The free iPhone game Trawler Report: We go on the defensive with TriDefense and Battle Zone

Do you have a favourite iPhone game genre? You know, that type of game that you keep on returning to. The App Store makes it easy to develop these sorts of genre obsessions, what with the gargantuan number of games available.

Thanks to its accelerometer and touchscreen, the iPhone's particular big hitters on this front are quite different from those of other portable gaming platforms. First there were the ball bearing maze games, then tower defence took hold, only to be pushed off the top spot by line drawing games like Flight Control.

This week, we’ve got one of the latter and two tower defence games on offer. No accelerometer-controlled mazes, sadly, but search for ‘labyrinth’ on the App Store and you’ll be inundated with them. Can you have too much of a good thing though? Well, not when they’re free!

The best free iPhone games on the App Store

iChallenger
By Project Soul
Type Demo

iChallenger certainly features what’s written on the tin. You’re a lone armoured warrior who has to face the attacks of a full army – so it’s one against, well, absolutely loads.

You use the accelerometer to control your foolhardy warrior’s position on the screen, while buttons at the bottom right of the display execute high, mid and low attacks with your sword.

Arrows are slung your way, venomous snakes slither towards you and bats attack from the sky. Although undoubtedly casual in its style, iChallenger knows how to get your gaming skills working overtime. We’re absolutely useless at it, but found that the flash-style visuals and simple gameplay charming enough to get over that small fact.

Shrek Kart Free
By Gameloft
Type Demo

Gameloft’s been applying the gloss thickly, as usual, with Shrek Kart. It’s a Mario Kart-style racer based on the hit Mike Myers movie series.

When our Tracy took the game for a test drive, he found that it was up there with some of the best kart racers on the App Store, even if it didn’t quite manage to powerslide its way into the top spot. (Check out our Shrek Kart review for more.)

The full game lets you play as just about every character from the films, so big Shrek fans should definitely check it out.

TriDefense
By Kalio
Type Demo

Most tower defence games feature both ground and airborne enemies, and there are also ones set in the sea, 7 Cities being a prime example. Few feature all three types of units though – ground, air and sea. This is precisely TriDefense’s USP.

You’re left to defend a coastal outpost, vulnerable to attack from land and sea. The solution? Pack the battlefield with as many gun turrets and missile launchers as you can afford.

While TriDefense still isn’t the most original game we’ve seen of late, it still has that ultra addictive tower defence gameplay.

Battle Zone – Nuclear
By rockifone
Type Demo

This week’s second tower defence pick, Battle Zone – Nuclear is another towers vs tanks game, although this time there are no sea units involved. If anything, Battle Zone is even more traditional than Tridefense.

It does have a neat upgrades system, though. Rather than paying to level up your defences, you earn medals by destroying enemies – each one comes with a different bonus.

As your towers gain more experience, they progress from privates to generals, too, and the further they stroll along the warpath, the more medals you can attribute to them. This neat dynamic wins Battle Zone – Nuclear a spot on this week’s report.

Pick of the Week

Heli Rescue
By Distinctive Developments
Type Full

We occasionally still play Flight Control, even though it feels like a lifetime since it was originally released. In true App Store style, many other games have tweaked the formula it offered-up back then, including this week’s full freebie Heli Rescue.

Instead of just directing air traffic, you’re using helicopters to rescue helpless folk. You draw lines to dictate where the helicopters fly, between the stranded people and helipads – while making sure that they don’t collide with another helicopter or a mountain.

There are a few pesky adverts that get in the way at the beginning of each mission, but thankfully they disappear after a short while.

Even free games come with a price some times.

Crap Apps Box of Shame Award

MeowLingual Cat Translator
By Ronald Bell
Type Demo

Most of you will know someone that’s a little too into their pets. Y’know, the one that talks to them when they’re there and talks about them when they’re not.

Well, Ronald Bell has come up with an app that’s just perfect for these oddballs. It records whatever your cat says and then supposedly translates it into English.

Except it doesn’t, of course. It just gives you naf little catty catchphrases like, “I may be cute, but I’m also ferocious”. Come on MeowLingual, if you’re going to try and feed us rubbish, at least make it funny.