are solid, and everything from the character models to the animations pop right of the screen. The way the game is set up,you don't really need much of a story, you yourself already know the story,it's zombie survival. Dumped in the middle of the zombie apocalypse, the main protagonist "Alex" armed only with whatever weapons he can find must run, slide, jump,and roll your way down dark streets while avoiding strikes from the undead who seek to impede your progress out of the city. The weapons available range in variety from wooden planks and sticks, baseball bats, and even soda cans which replenish your stamina and health. The "Health" of your weapons deplete with usage (with metal being the most durable,obviously)-so a degree of strategy is required.Once you survive the run (a distance which is represented by a handy meter at the top of the screen), you can upgrade your stats, switch weapons, or select your next level. And don't worry,it won't just be footsteps,heavy breathing and zombie groans you hear during the game,they provided some metal music tracks for you to rock to while you run. So the tunes are a lock! Good: Atmosphere,graphics,smooth animations Bad: Too many blunt objects,not enough guns Overall: if you enjoy the ever expanding genre of "zombie survival",then you will love this addition to you collection. Just remember to never stop running!