nulldiver

Sure, Sword & Sworcery has the whole cliche retro/hipster thing going on, but it creates ambience and executes with enough skill to not only avoid getting annoying, but to compensate for its shortcomings as a game (eg. arbitrary "puzzles"). It has been over 3 years since it was released (which is practically an eternity on mobile), but it is still something that I would recommend experiencing to anyone with an iPhone or iPad (I'd just be careful to say "experience" rather than "play".)

I wanted to like this game so much more than I actually did — it looked good, had good atmosphere and I really loved that the developer was taking a risk by re-thinking and re-imagining shooter controls for a touch interface. I'd forgive relatively shallow shooter gameplay for that last point. But I can't forgive forcing a business model that is so disrespectful for gamers. This should have been a premium title, not another micro-transaction filled game designed only to separate gamers from their money.

Monument Valley is a charming and imaginative premium puzzle game that clearly demonstrates that casual iOS games don't have to be mindless or derivative. The game is short — in a "leaves you wanting more" sense — and the day after completing it (I finished it off in an evening) I found myself recommending it to everyone with an iPhone.

Full Control's previous Space Hulk release was an authentic (if uninspired) interpretation of the original game — a digital version **** best suited to cardboard. With Ascension, however, the developer has managed to update the game's mechanics for the medium while still remaining true to the spirit of the source material. This results is a relatively modern* turn-based tactical shooter that is still unmistakably "Space Hulk". My only hesitation in recommending this game is being slightly uncertain about the desired audience. For SH purists, the changes to gameplay may feel unnecessary... perhaps even sacrilegious. On the other hand, for gamers unfamiliar with the genre, the brutality and difficulty of the game may be a turnoff. Ascension probably has something meaningful to offer both groups — it may just involve players checking their expectations at the door. *relatively modern = both mechanically, and visually — although this is unmistakably an indie production. IT plays well and looks good... not AAA good, but good.